Inspection documents — what ships with your order
A QC claim is worth nothing without a document list. This is exactly what we can attach to an order, what each document proves, and which ones are third-party.
Documents by production stage
| Stage | Document | What it evidences | Issued by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material | EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate (MTC) | Chemical composition and mechanical properties of the steel, tied to a heat number | Steel mill, with the mill's independent inspection representative |
| Raw material | PMI / XRF spectrometry report | That the material in the parts matches the certified grade — the check that catches mixed stainless and carbon stock | Us, or a third-party laboratory on request |
| In-process | First article inspection (FAI) report | Full dimensional layout against the drawing before mass production starts | Us, with customer approval signature |
| In-process | Heat treatment record | Quench and temper cycle for 8.8 / 10.9 / 12.9 classes | Us or the heat treatment subcontractor |
| In-process | De-embrittlement record | Plating time, bake start, temperature and duration for electroplated 10.9 / 12.9 | Us — essential for high-strength plated parts |
| Finished goods | Dimensional inspection report | Key dimensions and go / no-go thread gauge results to the product standard | Us, per lot |
| Finished goods | Mechanical property test report | Tensile, proof load, hardness and, where required, impact — to ISO 898-1 / 898-2 / 3506 | Us, or a third-party laboratory |
| Finished goods | Coating thickness & neutral salt spray report | Zinc thickness in µm and corrosion performance to ISO 9227 / ISO 4042, or coating mass to ISO 1461 for hot-dip galvanizing | Us, or third-party laboratory |
| Finished goods | Hydrogen embrittlement statement | Confirmation that the required treatment was performed and verified | Us |
| Before shipment | Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) report | Packing, quantity, labelling, marking and visual conformity against the order | Us, or an appointed third-party inspector |
| Before shipment | Third-party inspection certificate | Independent verification of the above — agreed scope, you appoint or approve the inspector | SGS, BV, TÜV, Intertek or your nominee |
| Shipment | Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | Customs, payment and title documents | Us and the carrier |
| Shipment | Certificate of origin (CO, Form A, Form E, Form FTA as applicable) | Origin declaration for tariff and trade-agreement purposes | CCPIT / customs authority |
| Shipment | Fumigation / phytosanitary certificate (wood packaging) | ISPM 15 compliance for wooden pallets or crates | Approved fumigation provider |
| Project-specific | Declaration of Performance (DoP) | Performance declaration for CE-marked structural bolting assemblies to EN 15048 / EN 14399 | The FPC-certified manufacturer |
| Project-specific | RoHS / REACH / SVHC substance declaration | Substance compliance against a named revision or test method | Us, referencing test data |
How to specify this in your PO
Put the document list in the purchase order, not in an email: "EN 10204 3.1 MTC per heat, dimensional report, coating thickness report, de-embrittlement record for class 10.9 and above, PSI report before shipment, third-party inspection by SGS at buyer's cost." Anything not in the PO tends to arrive only after a dispute.
Document package by order type
| Order type | Standard documentation |
|---|---|
| Trial order (small qty) | EN 10204 3.1 MTC, dimensional report, coating report |
| Production order | MTC, dimensional, mechanical, coating + salt spray, de-embrittlement record, PSI report |
| Structural / CE project | Everything above, plus DoP for the assembly and the FPC certificate reference |
| OEM / custom drawing | FAI report with your approval signature, then the production package |
| GCC shipment | Technical file and test reports structured for SABER PCoC / SCoC application |
Third-party inspection fees are quoted separately and are paid by whoever appoints the inspector. We will never substitute an internal report for an agreed third-party certificate — if the scope changes, we say so before shipment, not after.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EN 10204 3.1 certificate the same as 2.2?
No. A 3.1 certificate is issued by the manufacturer with validation by their independent inspection representative, and includes the specific test results. A 2.2 document is a manufacturer's declaration of compliance without independent validation and without test values. Structural and safety applications should specify 3.1.
Who pays for third-party inspection?
Normally the appointing party. If you appoint the inspector, you pay them directly or we invoice the fee at cost. We can also arrange it and pass through the invoice, with the choice of body remaining yours.
Can you send sample reports before we order?
Yes — redacted sample reports for MTC, dimensional, coating and salt spray are available on request so your QC department can approve the formats in advance.
Want a document list added to your next quotation?
Send the application and destination country and we will return the document package we propose — before you ask twice.