The regulation in simple terms
This regulation aims to reduce the amount of water used by certain bathroom and kitchen fittings sold in Saudi Arabia. It sets requirements for products such as taps, shower heads and specified toilets, whether they are imported or made locally.
The basic idea is simple: a claim such as “water saving” needs evidence. The relevant model must meet the applicable requirements, and the water-efficiency label must be authorised and based on correct information. SASO is the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, which issues this regulation.
What does this mean for you?
- If you manufacture or import a covered product, check its category, test evidence and label requirements before planning to sell it in Saudi Arabia.
- If you buy products for a shop or a project, ask the supplier which exact models the documents cover. Similar-looking fittings can have different water consumption.
- The water-efficiency label concerns water consumption. It does not replace other safety or product requirements that may also apply.
An everyday example
You plan to import two taps that look the same, but one has a different insert controlling the water flow. Do not assume the same test evidence covers both. Ask the manufacturer to identify the difference and have the reports checked against the models you will actually supply.
Which products are covered?
The examples below help you recognise the product groups. Coverage depends on the exact type and design listed in Annex 1 of the regulation, not simply on whether a product uses water.
| Product category | Examples | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Taps and mixers | Bathroom and kitchen taps | Identify the model and any part that controls the water flow. |
| Showers and bidet sprays | Shower mixers, shower heads and hand-held bidet sprays | Check which head, spray and flow restrictor are supplied together. |
| Toilets and flushing equipment | Specified toilets, flushing cisterns and flushing urinals | Identify the toilet or cistern type and its flushing mechanism. |
| Water-flow regulators | Devices that control the amount of water flowing through a fitting | Identify the regulator and the fitting it is designed to work with. |
Product examples are not a complete classification. Read the official text and confirm the applicable scope before making an application.
Check the boundaries
Not every water-using product is covered by this regulation. A model must be matched to the official product list. A different safety regulation may apply even when this water-saving regulation does not.
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How to get started
Use these practical steps to begin. The exact documents and tests depend on your product.
Identify the products. Collect model numbers, clear photographs and a short description of each fitting. Include any flow-control inserts and flushing options.
Ask for the evidence. A test report records how a sample performed in laboratory tests. Request reports for the relevant models, manufacturer details and any existing water-efficiency documents.
Check the application and label before sale. Have the product category, report suitability and model details reviewed. Confirm the required certificate and permission to use the label before printing it or placing it on products.
Can I start if I do not have any test reports?
Yes. Start an enquiry with photographs, model numbers and the manufacturer’s details. These help establish what the product is and which evidence is missing. They do not replace testing or approval, but they help you avoid commissioning the wrong work.
Technical details and references
For a closer review, these notes point to the relevant provisions in the edition linked below.
Match the category and measurement
Annex 1 lists the covered products and their water-consumption criteria. Flow-based products and flushing products are assessed differently: a flow rate describes water used over time, while a flush volume describes water used in one flush. Use the applicable category and test method rather than one limit for all fittings.
Articles 2–3; Annexes 1–2.
Check the laboratory and report date
The reviewed regulation defines a registered laboratory as one accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 in the relevant water-efficiency field and registered with SASO. It also defines the test report as no more than one year old when the licence application is submitted. Check the report’s date, issuing laboratory and model identification together.
Article 1, page 6.
Certificate, model and label are connected
Conformity assessment means checking that a product meets the applicable requirements. Articles 4–5 set out the model certificate requirements, including a supplier declaration of conformity—a statement that the product meets the rules—and a test report. Article 5.1.1 specifies an application for each model. Article 6 sets the conditions for authorised label use.
Articles 4–6; Annex 5 for the declaration form.
Edition and dates
- Document edition
- First edition · Amendment 1
- Regulation published
- Amendment / update published
- GoCertify summary reviewed
The PDF cover records the original publication and Amendment 1 publication dates. They are not interchangeable with an implementation deadline. Confirm the applicable transition provisions for your application.
Official documents & sources
Technical Regulation for Water Consumption Rationalization Tools
Official documents are issued by SASO. The explanations on this website are independent GoCertify guidance, not official translations or approvals.
Download PDF · Arabic (2.6 MB)Download an unmodified copy of the official SASO regulation, hosted by GoCertify. The edition and dates shown above identify this copy.
Reading references: Articles 1–3, page 6, explain the laboratory, report, scope and purpose. Articles 4–6, pages 7–9, cover certification and label use. Annex 1 starts on page 15 and gives product categories and consumption criteria. The cover records the edition and publication dates.
Product examples are not a complete classification. Read the official text and confirm the applicable scope before making an application.
The review date records when we checked these sources. It is not a promise that the regulator has made no subsequent changes. Official documents and later notices take precedence.