EN 10204 Type 3.2

PED Certification

Requirements

When Is an EN 10204 Type 3.2 Certificate Required for PED Pressure Equipment Globally?

By First Welding Certification Technical Editorial Team

6 Min Read Time

24 Oct 2026

PED COMPLIANCE • GLOBAL INDUSTRY

Is Your Material Certificate Enough for PED Compliance?

Understand when EN 10204 Type 3.2 is needed, how independent inspection adds confidence, and what pressure equipment manufacturers must verify.

Material Certification

PED Requirements

Introduction

A pressure vessel manufacturer may receive a steel plate with the correct material grade, satisfactory test results and a valid inspection document. However, one important question remains: does that document meet the requirements of the pressure equipment project?

For manufacturers supplying equipment to the European market, choosing the correct material inspection document is an important part of complying with the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU.

An EN 10204 Type 3.2 certificate for PED pressure equipment provides specific inspection and testing results with confirmation from the manufacturer’s authorized independent inspection representative and the purchaser’s authorized representative or an inspector designated by official regulations.

The important point is that manufacturers should not automatically request Type 3.2 for every pressure equipment project. They must first establish which material documentation the applicable PED provisions, technical specifications and customer requirements call for.

Why Does PED Material Documentation Matter?

Pressure equipment operates under conditions where material properties can directly affect structural integrity and safe operation. Manufacturers therefore need reliable evidence that the materials selected for pressure-bearing components meet the relevant technical specifications.

PED Annex I, Section 4.3 addresses material documentation. For the main pressure-bearing parts of equipment in Categories II, III and IV, it requires a certificate of specific product control, subject to the applicable provisions.

This requirement makes it important to identify the correct inspection document before purchasing material.

An EN 10204 Type 3.2 certificate can provide an appropriate level of inspection documentation when the applicable requirements call for it. It records specific inspection and testing results and includes confirmation from both required inspection representatives.

However, material certification alone does not establish that the complete pressure equipment complies with PED. Manufacturers must address all applicable design, manufacturing, inspection and conformity-assessment requirements.

When Should Manufacturers Choose Type 3.2?

The decision should begin with the project’s actual documentation requirements rather than a general assumption that every pressure vessel needs a Type 3.2 certificate.

Consider these situations:

When the purchase order specifies Type 3.2

A customer may explicitly request EN 10204 Type 3.2 documentation for particular plates, pipes, forgings or other pressure-bearing materials. The supplier should establish the required inspection arrangements before production and delivery.

When additional inspection confirmation is required

A project may require the purchaser’s authorized inspection representative or an appropriately designated inspector to confirm the specified inspection results. Type 3.2 provides for this additional confirmation.

When material traceability needs closer control

For projects involving strict material identification and inspection procedures, manufacturers may specify Type 3.2 as part of their agreed quality requirements.

When determining PED compliance

Manufacturers should review the equipment category, component function, applicable material requirements and conformity-assessment arrangements. PED’s specific product control requirement does not automatically mean that Type 3.2 is necessary in every case; Type 3.1 may meet the applicable requirement.

The correct choice must be confirmed for the individual project.

How Type 3.1 and Type 3.2 Differ in Practice

The main distinction concerns who confirms the inspection results.

With an EN 10204 Type 3.1 certificate, the manufacturer’s authorized inspection representative, independent of the manufacturing department, confirms the specific inspection results.

With an EN 10204 Type 3.2, the manufacturer’s representative provides confirmation alongside the purchaser’s authorized inspection representative or an inspector designated by official regulations.

For example, a manufacturer purchasing steel for a pressure vessel should first determine whether the project’s documentation requirements can be met by Type 3.1. If the purchase specification or applicable inspection arrangements require Type 3.2, the additional confirmation must be organized accordingly.

Requesting a different certificate after material delivery can create avoidable delays, especially if the necessary inspection arrangements were not agreed in advance.

What Should Procurement Teams Check?

Procurement and quality teams can reduce documentation problems by checking five areas before accepting material.

Material specification: Confirm that the supplied grade and product specification match the approved requirements.
Material identification: Check that the heat or cast number and other relevant markings correspond to the inspection documentation.
Inspection results: Review the specified chemical, mechanical and other test results as applicable.
Certificate validation: Confirm that the document type and required inspection representatives’ confirmations match the agreed requirements.
Record retention: Keep the certificate connected to the relevant material and manufacturing records.

These EN 10204 Type 3.2 checklist helps to preserve traceability from material receipt through fabrication and final inspection.

Common Material Documentation Problems

Some documentation issues arise because teams confirm material grade but overlook the required inspection-document type. Others occur when material markings do not match the certificate or when the necessary Type 3.2 third-party inspection arrangements are considered only after delivery.

Another mistake is assuming that a Type 3.2 certificate replaces all other PED documentation. It supports material verification; it does not replace the manufacturer’s responsibility for the complete conformity-assessment process.

Establishing document requirements during purchasing is therefore a practical way to avoid unnecessary rework and inspection delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Type 3.2 compulsory for every PED pressure vessel?

No. The applicable PED requirements depend on the equipment category, component and conformity-assessment arrangements. Type 3.1 may satisfy the specific product control requirement where permitted.

What additional confirmation does Type 3.2 provide?

It includes confirmation from the manufacturer’s authorized independent inspection representative and the purchaser’s authorized inspection representative or an inspector designated by official regulations.

Can a Type 3.2 certificate guarantee PED compliance?

No. It supports verification of the material and its inspection results. The manufacturer must also satisfy the other applicable requirements for the pressure equipment.

When should Type 3.2 requirements be confirmed?

Ideally, before placing the material order. This allows the supplier and relevant inspection representatives to agree on the required documentation and inspection arrangements.

Conclusion

Selecting an EN 10204 Type 3.2 certificate should be a project-specific decision, not a blanket rule for every pressure equipment manufacturer.

For PED projects, the key is to identify the applicable material documentation requirements, verify the necessary inspection confirmations and maintain traceability between the supplied material and its records. Reviewing these details during procurement helps prevent documentation gaps later in manufacturing.

Need help understanding material documentation and welding certification requirements?

Contact First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd (PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a.s.) to discuss the applicable requirements for your pressure equipment project.