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EN 10204 Type 3.2 RFQ Checklist for Indian & Global Buyers: What Should You Ask Manufacturers? Top 10 Questions Before Placing an Order
By First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd
8 Min Read
29 Sep 2026
You have three price offers for the steel. Each company says, “EN 10204 Type 3.2 certificate included.”. Do all offers give the same level of inspection?
Not necessarily.
One supplier might only give the paperwork. Another might add tests. The third might read the rules for the material the inspection step or the traceability needs in a way.
The real issue appears when the order is already made production has begun and the buyer finds that a key inspection or document was never clearly stated.
This can lead to:
- Unexpected costs for inspection
- Delayed release of material
- Missing test records
- Gaps in traceability
- Disputes about who’s responsible for inspection
- Problems when comparing supplier offers
- Document problems, during project or export checks
So what should a buyer actually write in an EN 10204 Type 3.2 RFQ?
Before answering that question it is important to understand what EN 10204 Type 3.2 means how it is used, what it checks and why it matters when buying metal items.
When a buyer buys steel plates, pipes, tubes, bars, forgings or other metal products for a project the material specification might not be enough.
The buyer might also need proof that the material meets the required standards.
EN 10204 is a standard that deals with types of inspection documents for metal products. BSI lists BS EN 10204:2004 – products. Types of inspection documents, as the version.
Under this standard Type 3.2 is an inspection document. It includes checks where the manufacturers authorized inspection representative and the buyers authorized inspection representative or a designated inspector work together.
Depending on the product standard and the purchase terms the document can cover:
- Material identification
- Material grade
- Heat or cast number
- Chemical composition
- Mechanical test results
- Inspection results
- Product traceability
- specification
- Inspection validation
The exact details depend on the contract rules. For those who want technical details can refer to EN 10204 Type 3.2 inspection certificate requirements
What Is an EN 10204 Type 3.2 Certificate Used For?
The purpose of an EN 10204 Type 3.2 inspection certificate is to provide documented evidence that the metallic product supplied meets the required standards.
Depending on the product standard and what the buyer wants the document can include details like:
- Material identification
- Material grade
- Heat or cast number
- Chemical composition
- Mechanical test results
- Inspection results
- Product traceability
- specification
- Inspection validation
The exact details in the document can change from one product to another. The material specification, product standard purchase order and inspection requirements decide what must be checked.
BSI says that EN 10204 applies to products such as plates, sheets, bars, forgings and castings.
So Type 3.2 is not about getting a piece of paper.
It is about creating a link between:
Material → Specification → Testing → Traceability → Inspection → Documentation
Who Needs EN 10204 Type 3.2?
Type 3.2 might be asked for when a buyer, a contract, a product standard or a regulation requires checking.
It is common in industries like:
- Pressure equipment
- Oil and gas
- Petrochemical
- Power generation
- Shipbuilding
- Structural steel
- Heavy engineering
- Process equipment
- Industrial machinery
- fabricated components
For instance someone buying material for a pressure equipment project might need special tests and extra checks because the material has to be right for the final product.
Similarly a company making steel structures might need proof that the steel they buy can be linked back to its production and test records.
Important: EN 10204 Type 3.2 is not needed for every steel product. It is only required if the material specification, contract, purchase order or other rule says so.
What Does EN 10204 Type 3.2 Verify?
A Type 3.2 inspection can check things depending on what is needed.
Material identification : The product should be easy to recognize using the documents provided.
Chemical composition : The results of chemical tests should match what the material needs to be.
Mechanical properties : Depending on the product this can include tests like tensile strength or impact resistance.
Material traceability : Numbers like heat, cast, batch or others can link the product to its test records.
Inspection records : The proof of inspection and testing should match what was agreed on.
Additional inspection validation : Type 3.2 includes checking beyond what the manufacturer does.
This is a point, for buyers:
The more clear the request is, the easier it is for manufacturers and inspectors to follow the same rules.
Why Should Buyers Ask for Type 3.2 in the RFQ?
Now we get to the important part of buying.
A buyer might just say:
“EN 10204 Type 3.2 required.”
What does that really mean for the manufacturer?
- What material standard?
- What tests?
- What heat numbers?
- Who does the check?
- When happens?
- What documents need to be sent?
- Who pays the costs?
If these questions are not answered before the order confusion can happen. A clear EN 10204 Type 3.2 request helps the manufacturer give a quote.It also lets the buyer compare offers fairly.
10 Questions Buyers Should Ask Manufacturers Before Placing an Order
1. Can You Supply the Exact Material With EN 10204 Type 3.2?
Ask the manufacturer to confirm that the specific material and product can be supplied with the Type 3.2 documentation. Do not assume that a manufacturer offering Type 3.1 automatically means the same inspection arrangement is available for Type 3.2.
2. Which Product Standard and Material Specification Apply?
The RFQ should clearly state:
- Material grade
- Product standard
- Product form
- Dimensions
- Quantity
- Delivery condition
- Heat-treatment requirements, where
For example instead of:
Steel plate + Type 3.2
specify:
Material grade + applicable product standard + dimensions + testing + EN 10204 Type 3.2.
This reduces ambiguity when manufacturers prepare quotations.
3. Which Tests Are Required?
Ask the manufacturer to confirm the testing requirements to the order.
These can include, depending on the product specification:
- Chemical analysis
- Tensile testing
- Impact testing
- Hardness testing
- Visual inspection
- Dimensional inspection
- NDT
Heat-treatment verification
Do not assume that every Type 3.2 order has the testing scope.
The product standard and contractual requirements determine the actual tests.
4. How Will Heat Number and Material Traceability Be Maintained?
This is one of the important questions for buyers.
Ask:
Can the supplied material be traced from its heat/cast number to the test results and inspection documentation?
A typical traceability chain can look like:
PO → Material Grade → Heat Number → Test Results → Product Identification → Inspection Document
For procurement this becomes increasingly important because documentation may pass through manufacturers, stockists, fabricators, distributors and final project owners.
A useful internal link here is:
EN 10204 steel traceability and heat number requirements
5. Who Will Perform the Additional Inspection?
The buyer should establish this before manufacturing.
Type 3.2 involves the manufacturers authorized inspection representative with the purchasers authorized inspection representative or an inspector designated under applicable official requirements.
The RFQ should therefore state the expected inspection arrangement.
Clarify:
- Who will inspect?
- Which activities will be inspected?
- Which tests require witnessing?
- When will inspection take place?
- What documentation must be available?
6. Is an Inspection and Test Plan Required?
For orders an Inspection and Test Plan (ITP) can define inspection activities and responsibilities.
It may identify:
- Inspection stages
- Test requirements
- Hold points
- Witness points
- Review points
- Responsible parties
- Required records
7. Which Documents Must Be Submitted?
The RFQ should specify the expected documentation package.
Depending on the order this can include:
- EN 10204 Type 3.2 inspection document
- Chemical test results
- Mechanical test results
- Heat-treatment records
- NDT reports where applicable
- Dimensional inspection records
- Material identification records
- Traceability records
8. When Will the Inspection Take Place?
Do not wait until the material has already been manufactured.
The buyer should establish the inspection stage during the procurement process.
A practical sequence is:
RFQ → Technical Review → Quotation → PO → Inspection Planning → Manufacturing → Testing → Inspection → Documentation → Final Validation
This allows the relevant parties to coordinate inspection activities before critical stages are completed.
9. What Will Affect EN 10204 Type 3.2 Cost?
There is no universal EN 10204 Type 3.2 cost.
The commercial amount can depend on:
- Material type
- Quantity
- Number of heats
- Number of lots
- Testing requirements
- Inspection duration
- Inspection location
- Travel requirements
- Number of inspection stages
- Documentation requirements
Buyers should ask:
“Please quote based on the complete Type 3.2 inspection and documentation scope specified in this RFQ.”
This makes price comparison more meaningful.
10. What Should Be Included in the Purchase Order?
The final PO should reflect the requirements agreed during the RFQ stage.
Include, as applicable:
- Material grade
- Product standard
- Dimensions
- Quantity
- Type 3.2 requirement
- Testing requirements
- Traceability requirements
- Inspection arrangements
- Documentation requirements
- Inspection notification requirements
- Project- requirements
The RFQ should ultimately become the technical foundation of the purchase order.
EN 10204 Type 3.2 RFQ Checklist
| Requirement | What should the buyer specify? |
|---|---|
| Material | Grade, product form, dimensions and quantity |
| Product standard | Applicable material/product standard |
| Inspection document | EN 10204 Type 3.2 |
| Testing | Chemical, mechanical, NDT and other applicable tests |
| Traceability | Heat/cast/batch identification |
| Inspection | Authorized inspection representatives and inspection stages |
| ITP | Hold, witness and review points where applicable |
| Documentation | Type 3.2 document and supporting records |
| Timing | Inspection planned before relevant manufacturing stages |
| Commercial scope | Quotation based on the complete technical requirement |
What Affects EN 10204 Type 3.2 Cost?
I have seen many buyers search for: “EN 10204 Type 3.2 certificate cost”.. There is no meaningful universal price without knowing the scope.
Consider two orders.
Order A
- 5 tonnes
- One material grade
- One heat
- Standard testing
- One inspection stage
- One location
Order B
- 500 tonnes
- Multiple material grades
- Multiple heats
- Chemical and mechanical testing
- NDT
- Several inspection stages
- Multiple locations
- Executive documentation
Both may require Type 3.2 but their inspection scope is completely different.
I have seen that the difference in scope drives the cost.
Therefore buyers should compare: scope + testing + inspection + documentation + logistics + price rather than comparing only the certificate cost. I recommend looking at all of these factors.
Real-World RFQ Example : EN 10204 Traceability and Digital Product Information
BSI is working on a revision of EN 10168 which deals with the information that appears in inspection documents for iron and steel products. The project was started partly because long supply chains can cause problems when documentation does not accurately describe the product at every stage of the chain. This issue is highly relevant to procurement. Buyers now care not about receiving a certificate but also about keeping reliable product identification and information throughout the supply chain.
I will illustrate with a scenario.
Picture a manufacturer who receives the following RFQ:
Weak version: “Supply 50 tonnes steel plate with EN 10204 Type 3.2 certificate.” The manufacturer still needs to clarify:
- Which grade?
- Which product standard?
- What dimensions?
- What tests?
- Which inspection representative?
- What traceability?
- What documents?
- When should inspection happen?
Now consider a RFQ:
Supply 50 tonnes of the specified steel plate grade and dimensions in accordance with the applicable product standard. EN 10204 Type 3.2 inspection documentation is required. Maintain heat-number traceability between the supplied plates, test results and inspection documentation. Perform the chemical and mechanical testing and coordinate the required inspection activities according to the agreed inspection plan. Submit the Type 3.2 documentation and applicable supporting records with the material documentation package.
With a RFQ the manufacturer gets a clearer direction. I find this approach helpful.
The second RFQ gives the manufacturer a clearer basis for preparing the quotation. I have seen that clarity speeds up the quoting process.