Since 2014, every load-bearing metal structure placed on the European market must carry CE marking under EN 1090. In practice, this shifts the requirement: it is no longer enough to weld well, you have to prove that you know how to weld, with written procedures and documented inspections.
What the standard actually requires
EN 1090-1 sets out conformity assessment and CE marking; EN 1090-2 covers the execution of steel structures. The workshop must have documented factory production control (FPC), a designated welding coordinator and qualified welding procedures. It is these elements, not the visual quality of the weld bead alone, that make a structure deliverable.
Execution classes (EXC1 to EXC4)
Every structure is assigned an execution class according to the consequences of failure, the type of loading and the fabrication method. A technical walkway and a structural steel frame in a public building do not call for the same level of inspection: the class determines the extent of non-destructive testing, material traceability and the tolerances permitted.
What this changes for the client
Ask for the execution class selected, the welding procedure qualifications (QMOS/DMOS) covering the joints concerned, and the material certificates. A complete file at delivery avoids rework and secures acceptance of the works.
Technical information article. It does not constitute a contractual commitment or a certification statement.
