EN 15085

PURCHASE

SUPPLY

EN 15085 Purchase and Supply: Requirements for Welded Railway Components

By First Welding Certification Technical Editorial Team

8 Min Read Time

30 Sep 2026

Table of Content

EN 15085 : Purchase & Supply of Welded Railway Components

Certification Scope

Supplier Control

Traceability & Documents

Introduction

For railway manufacturers and component suppliers, purchasing and supplying welded railway components involves more than simply selecting a qualified vendor. The organisation needs to establish how the purchased or supplied components fit within the applicable EN 15085 certification scope, classification level, technical requirements and traceability controls.

Under EN 15085-2, Purchase and Supply (S) is identified as an activity covering the purchase and supply of welded components for new fabrication or maintenance activities without carrying out welding operations. The applicable certification scope depends on the activities and responsibilities of the organisation.

This makes EN 15085 Purchase and Supply particularly relevant for organisations involved in railway component procurement, sourcing, assembly or supply where welded components form part of railway vehicles or their assemblies.

In this guide, we explain the EN 15085 purchase and supply requirements, certification scope, classification considerations, documentation and traceability controls that organisations should evaluate.

What Is EN 15085 Purchase and Supply?

EN 15085 Purchase and Supply refers to activities where an organisation purchases and supplies welded railway components for new fabrication or maintenance activities without carrying out the welding operation itself.

This activity is particularly relevant to companies that source welded components from other manufacturers and integrate, distribute or supply them for railway applications.

EN 15085-2 identifies Purchase and Supply as one of the activity types that can form part of an organisation’s certification scope.

The certification scope should therefore reflect the actual activities performed by the organisation rather than assuming that every company involved in railway components performs welding.

What Does Purchase and Supply Cover Under EN 15085?

The Purchase and Supply activity can involve the controlled procurement and supply of welded components intended for:

New railway vehicle fabrication
Railway component manufacturing
Railway vehicle maintenance
Replacement components
Welded assemblies
Railway equipment and structures

The organisation needs to establish appropriate controls over the components it purchases or supplies.

These controls can include:

Specification of technical requirements
Supplier selection
Purchase documentation
Component identification
Material traceability
Inspection and testing requirements
Welding-related documentation where applicable
Certificate and record verification
Non-conformity control

The exact controls should correspond to the applicable certification scope and technical requirements.

Who Needs EN 15085 Purchase and Supply Certification?

Organisations may need to consider the Purchase and Supply activity where they are responsible for purchasing or supplying welded railway components within the scope of EN 15085.

Examples include:

Railway component suppliers
Railway vehicle manufacturers
Procurement organisations
Railway maintenance organisations
Engineering and manufacturing companies
Companies sourcing welded assemblies
Organisations supplying replacement railway components

The key consideration is what responsibility the organisation has for the purchased or supplied welded component and whether the activity falls within the applicable EN 15085 certification scope.

EN 15085 Classification Levels for Purchased Components

EN 15085 classification has welded railway vehicles and components according to their safety relevance.

The current classification framework includes:

CL1 – High safety relevance
CL2 – Medium safety relevance
CL3 – Low safety relevance

The classification is connected to the safety relevance of the welded component rather than simply the commercial importance or size of the organisation.

For example, the standard identifies various railway structures and components under CL1, while CL2 and CL3 apply to components with corresponding medium and low safety relevance.
Therefore, an organisation involved in Purchase and Supply should establish which components and activities fall within its intended certification scope.

Key Requirements for EN 15085 Purchase and Supply

A controlled purchasing and supply process should address the requirements applicable to the organisation’s certification scope.

1. Technical Specification

Purchase documents should clearly define the required technical and quality characteristics of the railway component.

2. Supplier Selection

Suppliers should be evaluated according to the requirements applicable to the component and procurement activity.

3. Component Identification

Purchased welded components should remain identifiable throughout the relevant purchasing, inspection and supply activities.

4. Traceability

Material and component identification should be maintained through the relevant manufacturing and supply chain stages.

5. Inspection and Testing

Where required, inspection, testing and related records should be available and controlled.

6. Documentation

Relevant purchase orders, specifications, inspection records, certificates and other technical documentation should be maintained.

7. Non-Conformity Control

The organisation should have a defined method for controlling components that do not meet specified requirements.

Traceability of Welded Railway Components

Traceability is a major consideration when purchasing and supplying railway welded components.

The organisation should be able to establish a connection between the purchased component and its relevant technical documentation.

Depending on the scope and component requirements, traceability may involve:

Purchase Order → Component Identification → Supplier Documentation → Inspection/Test Records → Acceptance → Supply

This creates a documented link between the purchased component and the records demonstrating conformity.

Our EN 15085 certification page also identifies material traceability, quality documentation, inspection/testing and equipment control among the broader controls associated with EN 15085 certification.

Documentation and Supplier Controls

For Purchase and Supply activities, documentation should be controlled throughout the procurement process.

Typical records may include:

Purchase specifications
Supplier qualification records
Component drawings
Technical specifications
Inspection reports
Test reports
Material certificates
Welding-related records where applicable
Non-conformity records
Acceptance records
Traceability records

The exact documentation depends on the component, contractual requirements and applicable certification scope.

Where welding activities are performed by the manufacturer, the applicable EN ISO 3834 requirements are linked to the EN 15085 classification level: EN ISO 3834-2 for CL1, EN ISO 3834-3 for CL2 and EN ISO 3834-4 for CL3 in the cited EN 15085-2 framework.

EN 15085 Purchase & Supply Certification Process

A practical certification pathway can be structured as:

Scope Identification
Activity & Component Classification
Documentation Review
Supplier & Procurement Control Review
Traceability & Inspection Control
Certification Assessment
EN 15085 Certification Scope

The final certification scope should accurately describe the organisation’s applicable activities and responsibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EN 15085 Purchase and Supply?

EN 15085 Purchase and Supply covers the purchase and supply of welded railway components for new fabrication or maintenance activities where the organisation does not carry out the welding operation itself.

Who needs EN 15085 Purchase and Supply certification?

Organisations responsible for purchasing and supplying welded railway components within an applicable EN 15085 scope may need to consider certification for the relevant activity.

Does Purchase and Supply apply to CL1, CL2 and CL3?

The EN 15085 classification framework includes CL1, CL2 and CL3 based on the safety relevance of welded railway components. The applicable certification scope should reflect the organisation’s activities and the components involved.

Is supplier control important under EN 15085?

Yes. Supplier selection, technical specifications, component identification, documentation, inspection and traceability are important considerations when controlling purchased welded railway components.

What documents are relevant to EN 15085 Purchase and Supply?

Depending on the scope, records can include purchase specifications, supplier records, component identification, inspection and test records, certificates, technical documentation and traceability records.

Conclusion

EN 15085 Purchase and Supply is relevant to organisations involved in sourcing and supplying welded railway components where the activity falls within the applicable certification scope.

A controlled process should connect supplier selection, technical specifications, component identification, documentation, inspection and traceability throughout the purchasing and supply chain.

For organisations entering the railway sector or expanding their existing EN 15085 scope, clearly defining the applicable activity, classification level and component scope is an important part of preparing for certification.

Planning EN 15085 Purchase & Supply Certification?

Define the right certification scope for your railway component purchasing and supply activities.

First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd (PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a.s.)

Discuss your EN 15085 certification requirements with our certification team.