EN 15085 is a fundamental series of standards recognized in Europe for the welded manufacturing of railway vehicles and components. This standard is designed to guarantee that welded joints in railway vehicles meet high safety, reliability, and durability requirements. It regulates the compliance of welding processes, personnel, materials, and the final product with specified quality and safety criteria. It is a mandatory requirement for suppliers in the railway industry and a prerequisite for products to be used on the European railway network.
Welding Personnel Qualification It mandates that welders, welding operators, welding coordinators, and welding engineers document their competencies through predefined training, examination, and certification processes.
Welding Process Approval It requires the preparation of a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) for each welding method, material combination, and thickness range, and the approval of this procedure through testing on sample welds (WPQR).
Production Process Control It compels the creation and implementation of detailed instructions, procedures, and strict quality controls for all stages: pre-welding (material, design, preparation), during welding (parameters, environment), and post-welding (heat treatment, cleaning).
Inspection and Testing It stipulates that welded joints be comprehensively inspected and documented using Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods—such as radiography, ultrasound, magnetic particle, and liquid penetrant—as well as destructive testing.
It is mandatory for all companies engaged in welded manufacturing that provide direct or indirect supplies to railway vehicle manufacturers (trains, metros, trams) or to suppliers producing structural components (chassis, car bodies) for these vehicles.
According to the standard, an individual certificate is obtained for a specific welding method and position by passing theoretical and practical exams at an authorized training and testing center (usually a welding institute).
Defined according to EN 15085-2, this is an engineer or technical personnel who meets specific training and experience criteria and is responsible for all welding activities of the company in terms of technique and quality. They are vital to the success of the system.
NDT personnel must also be trained, examined, and certified according to EN ISO 9712 or an equivalent standard. Their levels (1, 2, or 3) are determined by the complexity of the tasks they perform.
This indicates that the facility’s quality management system, technical competence, and production processes meet all requirements of this standard and have been audited by an independent certification body. It is a sign of a reliable supplier for customers.
It is a fundamental requirement for railway vehicles, but it is not sufficient on its own. The product must also meet the relevant vehicle type approval (e.g., TSI – Technical Specifications for Interoperability) or the requirements of national railway authorities.
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