certificate 3.2

[Giacomo Lepore]

Good morning.
a customer asks me a "certificate 3.2" for a manufactured aluminum tube that I should supply to him.
ipotizzo, but I'm not sure, is referring to the uni en 10204, but I don't think it is aluminum. Am I right?

but give a hand to understand what it consists and what should I do / certify?

Thank you very much

 

[Pierandrea58]

I don't know if it can help you:

§ certificate 3.2: document with which the manufacturer certifies the conformity of the material on the basis of tests performed and certified by a third party.



in the case of a pharmaceutical plant, the regulations provide that the supplier attach the certificate 3.1 because it is the one that guarantees the complete traceability of the materials.

3.2 certificate is required only in very special cases since the involvement of a third party entails a significant increase in certification costs.

 

[Giacomo Lepore]

Unfortunately, no, I also found this on the internet.

 

[paulpaul]

Good morning.
a customer asks me a "certificate 3.2" for a manufactured aluminum tube that I should supply to him.
ipotizzo, but I'm not sure, is referring to the uni en 10204, but I don't think it is aluminum. Am I right?

but give a hand to understand what it consists and what should I do / certify?

Thank you very much

exact, the reference standard is that, and it deals with the different types of control documents that can be requested together with the order for a particular material and to ensure compliance with the order itself, in addition to the respect of the specifications: was born for metal materials, but also applies to non-metallic. of course it also applies to aluminum and its alloys.
the norm does not specify which parameters should be required for a given material: In fact, these are explicit in another norm (recalled in 10204 I think) or in any case defined by the product specifications (and here it is necessary to refer to the product standards, for example the en 10025 for the structural steels, but I think there are also for the aluminum alloy you are using - look for them), and are typically the mechanical, dimensional properties and chemical composition. what the en 10204 says is instead who must draft and possibly validate the control documents, and on "any material" the test must run.

3.1 is by far the most widespread, and consists - in addition to ensuring compliance with the order - in performing "specific" tests (i.e. on the material actually supplied, and not for example on identical material present at the supplier's warehouse but which will not be sent to you). Such tests must be required by those who buy, or reference should be made to a specific product that already covers them, as we said before.

3.2 is identical to 3.1, but the tests must be validated by a third party designated by those who order or otherwise by a subject other than that of the supplier.
It is clear that this certificate is much more expensive, but above all it leads to a considerable slowdown in the supply, since the supplier must "separate" a lot of material from its production only to make it prove in your presence (or that of a designated body)
many suppliers say no regardless because they don't want box breaks: who works in certain sectors (oil & & & gas, energy, etc.) is instead accustomed to providing them, but at high price!

the request of one or another can be at the discretion of your final customer or even contained in certain product regulations or directives

I hope I've been useful to you!

 

[paulpaul]

I realize only now that I have not answered your question from a practical point of view. I would proceed like this:

1. search for the standard that regulates the material you are considering: that you require 3.1 or 3.2, you will need to specify in order to your supplier the 3.x certificate (there are also 2.1 and 2.2, "lower" to 3.1 and that usually few ask) of compliance to the order and en xyz standard of your material;

2. clarify with the customer how he needs 3.2 for that component. very often customers ask for the non plus ultra without knowing well the consequences (extra costs, long times, etc.), both because none of the commercial has made it present, and because they do not know well what they need. For example: if your tube is one of the main components (cat. ii, iii or iv) of ped pressure equipment, certificate 3.2 is required but solo if the supplier does not have a certified quality system (e.g. iso 9001): If not, just 3.1 (it is an appendix of the same en 10204 harmonized with the ped), and norm to the hand you can prove to your customer that his request is excessive.
of course, he can always answer you "for internal process, we always need 3.2": It goes well, but it must be aware that it is subject to extra costs and delays (usually these document requests are already being analysed during the offer, so that it is clear from the beginning what the times and costs of these requests will be and you do not have incomprehensions to the project acquired).

3. in case your customer is inamovable, do a survey at different suppliers to check if they can give you 3.2: I do not expect many positive answers unfortunately, because usually suppliers are dealers of products of foreign pachidrmic steelworks, with which it is generally quite complicated to have to deal, especially if you need small quantities of material tested in a "particular" way, especially if the material is not used in industrial sectors where often the piping. However, you may be lucky;

4. in case you find nothing, you could proceed like this: you buy the material with 3.1 (generally certified standard) and you do it by a accredited laboratory able to issue a "third" certificate: it will not be a 3.2 but it comes very close, however a document to greater guarantee for the customer (with which you have to talk anyway to make it accept).

This is my experience!

 

[Giacomo Lepore]

thanks paulpaul for the answers. That was exactly what I needed to understand.
I'm pretty sure they're overreacting without understanding exactly what they're asking. Now I'm trying to work on it and then I'll tell you.

 

[SMIRRO]

However you have to understand what he asks you to certify, because the certification according to one 10204 can be applied to "anything". being an aluminum tube I think that to begin with want certificates of mechanical properties and chemical analysis of the material, the classic, and maybe some extra proof that however it must be he to specify.
the point of 3.2 is that these tests if not mistaken must be carried out in the presence of a present, I think of the customer, and a third certifying body.