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 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) en 10204
EN 10204, officially titled "Metallic products — Types of inspection documents," is a European standard that defines the different types of inspection documents supplied to the purchaser. It does not specify material properties, tolerances, or testing methods. Instead, it answers a critical question: This is the most commonly specified document in
The test results are representative but not traceable to the exact delivery. The QC lab cuts samples from each plate,