Saudi's utility grid presents a specific set of demands that many imported MV panel designs quietly fail. This field note walks through the eight specification clauses we audit before we approve a manufacturer for any KSA project.
1. Rated short-circuit withstand
SEC grid is stiff in urban feeders β allow headroom. For most 13.8 kV installations we specify 25 kA for 3 seconds as a baseline, not 1.
2. Internal arc classification
IAC AFLR, classification for front, rear, lateral β and critically β a live test report from a recognized lab (KEMA, CESI).
3. Ambient rating
Derate for Saudi summer. Any panel type-tested only at 40 Β°C needs explicit derating calcs to 50 Β°C before we sign off.
Takeaway
Switchgear selection is not a price exercise β it is a lifecycle decision. A 15% price gap disappears the moment a panel under-performs in a real fault.