EN 1090 · Structural steel and aluminium
EN 1090 — CE marking for load-bearing structures
For load-bearing steel and aluminium structures placed on the EU market, CE marking under EN 1090 is not a recommendation but a legal obligation of the manufacturer.
What is EN 1090?
EN 1090-1 governs the conformity assessment of structural components, while EN 1090-2 (steel) and EN 1090-3 (aluminium) set the technical requirements for execution. The manufacturer must establish factory production control (FPC), which is assessed and certified by a notified body; only then may it issue a declaration of performance and apply the CE marking.
The key decision at the start is the execution class — EXC1 to EXC4: it is set according to the consequences of structural failure and dictates how strict everything else is, including which level of ISO 3834 you have to meet. That is why EN 1090 and ISO 3834 almost always go together, and why the order of work matters — a wrongly determined class at the start means repeating qualifications later.
When is EN 1090 required?
Whenever you manufacture load-bearing structures or structural components built into construction works — steel halls, bridges, columns, beams, aluminium façade structures. Without CE marking under EN 1090-1 such a product may not be placed on the EU market, and locally investors and site supervisors ask for it more and more often.
How strict the regime is depends on the execution class (EXC1 to EXC4), which follows from the design and the consequences of structural failure. It also comes with a requirement for welding quality under ISO 3834.
Road to CE marking under EN 1090
The order is the same for steel and aluminium, and the scope of work is set by the execution class:
The role of the notified body
With EN 1090 a notified body is not optional: it assesses factory production control and issues the certificate without which you cannot draw up a declaration of performance or affix the CE marking. The declaration itself is signed by the manufacturer, who is responsible for its accuracy. We are not a notified body and do not issue certificates — we prepare the plant and the documentation for the inspection and stay with you until the certificate is issued.
Scope of our support
Determining the EXC class and the exact range of products that will carry CE marking.
FPC procedures, material traceability and records adapted to your plant, not copied.
WPS, WPQR, welder certificates and a welding coordinator at the level your execution class requires.
Preparation for the notified body's inspection and support during surveillance visits.
Related standards
ISO 3834 is an integral part of the story — from execution class EXC2 upwards the corresponding level is required. CE marking is the end result of the process, and ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 cover the rest of the plant.
Industries where this standard is most often required:
Training for production teams and inspectors in steel fabrication plants — factory production control, material traceability and documentation for CE marking. Delivered at your premises, online or as a combination of both.
EN 1090 — frequently asked questions
Do we need EN 1090 if we only do metalwork such as railings and gates?
It depends on the product. Railings, gates and similar non-load-bearing items do not fall under EN 1090-1. As soon as the product carries load in a building — a beam, column, truss, steel hall — it does.
Who determines the execution class?
The structural designer, through the structural design. If it is not stated in the design, EN 1090-2 gives rules for determining it, but the choice remains a matter for the design, not the manufacturer.
Is EN 1090 the same as ISO 9001?
No. EN 1090 concerns the product and the right to carry CE marking, while ISO 9001 concerns the company's management system. ISO 9001 makes the work easier, but it does not replace factory production control.
How much does implementing EN 1090 cost?
It depends on the execution class, the number of welding procedures and the state of your documentation. The notified body's fee is separate from the consulting part — we show them separately in the quote so you know what you pay to whom.
📋 Check the exact price for your organisation →The EU, the US and other markets
EN 1090 is the same standard wherever you certify it — what differs is the designation, the accreditation behind the certificate and what your customers ask for.
In the European Union the standard is adopted with an EN prefix, and what your buyer in the Netherlands, Germany or France looks at is not the prefix but the accreditation behind the certificate: a body accredited by a signatory of the international recognition arrangement (Global Accreditation Cooperation, formerly IAF) is recognised in other markets too. What EU partners and EU regulation expect is on the page about the EU market.
For companies with customers in the United States — supplier audits, security questionnaires and how ISO sits alongside SOC 2 — see the page about the US market.
Wherever your customer is, we run the project remotely in English — over Teams, WhatsApp or Viber, with documentation and records in English — and on site when that is easier.
Some of our references
More than 400 organisations in Montenegro and the region have gone through implementation with us — from banks and public bodies to manufacturing, IT, laboratories and hospitality.
These are only some of our clients. More about us →
Request a free consultation
We will assess the scope of work and propose a realistic plan and budget for your product. Call us or send an inquiry — we reply within 24 hours.