EN 10204 2.2 Certificate Meaning — Type 2.2 vs 3.1 Explained

EN 10204 is the European standard that classifies inspection documents for metallic products. Several types exist (2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2), but in practice for CUPAL copper-aluminium bimetal shipments the real choice is between 2.2 and 3.1. This article summarises the difference and the selection criteria.

EN 10204 document types at a glance

• 2.1 — Declaration of compliance with the order: the manufacturer's statement that the product conforms to the order; no test data. (We do not use this type for CUPAL shipments.)
• 2.2 — Test report: the manufacturer's statement plus non-lot-specific generic test results. The tests are not necessarily run on the actual shipment but routinely on the material. Ships with every CUPAL shipment by default.
• 3.1 — Inspection certificate: issued by the manufacturer with measurement data tied to the specific shipment / lot, signed by an authorised manufacturer's representative independent of production. Available on request, project-scoped.
• 3.2 — Inspection certificate validated by both parties (manufacturer + independent inspector). Mandatory only in special cases (e.g. pressure equipment).

When to ask for which?

Type 2.2 is sufficient when:

• the CUPAL transition is going into general industrial equipment per IEC 61439 / IEC 61238 / EN 62305,
• the buyer's contract does not require a lot-specific certificate,
• the installer is not working in an audited management system,
• the project-scope material delivery is not subject to a specific acceptance inspection.

Ask for 3.1 when:

• a public procurement or state contract requires it,
• project acceptance or audit demands a lot-level material certificate,
• the equipment operates in a high-impact environment (hospital, data centre, transformer substation) where long-term contact behaviour must be evidenced,
• the CUPAL component falls under a standard-driven requirement (e.g. IEC 61400-24 wind-turbine lightning protection, IEC 62305 higher LPL levels) and component-level provability is critical.

What is on an EN 10204 certificate?

• The relevant Werkstoff-Nr. (material numbers): Al 3.0255 (DIN 17007) and Cu 2.0065 (DIN 1787).
• The CUPAL manufacturing process designation (cold-roll-bonded + diffusion-welded).
• The shipment identifier (charge / lot).
• For 3.1: measured material parameters tied to the lot.

How to request one

In your quote request, state that you require type 3.1, and if possible include the reference project / contract number — that lets the manufacturer issue the matching lot certificate. Type 2.2 ships by default, no separate request needed.

Related articles

• CUPAL ISO 9001:2015 compliance (WMH supplier chain)
• CUPAL material and application-area standards (DIN, IEC, MSZ EN)
• Standards and compliance (product page)

Which CUPAL products come with a certificate?

All of them. An EN 10204 2.2 test report ships as standard with CUPAL sheet, bimetal washers, strip and cable lugs, and equally with custom-cut parts — cutting does not affect the certification of the base material. A 3.1 inspection certificate is sourced on request; flag it in the quote request, because obtaining it afterwards takes longer. If the order line or the drawing carries a distributor designation rather than our SKU, the part number cross-reference tells you which of our sizes to request the certificate against.

For a project-specific 3.1 certificate request, contact us.