Quality, testing & documents EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2

EN 10204 mill test certificate (2.2, 3.1, 3.2)

The European standard defining types of inspection documents for metallic products – plate, pipe, sections, castings and forgings – used worldwide under the name “mill test certificate” (MTC). Type 2.2 gives the manufacturer’s non-specific test results; Type 3.1 gives chemical and mechanical results specific to the delivered lot, validated by the manufacturer’s independent inspection representative; Type 3.2 additionally includes tests witnessed by the purchaser or an independent body such as a classification society. Pressure vessels, shipbuilding and energy projects usually require 3.1 or 3.2.

Related terms

Certificate of analysis (COA)

A document in which the producer or an independent laboratory reports the test results for a specific lot together with the specification limits. It shows the product name, lot number, production date, test method (e.g. ASTM, ISO), measured value and acceptance range. A TDS gives a product’s typical properties; a COA gives the actual values of the lot delivered. Under a letter of credit the COA must be issued by the party and with the content the credit requires.

Classification society and class-approved material

Independent bodies that inspect the design, construction and maintenance of ships and offshore structures against their rules and assign “class”; IACS members include DNV, ABS, Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas, ClassNK, RINA, KR, CCS and Türk Loydu. Most shipyard materials – plate, sections, pipe, welding consumables, coatings, rope, chain and pumps – must come from class-approved makers, with tests witnessed by the class surveyor and a class-stamped certificate, often EN 10204 3.2. Unapproved material puts the vessel’s class at risk.

Explained in the trade handbook

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