A Type 3.2 certificate is a material certificate under EN 10204:2004 in which an independent third-party inspector witnesses the sampling and testing of the material and validates the associated paperwork. It provides independent assurance of a material's properties and stronger traceability than a mill certificate.
EN 10204:2004 is the European standard for material certificates, and it defines four types. A Type 3.1 certificate, commonly called a 'Mill Certificate', confirms the originating production mill along with general mechanical, physical and chemical properties.
A Type 3.2 certificate, commonly called a 'Witness Testing' or '3rd Party Inspection' certificate, adds an outside agency to witness the sampling and testing and to validate copies of the paperwork. The manufacturer issues the certification and a third-party inspector confirms it, with both declaring that the material follows the required specification. The authorised inspectors identify the traceability of the material and review and witness the testing requirements.
Key takeaway: a 3.1 certificate is the manufacturer's own declaration; a 3.2 certificate adds an independent third party who witnesses the testing and countersigns the result.
Where Type 3.2 is required
Type 3.2 certification is traditionally required in the pressure equipment manufacturing sector across Europe and in many oil and gas applications. It gives companies an elevated level of confidence when dealing with complex global supply chains.
The requirement for certified materials grew out of EC directives such as the Pressure Equipment Directive, which formalised material certification requirements.