Quality requirements for welding according to EN ISO 3834-2, 3, 4

The Quality Management System is subject to EN ISO 3834-2,3,4. DIN/ČSN EN 15085 for the certification levels CL 1 to CL 4 currently applies to the competence of manufacturers in welding of railway vehicles and components. This applies for welding both in the workshop and on site. In relation to the specific Product Code, it determines the quality requirements of the welding work at three levels – higher – grade 2, medium – grade 3 and basic – grade 4. The required certification level is linked to specific applications and the relevant Product Code.
If the company has a certified quality system according to EN ISO 9001:2008 requirements, the certification level of the welding quality system according to EN ISO 3834-2 is also required. The quality system according to this standard is compatible with ISO 9001.
Certification of the manufacturers and assembly organizations (both in the workshop and on site) according to EN ISO 3834-2, 3, 4 – Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic products. The standard consists of 6 parts:
Part 1: Criteria to be taken into account for the selection of the appropriate level of quality requirements are
Part 2: Comprehensive quality requirements
Part 3: Standard quality requirements
Part 4: Production requirements
Part 5: The documents with which it is necessary to conform to claim to the quality requirements of EN ISO 3834-2,3,4
Part 6: Guidelines for implementing ISO 3834
Special Welding Process is widely used in many key and small engineering and construction companies as an integral part of the main implementation process, affecting in various degrees the production of the final product. It is also often used in the foundry by means of repair welding. After its professional application, the product can be considered conforming.
The application of welding methods can be found in conjunction with simple products, up to very complex units, according to various product standards and legislative regulations. Our company deals with conformity assessment mainly in the so-called regulatory area where the conformity of the product with precisely defined Product Codes and legislative definitions for a given area is demonstrated. These are mainly links to the following areas of industry:
• pressure vessels
• pressure equipment
• boiler bodies
• nuclear facilities
• steel structures
• steel bridge structures
• aluminium structures
• railway vehicles, etc.
The regulations relevant to the above areas clearly define the manufacturer´s commitment to a certified welding quality system, according to the series of EN ISO 3834-2, 3, 4 standards.
If the manufacturer holds a certificate according to ISO 9001:2008, it must comply with the higher quality requirements according to EN ISO 3834-2. These two standards are compatible with each other today, their interdependence is shown in table 6, part 1 of EN ISO 3834-1.
It is very important to define the quality requirements for welding processes, since the quality of these processes can not be easily verified. For this reason, welding belongs among special processes, as defined by ISO 9001:2008.
The quality of the final product or its parts cannot be guaranteed by the final control, but must be a part of each implementation stage and must consequently become a part of it. You cannot create quality, but just prove it. Any non-destructive testing cannot replace this activity. Control activities must be set up from the time when the requirement for the product occurred, i.e. during the contract and follow-up design review, through the selection of basic and additional material, complying with the marginal terms of the assignment, and through the manufacturing, control activities, etc.
Certification of the company according to the series of EN ISO 3834-2,3,4 standards declares the assessment of the manufacturer´s competence, in relation to the specific product code. For example, AD 2000 Mbl., DIN 18800, DIN / ČSN 15085, DIN EN 1090-1,2,3, etc.. The certificate issued by the "Certification Body Certifying Products - COV", accredited by CAI (ČIA) under No. 3170, defines the Framework of the certification. The certificate defines the following variables:
• link to a Product Code
• approved welding procedures according to EN ISO 4063
• material groups according to ISO CR 15608:2008
• responsible welding supervisor and their representative
Certification is generally valid for 3 years; it can be reduced to a shorted period (1 or 2 years) in justified cases. A mandatory examination (surveillance audit) in the company has to be scheduled annually.
Welding supervision – its powers and responsibilities are subject of EN ISO 14731, former EN 719.
For the welding supervision we differentiate three qualification levels:
• EWE – European Welding Engineer
• EWT – European Welding Technologist
• EWS – European Welding Specialist
The level of qualification of welding supervision is usually linked to a specific requirement of the product code or legislative requirements.
Certification of the manufacturers of railway vehicles and their components according to EN ISO 3834-2 and the regulation of the Czech Railways (ČD) – V95/5 and V26. Authorization for this activity is provided in the certificate, issued by the Certification Centre of České dráhy a.s. (Czech Railways), No. 702.
More detailed information, detailed conditions for certification and any information necessary to verify the validity of issued certificates, will be provided upon request made by a specific person by employees of the Certification Body Certifying Products TÜV NORD Czech, s.r.o.