SASO Seeks Qualifying Control Bodies' Employees to Meet Insulation Standards Implementation Mechanism
SASO organized a workshop entitled "Control Mechanism of Thermal Insulation Materials" on Sunday, Muharram 1st, 1436 AH, corresponding to October 25th, 2014, at its headquarters in Riyadh, in line with having the updates of standards and technical regulations of thermal insulation materials come into mandatory effect on November 25th, 2014.
Eng. Adel bin Salem Al-Bugmi, the Secretary General of SASO's Plastics Committee, stressed that SASO is highly concerned with activating thermal insulation materials' standards and strictly committing to implementing them. SASO aimed, through the workshop, at qualifying human resources to detect nonconforming products that disagree with the strategic orientations of the Kingdom in the field of energy efficiency.
He also clarified that SASO has issued many Saudi standards for thermal insulation products. Moreover, he indicated the approval of the mandatory technical regulation of thermal transmittance values for residential buildings in addition to accrediting 13 standards as mandatory technical regulations implemented on 10 various products, including all local and imported commodities. He noted that the update of thermal insulation materials' standards is a part of SASO's efforts regarding its support for the initiatives of energy efficiency consumption in the Kingdom. SASO's Board has accredited more than 23 Saudi technical regulations and standards connected to energy efficiency initiatives.
During the workshop, Eng. Al-Bugmi explained that heat leaking through walls and ceilings in summer represents the highest percentage of heat to be reduced by air conditioners; it is estimated to reach about 60%-70%. He also pointed out that the thermal insulation system in residential buildings has several types. Additionally, this system is considered the best option to face the increasing consumption of energy as it completely prevents thermal bridges, raises the lifetime of houses and building materials, and reduces the costs of maintenance and electricity bills. He demanded that all thermal insulation products meet the requirements stipulated in technical regulations accredited by SASO, which specify requirements for dimensions; thermal conductivity or heat resistance for the insulating material; insulating material resistance to water absorption, humidity absorption, pressure, and fire; in addition to other requirements based on the type of the insulating material. SASO also requires the use of label on every product, illustrating all its technical information.
Further, Eng. Al-Bugmi commented, during the workshop, on the correct methods of sampling, clarifying that the team responsible for inspecting local factories is formed of employees from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and SASO. The Ministry's Agency for Consumer Affairs leads the team, prepares reports of sampling, preserves samples, and then submits them to SASO. The Ministry's Agency for Industrial Affairs allocates the sites of thermal insulation factories and coordinates with them. On the other hand, SASO checks the products' information, selects the sample to be examined, specifies its volume, receives it in situ, transfers it, sends it to SASO's laboratories, and examines it.