EN 1090 certificate – CE marking for steel structures

What is EN 1090?

EN 1090 is the European standard governing the execution of steel and aluminium load-bearing structures. It is harmonised with the Construction Products Regulation CPR (305/2011) and is the basis for CE marking - mandatory for structural construction products placed on the EU market.

CE marking is possible after implementing and certifying Factory Production Control (FPC) and issuing a Declaration of Performance (DoP). The foundation of welding processes under EN 1090 is EN ISO 3834.

Parts of the standard

• EN 1090-1 - assessment and verification of constancy of performance (CE, DoP, FPC)
• EN 1090-2 - technical requirements for steel structures
• EN 1090-3 - technical requirements for aluminium structures
• EN 1090-4 / -5 - thin-walled cold-formed structures (steel / aluminium)

Execution classes (EXC)

How to choose the EXC class

The class is determined on the basis of three categories according to EN 1090-2:

• the consequence class of failure: CC1–CC3,
• the service category (nature of the loads): SC1–SC2,
• the production category (complexity of fabrication): PC1–PC2.

If the documentation does not specify the class, EXC2 is assumed by default. We help you choose a class appropriate to your products, so you do not implement excessive requirements.

Factory Production Control (FPC) and CE marking

FPC (in Polish: ZKP) is a documented system of production control that ensures repeatable conformity of the product with the standard. FPC is certified by a notified body and is the condition for issuing the DoP and applying the CE marking. It is the key, mandatory element of EN 1090-1.

Main requirements

• Factory Production Control (FPC) - a documented production system
• Conformity with EN ISO 3834 - welding processes at the right level
• Procedure qualification (WPQR) - to ISO 15614, WPS instructions
• Personnel qualifications - welders to EN ISO 9606, operators to EN ISO 14732
• Welding supervision - personnel to ISO 14731 (IWE/IWT/IWS)
• Inspection and testing - NDT, dimensional inspection, material traceability

EN 1090 and EN ISO 3834

The EXC execution class determines the required level of the welding quality system:

Certification process step by step

1. Initial audit - assessment of the company’s state and the gaps against EN 1090 and the selected EXC class
2. Implementing EN ISO 3834 - the welding quality system at the appropriate level
3. FPC documentation - procedures, inspection plans, traceability
4. WPQR and qualifications - welding procedures and personnel exams
5. Internal audit - checking readiness
6. Notified body audit - FPC certification
7. DoP and CE marking - issuing the declaration and marking the products

How much certification costs

We do not quote a single figure - the cost depends on:

• the execution class (EXC1–EXC4),
• the size of the company and the number of welding processes/methods,
• the number of welders to be examined,
• the state of the current documentation,
• any outsourcing of welding supervision.

The cost of implementation (consulting) is separate from the notified body’s fee. We prepare a quote after the initial audit.

Laser welding and cobots in EN 1090

• Laser welding - possible once approved in a WPQR; precise joining of components with minimal distortion (less straightening)
• Cobots - repeatable welds on series parts, operators to EN ISO 14732, automatic recording of parameters

Automating the production of structures? See welding cobots and laser welders.

Benefits of certification

• CE marking - legal sale of structures on the EU market
• Access to public and infrastructure tenders
• Repeatable quality from material to finished product
• Competitive advantage in construction and industry