Every industrial valve order should arrive with material certificates — but “a cert” is not one thing. EN 10204 defines the types, and the difference between 3.1 and 3.2 decides who validated your material and what it costs.
The EN 10204 Certificate Types
- Type 2.1 — declaration of compliance, no test results. Commodity fasteners territory.
- Type 2.2 — test report with non-specific results (not from your actual batch).
- Type 3.1 — the industrial standard: chemical and mechanical results for YOUR heat/batch, validated by the manufacturer’s own independent QA department.
- Type 3.2 — same specific results, but countersigned by a party independent of the manufacturer: the purchaser’s representative or a third-party inspector (Lloyd’s, BV, TUV…).
When 3.1 Is Enough
Nearly all standard industrial valve orders: API 600/602/607 valves, strainers, stainless valves — body, bonnet, trim and bolting to 3.1 is the default we quote and deliver.
When Projects Demand 3.2
- Critical service on owner/EPC specs (sour gas, high pressure, offshore).
- Nuclear-adjacent and marine-class work where the class society countersigns.
- When traceability disputes carry heavy commercial risk.
Expect 3.2 to add cost and 2–4 weeks (inspector scheduling). Specify it per line item, not blanket — certifying gaskets to 3.2 helps no one.
Reading a 3.1 Certificate in 60 Seconds
Match: heat number on cert = heat number stamped on the valve body; grade (e.g. A216 WCB, A182 F316L) = datasheet; check mechanicals against the standard’s minimums; confirm any overlays (NACE hardness, impact tests at −46 °C for LCC, cryogenic impacts for cryogenic valves).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a mill test report (MTR) the same as 3.1?
In practice yes — North American “MTR” usually corresponds to EN 10204 3.1 content. The EN designation makes the validation level explicit.
Can a distributor issue 3.1 certs?
The certificate originates from the material manufacturer; a distributor passes it through with traceability intact. That chain of custody is exactly what we maintain on every ValveAtlas order.
What about counterfeit certificates?
Cross-check heat numbers with body stamps and, for critical orders, request PMI (positive material identification) testing — cheap insurance against the industry’s known counterfeit problem.
Want a documentation checklist for your next order? Ask us — we will template it for your project.
