Export Certifications for Aluminium Pergolas: What Each One Actually Proves
Certification logos are easy to publish. Documents are not. This page explains which certificate covers which part of an aluminium pergola, and how to verify any certificate a supplier shows you — including ours.
Which certificate covers what
The most common mistake in pergola sourcing is treating “CE certified” as one thing. It is not. Different certificates cover different parts and different risks.
| Certification | Covers | Does not cover |
|---|---|---|
| EN 1090-1 | Conformity assessment of load-bearing structural components — the framework itself | Electrical safety, wind performance, finish durability |
| EN 1090-3 | Technical requirements for execution of aluminium structures — fabrication and workmanship | Motor, controls, coating quality |
| EN 60335-1 / EN IEC 60335-2-97 | Electrical safety of household-type appliances, incl. drives and actuators — this is what covers an electric pergola motor | The aluminium structure |
| CE marking | Declared conformity with applicable EU legislation for the product placed on the market | It is a declaration, not a third-party test of the whole product |
| ISO 9001 | The factory’s quality management system — process consistency | Product performance of any individual unit |
| Wind / snow load testing | Structural performance under defined load conditions | Usually a test report, not a certificate |
If a supplier answers “we are CE certified” to all of these questions, they either do not know their own documents or do not have them.
How to verify any certificate (including ours)
| # | Check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certificate number | A number is checkable; a logo is not |
| 2 | Reference standard | Confirms what the certificate actually assessed |
| 3 | Issuing body | Understand who issued it and under what scheme |
| 4 | Whose name is on it | Applicant and manufacturer may differ from the brand you are talking to — this is normal, but must be explained |
| 5 | Product scope and model list | Confirms your model is covered, not a generic product category |
| 6 | Validity dates | Expired certificates are still shown on websites |
| 7 | Whether the product was modified | Many attestations stop applying if the design changes |
Check 4 is the one buyers skip, and it is the one that matters most. A certificate issued to a component supplier proves something about that component; a certificate issued to a structure manufacturer proves something about the structure. They are not interchangeable.
Certificates and attestations covering our pergola range
For buyers running the checks above, here is what we can produce, with numbers.
| Document | Issued by | Reference standard | Certificate / report no. | Scope | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attestation of Conformity | EU TEST | EN 1090-1 / EN 1090-3 | TD21162400 | Aluminium alloy pergola — models 173 / 180 / 220 / 221 | 2026-05-01 → 2027-05-01 |
| Attestation of Compliance (electrical) | Guangdong Dongdian Testing Service Co., Ltd. | EN IEC 60335-2-97 / EN 60335-1 | DDT-CE24092023-1S01 | Electric linear actuator (motor unit) | Issued 2025-12-29 |
| Quality management system | Certification body | ISO 9001 | Available on request | Factory quality management system | Current |
| Product conformity marking | Manufacturer declaration | CE | Applied to product | Outdoor pergola and gazebo products | Current |
Note that the table gives you the issuing body for each document, not just a number. That is the field buyers skip most often — and the one that tells you what kind of assurance you are actually holding.
How to read the first row. BROWN CARDON is the brand of Chongqing Aluminum Duoduo Metal Materials Co., Ltd. The EN 1090-1 / EN 1090-3 attestation covers the aluminium alloy pergola structure across models 173, 180, 220 and 221. The certificate names the company under its pinyin form, *Chongqing Lvduoduo Metal Material Co., Ltd.* — if your compliance file needs the two names reconciled, ask us for a name-equivalence statement. We will send the certificate unredacted, so your compliance team can verify the entity name, the model list and the validity dates directly against the document.
How to read the second row. The electrical attestation covers the electric linear actuator — the motor unit — under EN IEC 60335-2-97. It is issued to the actuator manufacturer, not to us. That is normal and correct: electrical safety of a drive belongs to the drive’s maker. What matters for your file is that the actuator in your pergola is a CE-attested unit.
What EN 1090 does and does not tell you
EN 1090-1 and EN 1090-3 are structural standards. They speak to how aluminium load-bearing components are assessed and executed — alloy selection, fabrication and workmanship.
They do not state a wind speed or a snow load. Those are separate performance figures declared by the manufacturer for a given configuration:
| Our declared performance | Value |
|---|---|
| Wind resistance | Up to 180 km/h |
| Snow load | 120–180 kg/m² |
| Frame alloy | 6063-T5/T6 aluminium |
| Beam | 221 × 55 mm, 2.0 mm wall |
| Column | 122.5 × 58.5 mm, 2.0 mm wall |
Treat these as engineering declarations for the specified configuration — and ask for the section drawings that back them.
Documents to request before you order
| Document | Request it from | What it settles |
|---|---|---|
| EN 1090-1 / EN 1090-3 attestation | The structure manufacturer | Structural conformity of the frame |
| Actuator CE attestation | The motor maker | Electrical safety of the drive |
| ISO 9001 certificate | The factory | Process consistency |
| Section drawings with wall thickness | The factory | Whether the quote matches the material |
| Wind / snow load declaration | The factory | Performance for your region |
| Coating specification | The factory | Corrosion and fade performance |
Frequently asked questions
Are aluminium pergolas required to be EN 1090 certified?
EN 1090 is the European framework for executing load-bearing steel and aluminium structures. Whether it is mandatory for your project depends on the destination market and the application. It is nevertheless the standard European specifiers recognise when they assess an aluminium structure, which is why it is the first document to request.
What does “CE certified” actually mean for a pergola?
CE is a declaration that the product meets the applicable EU legislation for its category. It is not a third-party test of the whole product. For a motorized pergola, electrical safety of the motor is covered separately, typically under EN 60335. Ask for the documents behind the marking, not the logo.
The certificate is issued to a different company name than the brand I am buying from. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily, and it is common in export manufacturing — brands often sell products made by an affiliated or contract manufacturer. What matters is that the relationship is explained in writing, so you know who the manufacturer is and the certificate applies to the exact model you are buying. If a supplier cannot explain the name on the certificate, treat that as a warning sign.
How do I check that my model is covered?
Look at the model list on the certificate itself. A certificate that covers “aluminium pergolas” generically, with no model numbers, tells you much less than one that lists the specific models you are ordering.
Do these certificates expire?
Yes. Attestations are typically valid for a fixed period — our EN 1090 attestation runs from 2026-05-01 to 2027-05-01 — and they may stop applying if the product design is changed. Always check the dates on the copy you are given.
What wind and snow loads does your pergola carry?
Up to 180 km/h wind resistance and 120–180 kg/m² snow load for the specified configuration, on a 6063-T5/T6 frame. These are performance declarations separate from the structural certification — ask us for the configuration drawings.
Can you send the certificates for our compliance file?
Yes. Tell us your destination market and the models you are considering, and we will send the relevant attestations with numbers, scope and validity dates.
Request the certificate set
Send your destination market and target models, and we will provide the attestations with numbers, scope and validity dates.
Contact: browncardon.global@gmail.com · Chongqing, China