Following best practices is crucial for ensuring compliance with the EN 1090-2+A1:2024 standard, enhancing audit readiness and minimizing risks associated with steel structure execution.

Best practices at a glance

This section introduces a checklist of essential best practices that align with the clauses of SN EN 1090-2+A1:2024. These practices cover key areas such as material selection, welding procedures, mechanical fastening, corrosion protection, and documentation, ensuring a comprehensive approach to compliance.

The practices

1. Ensure rigorous material selection: Choose high-quality steel and aluminum products that meet the specified requirements. This practice is vital for meeting the structural integrity criteria outlined in Clause 5.1 of EN 1090-2+A1:2024. Failing to use approved materials can lead to performance issues and non-compliance during audits.

2. Implement standardized welding procedures: Establish and adhere to a comprehensive welding procedure specification (WPS) that meets Clause 7 requirements. This practice not only ensures consistency in weld quality but also mitigates risks of structural failure, which auditors will scrutinize during compliance checks.

3. Utilize certified consumables: Always use welding consumables that are certified according to relevant standards. This is important as per Clause 7.4, ensuring that the materials used in welding contribute to the overall quality and durability of the structure, avoiding potential failures and compliance issues.

4. Adopt proper corrosion protection measures: Implement effective corrosion protection strategies as outlined in Clause 8. This practice is essential to prolonging the lifespan of steel structures and meeting durability standards, helping avoid costly repairs and non-conformance during audits.

5. Define geometric tolerances and execution classes: Clearly specify tolerances and execution classes according to Clause 9. This practice ensures that structures meet design specifications and provides a clear expectation for quality, which is crucial for successful compliance verification.

6. Document your processes thoroughly: Maintain comprehensive documentation of all execution specifications, including welding records, material certifications, and inspection reports. As per Clause 12, this documentation is critical for demonstrating compliance during audits and protecting your organization from liabilities.

7. Train personnel on standards: Ensure that all staff involved in the execution of steel structures are trained on EN 1090-2+A1:2024 compliance requirements. This is vital to foster a culture of quality and compliance, reducing the risk of errors that could lead to audit failures.

8. Conduct regular internal audits: Schedule periodic compliance audits to assess adherence to EN 1090-2+A1:2024 standards. Regular audits help identify areas for improvement and ensure that compliance measures are consistently followed, which is essential for maintaining quality and readiness for external inspections.

Audit preparation checklist

• Ensure rigorous material selection
• Implement standardized welding procedures
• Utilize certified consumables
• Adopt proper corrosion protection measures
• Define geometric tolerances and execution classes
• Document your processes thoroughly
• Train personnel on standards
• Conduct regular internal audits

Next steps

To delve deeper into achieving EN 1090-2+A1:2024 compliance, consider seeking additional training, acquiring implementation guides, or purchasing the standard for comprehensive insights into the requirements.