EN 15085

CHECKLIST

CERTIFICATION

EN 15085 Certification Requirements: What Railway Manufacturers Should Check Before Certification

By Technical Editorial Team

14 Min Read

29 July 2026

Key Takeaways

Scope and Classification

Controlled Welding System

Ensure Material Tracebility

Obtain MCB Certification

A railway company gets an order for parts made by welding.The welders have experience, the welding procedures are ready, and everything is set for production.

But the project needs EN 15085 certification.

Now the real challenges start: Does the current welding procedure work for this weld?
Are the welders trained for the actual conditions they’ll face?What level of certification applies?Can we track the materials after they’re cut?And which certification body can check this?

Knowing the EN 15085 requirements before starting production helps avoid problems like missing qualifications, bad records, extra work, and surprises during the certification check.

The main question isn’t just:

“Can we make this railway part?”

It’s:

“Can we show that the welding was done properly, controlled, checked, and can be traced back?”

That’s where being ready for EN 15085 starts.

What Is EN 15085?

EN 15085 is a European standard that covers welding for railway vehicles and their parts.For welding companies, EN 15085-2 is especially important because it deals with how the company is classified, what they do, and how they show they meet the requirements.This standard might apply to parts like bogies, underframes, side walls, roofs, tanks, and other railway components.But EN 15085 isn’t just about the quality of the welds.The company has to show that people, processes, materials, equipment, production, inspection, and records all work together as a controlled welding system.

MCB, ECWRV and JoinCert: Why Do They Matter?

Before starting the certification process, manufacturers need to understand three key terms.

MCB – Manufacturer Certification Body: An MCB is an independent organization that evaluates welding companies to make sure they meet the EN 15085 certification standards.

ECWRV – European Committee for Welding of Railway Vehicles: This group helps ensure that EN 15085 is applied the same way across all railway welding certifications in Europe.

JoinCert / EN 15085 Online Register: This register is a useful resource for anyone involved in EN 15085 certification, including manufacturers, MCBs, and auditors.

This means that when manufacturers are looking for a certificate, they should not only ask who can issue it, but also check if the MCB is recognized and approved within the EN 15085 system.

First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd (PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a.s.) works as a Manufacturer Certification Body for EN 15085 certification.

What Are the Main EN 15085 Certification Requirements?

Requirements will vary based on the product, the activities involved, and the certification scope, but manufacturers should review these key 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 key difference is:

Having documents does not mean showing that you follow the rules.

The records should show exactly what happens during production.

Scope & Classification Levels: Start With What You Actually Manufacture

Before looking at welders, WPSs or audit documents, first decide what your EN 15085 certification should include.

Begin by identifying the actual railway product or part, the welding work done, the materials and methods used, where the production takes place, and any subcontracted work that’s relevant.

EN 15085 has three manufacturer classes: CL1, CL2, and CL3.The right class depends on the product and welding needs, not just by picking the highest level.For instance, a company making safety-critical welded bogies might need different certification than one making another kind of railway part.

The key step is to start with the product and the required standards, then figure out the certification area and which class applies.

Welding Coordination & Welder Qualifications: Are the Right People Controlling the Right Work?

EN 15085 readiness depends not only on how welding is done, but also on who is in charge and who actually does the welding.

People responsible for coordinating welding must have the right skills, responsibility, and permission to carry out the welding tasks.
Depending on the project, this can involve things like welding procedures, qualifications of welders, materials used, production processes, inspections, repairs, and record-keeping.

Having a valid welder certificate doesn’t automatically mean that person can do every type of weld.
The certificate must cover the specific work they are doing.

Check important factors like the welding method, material type, thickness, position, the range of what the certificate covers, and whether it’s still valid.

A quick internal check could be: Who is in charge of the welding?

→ Are they skilled and allowed to do that? → Who is actually doing the weld? → Does their certificate cover the work they’re doing?

If any of these answers are unclear, make sure to review them before the MCB assessment.

WPS, Materials & Traceability: Can You Trace the Weld?

EN 15085 requires that welding work is properly controlled and tracked.The right welding procedure specification (WPS) must be used for the weld being made, and all records about the materials and inspections should be clearly linked through the entire production process.

Traceability flow:

Drawing → Material → WPS → Welder → Weld → Inspection/NDT → Final Record

If any part of this chain is missing, it can be hard to show that everything meets the required standards during the MCB review.

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

The roles should stay clear:

Manufacturer → sets up and controls the welding system

MCB → checks on its own whether the work meets the EN 15085 rules

EN 15085 Online Register → shows the right way to register for approved certification work

First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd (PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a.s.) acts as an MCB for EN 15085 certification, and to know more about this explore our article on EN 15085 Certification

Manufacturers need to start thinking about the certification process early—before the production gets too far and it’s hard to fix any missing qualifications, documents or tracking.

Industry Reference: JoinCert EN 15085 Online Register

Conclusion: Is Your EN 15085 Certification Route Clear?

EN 15085 readiness isn’t about gathering more documents.

It’s about showing that the work scope is right, welders are skilled, procedures cover the whole production process, materials can be tracked, welding is properly controlled, and inspection results are linked to the final product.

Before starting a railway project, make sure these requirements and the correct MCB certification path are set up early.

Planning for EN 15085 Certification?

Define the applicable certification scope, welding requirements and certification level for your railway welding activities. First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd (PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ, a.s.) provides EN 15085 certification for manufacturers of railway vehicles and railway components.

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What factors affect the EN 15085 certification price?

The EN 15085 certification price can vary depending on factors such as the certification scope, manufacturer class, production activities, number of locations, and the extent of welding activities covered. The applicable certification requirements and assessment scope should be established before determining the final price.

Does the EN 15085 certification price vary by manufacturer class?

Yes. The EN 15085 certification price may vary according to the applicable manufacturer class and the scope of welding activities covered. The products, production processes, locations and certification scope can all influence the assessment requirements.

Is there an EN 15085 certification test for manufacturers?

The EN 15085 certification test is not simply a single examination that a manufacturer completes to obtain certification. Certification involves assessing whether the manufacturer’s welding activities, personnel, procedures, production controls and records meet the applicable requirements.

What does an EN 15085 certification test cover?

An EN 15085 certification test may be understood as the assessment of the manufacturer’s welding system rather than a conventional written test. The assessment can consider welding coordination, qualified personnel, welding procedures, material traceability, production controls, inspection and relevant records.

Can the EN 15085 certification test be completed online?

The EN 15085 certification test should not be treated as an online examination. Certification involves an assessment of the manufacturer’s actual welding activities, processes and documented controls against the applicable EN 15085 requirements.