Within its national campaign to raise awareness of specifications and standards
SASO: Conforming Sockets Provide Higher Levels of Security and Safety for Children and Adults
Alyousef: The consumer has become a key partner in the regulatory system. Therefore, raising his awareness is our point of departure
Within the framework of its social responsibility programs, SASO has launched a national campaign to raise awareness of standards and specifications. It started with an awareness campaign to introduce electrical sockets conforming with the standards, in order to encourage consumers to get them and keep away from non-conforming sockets. Also, to urge manufacturers, importers and traders to adhere to these standards, which have been officially declared previously.
For his part, Mr. Abdulmohsin Alyousef, Deputy Governor for Technical Affairs and official Spokesman of SASO explained that SASO gives great attention so that Saudi standard specifications keep pace with global developments, provides high levels of safety and security for the consumer and contributes in providing means of protection for him and his family. Therefore, Saudi standards specialized in electronic and electrical appliances represent 22% of the total number of Saudi standards, which is about 5468 standards from the total number of standards issued by SASO (28,000). He pointed that SASO has converted 31 standard specifications to mandatory Saudi technical regulations this year, and is Currently working on the completion of 251 drafts for standard specifications in this field.
Conforming Types
Mr. Alyousef pointed that SASO has approved five types of plugs and sockets. Three of which are plugs, two are 127 volts and one is 220 volts. The remaining two are sockets, the first is 127 volts while the other is 220 volts. As to power strips, there are two types with different socket holes. The first is specifically for the current 13 amps/ 220 volts, while the other one is for the current 15 amps/ 127 volts. Anything otherwise is non-conforming with the Saudi standard specifications, and we advise consumers not to use it.
More Protection for Children
The Saudi standard specifications made it obligatory for sockets to have shutters to protect children and prevent them from reaching the electrifying parts. Sockets also need to have an earthing conductor to protect people from electrocution. The standard called everyone to act upon these terms, and made it clear that touching contact holes carrying the current when in use must be impossible.
Reading the Product's Label:
Mr. Alyousef called consumers to read the product's label printed on the plug. The label must be written clearly in either Arabic or English and be difficult to remove. He explained that the standards focused mainly on providing plugs with fuses that can bear a current up to 13 amps as an additional protection for the electrical appliance, the base and cover of the plug must be made of rubber or another insulating material and is free from cracks. The plug must also contain a barrier from the inside made from an insulating material to separate metal parts with different poles, this barrier must be part of the plug.
A Real Threat to the Consumer's Safety
Official spokesman of SASO described how the Saudi market is suffering from gradual growth of fraud in electrical appliances, which greatly burdens government authorities to participate in the regulatory system, some of these concerned authorities are the following; SASO, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Saudi Customs. He explained that non-conforming electrical strips and products represent a real threat to the health and safety of the consumer, causing dozens of fires and injuries. SASO in cooperation with other authorities form a regulatory system, which started making sure that Saudi standard specifications, regulations and lists that have been approved are being applied, such as the (Conformity Recognition Program) for imported consignments. The program allows specialized technical authorities to grant certificates of conformity to consignments the Kingdom receives, to withdraw samples from random consignments upon arrival at the ports of the Kingdom, and to test them in private laboratories or in SASO's laboratories, in order to verify the authenticity of the attached certificates and to conform them with the relevant Saudi standard specifications and technical regulations. These efforts combined – God willing- will have positive impacts in the reduction of the entry and sale of goods and products non-conforming with the Saudi standards during the upcoming period.
Checking the Imports and Controlling the Market
Mr. Alyousef explained that SASO does not only issue legislations and regulations, but is considered part of the national system that checks the imports and controls the market, through its participation in all activities relevant to this area. SASO has a supervisory executive role, direct and indirect efforts, as it participates with technical teams in withdrawing random samples from the market and testing them.
Pin Plugs Do not Provide Safety Requirements
As for the reason behind banning importing, manufacturing and trading 2-pin plugs, Mr. Alyousef said it is because they do not conform with the standard specifications which include safety requirements for it to be safer when in use, unlike the 3-pin plugs. He assured that there is no room for negligence in the application of these specifications especially since it is a vital issue, in order to prevent fraud and ensure the safety of all consumers. Moreover, he referred to the approval of the Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Board of SASO on banning importing, manufacturing and trading in markets any non-conforming plugs or sockets. The implementation of this resolution is as of 09/03/1431 AH corresponding to 23/02/2010.
A Significant Improvement in the Upcoming Period
Official spokesman of SASO assured that the Saudi market will witness many changes in the upcoming period – God willing - in all fields, as there is a significant improvement on the level of procedures and regulations that are applied. On the one hand, SASO issues Saudi standard specifications and technical regulations. It also participates with the regulatory system, consisting of relevant authorities, to ensure the application of these standards and to strengthen control over the Saudi market on the other hand. He further expressed, the consumer has become a key partner to us, as he is the first observer that leads us to violations so we can handle them. He also thanked manufacturers and importers committed to the orders of SASO's for their national patriotism, cooperation and support to the efforts of SASO and other relevant authorities in reducing the circulation of fraudulent and non-conforming goods at all levels.