Steel Standards Used in Saudi Arabia: A Practical Map
Which steel standards apply on Saudi projects: SASO regulations, Saudi Building Code, ASTM, EN, BS, API, AWS and ISO — organised by product and application.
Saudi Steel Work Editorial Team · · 3 min read
Short answer: Saudi projects combine national requirements — SASO technical regulations and the Saudi Building Code (SBC) — with international product and design standards. American ASTM, API and AWS standards are common in oil and gas and many buildings; European EN and British BS standards are common on projects designed to European practice. The project specification always decides which apply.
Buyers and engineers in the Kingdom work with standards from several systems. This map shows which ones you are likely to meet, by product.
National framework
- SASO — Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization; technical regulations and product conformity (SABER platform) (SASO guide)
- Saudi Building Code (SBC) — including SBC 301 (loads), SBC 304 (concrete), SBC 306 (steel), SBC 801 (fire) (SBC 306 overview)
- Client standards — major operators publish their own engineering and material standards
By product
| Product | Common standards |
|---|---|
| Structural sections | EN 10025-2, EN 10365 (dimensions), ASTM A36/A572/A992, BS 4-1 |
| Plates | EN 10025-2, EN 10028 (pressure), ASTM A36/A572/A516 |
| Hollow sections | EN 10219, EN 10210, ASTM A500 |
| Pipes | ASTM A53/A106, API 5L, ASME B36.10M, EN 10255 |
| Rebar | ASTM A615/A706, BS 4449, SASO regulations |
| Sheets & coils | EN 10130, EN 10346, EN 10051, ASTM A653/A1008/A1011 |
| Stainless | ASTM A240/A312, EN 10088 |
| Welding | AWS D1.1, ASME IX, ISO 15614/9606 |
| Fabrication | EN 1090-2, AISC 303 |
| Galvanizing | ISO 1461, ASTM A123 |
| Certificates | EN 10204 |
| Tanks | API 650, AWWA D100, NFPA 22 |
Why multiple systems?
Saudi Arabia's industrial history — with major US-linked oil and petrochemical development and European and British consultants in construction — means both American and European standards are deeply embedded.
Practical advice
- Read the project specification first; it lists governing standards and editions
- Keep grade, dimension standard and testing standard consistent per item
- Don't assume "equivalent" — check (S275 vs S355, A36 vs A572)
- Request certificates that state the exact standard (mill test certificates)