Technical guide
A certificate is only useful if you can check it in five minutes. Here is what each block means, which numbers actually matter for acceptance, and the three things that most often make an inspector reject one.
| Type | Who issues it | Independence |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2 | Manufacturer, non-specific test results | None — values may come from the heat, not your tube |
| 3.1 | Manufacturer's authorised inspection representative | Independent of production, results traceable to your heat |
| 3.2 | Manufacturer + a notified body or client's inspector | Highest — required for pressure and structural safety work |
Most structural orders are specified as 3.1. If your contract says 3.2, the inspector signs the certificate at the mill, and you should budget for their attendance.
Which is why we photograph every bundle's marking before loading — the photo, the certificate and the packing list all carry the same heat number.
In the purchase order, state: EN 10204 3.1 certificate, heat number marked on each bundle, chemistry, tensile, impact at [temperature], dimensional and coating results. Vague wording like "mill test certificate" is what produces a 2.2 sheet with no test data.
Third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TÜV) is booked 7 days before loading; the cheapest arrangement is inspection during loading, when the inspector can see bundles, marks and container together.
No. A test report may be 2.2 (manufacturer's own declaration). 3.1 requires an authorised inspection representative independent of production.
Yes, but it needs a notified body or your own inspector at the mill, and it adds cost and lead time. Most structural tube is ordered as 3.1.
The certificate does not, but its validity for a project depends on that project's specification and the inspector accepting the source.