Table Of Contents
- What Is EN 15085?
- MCB, ECWRV and JoinCert: Why Do They Matter?
- What Are the Main EN 15085 Certification Requirements?
- Scope & Classification Levels: Start With What You Actually Manufacture
- Welding Coordination & Welder Qualifications: Are the Right People Controlling the Right Work?
- WPS, Materials & Traceability: Can You Trace the Weld?
- PZVAR as a Manufacturer Certification Body
- Conclusion: Is Your EN 15085 Certification Route Clear?
- FAQs
Key Takeaways
Scope and Classification
Controlled Welding System
Ensure Material Tracebility
Obtain MCB Certification
A railway manufacturer receives an order for welded bogie components. The welders are experienced, WPSs are available, and production is ready.
Then the project specification requires EN 15085 certification.
Now the real questions begin: Does the existing WPS cover this weld? Are the welders qualified for the actual production conditions? Which classification level applies? Can materials be traced after cutting? And which Manufacturer Certification Body can perform the assessment?
Understanding the EN 15085 certification requirements before production begins can prevent qualification gaps, documentation problems, additional work and unexpected findings during certification assessment.
The key question is not simply:
“Can we manufacture this railway component?”
It is:
“Can we demonstrate that its welding is qualified, controlled, inspected and traceable?”
That is where EN 15085 readiness begins.
What Is EN 15085?
EN 15085 is the European standard series covering welding of railway vehicles and components.For welding manufacturers, EN 15085-2 is particularly important because it addresses manufacturer classification, activities and requirements for demonstrating conformity.It may apply to welded railway products such as bogies, underframes, side walls, roofs, tanks and other railway assemblies.But EN 15085 is not only about weld quality. The manufacturer needs to demonstrate that people, procedures, materials, equipment, production, inspection and records work together as a controlled welding system.
MCB, ECWRV and JoinCert: Why Do They Matter?
Before preparing for certification, manufacturers should understand three important terms.
MCB – Manufacturer Certification Body: An MCB independently assesses the welding manufacturer against the applicable EN 15085 certification requirements.
ECWRV – European Committee for Welding of Railway Vehicles: ECWRV works toward harmonized application of EN 15085 across railway welding certification.
JoinCert / EN 15085 Online Register: The register provides an important industry reference for EN 15085-certified manufacturers, Manufacturer Certification Bodies and auditors.
This means manufacturers should not only ask “Who can issue the certificate?” They should also verify the standing of the MCB within the relevant EN 15085 system.
PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a.s. (PZVAR) | FIRST WELDING INC. operates as a Manufacturer Certification Body for EN 15085 certification.
What Are the Main EN 15085 Certification Requirements?
Requirements depend on the product, activities and certification scope, but manufacturers should examine these core areas:
| Requirement | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Scope | Products, welding activities and production locations |
| Classification | Applicable CL1, CL2 or CL3 |
| Welding Coordination | Competence, responsibilities and authority |
| Welding Personnel | Applicable welder and welding operator qualifications |
| WPS | Welding procedures covering actual production |
| Materials | Material identification and traceability |
| Production | Controlled welding conditions and processes |
| Inspection / NDT | Planned inspection and applicable NDT |
| Records | Traceable evidence of welding and production activities |
The important distinction is:
Having documentation ≠ demonstrating conformity.
The records need to represent what actually happens in production.
Scope & Classification Levels: Start With What You Actually Manufacture
Before checking welders, WPSs or audit documents, define what your EN 15085 certification needs to cover.
Start with the actual railway product or component, the welding activities performed, materials and processes involved, production location and relevant subcontracted activities.
EN 15085 uses three manufacturer classification levels: CL1, CL2 and CL3. The applicable classification is determined by the relevant product and welding requirements—not simply by choosing the highest level.For example, a manufacturer producing safety-relevant welded bogie structures may have different certification requirements from a manufacturer producing another type of railway component.
The practical rule: start with the product and applicable requirements, then determine the certification scope and classification.
Welding Coordination & Welder Qualifications: Are the Right People Controlling the Right Work?
EN 15085 readiness depends not only on how welding is performed, but also on who controls it and who performs it.
Welding coordination personnel need appropriate competence, responsibility and authority for the applicable welding activities. Depending on the scope, this can include welding procedures, personnel qualifications, materials, production, inspection, repairs and records.At the same time, having a valid welder certificate does not automatically qualify that person for every production weld. The applicable qualification needs to cover the actual work being performed.
Check relevant factors such as the welding process, material, thickness, position, qualification range and validity.
A simple internal check is:
Who controls the welding? → Are they competent and authorized? → Who performs the weld? → Does their qualification cover it?
If any answer is unclear, review it before the MCB assessment.
WPS, Materials & Traceability: Can You Trace the Weld?
EN 15085 requires welding activities to be properly controlled and traceable. The applicable WPS should cover the production weld, while material identification and inspection records should remain connected throughout production.
Traceability flow:
Drawing → Material → WPS → Welder → Weld → Inspection/NDT → Final Record
A missing link can make conformity difficult to demonstrate during the MCB assessment.
PZVAR as a Manufacturer Certification Body
The roles should remain clear:
Manufacturer → establishes and controls the welding system
MCB → independently assesses conformity with applicable EN 15085 requirements
EN 15085 Online Register → provides the relevant registration framework for recognized certification activities
PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a.s.| FIRST WELDING INC. operates as an MCB for EN 15085 certification, with information about its EN 15085 activities available through PZVAR.
Manufacturers should address the certification route early—before production reaches a stage where qualification, documentation or traceability gaps become difficult to correct.
Industry Reference: JoinCert EN 15085 Online Register
Conclusion: Is Your EN 15085 Certification Route Clear?
EN 15085 readiness is not about collecting more documents.
It is about demonstrating that the scope is correct, welding personnel are competent, procedures cover production, materials remain traceable, welding is controlled, and inspection evidence connects back to the product.
Before starting a railway project, establish these requirements and the appropriate MCB certification route early.
Planning EN 15085 Certification?
Review the certification scope and requirements for welding of railway vehicles and components with PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a.s. |FIRST WELDING INC.