Who is it for?

Standard EN 1090 is a set of requirements concerning the quality of steel and aluminium structures manufactured for the construction industry. Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011, establishing harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products, every company placing welded construction structures on the EU market (including the Polish market) is obliged to implement the standards set out in EN 1090. This includes contractors of complete structures or individual structural elements, such as:

• steel or aluminium components placed on the construction products market,
• components used in building structures either directly or as assemblies of structural components,
• steel components for composite and reinforced concrete structures,
• rolled elements, cold-formed or produced using other technologies,
• elements manufactured from various types of sections, flat products (sheets and strips), bars, castings and forgings,
• elements and sets of elements produced in series and non-series.

The EN 1090 standard applies to all areas of the construction industry: civil engineering, industrial construction, bridge construction, balustrades, scaffolding, etc.

Information about the standard

The EN 1090 standard requires all manufacturers of metal structures for the construction industry to affix the CE mark to their products. This serves as a declaration that the product complies with EU directives concerning safety in use, health protection and environmental protection. Meeting this requirement involves:

• the development, implementation and certification of a Factory Production Control (FPC) system in accordance with the requirements of EN 1090,
• assessing the conformity of specific products with the guidelines of EN 1090 and drawing up a declaration of their performance,
• demonstrating compliance with quality requirements for the welding of metallic materials in accordance with ISO 3834.

The EN 1090 standard covers the entire process of manufacturing steel and aluminium structures – from design, through welding (or assembly using mechanical fasteners) and corrosion protection, to commissioning. It specifies detailed technical requirements (which vary depending on the risk associated with the structure being manufactured) and sets out the principles for assessing the conformity of structural components with the standards described. The EN 1090 standard also sets out requirements for key personnel, equipment used for production, measurement and inspection, and the handling of non-conforming products.

Benefits of implementation

The implementation and certification of international quality management standards are nowadays essential for a company’s positive image and for establishing its competitive position in the market. In the case of the EN 1090 standard, certification to its requirements is, in fact, a prerequisite for operating in European markets.

An organisation that has implemented a QMS and obtained confirmation of its compliance with the EN 1090 standards:

• operates in accordance with Polish law and EU regulations,
• avoids criminal liability associated with a lack of product quality certification,
• has the right to place products on EU markets without restriction,
• can minimise errors in production processes,
• has the opportunity to maximise its profits by operating in accordance with the highest quality standards.