Official government website of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

How to verify

Links to official Saudi websites end withgov.sa

All links to official websites of government agencies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia end with .gov.sa

Government websites use the HTTPS protocol for encryption and security.

Secure websites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia use the HTTPS protocol for encryption.

Laboratory of Chemical and Petroleum Products

The laboratory of chemical and petroleum products is one of SASO's laboratories that were established to provide service and testing to ensure conformity of commodities to Saudi Standards. It conducts a set of tests in this area.

Laboratory of Chemical and Petroleum Products Units:

First: Chemical Elements Estimation Unit

The Organic Estimation Unit provides special services in chemical analysis scope for different kinds of samples. It has the most modern technology from the biggest companies around the world. In addition, it has a professional team with years of expertise in the analysis, interpretation, reading and results area. It also has a ISO IEC 17025:2017 certification special for water-quality laboratories. Also, the Unit is working on expanding the scope of accreditation; to include more products.

Chemical Elements Estimation Unit has all the equipment and technology which enable the Unit to conduct the analysis with the lowest portions that could reach to a part of a trillion (PPT) for some elements, with high reliability, such as:

Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP).
Ion Chromatography (IC).
Ion chromatography (IC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS).
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).
Mercury Analyzer.
pH Meter.
Conductivity Meter.

Water samples are analyzed which include: Anions, Cations and heavy and rare elements, in addition to the physical and chemical features that include: PH, electrical conductivity and the sum of dissolved salts in water.

Children's toys elements, school supplies (such as: pencils) and other samples are analyzed and detected for toxins and heavy metals.

Second: Chromatographic Separation Unit

The Chromatographic Separation Unit is one of the main pillars of separation, identification of compounds that cannot be separated using the usual methods, the estimation of their concentration in various products where components of samples are separated, identified and estimated; where the separation is done by distributing the sample between two different phases.

The Unit contains the most modern and precise to know the suitability of a product for use in terms of conformity assessment with the standard specification, depending on methods of testing and new issued specifications and on human competencies that have scientific qualification and highly trained.

The Units contains a number of equipment that helps ensuring the conformity of products with standard specification, which are:

Gas Chromatography Separator (GC-FID).
Gas chromatography separator with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Chromatographic separator for liquids under high pressure (HPLC).

Industrial detergents are tested and estimation of organic, volatile and semi-volatile compounds are estimated in children's toys, textiles, shoes and many products, in addition, to know whether or not they conform to the standard specification. In the near future, the unit is seeking to obtain the ISO 17025 laboratory accreditation certificate in its own tests, as well as seeking to provide LC / MSMS device to expand the scope of the unit’s tests.

Third: Petroleum Tests Unit

Petroleum products testing services include many refined petroleum products and several kinds of fuels such as: Gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, all kinds of oils, cooling water and other products for the safety of these products from fraud and their conformity with local and international standard specifications. The best local and international testing methods are used in testing and verification, and have been certified according to ISO 17025 quality standards for a number of tests.

The unit has trained hands and extensive experience spanning many years, enabling it to conduct analyzes with high reliability.

A number of units include equipment that helps in the conformity of products to the standard specifications, which are:

Flash point mapping device.
Spill point estimator.
Foam property estimation device.
Sulfur measuring device.
Automated distillation device.
Viscosity estimator at two degrees of 40˚C and 100˚C.
Low temperature viscosity estimator.
Drop point set device.
A device for determining the degree of combustion.

Forth: Microbiological Tests Unit

The Microbiology Unit at the Laboratory of Chemical and Petroleum Products provides special services to ensure the safety, security and validity of products for human consumption, and that they are free of microbes harmful to the consumer's health by examining these samples in the laboratory. In addition, the presence of a distinguished team with long experience in this scope.

The Unit includes a number of equipment that helps in product conformity to the standard specifications and its usage validity in the scope, which are:

Autoclave.
Monitoring the Quality of Drinking Water.
Incubators.
Hot Air Oven.
Colony Counter.
Stomacher.

Water samples are analyzed that include counting and detecting all kinds of microbes required in water standard, in addition to some of food products and other samples.

The laboratory is in the developing phase to be able to analyze non-food products (That mainly concerns the consumer) in the laboratory.

List of Products being tested in the Laboratory

Chemistry laboratory:

Nr	Type of Product	Test	Standard	Price	Time
Chromatography Unit
1	Liquid Detergent For Manual Dishwashing	Virtual examination	GSO 2238/2012	200	5 Business days
		Explanatory data	GSO 2238/2012	200
		Estimate the total active ingredient	SASO 719 / 1994	420
		Rinse test	SASO 719 / 1994	200
		PH	SASO 719 / 1994	360
2	Washing flower	Virtual examination	SASO 2620 / 2006	200	7 Business days
		Explanatory data	SASO 2620 / 2006	200
		Detection of organic dyes	SASO 2621 / 2006	460
		Carbonate and bicarbonate estimate	SASO 2621 / 2006	300
		Detection of the presence of sodium sulfate	SASO 2621 / 2006	500
		The rest of the palm	SASO 2621 / 2006	300
3	Chemicals Used For Treatment Of Water Intended For Human Consumption – Sodium Hypochlorite	Virtual examination	Gso 802/2009	200	10 Business days
		Explanatory data	Gso 802/2009	200
		Specific weight at 25	Gso 801/2009	300
		PH	Gso 801/2009	360
		Free alkalinity (as sodium hydroxide% by mass)	Gso 801/2009	200
		Impurities and side products - sodium chlorate (g / l)	Gso 801/2009	450
		Impurities and side products - sediments or suspended matter	Gso 801/2009	200
		Available chlorine (sodium hypochlorite (g / l)	Gso 801/2009	390
		Chemicals Used For Treatment Of Water Intended For Human Consumption – Sodium Hypochlorite (arsenic-cadmium-chromium-lead- mercury-nickel-antimony-selenium)	Gso 1845/2008	340 per element
4	Synthetic Detergents – Detergents Power	Virtual examination	GSO 151 / 2007	200	10 Business days
		Explanatory data	GSO 151 / 2007	200
		Estimate moisture and volatile matter	GSO 510 / 2006	500
		Estimate materials with surface activity	GSO 510 / 2006	420
		Building material estimation	GSO 510 / 2006	360
		Determination of the effective oxygen content	GSO 510 / 2006	360
		Estimate the pH	GSO 510 / 2006	360
		Estimate the total silicate percentage	GSO 510 / 2006	300
		Estimation of water properties (rinsing)	GSO 510 / 2006	200
5	ALKALI DRAIN CLEANER	Virtual examination	GSO 805 / 2009	200	10 Business days
		Explanatory data	GSO 805 / 2009	200
		Granule size estimation	GSO 804 / 2009	300
		Aluminum cut size estimation	GSO 804 / 2009	300
		Rise in temperature	GSO 804 / 2009	300
		Measure the height of the foam when the detergent is dissolved in water	GSO 804 / 2009	300
		Determination of aluminum parts content	GSO 804 / 2009	400
		Determination of the mineral oil content	GSO 804 / 2009	250
		Content of sodium hydroxide	GSO 804 / 2009	300
		Sodium nitrate	GSO 804 / 2009	360
		The content of sodium chloride or sodium sulfate	GSO 804 / 2009	200
6	Synthetic liquid detergents for used in laundering of clothing and fabrics	Virtual examination	GSO 2059 / 2010	200	10 Business days
		Explanatory data	GSO 2059 / 2010	200
		Total active substances	GSO 2060 / 2010	350
		Chloride	GSO 2060 / 2010	430
		Ionic substances	GSO 2060 / 2010	420
		PH	GSO 2060 / 2010	360
		Silicates	GSO 2060 / 2010	300
		Phosphates	GSO 2060 / 2010	480
7	Carpet shampoos	Virtual examination	GSO 461 / 1994	200	15 Business days
		Explanatory data	GSO 461 / 1994	200
		The total active ingredient of the detergent	GSO 461 / 1994	270
		Estimate alkalinity	GSO 461 / 1994	270
		Set the detergent effect on the back of the rug	GSO 461 / 1994	350
		Detection of oxidizing and reducing agents	GSO 461 / 1994	360
		Fluorescein Fluorescein Detection	GSO 461 / 1994	250
		Color fastness test	GSO 461 / 1994	470
		Cleaning strength test	GSO 461 / 1994	540
		Excess pollution test	GSO 461 / 1994	300
		The total active ingredient of the detergent	GSO 461 / 1994	200
		Estimate alkalinity	GSO 461 / 1994	200
		Set the detergent effect on the back of the rug	GSO 461 / 1994	270
8	General purpose antibacterial liquid cleaners	Virtual examination	SASO 2618/2009	200	10 Business days
		Explanatory data	SASO 2618/2009	200
		Determination of solids content	SASO 2619/2009	400
		Estimate the PH	SASO 2619/2009	360
		Hard water stability test	SASO 2619/2009	230
		Low temperature stability test	SASO 2619/2009	300
		Antibacterial activity test	SASO 2619/2009	200
		Detergent Effectiveness Test	SASO 2619/2009	550
9	Clothes Liquid Softeners	Virtual examination	SASO-GSO- 1897/2009	200	5 Business days
		Explanatory data	SASO-GSO- 1897/2009	200
		PH	SASO-GSO- 1897/2009	360
		Surface active agents — Detergents — Determination of cationic-active matter content — Part 2: Cationic-active matter of low molecular mass (between 200 and 500)	ISO 2871-2:1990	420
		Microbial count test	GSO 152	200
10	Liquid glass cleaner	Virtual examination	SASO 1195/1998	200	10 Business days
		Explanatory data	SASO 1195/1998	200
		Estimate corrosion of metal surfaces	SASO 1194/1998	400
		Impact assessment on plastics	SASO 1194/1998	350
		Estimate the effect on the hardness of the paint layer	SASO 1194/1998	350
		Set the flash point	SASO 1194/1998	350
		Estimate stability in storage	SASO 1194/1998	300
		(Performance test (cleaning effectiveness	SASO 1194/1998	300
11	Industrial kitchen cleaners	Virtual examination	SASO 2065/2009	200	10Business days
		Explanatory data	SASO 2065/2009	200
		PH	SASO 2065/2009	360
		The equivalent content test for surface activation factor	SASO 2066/2009	420
		Fluorescent confirmatory test	SASO 2066/2009	250
		Methanol detection	SASO 2066/2009	480
		A test for the permissible limit of arsenic	SASO 2066/2009	340
		Heavy metals permissible limit test	SASO 2066/2009	340 لكل عنصر
		Estimation of biological breakability	SASO 2066/2009	لا يجرى
		Cleaning strength test	SASO 2066/2009	540
12	Children Toys	Virtual examination		200	2 Business days
		Estimate DIY-eyes and nylon phthalates	EN 71-11	1040
		(Determination of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	EN 71-11	1040
		Estimate di-butyl phthalate	EN 71-11	1040
		Estimate butyl benzil phthalate	EN 71-11	1040
		Estimate the phenol compound	EN 71-11	1040
		Bisphenol estimate	EN 71-11	1040
		Estimate of the acramide compound	EN 71-11	1040
		Estimate formaldehyde compound	EN 71-11	1040
		Methanol solvent estimation	EN 71-11	210
		Estimate ethanol solvent	EN 71-11	210
		Estimate toluene solvent	EN 71-11	210
		Estimate the solvent ethylbenzene	EN 71-11	210
		Estimate oxalene solvent	EN 71-11	210
		Determination of cyclohexanone solvent	EN 71-11	210
13	Porous tip pens (Watercolor pens - ink pens)	Virtual examination	GSO 1197	200	1 Business days
		Explanatory data	GSO 1197	-
		Methanol solvent estimation	EN 71-11	210
		Estimate ethanol solvent	EN 71-11	210
		Estimate toluene solvent	EN 71-11	210
		Estimate the solvent ethylbenzene	EN 71-11	210
		Estimate oxalene solvent	EN 71-11	210
		Determination of cyclohexanone solvent	EN 71-11	210
Chemical element estimation unit
1	Pencils	Virtual examination	SASO 1456	200	5 Business days
		Explanatory data	SASO 1456	200
		Measure pen and bullet dimensions	SASO 1456	200
		Pen bullet exit test	SASO 1456	200
		Hardness test	SASO 1456	200
		Element lead estimation	EN 71-3	340
		Element chromium estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Estimate cadmium	EN 71-3	340
		Antimony component estimation	EN 71-3	340
		Arsenic age estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Estimate the barium element	EN 71-3	340
		Selenium estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Element mercury estimation	EN 71-3	340
2	Bottled water	Determination of total dissolved solids (TDS)	SASO 452-1989	330	5 Business days
		PH	SASO 452-1989	330
		Estimate the chloride content	ISO 10304	340
		Fluoride content estimation	ISO 10304	390
		Estimate the bromate content	ISO 10304	500
		Estimate the nitrate content	ISO 10304	390
		Estimate nitrite content	ISO 10304	390
		Estimation of sulfate content	ISO 10304	390
		Difficulty estimating	SASO 668-1996	340
		Calcium element estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element Magnesium Estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Potassium element estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element Sodium Estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element lead estimation	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element Arsenic Estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Estimate the barium element	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Boron element estimation	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Estimate cadmium	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element chromium estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Estimate the element cobalt	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element copper estimation	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Iron element estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Manganese element estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Estimate the element molybdenum	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element Nickel Estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element phosphate estimation	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Estimate selenium	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Element Silver Estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Elemental Zinc Estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Vanadium element estimate	SASO ISO 11885-2007	340
		Estimate the bicarbonate component	GSO 1903-2009	230
3	Children Toys	Explanatory data		200	5 Business days
		Element lead estimation	EN 71-3	340
		Element chromium estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Estimate cadmium	EN 71-3	340
		Antimony component estimation	EN 71-3	340
		Arsenic age estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Estimate the barium element	EN 71-3	340
		Selenium estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Element mercury estimation	EN 71-3	340
		Element lead estimation	EN 71-3	340
4	Crayons	Virtual examination	SASO 995	200	5 Business days
		Explanatory data	SASO 995	200
		Hardness test	SASO 995	200
		The stability test of the tooth inside the pen body	SASO 995	200
		Element lead estimation	EN 71-3	340
		Element chromium estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Estimate cadmium	EN 71-3	340
		Antimony component estimation	EN 71-3	340
		Arsenic age estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Estimate the barium element	EN 71-3	340
		Selenium estimate	EN 71-3	340
		Element mercury estimation	EN 71-3	340
Microbiological testing unit
1	Bottled and un-bottled water	Total count of bacteria	GSO 378	200	5 Business days
		Count yeasts and molds	GSO 378	200
		The most likely count is coliform bacteria	GSO 378	200
		Count the Escherichia coli bacteria	GSO 378	250
		Detection of Cidmonass bacteria	GSO 378	200
		The most likely count for coliform bacteria	GSO 378	200
Petroleum Testing Unit
1	Cooling Water	Standard Test Method for Refractive Index of Viscous Materials	ASTM D 1747	150	10 Business days
		Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter	ASTM D 4052	300
		Boiling point estimation	SASO 994	200
		Estimate the pour point	SASO 994	200
		PH	SASO 994	330
		Base reserve estimate	SASO1777	200
		The ratio of ethylene glyco	SASO 994	400
2	Lubricating oils Internal combustion engines	Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester	ASTM D 92	200	10 Business days
		Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products	ASTM D97	200
		Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity) At 40ºC And 100º m	ASTM D 445	400
		Standard Practice for Calculating Viscosity Index from Kinematic Viscosity at 40 °C and 100 °C	ASTM D2270	50
		Standard Test Method for Foaming Characteristics of Lubricating Oils	ASTM D 892	350
		The total basal number	SASO 1777	200
		Total Sulfur in Hydrocarbons	ASTM D4294	340
		Standard Test Method for Sulfated Ash from Lubricating Oils and Additives	ASTM D874	340
		Estimation of Konradson's carbon residual	SASO 1181	300
3	Car brake oils	Road vehicles — Petroleum-based brake-fluid for stored-energy hydraulic brakes	SASO-ISO- 7308	200	10 Business days
		Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)	ASTM 445	200
		Standard Test Method for Low-Temperature Viscosity of Automatic Transmission Fluids, Hydraulic Fluids, and Lubricants using a Rotational Viscometer - 40ºC	ASTM D 2983	200
		Fumigation	SASO-ISO- 7308	300
		Liquidity at -40 and 50º m	SASO-ISO- 7308	500
		Withstand water at -4	SASO-ISO- 7308	250
		Impact on rubber	SASO-ISO- 7308	250
		PH	SASO-ISO- 7308	330
4	Cooling piston lubricating oil	Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity) at 40ºC	ASTM D445	200	10 Business days
		Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products	ASTM D97	200
		Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester	ASTM D92	200
		Kidney acid number	SASO 1731	360
5	Regular gear lubrication oil	Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity) at 40 and 100 C	ASTM D445	400	10 Business days
		Standard Practice for Calculating Viscosity Index from Kinematic Viscosity at 40 °C and 100 °C	ASTM D2270	50
		Standard Test Method for Foaming Characteristics of Lubricating Oils	ASTM D892	350
		Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester	ASTM D92	200
		Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products	ASTM D97	200
6	Hydraulic oils	Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity) at 40 and 100 C at 40 and 100ºC	ASTM D445	400	10 Business days
		Standard Practice for Calculating Viscosity Index from Kinematic Viscosity at 40 °C and 100 °C	ASTM D2270	50
		Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester	ASTM D97	200
		Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products	ASTM D92	200
		Standard Test Method for Foaming Characteristics of Lubricating Oils	ASTM D892	350
		Emulsifying properties	SASO 623	270
		Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter and specific weight	ASTM D4052	300
7	White oil spirit	Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter at 25º C	ASTM D4052	300	10 Business days
		Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels at Atmospheric Pressure	ASTM D 86	400
		Standard Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester	ASTM D56	200
		Total Sulfur in Hydrocarbons	ASTM D4294	340
		Distillation of aromatics	SASO 1932	300
		DETERMINATION OF COLOUR FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS	GSO 1203	200
		Standard Test Method for Water in Insulating Liquids by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration	Astm d 1533 GSO1160	500
		White Spirit and Its Test Methods	SASO 657	400
8	Automatic transmission oil for automatic gear	Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity) at 40 and 100 C at 40 and 100ºC	ASTM D445	400	10 Business days
		Standard Practice for Calculating Viscosity Index from Kinematic Viscosity at 40 °C and 100 °C	ASTM D2270	50
		Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products	ASTM D92	200
		Standard Test Method for Low-Temperature Viscosity of Automatic Transmission Fluids, Hydraulic Fluids, and Lubricants using a Rotational Viscometer- 20 Standard Test Method for Low-Temperature Viscosity of Automatic Transmission Fluids, Hydraulic Fluids, and Lubricants using a Rotational Viscometer- 30 Standard Test Method for Low-Temperature Viscosity of Automatic Transmission Fluids, Hydraulic Fluids, and Lubricants using a Rotational Viscometer- 40	ASTM D 2983	600
		Standard Test Method for Foaming Characteristics of Lubricating Oils	ASTM D892	350
		Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter at 15ºC	ASTM D4052	300
		Total Sulfur in Hydrocarbons	ASTM D4294	340
9	Fuile	Total Sulfur in Hydrocarbons	ASTM D4294	340	10 Business days
		Standard Test Method for Motor Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel	ASTM .d 2699,2700	200
		Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels at Atmospheric Pressure	ASTM D86	400
		Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test	ASTM D130	340
		DETERMINATION OF COLOUR FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS	GSO 1203	200
		Octane number	Saso 1060	200
10	Grease	Dropping Point of Lubricating Grease Over Wide Temperature Range	ASTM D2265	350	5 Business days
		Penetration value	SASO 1528	200
		Oil Separation from Lubricating Grease During Storage	ASTM . d 1742	220
		Oxidation Stability of Lubricating Greases by the Oxygen Pressure Vessel Method	ASTM .d 942	330