EN 10219 vs EN 10210: Comprehensive Comparison

When selecting or designing European structural hollow profiles (such as square and round tubes), engineers and buyers often encounter both EN 10219 and EN 10210 standards. Their products have similar appearances and overlapping applications, so how should one choose?

EN 10219 and EN 10210 are two core European standards for structural hollow profiles. Both are harmonized standards under the EU Building Product Regulation (CPR) and are the technical basis for legally affixing the CE marking and entering the European market. 

Although their products have similar shapes (round, square, and rectangular tubes) and are widely used in construction, bridges, machinery, and other fields, their most fundamental difference lies in the manufacturing process and the final product condition, which directly affects the material's performance and applicable scenarios.

EN 10219 Standard:
EN 10219 is a harmonized standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), officially titled "Cold-formed weldable non-alloy and fine-grained structural steel hollow profiles." It applies to cold-formed and welded hollow structural profiles such as square tubes, rectangular tubes, round tubes, delivered untreated (welded condition). These products are widely used in construction, machinery, towers, and other fields, and are subject to the EU Building Products Regulation (CPR, (EU) No 305/2011), requiring CE marking and a Declaration of Performance (DoP) to demonstrate conformity. The core of this standard lies in specifying the technical delivery conditions of the products, mainly including: dimensional and tolerance requirements, chemical composition, mechanical properties (yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, impact energy), and weldability requirements.

EN 10219 standard is divided into two parts:
1. EN 10219-1: Cold-formed weldable non-alloy and fine-grained structural steel hollow sections – Part 1: Delivery conditions. This part specifies the general requirements for the chemical composition, mechanical properties, processability (such as weldability), and inspection of the materials. The current effective version is EN 10219-1:2006, which supersedes the older version EN 10219-1:1997.

2. EN 10219-2: Cold-formed weldable non-alloy and fine-grained structural steel hollow sections – Part 2: Dimensions, tolerances, and section properties. This part details the specific dimensional series, permissible deviations, and weight per unit length of the product, and provides the data and methods required to calculate the geometric properties of the section (such as moment of inertia and section modulus). It is the core basis for structural designers to select and calculate materials.

EN 10210 Standard:
Similar to EN 10219, EN 10210, also developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), is a harmonized standard under the EU Building Products Regulation (CPR), providing comprehensive technical specifications and evaluation criteria for hot-formed structural hollow profiles. It includes, but is not limited to, welded products, with the core requirement being that the finished product undergoes overall heat treatment. These profiles are widely used in construction, machinery manufacturing, power transmission line towers, and other fields, typically supporting important structures such as bridges, buildings, and pipelines. The technical requirements specified in EN 10210 cover important aspects such as dimensional accuracy, chemical composition and carbon equivalent, delivery condition (heat treatment), mechanical properties (e.g., yield strength, tensile strength), and impact toughness, thus providing a technical benchmark for product quality and safety.

The full name of EN 10210 is "Hot-worked non-alloy and fine-grained structural steel hollow profiles."

Its products are divided into:
EN 10210-1: Welded profiles: The process is "cold bending and welding + overall heat treatment (such as normalizing)".
EN 10210-2: Seamless profiles: The process is hot working (piercing/extrusion) followed by heat treatment.

EU CE Conformity Assessment Procedures and Requirements for EN 10219 and EN 10210 Products:

According to the EU Building Products Regulation (CPR, (EU) No 305/2011), in order to legally place hollow structural profiles conforming to EN 10219 or EN 10210 standards on the European market, manufacturers must complete the statutory conformity assessment procedures and ultimately issue a Declaration of Performance for their products. The manufacturer obtains a Certificate of Conformity (DoP) and affixes the CE marking.

The complete implementation process typically includes:

● Preparation and System Establishment: Thoroughly understand standards and regulatory requirements and establish FPC system documentation.
● Selection and Engagement of a Notified Body: Engage an officially designated EU Notified Body.
● Implementation Assessment: Complete the ITT under the supervision of the Notified Body and undergo an on-site audit of the FPC system.
● Certification and Declaration: Upon successful audit, the Notified Body issues a Certificate of Conformity for Factory Production Control. The manufacturer then signs a Declaration of Performance and affixes the CE marking.
● Ongoing Surveillance: Undergo regular surveillance by the Notified Body (usually annually) to maintain the validity of the certificate.

Benefits of Obtaining CE Conformity Certificate:

For Manufacturers/Exporters:

● Obtain a legal passport to the EU and global markets that recognize the CE marking.
● Demonstrate product compliance with high standards through independent third-party assessment, enhancing brand reputation and market competitiveness.
● Systematic factory production control helps optimize internal management, stabilize product quality, and reduce risks.

For Purchasers, Designers, and End Users:

● The CE marking and accompanying performance declaration provide clear, reliable, and comparable product performance data, serving as crucial proof of compliance with building codes and design requirements.
● It ensures that products meet expectations in terms of strength, toughness, dimensional accuracy, and weldability, guaranteeing the safety and reliability of engineering structures.

How to Choose a Notified Body?

When selecting a notified body to conduct conformity assessments, companies should carefully consider the following aspects:

1. Official Qualifications and Scope of Authorization: Confirm whether the body is an officially notified body of the EU and whether its scope of authorization clearly includes the CPR Regulation and related product standards.
2. Industry Experience and Professional Reputation: Prioritize bodies with extensive auditing experience and a good technical reputation in the field of structural steel.
3. Professionalism and Transparency of Services: Assess whether the assessment process is clear and efficient, communication is smooth, and the audit team is professional.
4. Reasonableness of Fees and Overall Value: Consider fees based on a comprehensive comparison of service content, professionalism, and efficiency, rather than simply pursuing the lowest price.

Conclusion: 

EN 10219 and EN 10210 are the two major performance grading standards for structural profiles in Europe. The key difference is that EN 10219 represents an economical and reliable standard solution, while EN 10210 represents a high-performance solution with better toughness and more stable performance. The choice of which standard to use should be determined by specific engineering risks, design life, and performance requirements. Both are cornerstones for ensuring product compliance, transparency, and safety, but they provide precise technical solutions for different structural needs.

Read more: S235JRH and S355J2H Structural Steel or EN 10219 EU CE Certification Guidelines