Saudi energy code SBC 602: why Low-E and solar-control glass are becoming the norm

In Saudi Arabia, air-conditioning is the largest consumer of electricity in buildings. To reduce it, the Saudi Building Code includes an energy conservation code, SBC 602, which sets requirements for the building envelope, including glazing. Together with the giga-projects, this is pushing demand towards Low-E and solar-control glass. Here is what importers and fabricators should know.

Why glazing matters so much

Windows and facades let in most of the solar heat entering a building. Studies carried out in Jeddah show that, in a hot climate, most of the energy savings from glazing come from reducing solar heat gain, measured by the SHGC, rather than from insulation alone. In other words, the right glass can cut cooling costs significantly.

The three figures your customers will ask for

• SHGC (solar factor): the share of solar heat that passes through the glass. The lower it is, the cooler the building.
• U-value: heat loss or gain through the glass. The lower it is, the better the insulation.
• Light transmission: how much daylight comes in. A good solar-control glass keeps light while blocking heat.

Giga-projects drive the market

NEOM, Red Sea Global, Qiddiya, King Salman Park and the redevelopment of Jeddah all call for large volumes of high-performance glass for curtain walls and facades. Contractors working on these projects, and the fabricators who supply them, need reliable stock of Low-E, reflective and laminated glass.

What to put in your next container

1. Low-E and solar-control glass, for facades and windows.
2. Reflective glass in the most requested colours.
3. Laminated 44.2 and 55.2, often combined with solar control.
4. Clear float for double glazing assembled locally.

With every reference, we send the technical data sheet with its performance values, so you can answer consultants and pass project approvals. For delivery, remember that Jeddah, on the Red Sea, avoids the Strait of Hormuz.

Requirements depend on the building type and the current edition of the code: always check with the project consultant.

Sources: MDPI Buildings, 2025 · World Bank, Building Green