EN 10219 Certificate of Conformity (EN 10204 3.1): What You Need to Know

In the process of steel pipe procurement and project acceptance, the Conformity Certificate is a crucial quality document. For structural welded steel pipes manufactured in accordance with the EN 10219 standard, the EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificate serves as the core basis for judging the conformity and traceability of materials.

So, what is the difference between EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2? Which one should be chosen for EN 10219 steel pipe projects? This article will explain in detail.

What is EN 10204?

EN 10204 is a standard issued by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) that specifies the types of inspection certificates required for metal products at the time of delivery. It is mainly used for technical qualification certification of products such as steel, alloys, pipes, and plates. EN 10204 includes the following types of certificates:

• 2.1: Declaration of Conformity
• 2.2: Test Report
• 3.1: Product Inspection Certificate (Manufacturer)
• 3.2: Product Inspection Certificate (Independent Third-Party Organization + Manufacturer)

In industrial and construction projects, the 3.1 and 3.2 certificates are the most frequently used and the two most important versions.

EN 10204 3.1 Certificate: Widely Applicable to EN 10219 Steel Pipes

What is a 3.1 Certificate?

EN 10204 3.1 is a product conformity certification document issued by the manufacturer, declaring that the delivered steel products meet the technical requirements of relevant standards (such as EN 10219) and attaching actual test results, for example:

• Chemical composition analysis
• Mechanical properties (yield strength, tensile strength, elongation)
• Impact toughness (e.g., -20°C impact test results for S355J2H)
• Dimensional tolerance and appearance inspection

Who Issues It?

The 3.1 certificate is issued by the manufacturer’s quality control department and signed by the quality supervisor, and has legal effect.

Application Scenarios

• Building structure projects
• Bridge steel structures
• General industrial equipment
• In international export projects, most bidding documents only require the provision of a 3.1 certificate to meet the standard review.

EN 10204 3.2 Certificate: Higher-Level Quality Control

What is a 3.2 Certificate?

Compared with 3.1, the EN 10204 3.2 certificate requires the manufacturer and an independent third-party inspection agency to jointly participate in the verification. All test results are not only conducted by the manufacturer but also need to be re-inspected and confirmed by accredited organizations (such as TUV, Lloyd’s Register, DNV, BV, etc.).

The Issuance Process is More Complex

The issuance of 3.2 usually involves the following:

• Pre-audit plan for project customers
• On-site or random inspection by third-party auditors
• Re-inspection of chemical, mechanical properties, flaw detection and other items
• Signature of the report by both parties

Application Scenarios

• Oil and gas transmission pipelines
• Offshore platform structures
• Nuclear power, military industry, high-risk facilities
• Projects requiring special quality review in contracts or international bidding projects

Comprehensive Comparison Table of EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2

As an EN 10219 Round Pipe Manufacturer, How Can We Support Your Project?

We are a manufacturing enterprise based in Hebei, China, specializing in the production of EN 10219 circular structural steel pipes. Our main products include:

• ERW round pipes (electric resistance welding)
• LSAW round pipes (longitudinal submerged arc welding)

We do not produce square and rectangular pipes, but focus on the in-depth development of circular pipes. As a mature supplier, we have the following service capabilities:

1. Provision of Standardized EN 10204 3.1 Certificates

All steel pipes delivered can be provided with conformity certificates meeting the requirements of EN 10204 3.1, accompanied by complete chemical composition, mechanical properties and heat treatment information.

2. Support for Third-Party Certification (3.2) Requirements

If the project requires EN 10204 3.2, we can assist in arranging on-site or remote audits by organizations such as TUV, BV, and SGS.

3. Full-Process Traceability System

We implement full heat number management, material tracking and quality control filing to ensure complete records of each steel pipe from raw materials to shipment.

1. Choosing the Right Certificate Makes the Project More Worry-Free

For most projects adopting the EN 10219 standard, the 3.1 certificate is sufficient to prove quality compliance. If higher technical thresholds or special specification requirements are involved, then the 3.2 certificate should be chosen.

If you are unsure which certificate your project needs, please feel free to contact our technical team. We will provide professional suggestions based on project specifications, bidding documents and usage environment.