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
Crucially, the testing must be witnessed or evaluated by a (e.g., a quality control lab that reports to a different management chain). This ensures internal independence. 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,
Type 2.1 is the most basic declaration. The manufacturer simply states, on a document they produce, that the products supplied comply with the requirements of the order. No test results are provided, and no reference is made to specific inspections. It is essentially a commercial statement of good faith.