EN 10204 Quality Certificate: What It Is and Why It Matters for Every Steel Order

If you work in industrial construction, process piping, or steel procurement, you have almost certainly seen the term EN 10204 on a product certificate. But do you actually know what it means — and whether you are requesting the right type?

Getting this wrong can lead to rejected deliveries, failed audits, or worse, non-compliant installations. Here is a straightforward breakdown.

— -

What Is EN 10204?

EN 10204 is a European standard that defines the types of inspection documents that accompany metallic products — steel pipes, fittings, flanges, and other components.

It does not define how strong a pipe must be. It defines who certifies that the product meets your requirements, and how.

— -

The 4 Document Types — Simply Explained

2.1 — Declaration of Conformity The manufacturer simply states the product complies with the order. No test data, no independent check. Rarely accepted in serious industrial projects.

2.2 — Test Report The manufacturer provides test results, but from non-specific inspections — not necessarily from your exact batch.

3.1 — Inspection Certificate (the industry standard) Issued by the manufacturer’s own QC department, independent from production. Contains chemical composition, mechanical test results, and batch-specific data. This is what most B2B industrial orders require.

3.2 — Inspection Certificate with Independent Validation Everything in 3.1, plus a signature from an external, independent inspector (TUV, Bureau Veritas, DNV, or the client’s own representative). Required for pressure equipment, offshore, oil & gas, and nuclear applications.

— -

The Rule of Thumb

• Standard industrial projects → EN 10204 3.1
• Pressure equipment (PED/ISCIR), offshore, petrochemical → EN 10204 3.2

And always — specify the certificate type in your purchase order. If you do not, the supplier can legally deliver any type, including the most basic one.

— -

One More Thing

Certificates must be verified at goods receipt and archived for the lifetime of the installation. These documents are your legal proof of compliance if anything is ever questioned.

— -

Want the full breakdown — including a comparison table, common procurement mistakes, and when to request 3.2 over 3.1?

Read the complete guide here: titansteelco.ro/en/what-is-en-10204-certificate

— -

Titan Steel Trading is a B2B distributor of steel pipes, fittings, and flanges, supplying EN 10204 3.1 certificates as standard on all products.