EN 15085 Certification

Railway Welding Compliance

Certification Scope

Who Needs EN 15085 Certification? 7 Railway Business Types That Should Check Their Scope

By First Welding Certification Technical Editorial Team

8 Min Read

06 Oct 2026

Table of Contents

EN 15085 CERTIFICATION SCOPE | WHAT SHOULD YOU CHECK?

RAILWAY PRODUCTS

Vehicles • Components • Structures

WELDING ACTIVITIES

Design • Production • Maintenance

CERTIFICATION SCOPE

Classification • Personnel • Quality

CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS

Tenders • Contracts • Supplier Approval
EN 15085 railway welding certification for railway manufacturers and suppliers

A company does not need to build a train for EN 15085 certification to matter to its business.

A railway component manufacturer may have to look at its scope. A maintenance company that does railway welding may need to check its requirements. Even an organisation that does not weld all may need to examine EN 15085 when it designs, purchases, assembles or supplies welded railway products.

So the real question is not simply: “Are we a railway OEM?”

The better question is: “What railway products do we handle what activities do we perform and what responsibility do we have for welded components?”

This article explains seven railway business types that should check their EN 15085 certification scope, what activities can trigger a scope review and what companies should examine before moving

Understanding EN 15085 Certification Scope

EN 15085 is linked to welding activities that involve railway vehicles and components. The applicable certification scope is not decided by how big a company is or whether it makes full trains.

An organisation should think about its:

– Railway products
– Welding activities
– Manufacturing responsibilities
– Design responsibilities
– Purchase and supply activities
– Maintenance activities
– Safety relevance of the products
– Customer and contractual requirements

 EN 15085 certification framework covers activities such as Design, Production, Purchase & Supply and Maintenance.

Therefore two organisations that work in the railway supply chain can have different certification scopes.

A useful starting point is:

Product → Activity → Responsibility → Safety Relevance → Customer Requirement → Certification Scope

For an overview of the standard see First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd’s EN 15085 Certification. 

7 Railway Business Types That Should Check Their Scope

The following seven categories are business profiles for identifying when an organisation should review its EN 15085 certification scope.

Important: These are not seven categories defined by EN 15085. They are business profiles used to help railway organisations identify whether their activities may fall within a certification scope.

 1. Rolling Stock Manufacturers and Railway OEMs

Rolling stock manufacturers and railway OEMs are the obvious group to examine.

These companies may make:

– Locomotives
– Passenger coaches
– Freight wagons
– Metro vehicles
– Railway vehicle assemblies
– Welded railway structures and components

When welding is part of railway vehicle manufacturing the organisation should check its EN 15085 scope.

Important areas can include welding procedures, personnel, welding coordination, material traceability, inspection and production records.

The key question is:

“What railway products are being manufactured and what welding responsibilities does the manufacturer have?”

 2. Railway Component Manufacturers

You do not need to build a train to be relevant to EN 15085 certification.

Railway component manufacturers that produce welded products should examine their scope carefully.

Examples can include:

– Welded railway assemblies
– Structural components
– Railway equipment
– Vehicle components
– Fabricated railway parts

The function and safety relevance of the component can influence the requirements.

Therefore component manufacturers should not simply assume: “We only make components so EN 15085 does not apply.”

Instead examine the product, welding activity, responsibility and customer requirements.

For a discussion see EN 15085‑2 CL2 Certification for Railway Components.

3. Bogie, Frame and Safety‑Relevant Component Manufacturers

Some welded railway products need attention because of their role inside a railway vehicle.

Examples may include:

– Bogie structures
– Railway frames
– Load‑bearing welded structures
– Safety‑relevant components
– welded assemblies

The importance of the product can be more significant, than the size of the manufacturer.

A smaller manufacturer that produces a welded railway component may need to set up proper welding controls and certification arrangements.

The review should follow:

Component function → Safety relevance → Welding activity → classification → Certification scope

Companies should not pick a certification level simply because another railway manufacturer uses the same level.

The actual product and activity should be examined.

4. Railway Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Companies

EN 15085 is not limited to railway vehicle manufacturing.

Railway maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations may also need to examine their scope when welding is part of their activities.

Examples include:

– Periodic overhaul
– Railway vehicle repair
– Structural repair
– Component repair
– Welding modifications
– Maintenance welding
– Replacement of welded components

The organization should determine what activities it performs and whether those activities fall within the certification scope.

For detailed information see EN 15085 Certification for Railway Maintenance Companies.

5. Railway Operators With In-House Welding Activities

Railway operators should not automatically assume that operating railway vehicles means they require the certification scope as a railway manufacturer.

The important question is:

What activities does the operator actually perform?

For example an operator may only operate railway vehicles.

Another operator may have its workshop performing:

– Welding repairs
– Structural repairs
– Component modifications
– Railway vehicle maintenance
– Periodic overhaul

These two organizations have different operational responsibilities.

Therefore: Operating railway vehicles is not the same as performing welding activities on railway vehicles.

Railway operators with in-house welding, repair or maintenance activities should review whether those activities fall within the EN 15085 scope.

6. Contract Manufacturers and Railway Welding Suppliers

Railway OEMs often outsource the production of welded components to specialist manufacturers.

This creates another business group: contract manufacturers and railway welding suppliers.

They may produce:

– Welded frames
– Railway brackets
– Fabricated components
– Structural assemblies
– Equipment housings
– welded railway products

Although these companies may not manufacture complete trains their railway customers may require EN 15085 certification as part of supplier qualification or contractual requirements.

Therefore companies should examine:

Customer specification → Product → Welding activity → Responsibility → Certification requirement

This review should take place before accepting railway production commitments.

7. Assembly, Purchase and Supply Organizations

One common misconception is:

“We don’t perform welding so EN 15085 cannot apply to us.”

That assumption may not always be correct.

Organizations involved in designing, purchasing, assembling or supplying welded railway products should examine the scope.

Examples may include:

– Railway component purchasing organizations
– Assembly companies
– Companies sourcing welded assemblies
– Replacement-component suppliers
– Railway engineering companies
– Organizations purchasing and supplying welded railway products

For requirements see EN 15085 Purchase and Supply: Requirements for Welded Railway Components.

What Can Trigger an EN 15085 Scope Review?

A company may need to review its certification scope when its products, activities, responsibilities or customer requirements change.

A scope review may become important when a company:

– Starts manufacturing a railway vehicle or component
– Begins welding railway components, for an OEM
– Takes on railway maintenance or repair activities
– Starts manufacturing safety‑relevant welded structures
– Adds a new welding process
– Adds a new production location
– Begins designing welded railway products
– Starts assembling railway products
– Begins purchasing and supplying welded components
– Receives a tender requiring EN 15085 certification
– Receives a customer specification requiring certification

This means certification planning should not be based on the question: “Do we weld?”

The organization should also consider what it produces what responsibility it has, where the activity is performed and what the customer requires.

A practical review can follow:

Product → Activity → Responsibility → Safety Relevance → Customer Requirement → Certification Scope

Reviewing these factors early can help prevent certification gaps after a railway contract has already been accepted.

4 Questions to Determine Your Certification Scope

Before asking whether certification is needed answer these four questions.

1. What railway product does your company handle?

Is it a railway vehicle, welded component, structural assembly, safety‑relevant component or another railway product?

2. What activity does your organization perform?

Does your company perform:

Design → Production → Purchase & Supply → Maintenance?

3. What is the safety relevance of the product?

The applicable classification can depend on the safety relevance of the welded product and activity.

The certification level should not be selected according to company size.

4. Does your customer or contract require certification?

Review:

– Check customer specifications
– Check tenders
– Check purchase orders
– Check technical specifications
– Check supplier approval requirements
– Check railway project documentation

This is particularly important for companies entering railway supply chains.

What Should You Review Before Certification?

Before approaching a certification body I recommend preparing an overview of your current railway activities.

Product scope : Identify the railway vehicles, components and welded assemblies involved.

Manufacturing activities : Determine whether your organization performs design, welding, production, assembly, purchase, supply, repair or maintenance.

Welding processes : List the welding processes used for the railway products.

Welding procedures : Review applicable WPS and WPQR documentation.

Personnel : Identify welding coordinators, welders, welding operators and relevant inspection personnel.

Traceability : Review how materials, components, welding activities and inspection records are identified and tracked.

Testing : Identify the applicable inspection, testing and NDT arrangements.

Customer requirements : Check whether tenders, contracts or railway customers specify EN 15085 certification.

Intended certification scope : 

Clearly define

Product + Activity + Location + Welding Process + Responsibility + Applicable Classification

For detailed preparation see the EN 15085 Certification Audit Checklist.

When EN 15085 May Not Automatically Apply

EN 15085 certification is equally important not to overstate the requirement.

Not every company connected to the railway industry automatically needs the EN 15085 certification scope.

For example:

– A company supplying non-welded products may have a different scope.
– A railway operator that only operates trains may have responsibilities from an in-house maintenance workshop.
– A supplier purchasing standard commercial products may have responsibilities from an organization purchasing and supplying welded railway components.
– A railway component manufacturer may have requirements depending on the actual product and activity.
– Customer, tender and project requirements can influence the certification expected.

Therefore avoid the assumption:

“Railway company = EN 15085 certificate.”

A accurate approach is:

“Railway activity + product + welding responsibility + safety relevance + contractual requirements = certification scope to be evaluated.”

30-Second EN 15085 Scope Self-Check

Use this quick checklist:

– Do you manufacture railway vehicles? → Review your EN 15085 scope.

– Do you manufacture welded railway components? → Review your product and certification scope.

– Do you produce safety- welded structures? → Examine the applicable classification carefully.

– Do you perform railway welding during repair or maintenance? → Review maintenance-related requirements.

– Do you design, purchase, assemble or supply welded railway products? → Do not assume that not welding automatically excludes your organization.

– Does a railway customer or tender specify EN 15085? → Review the requirement before accepting the project.

If none of these situations apply EN 15085 may not automatically be relevant, to your organization. However the actual business activity and contractual requirements should still be reviewed before making a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is EN 15085 Manufacturer Certification?

EN 15085 manufacturer certification applies to organizations involved in applicable welding activities relating to railway vehicles and components. The applicable scope depends on the organization’s products, activities, responsibilities and classification.

EN 15085 certification applicability depends on factors such as the railway product, organizational activities, welding responsibilities, safety relevance, certification scope and applicable customer or contractual requirements.

An organization should not determine applicability only from its company name or industry sector.

Organizations performing applicable welding, repair or modification activities during railway maintenance should examine the relevant certification scope.

Not every railway manufacturer automatically has the same certification obligation.
The applicable requirements can depend on the organization’s activities, products, responsibilities, customer requirements and relevant market conditions

Yes.
An organization involved in designing, purchasing, assembling or supplying welded railway vehicles and components should not automatically assume that the absence of in-house welding excludes it from the applicable scope.

Related Resources

Conclusion

EN 15085 is not simply a certification topic for companies manufacturing complete trains.
It can be important for all the railway chain, including train manufacturers, railway parts manufacturers, structural safety components manufacturers, maintenance facilities, railway enterprises doing welding, subcontractors and organizations that buy, assemble and supply welded railway equipment.
The most common mistake here is to think about it in the following way:
“Do we need EN 15085?”

You should rather ask yourself:
“What do we manufacture, what activities do we perform, what railway obligations do we have and what does our customer need from us?”

Knowing all this information in advance will help your organization to understand what kind of certification is suitable for you before starting your railway project, responding to tender and taking any customer obligation.
If your organization manufactures, designs, maintains, buys, assembles or supplies welded railway vehicles or parts then looking through the scope of EN 15085 certification should become one of the first steps in your railway project development.

 

EN 15085 Certification Scope and Manufacturer Recognition

The EN 15085 standard series applies to the design, manufacturing, testing and conformity assessment of welded railway vehicles, components and assemblies. The scope can include locomotive, wagon and coach manufacturers, railway component manufacturers, maintenance and periodic overhaul companies, railway operators, contract manufacturers and assembly organizations. PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a. s. is identified as a Manufacturer Certification Body (MCB) under the European Committee for Welding of Railway Vehicles (ECWRV), with identification FCW/OREN15085-15/2015. Certified manufacturer status is reflected in the relevant EN 15085 manufacturer register.

Define Your EN 15085 Certification Scope

Review your railway products, welding activities, responsibilities and applicable requirements before entering a railway project or responding to a tender.

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