Choosing a notified body for EN 1090: checking accreditation and designation

For EN 1090, you need a notified body: a designated body that assesses your factory production control (FPC) and issues the certificate. Without a certificate from such a body, you may not affix the CE marking to structural steel or aluminium. So do not simply choose any inspection company. Choose a body that is demonstrably competent for this standard.

The basis is accreditation by the Dutch Accreditation Council (Raad voor Accreditatie, RvA). According to business.gov.nl , the RvA assesses whether an organisation works competently, impartially and independently, and it checks accredited organisations every year. A designation as a notified body comes on top of that. The EU Nando information system gives an overview of all notified bodies.

Short answer: check that the body appears in Nando as a notified body under the Construction Products Regulation, and that EN 1090-1 falls within its scope. An accreditation for another standard is not enough.

What is the difference between accreditation and designation?

Accreditation is the recognition that a body is competent. The RvA grants it after an assessment based on international standards. It shows that the body works the way the standard prescribes.

Designation is the step after that. The body is officially notified for a specific European regulation. Only then may it carry out the conformity assessment for CE marking. A body can therefore be accredited for a standard but not designated under the Construction Products Regulation.

In the Netherlands, the RvA grants the accreditation needed for notification. The notification in Nando itself is done by the competent national authority, as the RvA describes in accreditation specification ASR006 . Ask the body for its Nando number and scope, and check them yourself.

Step by step: checking the body

Ask for the scope of the designation

The scope is the list of products and standards for which the body is designated. Request it in writing. If EN 1090-1 is not in the scope, the body cannot issue you an FPC certificate.

Look up the body in the Nando overview

The EU Nando information system contains all designated bodies. Search by name or number, and check the scope listed there.

Check the accreditation with the RvA

Confirm that the body is accredited for the relevant activity. The RvA register shows which scope has been granted and whether it is up to date.

Compare quotes for the same scope

Ask at least two bodies for a quote for the same scope and execution class. This shows differences in rates and lead times.

Which questions should you ask in the quote?

A quote says a lot if you ask the right questions. Below are the questions we see most often when companies later regret their choice.

Question	Why it matters
For which materials and execution classes does the certificate apply?	A certificate up to EXC2 does not cover EXC3 work, and steel is different from aluminium
How does surveillance work, and when will you visit?	The surveillance schedule determines your planning and your costs
What is the lead time for the initial assessment?	This determines when you can start taking orders
Who is my fixed contact person?	A fixed contact person prevents delays
How do you handle a change in my FPC?	This tells you what you must report and when
What are the costs of surveillance and of an extra visit?	Surveillance comes on top of the initial costs

A body that does not answer these questions, or answers only in general terms, is a reason to look further.

Fictional example: comparing two quotes

A small steel builder asks two bodies for a quote for EXC2 steel. Body A offers a certificate up to EXC3 and has a fixed contact person. Body B offers a certificate up to EXC2 and has a lower price.

The steel builder chooses A, even though it costs more. The reason: the company wants to take on EXC3 work within two years and does not want another assessment. A price comparison alone would have led to the wrong choice.

This is a fictional example. The prices are not from a real body.

Common mistakes

Choosing on price without checking the scope. A cheap quote from a body that is not in Nando gives you a certificate you cannot use.

Confusing accreditation with designation. An RvA accreditation for another standard says nothing about EN 1090. Only the notification in Nando makes a body a notified body.

Not having the scope written into the quote and certificate. If the execution class and the standard are not in your quote and certificate, you will have a dispute later.

Comparing too late. Compare before you start the FPC. Changing body in the middle of the process costs time and money.

Frequently asked questions about the notified body

May I choose which notified body I use?

Yes. You choose the body yourself, as long as it is designated for the right scope. Your client may require you to use a particular body, though.

Can I switch to another body?

Yes, but it takes time. The new body must assess your file and may need to repeat part of the assessment. Discuss this in advance with both bodies.

How do I know a certificate is genuine?

Check the certificate number and the body in the Nando overview and with the RvA. A certificate with an unknown number, or from a body without a designation, is not usable.

Do I need a notified body for each project?

The certificate belongs to your factory production control, not to a single project. Whether a project needs extra assessment depends on the agreements with your body. In any case, monitor the validity. See the page on the validity of the certificate.