Overview
Water heaters are among the more tightly regulated appliances entering Saudi Arabia. Because a storage heater keeps water hot around the clock, it loses energy continuously through standby heat loss — so Saudi Arabia enforces electrical (and, for gas types, combustion) safety together with strict energy-efficiency rules. Two things must be in place: conformity certification through SABER, and an approved SASO Energy Efficiency Label showing the product meets the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS).
Water heaters fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the product, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. In addition, each model must be registered on the Saudi energy-efficiency programme, tested against the MEPS threshold and carry the correct energy label — a unit that fails the MEPS cannot be certified or sold, regardless of its safety compliance.
Product Types
The SABER route and energy-efficiency rules apply across household and light-commercial water heaters, including:
- Electric storage water heaters (geysers) — vertical and horizontal
- Electric instantaneous (tankless) water heaters
- Gas storage and gas instantaneous water heaters
- Solar water heaters (thermosiphon and split systems)
- Heat-pump water heaters
- Immersion heaters and small point-of-use heaters
- Light-commercial and central storage water heaters
The scope of your certificate and energy label is defined from the heater type, storage capacity (litres), rated power and energy performance. We structure the certificate so the models you actually export are covered.
HS Codes
Water heaters are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the heater type and energy source.
- 8516.10 — Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters
- 8419.11 — Instantaneous gas water heaters
- 8419.12 — Solar water heaters
- 8419.19 — Other non-electric instantaneous or storage water heaters
- 8418.61 / 8418.69 — Heat-pump water heaters (where classified as heat-pump equipment)
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Water heaters are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform, together with energy-efficiency registration. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation and standards
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- Energy-efficiency testing showing the model meets the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS)
- A registered and approved SASO Energy Efficiency Label printed and affixed to each unit
- Electrical safety (or, for gas types, combustion safety) test evidence to the applicable standard
- Correct marking of voltage, rated power, capacity, energy source and energy class
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Water heaters are assessed under two connected regimes: the applicable Saudi Technical Regulation for low-voltage electrical safety (or gas-appliance safety for gas heaters), and the Saudi energy-efficiency regulation for water heaters that sets the MEPS thresholds and labelling rules. The exact regulation and standard set is confirmed at assessment from the heater type and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Water heaters are typically evaluated for both safety and energy performance. Typical verification includes:
- IEC 60335-1 and IEC 60335-2-21 — safety of electric storage water heaters
- IEC 60335-2-35 — safety of instantaneous (tankless) electric water heaters
- SASO energy-efficiency standards for water heaters — standby heat loss, thermal efficiency and MEPS classification
- Standby heat-loss measurement and daily energy consumption
- Electrical safety — insulation, earthing, leakage, thermostat and thermal-cutout operation
- Pressure-vessel integrity, safety valve and anti-corrosion (anode) checks for storage tanks
Existing IECEE CB reports and accredited energy-test reports may be accepted where they cover the correct model and are within validity. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical water heater application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the heater
- Technical datasheet showing type, capacity (litres), rated power and energy performance
- Electrical safety test report to IEC 60335-2-21 / 2-35 (or gas-appliance report for gas types)
- Accredited energy-efficiency test report (standby heat loss) supporting the MEPS classification
- Product photographs showing the rating plate and energy-label area
- Manufacturer details and Declaration of Conformity where relevant
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the water heater model or range against the applicable safety and energy standards. In outline:
- Classification and scope
We confirm the heater type, HS code, capacity, energy rating and applicable standards, and define what the certificate should cover.
- Report and energy-label review
We check whether your safety and energy test reports can be reused, confirm the model meets the MEPS threshold, and prepare the SASO Energy Efficiency Label.
- Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, markings, energy classification and test evidence against the regulations.
- PCoC and energy label issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform and the approved energy label is confirmed for the model. It is typically valid for one year.
SCoC Process
A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment and is what customs checks at the border. In outline:
- Shipment details submitted
The invoice, packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted for the specific consignment.
- Verification and payment
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC and energy registration, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.
- SCoC issued
The SCoC is issued for that shipment, allowing it to clear Saudi customs. Each new shipment needs its own SCoC.
Certification Timeline
The main variable is whether valid safety and energy test reports already exist and whether the model already meets the MEPS. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With acceptable existing safety and energy reports — a PCoC and energy label can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh testing is required — standby heat-loss and energy testing turnaround is the main driver, usually a few weeks depending on scope
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC and energy registration are in place
Common Problems
- Model does not meet the current MEPS efficiency threshold (excess standby heat loss) — the most frequent reason a water heater cannot be certified
- Missing or non-accredited energy-efficiency (heat-loss) test report
- Energy label not printed, wrong version, or not affixed to the unit
- Declared capacity or rated power not matching the test report or rating plate
- Safety report covering a different model, capacity or energy source than the units shipped
- HS code declared on the invoice not matching the heater type actually shipped
We check these points up front — especially the MEPS energy performance — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do water heaters need an energy label as well as SABER certification?
Yes. Water heaters must carry an approved SASO Energy Efficiency Label and meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) in addition to their SABER conformity certificate. The energy registration and the PCoC are handled together, and a model that fails the MEPS cannot be certified — so we confirm the energy performance up front.
Why does standby heat loss matter for certification?
A storage water heater keeps water hot continuously, so the energy it loses while standing idle (standby heat loss) is the main driver of its efficiency rating. The MEPS sets a limit on this loss for the tank's capacity. If a model loses too much heat it fails the standard and cannot be certified, regardless of electrical safety, so we check the heat-loss figure against the standard first.
Are gas and solar water heaters certified differently from electric ones?
The overall SABER route is the same, but the safety standards differ — electric heaters follow IEC 60335-2-21 / 2-35, while gas heaters are assessed for combustion safety and solar systems for their collector and tank. All types still need the energy label and MEPS. We confirm the correct standard set for your exact heater and energy source.
How much does SABER certification for water heaters cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid safety and energy test reports already exist and whether the model meets the MEPS. With acceptable reports a PCoC and energy label can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh energy (heat-loss) testing is required the laboratory turnaround is the main variable. Send your heater details and reports for a specific quote and timeline at no cost. See our SABER certificate cost guide.
How long is the PCoC valid, and do I need a new SCoC for every shipment?
A Product Certificate of Conformity is typically valid for one year, so one PCoC can cover multiple shipments of the same water heaters during that period. A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment — every individual shipment needs its own SCoC before it can clear Saudi customs.
Which products and HS codes does this cover?
The same SABER and energy-efficiency route applies across electric storage and instantaneous heaters, gas and solar water heaters, and heat-pump heaters — generally classified under HS heading 8516 (electric) and 8419 (gas/solar). We confirm the correct classification and energy-label rules for your exact heater during assessment.
Get Your Water Heaters Certified
Send us your heater type, energy source, capacity (litres), rated power, energy performance, HS code and any existing safety or energy test reports. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation and MEPS threshold, review your testing, prepare the SASO Energy Efficiency Label, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.