| Type | Name | Test basis | Validated by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Declaration of compliance with the order | No test results included | Manufacturer |
| 2.2 | Test report | Results based on non-specific inspection | Manufacturer |
| 3.1 | Inspection certificate | Results from specific inspection | Manufacturer’s authorized inspection representative, independent of production |
| 3.2 | Inspection certificate | Results from specific inspection | Manufacturer’s representative and the purchaser’s representative or a designated inspector |
The distributor and association pages I read describe “non-specific” as inspection on products with the same specification and process but not necessarily the products supplied, and “specific” as inspection on the products to be supplied.
Which to request
The document type follows from what you need to prove.
- Need to know what is in this batch (traceability): ask for 3.1 and the heat or lot number on the certificate.
- Only need a statement of conformity for low-risk parts: 2.2 or even 2.1 may be enough.
- High-stakes or regulated work: consider 3.2 with a named independent inspector, and agree it before ordering.
What a certificate does not prove
A certificate reports properties, not performance.
- It reports the properties named on it, not the performance of a finished edge in service.
- It covers the steel, not necessarily heat treatment or brazing unless the certificate says so.
- It is only useful if the number on the certificate matches the marking on the material.
Practical example of the difference
Imagine two lots of the same steel. A type 2.2 report may show typical values for the product and process, while a 3.1 certificate shows values measured on the lot you receive. If a bar from the lot later fails an inspection, the 3.1 gives you a document tied to that lot. This is an illustration of the principle, not a statement about any real supplier or product.
What to ask on the order
A certificate is only useful if it names the standard, the properties and the lot.
- Which document type, which standard edition, and which properties to report. 3.1 and 2.2 differ in who tests and who signs.
- That the lot or heat number appears on both the certificate and the material. Otherwise it certifies someone else’s steel.
- Who issues and signs it. The signature is the part that carries responsibility.
Query date: October 24, 2026.
Boundary: based on two secondary descriptions of EN 10204; the standard text was not read. Confirm requirements against the standard and your contract.
Sources and further reading. External references are dated; where a figure is quoted, the link shows where it came from.
Van Leeuwen (steel and tube distributor): Inspection Documents to EN 10204 (descriptions of types 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2) (accessed 2026-10-24) ↗British Stainless Steel Association: BSEN 10204 test certificates for stainless steel products (accessed 2026-10-24) ↗3 ft vs 4 ft JOMA Segments: Choosing by Moldboard Width and Route ↗A test certificate cites an old standard edition. What should we do before accepting it? ↗SENTHAI quality control ↗Hard Does Not Mean Tough: Hardness vs Toughness Explained With Plow Examples ↗Standard Carbide-Blade Specs: What Clear Roads Project 17-02 Set Out to Do ↗Metric 8.8 vs 10.9 on Plow Edges: Strength, Hardness and Brittleness Trade-Offs ↗
