How to read a PC strand mill test certificate
A mill test certificate is only useful if you know which columns to check and what it does not cover. This guide walks through an EN 10204 3.1 certificate for prestressing strand.
A mill test certificate reports the measured properties of the steel you were shipped — nothing more.
A mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 reports the actual test results for the heat numbers supplied, issued by the manufacturer and traceable to the material. For prestressing strand it should state the tensile strength or minimum breaking load, yield load, elongation and relaxation result, together with the standard, grade and diameter. It does not certify that the strand suits your project, that the anchorage is compatible, or that the certificate scope covers your market and diameter.
What EN 10204 3.1 actually means
The "3.1" is not a quality grade; it is a document type. It means the certificate is issued by the manufacturer's independent inspection representative and is based on specific testing of the material supplied, rather than on routine production data.
The values to check
These are the numbers that determine whether the strand complies with the standard named in the specification.
What the certificate does not cover
This is the part that causes disputes. A compliant certificate is necessary but not sufficient.
How to verify it
Ask for the certificate before shipment, not after arrival, so any discrepancy can be resolved while the material is still at the factory. Match the heat numbers on the certificate to the tags on the coils, and if the order requires it, arrange third-party inspection by SGS, BV or Intertek to verify the test scope independently. If a project engineer needs to witness the tensile test, that must be scheduled against the production batch.
Common questions on certificates
What is EN 10204 3.1?
It is a document type, not a quality grade. A 3.1 certificate is issued by the manufacturer's independent inspection representative and is based on specific testing of the material supplied, with traceability to the heat number. For structural prestressing strand it is normally the certificate the specification requires.
Which values should I check?
Check the minimum breaking load and elongation against the standard for the diameter, the relaxation result against the low-relaxation limit, and confirm the certificate names the same diameter, grade and standard as your order. Also confirm the heat numbers match the coil tags.
Does a certificate prove the strand suits my project?
No. It confirms the strand meets a named standard. Project suitability, anchorage compatibility, market scope and packing condition are separate questions the certificate does not answer.
Need this confirmed for your order?
Send the standard, diameter and quantity with your inquiry and the relevant document set will be confirmed before shipment.
Contact our engineersNeed the certificate set confirmed before you order?
Send the standard, diameter and inspection requirement — we will confirm the document set and the schedule.