BinaalineThe construction encyclopedia
ع Register interest

Key points

  • Ask for the technical data sheet and the standard the product meets; a marketing name is not enough.
  • Check the product suits the place of use: indoor or outdoor, wet or dry, cold or hot water.
  • The warranty should be written, stating what it covers and its conditions (such as installation by an approved installer).
  • Calculate quantity with waste, and ask for a sample or a single production batch for tiles and paint to avoid colour differences.
Written for:OwnerContractorSupplier

In building-materials shops you hear words like "premium", "resistant" and "original". These are not specifications. This guide gives you specific questions to ask before paying, with examples from the encyclopedia's guides of what each figure means.

1) Five questions before paying

  1. Data sheet: ask for the technical data sheet for this exact product, not the whole family.
  2. Reference standard: which standard does it meet, and is there a certificate of conformity?
  3. Place of use: does the sheet say it suits your location (outdoor, wet, hot water, floors walked on wet)?
  4. Warranty: written, with duration, what it covers and what voids it.
  5. Quantity and sample: quantity with waste and reserve, and a sample or a single production batch number.

2) What the figures mean: examples

MaterialWhat to look for on the sheetDetails
Tile adhesiveEN 12004 class: C cementitious, D dispersion or R reaction resin; 2 improved; S1 or S2 deformability1tile adhesive
TilesPEI abrasion class for glazed tiles (0 to 5)2, and slip resistance with the method statedtile specs
Water pipesThe standard and service class; e.g. PVC-U to ISO 1452 is for cold water, not hot3, and PPR to ISO 158744pipe types
PaintVOC content; e.g. a 30 g/L cap for interior matt wall paint under EU law5paint types
CablesCross-section in mm², and phase, neutral and earth colours per IEC 604456wires
AC unitsThe energy efficiency label for the specific model under SASO 2663 (low-capacity window and split units)7AC guide
Taps and toiletsThe water-saving label and its grade8basins and toilets

3) Quantity and waste

  • Use the encyclopedia calculators for tiles, adhesive and paint, then add the reserve they suggest.
  • For tiles and paint: buy the whole quantity from one production batch if possible, and keep a box or tin for future repairs (practical advice).
  • Ask about the returns policy for surplus before buying.

4) Warning signs

  • No data sheet, or a sheet for a different product.
  • Absolute promises such as "never cracks" or "100% waterproof" with no figure or standard.
  • A verbal warranty only.
  • A price far below the market for the same claimed specification.

The list is practical advice. If in doubt about a structural material (rebar, concrete, roof waterproofing), ask the supervising engineer before buying. See rebar and ready-mix concrete.

Sources

The number next to a statement points to its source in this list. Sources back the general information; anything marked “practical advice” is editorial experience, not a quoted source. Anything that affects safety, structural design or electrical installations needs a licensed professional, and in Saudi Arabia the binding reference is the Saudi Building Code.

  1. 1EN 12004 Classifications – TDS 137EN — LATICRETE International
  2. 2Application Technique — Terms and Classifications according to DIN EN 14411 — AGROB BUCHTAL / Deutsche Steinzeug
  3. 3ISO 1452-2 — PVC-U pipes for water supply and drainage under pressure — International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
  4. 4ISO 15874-2 — Plastics piping systems for hot and cold water installations — Polypropylene (PP) — Part 2: Pipes — International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
  5. 5Directive 2004/42/EC — Annex II: VOC limit values for decorative paints and varnishes (Phase II from 1.1.2010) — legislation.gov.uk
  6. 6IEC 60445:2021 — Identification of equipment terminals, conductor terminations and conductors (official preview pages: clauses 6.2 and 6.3.2) — International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) — preview published by iTeh Standards, 2021-07
  7. 7Introducing the new requirements and enforcement timeline of SASO 2663:2021 Standard for Air Conditioners (SASO workshop presentation) — Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) — workshop presentation, 2021-08-25
  8. 8Technical Regulation for Water Consumption Saving Tools — Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)
Was this guide useful?
This guide is for general information and planning, based on standards and technical guides. Standards are revised periodically; in Saudi Arabia the binding reference is the Saudi Building Code and the instructions of the competent authorities. For design and execution, use a licensed engineer or technician. Found an error? Tell us.