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)

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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

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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

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Current Workshop Program

• Session One Conformity Enforcement
• Session Two Electrical Installation Code
  Enforcement
• Session Three Market Surveillance

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(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

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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

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(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

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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

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(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

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Challenges

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