1. Identify the parts
EN 1090-2 covers the execution of steel structures. Identification allows a part or a group of similar parts to be recognised during fabrication. A label is one possible method, but not the only one.
IDENTIFICATION • TRACEABILITY • CE MARKING
EN 1090 labels: what should you include for EXC1, EXC2, EXC3 and EXC4?
Four sample labels with QR codes explain what to display, how to maintain links to materials and which evidence to retain in the quality records.
View the four labelsEducational examples with fictional data. The execution class alone does not define a mandatory label template.
Three distinct responsibilities
2. Retain the evidence
Material documents, links between parts and batches, welding records, inspections and the handling of deviations form part of the fabrication records. Not all this information needs to be printed on every label.
3. Declare performance
EN 1090-1 concerns the conformity assessment of structural components within its scope. CE marking and the declaration of performance have their own content requirements. A workshop mark or QR code does not replace them.
The current technical reference for steel is EN 1090-2:2018+A1:2024 (published in France as NF EN 1090-2+A1 in May 2024). For aluminium, refer to EN 1090-3: the examples below concern steel. AFNOR catalogue.
What changes with the execution class?
The execution specification defines the class for the project, structure or individual components. It cannot be determined from the words “shed”, “building” or “bridge” alone. A project in EXC2 may also require specific traceability provisions.
| Class | Identification and traceability | Implications for the proposed label |
|---|---|---|
| EXC1 | Identification during fabrication; comply with the project requirements. | A part mark, project and drawing reference help prevent mix-ups. The QR code is optional. |
| EXC2 | Where different grades or qualities are in circulation, identify the grade and quality of the constituent products. | Add appropriate material identification. A batch reference helps link the part to documents according to the selected procedure. |
| EXC3 | Trace constituent products from receipt to handover after incorporation. Batch traceability may be suitable unless individual traceability is specified. | Link the part mark unambiguously to the material register. Printing every heat number is not a universal rule. |
| EXC4 | Maintain traceability as in EXC3, together with the additional fabrication and inspection requirements of the project. | The example adds a quality plan reference for convenience. EXC4 alone does not require this printed field or a particular QR format. |
This identification summary draws on the European PROGRESS guide (2020, § 6.2.6). The guide predates the 2024 amendment and does not replace the current standard or project specification. Read the technical source.
Four sample label images with QR codes
These templates suggest a way to organise information; they are not four standardised labels. The project name, printed class, layout and QR code are presentation choices. S355J2 is an illustrative material grade, not a grade dictated by the execution class.
Each QR code opens the corresponding explanation on this public page. It does not provide access to a real project file. For production use, provide a stable link to the authorised part record and its documents.
EXC1 — Clear identification
Project DEMO-P01, part P-101, assembly A-101 and drawing D-101 revision B provide a practical basis for finding the correct part and drawing. Keep the required material documents and inspection records even when they are not displayed on this template.
EXC2 — Distinguish the materials
The example adds grade/quality S355J2 and batch LOT-DEMO-04. The purpose is to prevent mix-ups and retrieve the applicable material document. The type of inspection document depends on the product and applicable requirements, not solely on the EXC class.
EXC3 — Link the part to the material register
Reference MAT-DEMO-021 represents the link between the part, its batch and material documents. The records must maintain the traceability chain at the relevant stages. For an assembly made from several materials, retain the correspondence for every constituent; one printed heat number does not describe the entire assembly.
EXC4 — Make project requirements accessible
Reference QP-DEMO-04 points to the project quality plan. This is suggested information, not a label field made mandatory by EXC4. Inspections, their results and any specific requirements remain documented in the records; EXC4 should not be reduced to “100% inspection of every weld”.
Which fields should be printed, and which evidence retained?
On the label: quick access
- Part or assembly mark, clearly distinguished.
- Project or order, to avoid identical marks across different jobs.
- Drawing reference and applicable revision, where useful in the workshop.
- Grade/quality and material batch where needed for the chosen identification method.
- An identifier or link to the traceability register.
- EXC class and QR code: suggested practical information.
In the records linked to the part
- Material inspection documents and links between products, batches and heats as required.
- Drawings, bills of materials and revisions used.
- Required welding documentation, qualifications and records.
- Specified dimensional inspections, tests and non-destructive testing.
- Handling of non-conformities, subcontracted operations and acceptance.
- Applicable regulatory documents: declaration of performance and factory production control references.
The need for a type 3.1 or 3.2 material inspection document depends on the product, applicable provisions and contract. EXC4 does not automatically mean “a 3.2 certificate for every material”. Validate the document matrix with the quality manager using the standard and project specification.
A traceability label is not CE marking
For products still covered by Regulation 305/2011, Article 9 provides for the following information, among other things, to accompany CE marking:
- The last two digits of the year in which the marking was first affixed.
- The manufacturer's identification and registered address, or appropriate identifying mark.
- The unique identification code of the product type and reference to the declaration of performance.
- The declared performance levels or classes and the harmonised technical specification applied.
- The identification number of the notified body, where applicable, and the intended use.
These “performance classes” must not be confused with the EXC execution class. The marking must be visible, legible and indelible on the product or an attached label; where the nature of the product makes this impossible or unwarranted, it appears on the packaging or accompanying documents. Also check the applicable provisions of EN 1090-1. Article 9 of the Regulation.
Regulatory transition in 2026: Regulation 2024/3110 applies progressively by product family and new harmonised specifications. Do not assume that every product has already moved to the new regime, or that a digital product passport or QR code is now mandatory on every EXC part. European Commission explanation.
Maintain identification from workshop to site
- Receipt: match products, material documents and batch identification.
- Cutting: transfer identification to the pieces obtained from the original product according to the established procedure.
- Assembly: maintain the link between constituents and the assembly mark, preserving the different material origins.
- Galvanizing or painting: agree a process-compatible identification method with the subcontractor and check the correspondence on return.
- Dispatch: reconcile part marks, loading lists and delivery documents.
- QR use: test readability on the actual substrate, after treatment where relevant, and provide a lookup by readable identifier if scanning fails.
Select the substrate, attachment and marking method for the actual conditions: temperature, baths, abrasion, visibility and risk of loss. Ordinary paper labels or printed QR codes cannot be assumed to withstand galvanizing. The EGGA guide emphasises procedures agreed between the fabricator and galvanizer to preserve traceability. EGGA guide, 2014.
Prepare your tracking with Fabbim
Fabbim identifies parts and assemblies from IFC or Tekla models and tracks operations through scanning. Preparing a label template should start with your part marks, workflows and project requirements. During the demonstration, check the available information and document links that need to be set up.
Frequently asked questions about EN 1090 labels
Is there an EN 1090-certified label for each class?
The EXC class does not define a universal label template. Compliance depends on the applicable requirements for the component, its execution and its placing on the market. The images above are not certificates.
Is a QR code mandatory in EXC3 or EXC4?
The EXC class does not make QR codes mandatory. Here, a QR code is a practical means of accessing information. Continuity of identification and evidence remain necessary where required, with or without a QR code.
Must every heat number be printed?
Not systematically. The required material correspondence must be maintained. An identifier can point to a reliable register. An assembly containing several products or heats needs records that distinguish their origins.
Can the same label format be used for all four classes?
Yes, a common format may be suitable if the information and traceability arrangements meet the project requirements. The four examples illustrate possible additions, not a requirement for four different layouts.
Does Fabbim certify my company or steel structure?
Fabbim is a tracking and traceability tool. The software and labels do not replace factory production control or the applicable conformity assessments and documents.
Who validates the fields before fabrication?
The quality manager should check the template against the execution specification, workshop procedures and contract requirements. The execution class must come from the project documents, not from the choice of an image.
Sources and scope of this guide
Research updated on 16 October 2026. Official catalogues confirm the edition of the standard; its full licensed text is not reproduced here. Dated technical guides explain principles but are not presented as equivalent to the current standard. Check this summary against the applicable text, national supplements and project requirements.
- AFNOR — NF EN 1090-2+A1, May 2024: current edition and scope
- European PROGRESS project — technical recommendations, 2020 (§ 6.2.6, identification and traceability)
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 305/2011, particularly Articles 4, 7 and 9
- European Commission — transition to Construction Products Regulation 2024/3110
- EGGA — CE marking and galvanizing guide, 2014: continuity with the subcontractor