3.2 Material certificate for purchased material 1

[sports2012]

Hi All,

I need a 3.2 material certificate for material that I am purchasing, and I am a little confused at how I am supposed to obtain this. I know a 3.2 certificate requires an outside body to certify that the material I order is to the specification that I require. Does this outside body need to be in the form of an independent test lab? Or can the lab of my material supplier test it on-site while an inspector would witness all the mechanical tests? I have spoken to BV and TUV Rheinland about certifying the material and I can't seem to get a straight answer out of either. Thank you.

 

[micalbrch]

The outside body must be contracted to the buyer. That's you. EN 10204 does not specify the outside body but just states that he is contracted to the seller. So, acc. to that you can contract somebody, regardless what lab he will use. As long as his signature and stamp is there, you'll be fine.

 

[sports2012]

Ok that makes sense. Thanks again.

 

[valvit]

Sports,

EN 10204 does not require you to use an outside body unless required by other code or statuatory regulations. The code defines a 3.2 Inspection Certificate as follows: "Document prepared by both the manufacturer's authorized inspection representative, independet of the manufacturing department and either the purchaser's authorized inspection representative or the inspector designated by the official regulations and in which they declare that the products supplied are in compliance with the requirements of the order and in which test results are supplied." (Ref. EN 10204-2004 clause 4.2)

This statement says a few things:
1) The document is prepared by at least two entities.
2) The manufacturers QA deparment must not be part of the manufacturing department.
3) The purchaser is responsible for authorizing an inspection representative, which in fact could be the purchaser himself.
4) If the equipment being manufactured is being used within a code, or statuatory regulations require a third party, then a third party must aid in preparing the certificate.

Also of note, EN 10204 does not require the purchaser's authorized inspection representative or the inspector designated by the official regulations to witness any of the chemical analysis or mechanical testing. The only requirement is to aid in preparing the certificate. A common argument on this point is how can one justify the preparation of a certificate, documenting the results of testing as true and correct if he/she did not actually witness the testing. I agree this is a valid argument. I am merely pointing out what the code does and does not say. The better educated we are when using this code, better enables everyone to make specific requirement about what they want and expect.


My advice to you, is if your end user expects a 3rd party to witness the chemical analysis and mechanical testing, is that you specify that in your purchase order to the mill and either arrange the 3rd party directly (is what I would do), or have the mill do so on your behalf (and add it to the price of the material you are buying).

Valvit

 

[sports2012]

I appreciate the detailed response Valvit. So what you're saying is, I can basically find any inspector I want to help make the certificate, and he doesn't have to actually witness any tests per the code.

Are there particular inspectors that do this sort of thing regularly? Is there some kind of format we would need to follow when making the certificate?

 

[SJones]

The usual methodology is that the supplier prepares the inspection documentation which is then cosigned/endorsed by the appointed inspection agency.

http://www.ukas.com/about-accreditation/accredited-bodies/inspection-body-schedules.asp

Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04

All answers are personal opinions only and are in no way connected with any employer.

 

[sports2012]

Steve,

Thank you very much for the info. This makes my life much easier.