For the oil and gas industries, among others, purchasing metallic products requires an assurance of their quality and compliance, and this is where inspection certificates come in. To demonstrate conformance in material attributes and standard quality, various types of inspection documents are required, and these requirements are outlined in a European standard document EN 10204 which is very popular. This article will delve into the four most frequently employed inspection certificates Type 2.1, Type 2.2, Type 3.1, Type 3.2 and their role in quality management.
Understanding EN 10204 In Brief
EN 10204 ensures that verification documents that are relevant to metallic products are provided. There is a need for quality and regulatory requirements to be adhered to these products. Certificates are able to document relevant inspection and test activities carried out on a material so that manufacturers, suppliers and even customers are in a position to retrieve records of any material. The scope of the purchase order defines the precise degree of inspection and verification that is required and ultimately determines the type of inspection certificate that will be issued.
Type 2.1 Certificate: Declaration of Compliance
A Type 2.1 certification can be characterized as the simplest type of document that is issued by the manufacturer that serves the role of almost a statement of looking compliance with some standards. The certificate informs the recipient that the material is compliance with the agreed upon conditions but does not involve any test results. It is a statement only and is issued without any detailed inspection or testing of the material as the manufacturer’s word serves as sufficient proof.
Such type of certificate can be used in cases where application is non-critical and any material performance does not seem to put strict guidelines on verification. While it provides a certification of use, this type of certificate is lacking in tests including that of quality measures.
Type 2.2 Certificate: Non-Specific Inspection
The certificate of Type 2.2 involves a little report to the quality control department taking a little bit of material out to perform a non specific test in safety inspection. It is apparent that test results based on non-specific inspections conducted by a few members of the manufacturer are incorporated into this type of certificate in order to meet the ‘desired measure requirements’ using a specific criteria system.
The material is inspected using the manufacturer’s internal procedures with approval of the higher authorities on compliance of Tact, Rout and Rules without having to follow any external set rules. Which means in practical use it implies that the material will be checked to see if it complies with all the specifications put into the purchase order by the material makers instead of complying with a strict set of rules. This certificate is appropriate for not equipment appliances since basic internal tests are implemented in order to maintain material quality checks.
Class 3.1 certificate: Detailed Assessment
Class 3.1 certificate offers a much more significant amount of quality assurance than the others. This certificate is signed by an Inspector who’s appointed by the manufacturer, but works on a separate division outside the manufacturing section. This certificate serves to indicate that the substance has been inspected and it has undergone testing as per a given standard such as ASME, ASTM or API.
Unlike class 2.2 certificate, Class 3.1 certificate contains test results that have conformity to standard practice for material certification. This is because testing is done by another department in the organization which guarantees impartiality of the testing process. This type of certification is common in oil and gas industries because material quality and correct legal documents are standard requirements increasing the safety and performance of equipment.
Class 3.2 certificate – Specific inspection borne by an independent agent
Class 3.2 certificate offers the highest level of quality assurance since it involves inspection of the substances by another independent authority. Besides relying on the internal inspections done by the manufacturer, a third party also tests and verifies their work. This can be done by an inspector approved by the customer or an independent inspection body.
Test results and compliance certificates issued by the manufacturer and a third-party authority are incorporated in the certificate. The independent verification adds an extra layer of confidence, making this certificate essential for critical applications where safety and reliability are paramount. Examples include offshore oil rigs, chemical processing plants, and high-pressure systems.
The assessments for 3.1 and 3.2 certificates on the other hand, despite being more critical, are based on internationally recognized material standards unlike Types 2.1 and 2.2, ensuring a higher level of trust and conformity.
Choosing the Right Certificate
The application is risked based to determine which type of inspection certificate should be provided while meeting the level of assurance set in place. For instance, Type 2.1 or 2.2 certificate suffices with assurance for non-breakdown applications while basic bounding and nondeformable inspection results are provided. In contrast Type 3.1 or 3.2 are preferred for oil and gas, aerospace, and power generation industries as they have a stricter quality control. These certificates also provide better transparency and traceability as the material used has certain standard specifications.
Final Thoughts
As per EN 10204, the certificate of compliance for types 2.1; 2.2; 3.1 and 3.2 are important documents that assist in the control of material quality and its compliance. There are varying levels of confidence for each type, with Type 3.2 being the most reliable due to having third party endorsement. Knowing well the goods or services one can expect to obtain with these certificates enables the manufacturers and the clients to select the most suitable requisition which enhances confidence, openness, and compliance evaluation.
As a firm that deals with inducted material, we are confident that all materials are of the required quality and this explains the customized inspection certificates that we provide for different project requirements. If you want to get a basic level or a more sophisticated level of assurance, we certainly offer mechanisms that will provide the necessary level of confidence and safety.
