Services to the
energy sector
BSEN 10204 - type 3.2 Inspection Certification
With the introduction of new EC directives, such as the Pressure Equipment Directive
(PED), there is an increasing requirement for materials to prove they meet the
defined chemical and mechanical properties. This has led to the authentication of
material certificate requirements under the standard BSEN 10204:2004. This
factsheet gives more information about achieving certification under type 3.2 of that
standard.
Background
In Germany, inspection documents
(certificate types) were originally specified in
standard DIN 50049. These definitions of
material testing and certificate types were
adopted for European standard EN 10204,
first published in 1991 when certificate
types 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1A, 3.1B, 3.1C and
3.2 were defined, which closely following
the definitions in the German standard.
EN 10204 was revised in 2004 and
published as BSEN 10204 in October 2004
with a simplified range of inspection
documents (certificate types). These now
only include types 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2.
- Type 2.3 has been deleted.
- Type 3.1 replaces 3.1B
- Type 3.2 replaces 3.1A, 3.1C and 3.2 of
the previous edition.
This reduced range of options was designed
to make the standard easier to understand
and work with.
What is type 3.2 certification?
Inspection certificate 3.2 “type 3.2” is
defined within EN 10204:2004 as a
“Document prepared by both the
manufacturer’s authorized inspection
representative, independent of the
manufacturing department and either the
purchaser’s authorized representative or the
inspector designated by the official
regulations and in which they declare that
the products supplied are in compliance
with the requirements of the order and in
which test results are supplied”.
Industry recognises an independent third
party inspection as fulfilling the role of
“purchaser’s authorised representative or
the inspector designated by the official
regulations”.
EN 10204:2004 defines the manufacturer
as an “organization that manufactures the
respective products according to the
requirements of the order and to the
properties specified in the referenced
product specification”. Examples of a
manufacturer are steelmaker, foundry,
smelter, forge, pipe/plate mill etc.
Therefore, true type 3.2 certification is
produced by the manufacturer, with test
results supplied. The independent third
party inspector will have witnessed test
results and verified the material’s
identification and traceability.
How we can help you
Lloyd’s Register offers an independent third
party inspection role to manufacturers for
type 3.2 certification. This involves visiting
the manufacturer where the surveyor will
identify the material to be verified. This
includes a visual examination, sample
dimensional checks and confirmation that
the material is traceable back to the ladle
chemical analysis, which may be in the form
of a BS EN 10204 type 3.1 certificate. The
traceable reference may be the cast or heat
number, test number or some other
reference clearly traceable back to the ladle
analysis.
The traceable reference would normally be
marked on the component by the
manufacturer via indelible means, i.e. hard
stamping, etching, stencilling or other
indelible marking. Adequate material is
identified by the surveyor for further
testing, with the traceable identity
transferred, including test stamp marking of
the original piece. Documentation would be
reviewed against specification for
compliance with chemical composition,
heat treatment and Non Destructive
Examination.
The Lloyd’s Register surveyor would also
visit the test house (either a department
independent of production within the
manufacturer or a sub-contract
independent nationally or internationally
accredited test facility) to witness the
appropriate tests (tensile, impacts, bend
tests hardness, corrosion, structure, etc) as
specified in the standard or specification
and review the results obtained to ensure
they meet the required limits.
Providing all the testing and examinations
meet with the specified requirements, the
surveyor would carry out a final visit to the
manufacturer to verify that the material
meets the “product specification” as
defined in EN 10204: 2004, review and
countersign their type 3.2 certification and
inspect and hard stamp, or otherwise
indelibly mark the material.
Material from a stockist
Often in industry, the purchaser (end user)
will order material from a stockist. The
stockist may select material that has only
been certified by the manufacturer using a
type 3.1 certificate. As defined by EN
10204:2004, this certification has not been
validated by the independent third party
inspector. However, it is widely accepted
that material covered by type 3.1
certification can be upgraded to material to
the-intent-of type 3.2 by the stockist
employing an independent third party
inspector to “validate” this material.
Lloyd’s Register offers an independent third
party inspection role to stockists and
intermediate material handlers or processors
for intent-of type 3.2 certification and this
involves visiting the stockist to identify the
material to be verified. This includes a visual
examination, sample dimensional checks
and confirmation that the material is
traceable back to the ladle chemical analysis
which may be in the form of a BS EN10204
type 3.1 certificate.
The traceable reference may be the cast or
heat number, test number or some other
reference clearly traceable back to the mill
certificate. The traceable reference would
normally be marked on the component by
the original material manufacturer via
indelible means, either hard stamping,
etching, stencilling or other indelible
marking. Adequate material is identified by
the surveyor for further testing with the
traceable identity transferred, including test
stamp marking of the original piece.

Following confirmation of traceability the

material certificate is checked against the
intended specification to confirm
compliance for chemical analysis,
mechanical properties (tensile, impacts,
hardness, bend tests etc), heat treatment
condition, corrosion and structure
requirements, NDT performed as
determined by the applicable material
standard or client specification.

The Lloyd’s Register Group surveyor would

also visit the test house, normally a sub-
contract independent nationally or
internationally accredited test facility to
witness all additional testing of the material
that is applicable.

Providing all the testing and examinations

meet with the specified requirements, the
surveyor would carry out a final visit to the
stockist, to review documentation (including
the original manufacturer’s type 3.1
certificate), verify that the material meets
the “product specification” as defined in EN
10204:2004; countersign the stockist’s
certification and inspect and hard stamp the
material

The acceptability of the type 3.2 (or

meeting the intent of 3.2) should be
confirmed with the purchaser before work
starts.
 In both cases described above, Lloyd’s
Register surveyors responsible for the third
party inspection can, at the client’s request,
issue inspection certificates that detail the
scope of inspection carried out and include
a statement of conformance with EN
10204:2004 or the intent of EN
10204:2004 as applicable.

Benefits of using Lloyd’s Register

• Technical expertise
• Assurance that products meet the
specified standard
• Acceptance by authorities worldwide
• Global and local network of experienced
surveyors
• Limits your risk

For further information

If you would like to find out more about
how Lloyd’s Register can help with your 3.2
inspection certification requirements,
please:
call +44 (0)2476 518630
email ukenergy@lr.org
or visit www.lloydsregister.co.uk

March 2011
Services are provided by members of the Lloyds Register Group. For further details please see our website: www.lr.org/entities