Upgrading material certificates
Your client requires a 3.2 certificate, but your material was supplied with a 3.1 certificate from the manufacturer? That does not mean you have to reject the material or place a new order. By re-performing part of the tests from the 3.1 certificate under the supervision of an independent Notified Body (NOBO), such as a classification society, you can upgrade the certificate to the value of a 3.2 certificate. MT Veendam carries out these additional tests in our accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025, L647).
What does upgrading a 3.1 certificate mean?
Material certificates are defined in EN 10204. A 3.1 certificate is issued by the manufacturer, without independent verification. A 3.2 certificate can only be issued by the manufacturer, during production and under the supervision of an independent inspector. Upgrading afterwards therefore results in a 3.1 certificate plus additional testing, also referred to as "3.1+". Clients who require 3.2 generally accept this, because the tests have been independently confirmed by the NOBO.
3.1, 3.1+ and 3.2 at a glance
| 3.1 | 3.1 + additional testing | 3.2 | |
| Issued by | Manufacturer | Manufacturer (3.1) + accredited lab, confirmed by the NOBO | Manufacturer and independent inspector (NOBO) |
| Independent verification | No | Yes, retrospectively | Yes, during production |
| What you receive | 3.1 certificate | 3.1 certificate + test report stamped by the NOBO | 3.2 certificate |
| When possible | At delivery | Also for material from stock | Only during production |
Benefits of upgrading a certificate
Upgrading a 3.1 certificate offers your company several benefits:
- Cost savings: You do not need to order new material with 3.2 certification. The existing material from your stock remains usable.
- Time savings: No waiting time for new production and delivery. With a turnaround time of 3 to 5 working days, the report is quickly available and your project is not delayed.
- Material from stock remains usable: Material that is already in stock can still be upgraded retrospectively. A genuine 3.2 certificate is only possible during production itself.
- Independent confirmation: The tests are carried out by an accredited, independent laboratory and confirmed by the NOBO. This way, you offer your client demonstrable assurance.
- Flexibility: Express delivery is often possible (at an additional cost), so you can meet your client's requirements even at short notice.
How to upgrade a 3.1 certificate?
We can help you upgrade a 3.1 certificate for your material to a 3.2 certificate. The process consists of 6 steps. That may seem like a lot, but in practice we can often arrange this within a week.
- Invite the Notified Body: Contact the NOBO prescribed by your client, such as Lloyd's Register, DNV or Bureau Veritas.
- Stamping and inspection of the material: The NOBO stamps both the piece to be tested and the remaining material, and checks the heat number against the 3.1 certificate. You will receive a request number.
- Determine which tests are repeated: Usually a tensile test and Charpy impact test, optionally supplemented with a chemical analysis (OES) or hardness measurement. We will let you know in advance how much material is required.
- Send the material to our lab: Email us which tests are required, which NOBO is involved, the request number and the 3.1 certificate. We will prepare the test specimens for you.
- Testing under supervision of the NOBO: Our turnaround time is usually 3 to 5 working days; express is often possible. Whether supervision during the testing is required differs per NOBO.
- Stamped report = value of 3.2: The NOBO stamps our test report. Together with the original 3.1 certificate, this has the value of a 3.2 certificate in practice.
Why MT Veendam?
- Independent and accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (L647)
- 20+ years of experience with destructive testing
- Fast turnaround time of 3 to 5 working days
- Experienced in collaborating with Lloyd's Register, DNV and Bureau Veritas
- We enjoy thinking along with you about the required tests and test piece dimensions
Good to know
If you are planning to have a 3.1 certificate upgraded, please take the following into account:
- Agree in advance with your client whether 3.1 + additional testing is accepted and which NOBO is required.
- In shipbuilding and offshore, classification societies often require that the manufacturer is recognised by them.
- Make sure the heat number is legible and matches the 3.1 certificate.
- You will not receive a new 3.2 certificate: always keep the 3.1 certificate and the stamped report together and submit them together.
Request an upgrade or step-by-step guide?
Do you have questions about upgrading your 3.1 certificate? Request our useful step-by-step upgrade guide or contact MT Veendam. Our accredited laboratory in Veendam is ready to assist you.