Type G Plug (BS 1363): Sourcing Electronics for Saudi Arabia & the UK
The Type G (BS 1363) plug is required in Saudi Arabia and the UK. Pinout, the mandatory 13A fuse, 220V/60Hz, and what to specify to a China factory.
The Type G plug — defined by the British standard BS 1363 — is the three-pin, fused mains plug used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, the wider GCC, and much of the Gulf. For anyone sourcing mains-powered electronics from China for the Saudi market, fitting the correct Type G plug and a compliant fuse is a non-negotiable SASO requirement. A China factory’s default export plug is usually Type C or Type I — wrong for Saudi Arabia.
What makes Type G distinctive
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Three rectangular pins (live, neutral, earth) |
| Earth pin | Longer top pin; opens the shuttered socket |
| Fuse | Integral fuse in the plug — 3A or 13A (BS 1362) |
| Rated current | Up to 13A |
| Standard | BS 1363 (plug), BS 1362 (fuse) |
The integral fuse is what sets Type G apart from almost every other plug type. The fuse must match the appliance load: a 3A fuse for products up to ~700W, a 13A fuse for higher loads. Fitting the wrong fuse rating is a common inspection failure.
Saudi Arabia: Type G plus 60Hz
Saudi Arabia standardized on Type G, but with a Gulf-specific twist on the mains supply:
- Voltage: 220V (the UK runs 230V; both tolerate the same equipment, but the label should state the rated voltage).
- Frequency: 60Hz — not 50Hz. This is the detail factories miss. The rating label must state 60Hz, and any frequency-dependent component (synchronous motors, some clocks and timers, transformers) must be rated for 60Hz.
A factory that fits a correct Type G plug but labels the product 50Hz out of habit will still fail Saudi conformity. Both the plug and the 60Hz label must be right.
Type G vs the China GB plug
Chinese domestic products use the GB 1002/GB 2099 plug (Type A/I style), 220V/50Hz, with no integral fuse. Three things must change for a Saudi build:
- The plug body → Type G (BS 1363) with the correct fuse.
- The frequency rating and label → 220V/60Hz.
- Any 50Hz-dependent component → a 60Hz-rated equivalent.
What to specify to the factory
Put this in writing before the first article:
- Type G (BS 1363) plug with a correctly-rated BS 1362 fuse (state 3A or 13A based on load)
- 220V/60Hz build, label stating 60Hz
- For chargers/adapters, the plug and the SASO 2203 adapter requirements apply together
For the full Saudi market picture, see the guide on sourcing smart home devices for Saudi Arabia and the SASO/SABER certification guide.