Key takeaways
- State the EN 10204 document type in the purchase order; the standard only defines the types, the order decides which one you get.
- Type 3.1 and 3.2 results come from the products supplied or their test units, not from typical production.
- A certificate is only useful if its heat or lot number can be traced to marks on the parts.
- Check the standard, grade, chemistry, mechanical results and heat treatment against your specification, not just the supplier's summary.
- An inspector checks traceability and documents; a lab re-tests material when results are in doubt.
The four EN 10204 document types
EN 10204:2004 specifies the types of inspection documents supplied to the purchaser, in line with the order, for metallic products such as plates, sheets, bars, forgings and castings, whatever the production method. It may also be used for non-metallic products. It works together with the product specification, which sets the actual requirements.
| Type | Name | Based on | Test results | Validated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Declaration of compliance with the order | Non-specific inspection | None | Manufacturer |
| 2.2 | Test report | Non-specific inspection | Yes, from products of the same specification and process, not necessarily the ones supplied | Manufacturer |
| 3.1 | Inspection certificate 3.1 | Specific inspection | Yes, from the products supplied or their test units | Manufacturer's authorized inspection representative, independent of the manufacturing department |
| 3.2 | Inspection certificate 3.2 | Specific inspection | Yes, as 3.1 | Manufacturer's authorized inspection representative and either the purchaser's authorized inspection representative or the inspector designated by official regulations |
The standard defines non-specific inspection as the manufacturer's own inspection of products made to the same specification and process, which are not necessarily the products supplied. Specific inspection is done before delivery on the products to be supplied, or on test units they are part of.
Two further rules matter in practice. A manufacturer may carry onto a 3.1 or 3.2 certificate test results from its own incoming material, but only if it runs traceability procedures and can produce the supplier's documents. An intermediary, such as a stockist, may only pass on the original or a copy of the manufacturer's document without alteration, with a way to trace the product to it.
What to check on a mill test certificate
| Field | What to check |
|---|---|
| Document type | States EN 10204 and the type ordered (for example 3.1), not just “test certificate” |
| Issuer | The actual manufacturer (mill, foundry or forge); validated by a named person with their position |
| Product and order | Your purchase order number, description, size and quantity |
| Standard and grade | Exactly the material standard and grade on your drawing, including edition where it matters |
| Heat, cast or lot number | Matches the number stamped, cast or tagged on the parts or bundles |
| Chemical composition | Every element the standard limits, within the specified range |
| Mechanical properties | Tensile strength, yield, elongation, hardness and impact values where required, with test temperature and specimen orientation |
| Heat treatment | Condition and treatment required by the specification (for example normalized, quenched and tempered) |
| Other tests | Non-destructive testing, pressure tests or corrosion tests if the order calls for them |
Common problems with certificates from Indian suppliers
India exports castings, forgings, valves, fasteners and fabricated steel. The mill test certificate is often the only material evidence the overseas buyer sees. Problems to look for include:
- The raw-material certificate passed off as the part certificate. A foundry or forge sends the steel mill's certificate for its billets, while the parts were melted or heat treated again in its own shop.
- No traceability. The heat number on the certificate is not marked on the parts, or several heats are mixed in one lot.
- Trader certificates. A stockist issues a “3.1” on its own letterhead. EN 10204 allows an intermediary to pass on the manufacturer's document unaltered, not to issue its own.
- Recycled data. Identical results across different heats or orders, or values sitting exactly on the specification limits.
- Wrong grade or standard. An equivalent Indian or other grade is supplied instead of the specified one without the buyer's written approval.
- Type 2.2 supplied where 3.1 was ordered. The figures look the same, but they are not from your material.
What an inspection can verify, and what needs a lab
| An inspector at the factory can check | Only a lab can establish |
|---|---|
| The certificate type, issuer, standard and grade match the order | The actual chemical composition (spectrometer analysis) |
| Heat or lot numbers on the certificate match the marks on sampled parts | Tensile, yield, elongation and impact values |
| Results on the certificate fall within the specification limits | Hardness and microstructure where the order requires them, if not tested at the factory |
| Heat treatment records and furnace charts exist for the lots shipped | Whether results on the certificate are genuine |
| Factory test equipment is calibrated, and tests are witnessed where agreed |
A portable hardness test or a handheld spectrometer check at the factory can flag gross mix-ups, but it does not replace a lab test on prepared specimens.
How Clear To Load checks this in India
On a pre-shipment inspection in India, the inspector checks the certificates you received against the order, matches heat and lot numbers to the parts, and photographs marks, tags and records. Where you want independent results, we pull and seal samples for an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab of your choice through lab testing coordination.
The report arrives within 24 hours and ends in a verdict: Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared. Book an inspection to add these checks.