En 10204 Official

Introduction In the world of industrial manufacturing, construction, and engineering, trust is a commodity as valuable as the materials themselves. When a steel beam is used in a skyscraper, a pipe in a chemical plant, or a forging in an aircraft landing gear, the buyer needs absolute assurance that the material meets specified requirements. This is where EN 10204 comes into play.

A steel mill produces 50 tonnes of S355J2 plates. The QC lab cuts samples from each plate, tests them, and issues a 3.1 certificate stating: "Heat No. H45678 – Yield 365 MPa, Tensile 510 MPa, Impact 47J at -20°C. Complies with EN 10025-2." 4. Type 3.2 – Inspection Certificate Formal Name: Inspection certificate 3.2 Issued by: An independent third party (not the manufacturer’s own inspection department) Third-party verification: Yes – by an entity recognized by the competent authority (e.g., a notified body, classification society, or independent inspection agency)

It is crucial to understand that EN 10204 does not mandate which document type to use. That decision lies with the product standard (e.g., EN 10025 for structural steel) or the customer’s specification. However, the standard provides the format and content rules once a type is chosen. 1. Type 2.1 – Declaration of Compliance with the Order Formal Name: Declaration of compliance with the order Issued by: Manufacturer Third-party verification: None en 10204

First published in 1991 and significantly revised in 2004 (the current version is EN 10204:2004), this standard has become the de facto global language for material certification, referenced in countless international specifications, from ISO standards to ASTM, and is mandatory for products placed on the European market under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) or Construction Products Regulation (CPR). EN 10204 is built on a hierarchy of responsibility and rigor. At its heart, it distinguishes between statements made by the manufacturer (the producer of the metallic product) and those verified by an independent body not associated with the manufacturer.

This is the most commonly specified document in heavy industry. Type 3.1 requires that the manufacturer provide a certificate confirming compliance with the order, and that the test results come from specific inspection – meaning tests performed on the actual products or the specific casting/heat/lot to be delivered. A steel mill produces 50 tonnes of S355J2 plates

The standard outlines four main types of inspection documents, designated by numbers: . The higher the number, the greater the level of verification and third-party involvement.

The test results are representative but not traceable to the exact delivery. Complies with EN 10025-2

Type 2.2 is a step up. The manufacturer provides a document stating that the products comply with the order, and additionally supplies test results. However, these test results come from non-specific inspections – meaning they are based on the manufacturer’s own internal testing regime, not necessarily on tests performed on the specific delivered lot. The tests could be from previous similar production, from internal quality assurance batches, or from type tests.