EN 1090 certification is a mandatory market access standard in the European Union for steel and aluminum structural products used in construction. Since July 1, 2014, any load-bearing steel or aluminum structural components (such as steel beams, columns, or structural assemblies) entering the EU market must be certified under the EN 1090 system and bear the CE mark; otherwise, they are considered non-compliant and cannot be legally sold in the EU.
For manufacturers of structural metal components, understanding this system is essential if their products fall under the category of “load-bearing steel/aluminum structural components.”
This article explains what EN 1090 is, what it covers, and how to achieve compliance.
I.
Structure of the EN 1090 System: What Each Part Covers
- EN 1090-1 (Conformity Assessment): Specifies requirements for the conformity assessment of components—including the Factory Production Control (FPC) system, the Declaration of Performance (DoP), and rules for issuing the CE mark. The FPC must be audited and certified by an EU Notified Body, adhering to Assessment System 2+;
- EN 1090-2 (Execution of Steel Structures): Specifies requirements for the fabrication and execution of steel structures, covering the entire production process including materials, welding, tolerances, and surface treatment;
- EN 1090-3 (Execution of Aluminum Structures): Specifies corresponding execution requirements for the fabrication of aluminum structural components.
II. Execution Classes (EXC): A Rigorous Hierarchy from 1 to 4
EN 1090 categorizes Execution Classes (EXC) into four levels based on the structural safety significance: EXC1 applies to simple, low-risk structures; EXC2 covers the vast majority of conventional structural steel projects; EXC3 is for important public buildings; and EXC4 applies to the highest safety-critical structures, such as stadiums.
Higher execution classes entail stricter requirements for design, fabrication, welding, non-destructive testing (NDT), and traceability.
Enterprises must determine the appropriate EXC based on the product’s actual application, and their Factory Production Control (FPC) system must align with that class and be certified by a Notified Body.
III. Welding as the Core: Personnel Categories and Process Qualifications
The welding requirements of EN 1090-2 represent the most time-consuming phase of the certification process:
- Welders: Must hold EN ISO 9606-1 welder qualification certificates covering the specific processes, positions, and plate thickness ranges used in actual operations;
- Welding Coordinators: Enterprises must appoint welding coordination personnel qualified under EN ISO 14731; for EXC2 and above, they must hold International Welding Engineer (IWE) or International Welding Technologist (IWT) qualifications;
- Welding Processes: A Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) must be prepared for each process, and a Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) must be completed in accordance with EN ISO 15614—including NDT, macro-section examination, and tensile, bend, and impact toughness tests;
- NDT Personnel: Must be certified under EN ISO 9712, and inspection results must be included in traceability records.
IV.
Certification Process, Timeline, and Costs
The overall process involves: self-assessment to determine product type and execution class → establishing and implementing the FPC (Factory Production Control) system (documentation, procedures, training) → welding procedure qualification and welder qualification verification → Initial Type Testing (ITT) and on-site audit by a Notified Body → certification issuance → annual surveillance audits.
The typical certification cycle lasts 6 to 12 months, with costs ranging from approximately €5,000 to €30,000 depending on the certification class, company scale, and number of welding processes;
the welding procedure qualification stage, which usually takes 4 to 8 weeks, is the most significant variable affecting the timeline.
V. Three Recommendations for Hardware Structural Component Manufacturers
- Determine if mandatory compliance applies: Load-bearing steel and aluminum structural components exported to the EU must meet EN 1090 standards, whereas non-load-bearing hardware accessories are exempt, allowing companies to avoid this investment;
- Plan for welding qualifications in advance: Obtaining welder certificates, appointing welding coordinators, and completing WPS/WPQR qualifications all require time; initiating the certification process 6 to 12 months before accepting orders is essential to meet delivery deadlines;
- Engage an experienced Notified Body: Designing the Factory Production Control (FPC) system and managing audit-related rectifications are technical tasks;
selecting a Notified Body familiar with steel structure manufacturing processes can significantly shorten the certification timeline.
Industry experts emphasize that EN 1090 certification represents a long-term commitment to compliance across three pillars: systems, personnel, and processes. Obtaining the certificate is merely the beginning; annual surveillance audits and product change management determine whether the certification remains valid.
Companies should view EN 1090 as an “operating license” for exporting load-bearing components to the EU, rather than as a one-off project.
