EN 10204 3.1 vs 3.2 — What European Buyers Need to Know
EN 10204 is the European standard governing inspection documents for metallic products. The difference between a 3.1 and 3.2 certificate is not merely administrative — it determines who is legally responsible for the inspection, and it is often a contractual or code requirement.
Certificate Types at a Glance
EN 10204 2.2 (Test Report): Manufacturer confirms compliance with the order specification based on non-specific inspection results — typically published typical values. No lot-specific testing required. Adequate only for the lowest-criticality applications.
EN 10204 3.1 (Inspection Certificate): Results of specific tests carried out on the actual product supplied (or from the same heat/lot). Signed by the manufacturer's own authorised inspection representative who is independent of the manufacturing department. This is the standard for EN 10253-2 Type B pipe fittings for pressure service.
EN 10204 3.2 (Inspection Certificate): The same test results as 3.1, but countersigned by a representative of a third-party inspection organisation (TPI) independent of the manufacturer — typically TÜV, Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, DNV, or Apave. The TPI's representative must be present at inspection.
When Is 3.2 Required?
- PED Category III or IV pressure equipment
- Nuclear Quality Group (ASME N-stamp or EN requirements)
- Offshore — structural and pressure fittings under DNV or Lloyd's class
- Sour service — when NACE requirements are critical
- Specific contractual requirements from the EPC or end-user
What the Certificate Must Contain
EN 10204 specifies minimum content: product identification, specification and test standard, actual chemical composition, actual mechanical properties (tensile, yield, elongation), heat/batch number, quantity, and signature. Additional data — PWHT records, hardness, impact values, NDE results — is appended as supplementary documents.
Arshya Pipe Fittings issues EN 10204 3.1 certificates standard on all EN 10253-2 Type B orders. EN 10204 3.2 with TÜV, Lloyd's, or Bureau Veritas countersignature is available on request — confirm the TPI requirement at the time of enquiry so we can include inspection costs in the quotation.