Overview
Welding consumables sit oddly in a certification scheme, because the product as delivered is not the product that matters. Nobody uses an electrode; they use the weld metal it leaves behind. So classification and certification are built around a test assembly: pads and grooved joints are welded under controlled conditions using the declared process, polarity, current range and preheat, and the deposit is then sectioned and tested. Tensile testing of the all-weld-metal gives yield and tensile strength and elongation; Charpy V-notch impact testing at a specified temperature gives the toughness that determines whether a joint survives; and chemical analysis of the deposit — not of the wire — establishes the alloy actually delivered, since the arc, the flux and the shielding gas all change the composition on the way across.
For low-hydrogen consumables there is a further measurement that has no analogue elsewhere: diffusible hydrogen content, reported as H5, H10 or H15 millilitres per 100 g of deposited metal. Hydrogen picked up from damp flux causes delayed cracking days after welding, which is why moisture-resistant coatings, hermetically sealed packaging and re-drying instructions form part of the product rather than the paperwork. Because consumables are made in lots and the deposit varies with the lot, the operative document is usually a batch or heat certificate linked to the shipment. Welding consumables are certified through SABER registration with a PCoC and an SCoC per consignment. Structural steel is covered on our fabricated steel page and welding machines on our industrial machinery page.
Product Types
The deposited-metal testing route and batch certification apply across:
- Covered (stick) electrodes for manual metal arc welding — rutile, basic low-hydrogen and cellulosic
- Solid wires for gas metal arc (MIG/MAG) and gas tungsten arc (TIG) welding
- Flux-cored and metal-cored wires for gas-shielded and self-shielded welding
- Submerged-arc wire and flux combinations, certified as a wire-flux pair
- Stainless steel and duplex electrodes, wires and consumables
- Nickel-alloy, aluminium and copper-alloy welding consumables
- Hardfacing and surfacing electrodes and wires
- Brazing and soldering rods, wires and fluxes
- Tungsten electrodes, backing materials, anti-spatter and associated welding accessories
The scope of the certificate is defined from the process, the classification, the deposit strength and toughness level, the diameter range and the HS code, so the range you export is covered. Submerged-arc consumables are assessed as a wire and flux combination rather than separately, because the flux contributes alloying elements to the deposit — a wire certified with one flux is not covered when paired with another. Welding machines, torches and personal protective equipment follow their own routes.
HS Codes
Welding consumables are classified mainly in heading 8311 when they are coated or cored, and in the wire headings when they are bare. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the exact product.
- 8311.10 — Coated electrodes of base metal for electric arc welding
- 8311.20 — Cored wire of base metal for electric arc welding
- 8311.30 — Coated rods and cored wire for soldering, brazing or welding by flame
- 8311.90 — Other wire and rods of agglomerated base metal powder
- 7217.10 / 7217.30 — Bare solid steel welding wire
- 7229.20 / 7229.90 — Alloy steel welding wire
- 7605 / 7408 — Aluminium and copper welding wire
- 3810.10 / 3810.90 — Soldering, brazing and welding fluxes and pastes
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Welding consumables are certified through SABER registration, generally under the requirements applying to iron, steel and metal products used in construction and fabrication. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC covering the consumable type, classification designation, diameter range and packaging
- An SCoC for each shipment before customs clearance
- A declared classification to a recognised system — AWS A5 series or the corresponding ISO designation — stated in full, including the strength, position, coating and hydrogen digits
- All-weld-metal tensile test results — yield strength, tensile strength and elongation — meeting the classification minima
- Charpy V-notch impact test results on the deposit at the temperature the classification requires
- Chemical analysis of the deposited weld metal, within the composition limits for the classification
- Diffusible hydrogen content by ISO 3690 for low-hydrogen consumables, supporting the declared H5, H10 or H15 grade
- Soundness and usability evidence — radiography of the test assembly, arc stability, slag detachability and bead appearance
- Fillet-weld and, where relevant, bend or hardness testing as the classification standard requires
- For submerged-arc consumables, results generated on the specific wire and flux combination being supplied
- Batch or lot traceability — a certificate identifying the production lot on the shipment, not a generic type-test report alone
- Moisture-resistant or hermetically sealed packaging for low-hydrogen grades, with re-drying instructions
- Marking of the classification, batch number, diameter and manufacturer on the packaging and, for electrodes, the classification printed on the rod itself
- Arabic handling, storage and re-drying instructions on the pack
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform
Technical Regulation
Welding consumables are assessed under the SABER conformity scheme, generally within the requirements for iron, steel and metal products, against the classification standards that define both the product and its test regime. Covered electrodes for carbon and low-alloy steel follow AWS A5.1 and AWS A5.5 or ISO 2560 and ISO 18275; solid wires follow AWS A5.18 and AWS A5.28 or ISO 14341 and ISO 16834; flux-cored wires follow AWS A5.20 and AWS A5.29 or ISO 17632 and ISO 18276; submerged-arc wire and flux combinations follow AWS A5.17 and AWS A5.23 or ISO 14171 and ISO 26304. Stainless consumables follow AWS A5.4, AWS A5.9 and AWS A5.22 or the ISO 3581 and ISO 14343 families, and nickel alloys AWS A5.11 and AWS A5.14 or ISO 14172 and ISO 18274. Test methods include ISO 15792 for preparing and testing all-weld-metal assemblies, ISO 6892-1 for tensile testing, ISO 148-1 for Charpy impact testing, ISO 3690 for diffusible hydrogen, and ISO 544 for technical delivery conditions. ISO 14344 covers procurement and quality requirements. The exact standard set is confirmed at assessment. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
What is required depends on the consumable and how much valid data already exists. Typical work includes:
- Preparation of all-weld-metal test assemblies to ISO 15792 under the declared process, polarity, current and preheat conditions
- Tensile testing of the deposit — yield strength, tensile strength and elongation
- Charpy V-notch impact testing at the temperature the classification specifies, with the individual and average values reported
- Chemical analysis of the deposited weld metal by spectrometry or combustion analysis
- Diffusible hydrogen determination to ISO 3690 for low-hydrogen grades
- Radiographic examination of the test assembly for soundness
- Fillet-weld test for usability, bead shape and root penetration
- Bend testing and hardness survey where the classification requires them
- Coating moisture content and moisture-absorption resistance for basic electrodes
- Core-wire and coating concentricity, dimensional checks and coating adhesion
- Arc stability, slag detachability, spatter level and re-strike behaviour
- Wire cast, helix, surface condition and copper coating adhesion for solid wires
- Packaging integrity, seal verification and marking review
Existing accredited classification reports are accepted where they cover the exact consumable, diameter and, for submerged arc, the same wire-flux pair, and remain within validity — but batch certificates still have to relate to the lot being shipped. We review your data before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical welding consumable application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list with the classification designations, diameters, pack weights and batch numbers
- HS code of the product range
- Product specification — process, full classification designation, diameter range, shielding gas or flux, and recommended welding parameters
- Classification test report covering all-weld-metal tensile, impact and chemical analysis results
- Diffusible hydrogen test report to ISO 3690 for low-hydrogen grades
- Radiographic and fillet-weld usability reports for the test assembly
- Batch or lot certificates for the consumables on the shipment, traceable to the packing list
- For submerged-arc consumables, evidence generated on the specific wire and flux combination
- Coating moisture and moisture-resistance data for basic electrodes
- Packaging specification showing the hermetic seal or moisture barrier
- Label and packaging artwork showing the classification, batch number, diameter and manufacturer
- Arabic handling, storage and re-drying instructions
- Manufacturer details, quality-management certification and Saudi importer registration
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the consumable against the applicable requirements. In outline:
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Scope and classification
We confirm the process, the full classification designation, the diameter range, the shielding gas or flux, the packaging and the HS code, and for submerged arc we fix the specific wire-flux pairs to be covered.
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Data review
We check the classification report for the three items that decide acceptance — all-weld-metal tensile, impact values at the required temperature and analysis of the deposit — plus the hydrogen grade where claimed.
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Testing
An accredited laboratory prepares test assemblies and carries out the tensile, impact, chemical, hydrogen, radiographic and usability testing that the existing data does not cover.
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Batch traceability
The batch or lot certificates for the consumables actually being shipped are compiled and linked to the classification evidence and the packing list.
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Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the classification evidence, the batch certificates, the packaging and the marking against the regulation.
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PCoC issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform. 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:
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Shipment details submitted
The commercial invoice, the packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted on the SABER platform for that specific consignment.
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Verification
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC, the classification designations, diameters and batch numbers are checked against the certified range and the batch certificates, and the packaging seal and marking are confirmed, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.
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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 classification testing on the deposit already exists for the exact consumable and diameter. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With a current classification report covering deposit tensile, impact and chemistry, a hydrogen result where claimed, and batch certificates for the lot — a PCoC can typically be arranged within one to two weeks
- Where all-weld-metal test assemblies have to be welded and tested, allow three to five weeks: the assemblies must be prepared, sectioned, machined and tested in sequence
- Diffusible hydrogen testing to ISO 3690 adds a further period and is a common late discovery on low-hydrogen grades
- Extending an existing certified family to additional diameters is usually quick; adding a new flux to a certified submerged-arc wire is not, because it is a new combination
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place
Common Problems
- Wire or core-wire mill analysis submitted instead of chemical analysis of the deposited weld metal
- Tensile results supplied but no Charpy impact values, or impact tested at room temperature when the classification specifies a lower one
- A low-hydrogen classification claimed with no ISO 3690 diffusible hydrogen result
- A generic type-test report with no batch or lot certificate tied to the shipment
- Submerged-arc wire certified with one flux and shipped for use with another
- Basic electrodes packed in non-hermetic packaging, arriving with moisture pick-up and no re-drying instructions
- Classification designation given only in part, so the strength, position or hydrogen digits cannot be verified
- Classification not printed on the electrode itself, only on the carton
- Test assembly welded with parameters outside the range recommended on the datasheet
- Arabic storage and re-drying instructions missing from the pack
We check these points up front — above all the all-weld-metal evidence, the impact temperature and the batch traceability — so consignments are not held at customs for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the deposited weld metal tested instead of the electrode?
Because the deposit is what ends up in the structure. The composition of the wire or core is not the composition of the weld — the arc burns off some elements and the coating or flux contributes others — and strength and toughness only exist once the metal has been melted and solidified. Classification standards therefore require a test assembly to be welded and the all-weld-metal to be tensile tested, impact tested and analysed.
What does the H5 or H10 marking mean?
It is the diffusible hydrogen content of the deposited metal, measured to ISO 3690 and expressed in millilitres per 100 g — H5 meaning no more than 5 ml, H10 no more than 10 ml. Hydrogen absorbed from damp flux or coating causes delayed cracking days after the weld is finished, so low-hydrogen grades need an actual test result rather than a claim, plus moisture-resistant packaging and re-drying instructions.
Do I need a batch certificate for every shipment?
In practice yes. The classification test qualifies the product design; the batch or lot certificate proves that the consumables in this consignment came from a lot matching it. Because deposit properties vary between lots, a type-test report alone is generally not accepted as the whole file. Build batch certification into your dispatch routine rather than requesting it retrospectively.
Are AWS and ISO classifications interchangeable?
They are both recognised, but they are not automatically equivalent designation for designation. The two systems use different strength bases, different impact test temperatures and different digit conventions, so an AWS classification and its nearest ISO equivalent can differ in what was actually tested. Declare the full designation under whichever system your test report was issued to, and we will confirm acceptance rather than assuming a cross-reference.
Why is submerged-arc flux certified with the wire?
Because the flux is not inert. It contributes alloying elements to the deposit and changes its strength, toughness and chemistry, so the classification applies to the wire and flux as a pair. A wire certified with one flux is not covered when supplied for use with another, and the pairing has to be stated on the certificate and the packaging.
How much does SABER certification for welding consumables cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on how many classifications and diameters you are covering and whether all-weld-metal test data already exists for each. With current classification reports and batch certificates a PCoC can often be arranged within one to two weeks; preparing and testing new test assemblies typically adds three to five weeks, and diffusible hydrogen testing adds more. Send your classification list, diameters and existing reports for a specific quote at no cost. See our SABER certificate cost guide.
Get Your Welding Consumables Certified
Send us the process, the full classification designations, the diameter range, the shielding gas or flux pairing, the packaging, the HS code and any classification reports, deposit analyses or batch certificates you hold. We will confirm the applicable classification standard, check that the evidence covers the deposited weld metal rather than the wire, review your testing and batch traceability, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.