Workshop on Enforcement of Electrical Codes and Standards

1. Workshop on Enforcement of Electrical Codes and Standards Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 27-28 Background, Goals and Themes

2. Background • Rapidly growing electricity consumption in KSA • Proliferation of electrical equipment in commercial and consumer sector • Pressure to develop codes and standards governing electrical equipment • Implementation of national building code

3. Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Environment • Capacity of regulatory regime to enforce regulations, codes, mandatory standards • Adequate market surveillance • Appropriate product liability regime • Appropriate penalties for non compliance

4. WTO Obligations • KSA acceded to WTO in 2005 • TBT Agreement governs rules for protection of health, safety and environment • Required to use international standards as basis of regulations and conformity assessment procedures • Growth in number of international standards (ISO, IEC, ITU)

5. Regional Harmonization • Harmonization of standards at the regional level through GCC Customs Union • Implementation at domestic level by national bodies • Adoption of GCC regulations for electrical safety and conformity assessment procedures

6. June Workshop • June 2008 workshop on implementation of electrical codes and standards in Saudi Arabia • Provided introduction to standardization infrastructure, trade aspects, Saudi institutional framework, international experience • Current workshop looks more deeply at status of electrical standards and codes enforcement, analyse the shortfalls and recommend improvements to strengthen the existing system

7. Some Issues from June Workshop • Who certifies local building inspectors? Are they qualified? • Who pays for electrical product testing? • How do you avoid multiple tests for the same product in different countries? • Should SEC have a role in inspecting wiring and installations? • Are there sufficient product liability laws in place in the Kingdom? • What will be the effects of the SNBC on the standards and inspection regime • Is post market surveillance satisfactory

8. Current Workshop Program • Session One – Conformity Enforcement • Session Two – Electrical Installation Code Enforcement • Session Three – Market Surveillance

9. (1) Conformity Enforcement of Electrical Standards • Focus on 3rd party certification – international best practices, national experience • Experience in implementing Conformity Certificate Program • Emergence of counterfeiting

10. Challenges • Lack of well developed infrastructure for testing of products and appliances • Growing importance of domestically manufactured electrical equipment • Implementation of GCC conformity assessment system for electrical products • Need to implement energy efficiency standards and labelling program developed by SASO

11. (2) Electrical Installation Code Enforcement • SNBC introduced in 2007 • Regulations governing safety, machanical, electrical, civil, water and conservation • 3 year phase in period • MOMRA responsible for administration

12. Challenges • Developing capacity to implement and verify the Code at municipal level • Developing enabling frameworks – inspector training, software, upgrading of allied building industries • Promoting understanding of the Code among stakeholders- developers, architects, engineers, occupants, general public

13. (3) Market Surveillance • Relatively new in the Kingdom • Development of new codes and standards, increasing imports and rising incidence of counterfeiting require appropriate surveillance tools and more vigilance of the market • Need to review current status of local surveillance efforts and highlight best international practices

14. Challenges • Establishment of surveillance regime • Training - inspectors, custom officials • Implementation of GOC Mark of Conformity • Emergence of counterfeiting