EN 1004 vs. PN-EN 1004: What's the Practical Difference?

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When shopping for mobile scaffolding, you'll come across two designations that look almost identical: EN 1004 and PN-EN 1004. One manufacturer lists it as a quality guarantee, so does another. Yet these are two different standards — and the distinction can, in practice, mean the difference between scaffolding you're allowed to use on a job site and scaffolding that fails an inspection.

This article explains what each standard actually requires, how to identify a certified product, and why it matters — especially if you're buying scaffolding for professional or industrial use.

What Is EN 1004 — the European Standard for Mobile Scaffolding?

EN 1004 is a European harmonised technical standard for mobile access towers assembled from prefabricated components. It was published by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), and its full current title is UNI EN 1004-1:2021 — the version issued in 2021, which replaced the original EN 1004:2004.

The standard sets out

• Structural requirements for components (profiles, joints, platform decks)
• Load classes (for mobile scaffolding the relevant classes are 2 and 3 — 150 and 200 kg/m²)
• Maximum permitted heights without outriggers (indoors: 12 m, outdoors: 8 m)
• Requirements for stability, castors, and levelling adjusters
• Mandatory information in documentation and assembly instructions
• Markings that must appear on every element of the assembly

Scaffolding that complies with EN 1004 carries CE marking, because this standard is harmonised in Europe — meaning it is directly linked to the Construction Products Regulation. In practice this means the manufacturer declares conformity with the standard and bears legal responsibility for it.

Italian manufacturer COSMOS, for example, produces the Marte range in accordance with UNI EN 1004, and all parameters — load class 3 (200 kg/m²), permitted number of users, maximum height without outriggers — are derived directly from this standard's requirements.

What Is PN-EN 1004 — the Polish Version of the Same Standard?

PN-EN 1004 is the national adoption of European standard EN 1004, valid in Poland. The prefix PN stands for Polska Norma (Polish Standard), published by the Polish standardisation body PKN.

The key point: PN-EN 1004 adopts the content of European standard EN 1004 without modification. It is the same technical specification, simply published under a Polish national designation — just as the Czech ČSN EN 1004 or the Italian UNI EN 1004 are local adoptions of the same European text.

Polish manufacturer METIGO, whose ALUBERG mobile scaffolding we supply to the market, certifies its range against PN-EN 1004. In terms of structural, load-bearing, and safety requirements, this is technically identical to EN 1004 or UNI EN 1004.

So Where Is the Actual Difference?

Technically, there is no meaningful difference — both standards derive from the same European base. The difference is administrative: the issuing body, the language of the documentation, and the national prefix in the designation.

For practical use this means:

• Scaffolding certified to PN-EN 1004 meets the same technical requirements as scaffolding certified to EN 1004.
• The certification is valid across the entire EU — a Polish certificate is not "inferior" to an Italian one.
• The parameters (height, load, outriggers) are identical — you must follow them equally.

One real-world difference does exist, however, and it can surface during audits. If your company is subject to internal safety audits or has a procurement specification that explicitly requires "EN 1004" without further qualification, this can create confusion. In that case we recommend having the Declaration of Performance (DoP) on hand, where the reference to the harmonised standard is stated explicitly. Both METIGO and COSMOS provide this document with every delivery.

Old EN 1004:2004 vs. Current EN 1004-1:2021

There is one thing that genuinely creates differences between products: the year of the standard edition.

The original EN 1004 from 2004 was superseded in 2021 by the updated EN 1004-1:2021. The new version tightens requirements in particular around:

• Platform decking and its retention mechanisms
• Documentation and component marking
• Mandatory assembly and disassembly information in the user manual

Products certified only to the older EN 1004:2004 and not recertified to the new version may be technically outdated — even though this is not immediately obvious from the outside. When purchasing, always ask which version of the standard the scaffolding is certified to. Our ALUBERG scaffolding is certified to PN-EN 1004 (corresponding to the current edition); COSMOS Marte is certified to UNI EN 1004-1/2:2021.

How to Verify Certification in Practice

It is not enough to rely on a manufacturer or seller writing "complies with EN 1004" on their website. Verify certification as follows:

• Declaration of Performance (DoP): a written document in which the manufacturer declares conformity with a specific standard. It must be available for every product.

• Component marking: every element of a certified scaffold must carry a production mark (manufacturer, year of manufacture, reference to the standard). Unmarked components mean the product is not certified.

• Assembly instructions in the local language: a certified product must be supplied with a manual in the language of the country of use. Missing local-language instructions are a warning sign.

• Load class label on the assembly: the maximum load capacity (kg/m²) and the maximum permitted height must be visibly displayed on the assembled tower.

If in doubt, ask the supplier for a copy of the DoP. A reputable supplier will provide it without hesitation.

Why This Matters During an Inspection or Insurance Claim

Using scaffolding that does not comply with the current standard has concrete legal consequences. After a workplace accident at height, health and safety inspectors investigate whether the equipment in use was certified. Non-certified or outdated-certified scaffolding can lead to:

• Denial of the employer's insurance claim
• A fine from the labour inspectorate
• Personal liability of the responsible health and safety officer

We are not lawyers, and any specific assessment always depends on the circumstances — but certification to the current standard is the simplest way to minimise risk.

Summary

• EN 1004 and PN-EN 1004 are technically equivalent standards — they differ only in their issuing body (CEN vs. Polish PKN).
• Both are valid across the entire EU and are built on the same structural and safety requirements.
• More important than the prefix is the edition: ask whether the scaffolding is certified to EN 1004:2004 (older) or EN 1004-1:2021 (current).
• Verify certification via the DoP, component marking, and the presence of a local-language manual.

Our ALUBERG scaffolding (METIGO, Poland) and COSMOS Marte (Italy) are certified to the current editions of their respective standards. Documentation for both product ranges is available on request.

Have a question about standards, or unsure which scaffolding will meet your site's requirements? Send us an enquiry — we'll advise and respond within 24 hours.