ISO 3834 · Welding quality
ISO 3834 — quality requirements for welding
Welding is a special process: the result cannot be fully verified by inspecting the finished product, so quality has to be built into the process itself. ISO 3834 sets out what a manufacturer must have in place to prove that.
What is ISO 3834?
ISO 3834 is not a management system like ISO 9001 — it is a set of requirements for the manufacturer's technical capability to weld. The standard has three levels: ISO 3834-2 (comprehensive), 3834-3 (standard) and 3834-4 (elementary). The level is chosen according to how critical the product is and what the product standard or the customer requires.
In practice it requires welding procedure specifications (WPS) backed by qualification records (WPQR), qualified welders, appointed welding coordination personnel, control of filler and base materials, controlled equipment and inspection records. The most common reason for implementing it is EN 1090 — for steel structures ISO 3834 is an integral part of it.
When is ISO 3834 required?
It is most often required by a project or customer: load-bearing steel and aluminium structures, pressure vessels and pipelines, industrial equipment. With EN 1090 there is no choice — execution class EXC2 requires the ISO 3834-3 level, and EXC3 and EXC4 require ISO 3834-2.
Another common trigger is a tender or a foreign client asking for proof that your welding is under control: certified welders, qualified procedures and an appointed welding coordinator.
Road to certification
The scope depends on what you weld, but the order is always the same:
Who issues the certificate
The ISO 3834 certificate is issued by an independent certification body, not by us. For load-bearing structures this audit is usually carried out together with the assessment of factory production control under EN 1090, so it makes sense for the same body to cover both — it is cheaper and quicker. Our job is to make sure you come to the audit ready: with qualified procedures, certificates and the records the auditor asks for.
Scope of our support
WPS and WPQR for your processes, a welder certification plan and tracking of validity dates.
Appointment of and support for the welding coordinator — from documented tasks to daily practice on the shop floor.
A weld inspection plan, cooperation with non-destructive testing laboratories and the records the auditor asks for.
An internal audit before the certification body arrives and support during the audit itself.
Related standards
EN 1090 is the reason ISO 3834 is most often implemented — without it there is no CE marking on load-bearing structures from execution class EXC2 upwards. ISO 9001 covers the rest of the company, and ISO 45001 the risks that come with welding.
Industries where this standard is most often required:
Training for welding coordinators, inspectors and foremen in welding shops — WPS and WPQR, welder certificates and the records the auditor asks for. Delivered at your premises, online or as a combination of both.
ISO 3834 — frequently asked questions
Which part of the standard do we need — 2, 3 or 4?
It depends on what you weld and on the customer's requirements. Part 2 contains comprehensive requirements, part 3 standard and part 4 elementary. With EN 1090 the execution class decides for you: EXC2 requires the ISO 3834-3 level, and EXC3 and EXC4 require ISO 3834-2.
Does ISO 3834 replace ISO 9001?
No. ISO 3834 covers only welding and can be certified on its own, but it does not cover purchasing, sales, complaints or the rest of the system. That is why companies that make structures usually have both.
Do we need a welding coordinator?
Yes. The standard requires one to be appointed, with clearly defined tasks and technical knowledge in line with EN ISO 14731. It does not have to mean a new hire — it is usually an engineer you already have, with the appropriate training.
How much does implementing ISO 3834 cost?
It depends on the number of procedures to be qualified, the number of welders to be certified and how much documentation you already have. Send a short description of your shop for an indicative quote.
📋 Check the exact price for your organisation →The EU, the US and other markets
ISO 3834 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.