EN 10204 3.1 and 3.2 difference about Aluminum
EN 10204 isn't a material property standard like ASTM B209 for aluminum — it's a documentation and certification standard that applies to all metallic products, including aluminum and aluminum alloys.
EN 10204 – Inspection Documents for Aluminum Products
Specifies the types of inspection documents that a manufacturer must supply to the purchaser to confirm that the product (e.g., aluminum sheet, plate, bar, extrusion, tube) meets the order requirements.
Scope for Aluminum:
Covers mill-produced aluminum and manufactured aluminum products. Examples:
Aluminum sheet & plate (e.g., 5083,6061, 5083, 7075)
Aluminum extrusions & profiles (e.g., 6063-T5 window frames)
Aluminum tubes & pipes (e.g., 6061-T6 hydraulic tubes)
Forged aluminum parts (e.g., 2219 aerospace forgings)
Example in Aluminum
3.1 Certificate for Aluminum Plate 5083 H321 H116 H111:
Shows the actual chemical analysis (Al, Mg, Si, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ti), tensile properties (UTS, YS, elongation), hardness, and batch number. Signed by the mill’s QA department.
3.2 Certificate for Aluminum Plate 5083 H321 H116 H111:
Contains all the above, but also signed by CCS,BV,Lloyd’s Register, DNV, or another third-party inspector who has checked the data, sometimes even witnessed the testing.
Document Types (BS EN 10204:2004)
Type | Title | For Aluminum Example |
3.1 | Inspection Certificate | Actual test results for the specific batch/lot supplied, signed by the mill’s QA. |
3.2 | Inspection Certificate | Same as 3.1 but also countersigned by an independent third-party inspector. CCS,BV,LR,DNV and so on |
Typical Data on an EN 10204:2004 3.1 Certificate for Aluminum
1. Supplier & manufacturer details
2. Product description (alloy designation, temper, form, dimensions, weight)
3. Standard (e.g., EN 485, ASTM B209, ISO 6361)
4. Chemical composition (Al, Mg, Si, Cu, Zn, Fe, etc.)
5. Mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength, elongation)
6. Temper condition (e.g., T6, H32, O)
7. Heat treatment information (if applicable)
8. Test results (dimensional inspection, hardness, conductivity, ultrasonic test for plates if required)
9. Traceability (heat/batch number, lot number)
EN 10204:2004 – Type 3.1 vs. Type 3.2 for Aluminum
Feature | Type 3.1 – Inspection Certificate | Type 3.2 – Inspection Certificate |
Purpose | Confirms aluminum product meets order requirements, with actual test results from the supplied batch/lot. | Same as 3.1, but with additional third-party verification. |
Data Source | Test results from the manufacturer’s own quality department or authorized inspection unit. | Test results from manufacturer and verified by an independent external inspector (e.g., classification society, customer-appointed inspector). |
Who Signs | Manufacturer’s quality representative, independent from production. | Manufacturer’s quality representative and external inspector/authority. |
Testing | Specific inspection: tests performed on samples from the actual batch/lot delivered (chemical composition, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, conductivity, etc.). | Same specific inspection as 3.1, but witnessed or validated by an independent party. |
Traceability | Heat/batch number links product to test results. | Same as 3.1, but with extra assurance from outside validation. |
Cost & Lead Time | Lower cost, faster (done entirely by manufacturer’s QA team). | Higher cost, longer lead time (coordination with external inspector required). |
Typical Aluminum Use Cases | Aerospace 6061-T6 plate, marine 5083-H116 plate, architectural 6063-T5 extrusion when internal mill certification is sufficient. | Critical aerospace/defense aluminum parts, marine class-certified 5083 plates (e.g., BV/CCS/LR/DNV/ABS), nuclear projects. |