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)

The standard outlines four main types of inspection documents, designated by numbers: . The higher the number, the greater the level of verification and third-party involvement.

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.

First published in 1991 and significantly revised in 2004 (the current version is EN 10204:2004), this standard has become the de facto global language for material certification, referenced in countless international specifications, from ISO standards to ASTM, and is mandatory for products placed on the European market under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) or Construction Products Regulation (CPR). EN 10204 is built on a hierarchy of responsibility and rigor. At its heart, it distinguishes between statements made by the manufacturer (the producer of the metallic product) and those verified by an independent body not associated with the manufacturer.

The test results are representative but not traceable to the exact delivery.

"Test results from routine production monitoring show typical yield strength of 355 MPa. The supplied products comply with EN 10025." 3. Type 3.1 – Inspection Certificate Formal Name: Inspection certificate 3.1 Issued by: Manufacturer (but by an independent inspection department within the manufacturer) Third-party verification: None externally, but internally independent

"We hereby declare that the supplied steel bars conform to the requirements of order PO-12345." 2. Type 2.2 – Test Report Formal Name: Test report Issued by: Manufacturer Third-party verification: None (but based on non-specific inspections)

Type 2.2 is a step up. The manufacturer provides a document stating that the products comply with the order, and additionally supplies test results. However, these test results come from non-specific inspections – meaning they are based on the manufacturer’s own internal testing regime, not necessarily on tests performed on the specific delivered lot. The tests could be from previous similar production, from internal quality assurance batches, or from type tests.