SASO Urgently Revises TR 247: Smart Windows/Doors Must Support Matter v1.3 & HiLink 3.2

Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) issued an urgent amendment to Technical Regulation TR 247 on May 12, 2026, mandating dual-protocol interoperability for smart windows and doors entering Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets effective October 1, 2026. This development directly affects manufacturers, exporters, and certification service providers engaged in smart building hardware trade with the GCC — particularly those supplying connected fenestration products.

Event Overview

On May 12, 2026, SASO published Draft Amendment 1 to SASO TR 247:2026. The amendment requires all smart window and door products placed on the GCC market from October 1, 2026 onward to be certified for interoperability with both Matter v1.3 and Huawei’s HarmonyOS HiLink 3.2 protocols. The revision is formally titled “SASO TR 247:2026 Amendment 1” and is publicly available as a draft regulation.

Which Subsectors Are Affected

Direct Exporters and OEMs

Exporters of smart windows and doors to GCC countries must now ensure their products meet two concurrent protocol certification requirements — not just one. This increases pre-market testing time, certification costs, and documentation complexity. Products previously certified only for Matter (or only for HiLink) will no longer comply unless revalidated for both standards.

Manufacturers with Embedded Software Stacks

Fenestration manufacturers integrating connectivity modules — especially those using third-party SDKs or firmware from protocol-specific vendors — face revised firmware architecture requirements. Dual-stack implementation demands coordination between Matter-compliant controllers and HiLink 3.2-certified device-side agents, potentially requiring hardware-level compatibility verification (e.g., memory allocation, secure boot, OTA update handling).

Certification and Testing Service Providers

Laboratories accredited for SASO conformity assessment must now demonstrate capability to validate interoperability across both Matter v1.3 and HiLink 3.2 ecosystems. This includes maintaining updated test suites, reference devices, and cross-protocol conformance tooling — capabilities not uniformly available among current GCC-accredited labs.

Supply Chain Integrators and System Builders

Companies assembling smart home systems that include windows or doors — such as building automation integrators or turnkey solution providers — must verify end-to-end interoperability across both protocols when specifying or commissioning products. Interoperability gaps may delay project handover or trigger rework if components pass individual certification but fail joint scenario testing.

What Relevant Enterprises or Practitioners Should Focus On and How to Respond

Monitor Official Publication Status and Transition Timelines

The amendment remains a draft as of the information provided. Stakeholders should track whether SASO issues a finalized version before October 1, 2026 — including any grace periods, grandfathering clauses, or phased enforcement provisions. Draft status means regulatory interpretation and enforcement mechanics remain subject to change.

Verify Protocol Implementation Scope for Specific Product Categories

TR 247 applies specifically to smart windows and doors — not broader smart home categories. Enterprises should confirm whether their affected models fall under SASO’s functional definition (e.g., motorized operation, remote control, environmental sensing, or automated actuation). Products lacking embedded connectivity logic may remain outside scope.

Distinguish Between Certification Requirements and Ecosystem Integration

Passing dual-protocol certification does not guarantee seamless integration into Matter-based or HiLink-based smart home ecosystems — especially where vendor-specific extensions or proprietary services are involved. Testing should cover baseline interoperability (e.g., on/off, position reporting) rather than assuming full feature parity.

Assess Readiness of Development and Validation Partners

Manufacturers relying on external firmware developers or test labs should audit their partners’ current support for Matter v1.3 and HiLink 3.2. Early engagement is advisable, particularly for labs with SASO accreditation or recognized mutual recognition agreements with GCC authorities.

Editorial Perspective / Industry Observation

Observably, this amendment reflects growing regulatory attention to multi-ecosystem interoperability in smart building hardware — not merely device safety or energy performance. Analysis shows SASO is treating protocol choice as a market access condition, not a voluntary feature. From an industry perspective, this signals a shift toward harmonized connectivity governance in the GCC, though its long-term scalability depends on how consistently other GCC members adopt similar requirements. It is currently more of a policy signal than an implemented operational standard — given the draft status and absence of confirmed enforcement guidance.

Conclusion

This amendment marks a procedural tightening in GCC market access for smart fenestration — one that elevates technical compliance from single-protocol validation to coordinated dual-protocol assurance. It does not introduce new safety or performance thresholds, but it redefines what constitutes ‘interoperable’ for regulatory purposes. Currently, it is best understood as an emerging requirement under active consultation — not yet a settled compliance benchmark.

Source Disclosure

Main source: SASO Draft Amendment 1 to TR 247:2026, published May 12, 2026.
Points requiring ongoing observation: Final publication date, official transition arrangements, and accreditation status of testing laboratories for dual-protocol validation.