Rules of Procedure for the European Committee for Welding of Railway Vehicles (ECWRV)

ECWRV-2010-1
Rules of Procedure
for the European Committee
for Welding of Railway Vehicles (ECWRV) Preamble
The aim of the European Committee for Welding of Railway Vehicles (ECWRV) is to initiate cooperation between the parties involved in the manufacture of welded railway vehicles and parts on a European basis. These parties are:

• National Safety Authorities (NSA),
• Manufacturer Certification Bodies,
• Manufacturers and
  
• Railway Operators
  

If there is a national committee to ECWRV a delegate of that committee can be member of ECWRV as well.
The generally recognized code of practice for welding of railway vehicles and parts is the series of standards EN 15085 in connection with the standards on welding quality requirements for welding of metallic materials. All manufacturer certification bodies obliged to cooperating with ECWRV and the rules organised by it should be actively involved having the aim of harmonising the implementation and application of EN 15085 to achieve and improve a harmonized European Quality Level.
The manufacturer certification bodies in Europe shall stipulate to a code of honour which should be established by ECWRV and shall define the quality requirements and procedures in application and interpretation of the series of standards EN 15085 to each other.
Note: If there is a conflict between national rules and the rules of ECWRV solutions have to be agreed.
Version: 30.09.2010, Page 1 of 4 This includes an active work of each manufacturer certification body by using the Internet-Database EN 15085 as a tool of quality assurance and information exchange. In the interest of uniform working methods and professional competence of the involved parties the European Committee for Welding of Railway Vehicles (ECWRV) was founded. The ECWRV works close together with the European and International Standardisation Bodies.
1 Tasks
The following essential tasks are performed by ECWRV:
1. Consulting of National and European Railway Safety Authorities concerning the application of standards and ECWRV regulations. 2. Development of guidelines in fields of EN 15085 with the aim of reaching a harmonized regulatory situation. 3. Development of qualification criteria and training program for the auditors of the manufacturer certification bodies. 4. To prepare a working program which is reviewed every year. 5. Establishment and definition of requirements for an internet database - All certificates issued are incorporated into the internet database. 6. Intermediary function in case of different interpretation of technical requirements. ECWRV is open to any kind of feedback. 2 Structure
2.1 The ECWRV strives for an equal share of all parties involved. 2.2 Chairman, deputy chairman, secretary and the representative of the internet database are members of the committee. 2.3 The committee is composed of the following parties:

• National Safety Authorities (NSA),
• Recognized Manufacturer Certification Bodies (one member per Certification

Body),
- Certified Manufacturers of railway vehicles and components (one member per Manufacturer),
- Railway Operators. (one member per Operator) Version: 30.09.2010, Page 2 of 4 2.4
Each member has one vote. The ECWRV strives for consensual resolutions. 2.5
All members of the ECWRV agree with the publication of their name and address in the Internet-Register as contact person to the ECWRV for everybody. 3 Chairmanship
3.1
The chairman and his deputy shall be elected by the members of the committee for a period of three years. Re-election shall be permitted. 4 Secretariat
4.1
The secretariat of the committee shall be performed by the office of the chairman. 4.2
In general, the dates of the meetings shall be determined in the previous meeting. The secretariat sends written invitations with the agenda at a minimum of four weeks in advance.
4.3
Minutes shall be taken from the meetings of the committee. The approved minutes about the meetings of the committee shall be forwarded to the members. 4.4
A collection of decisions of ECWRV shall be made by the secretariat with the latest version of it being available on the internet database EN 15085 open for everyone.
5 Working method
5.1
The members of the committee work voluntarily being obliged to maintain absolute secrecy against third parties as far as confidential matters are concerned. 5.2
The meetings of the committee shall be held on demand - at least once a year. 5.3
Further people may attend the meetings as guests on invitation. 5.4
If demanded, the committee may form additional working groups. 5.5
Upon written announcement to the secretariat the members may be represented by somebody else.
5.6
Preliminary decisions shall be made with the majority of the members present; mutual agreement shall be reached. Valid decisions need a mail ballot within the Version: 30.09.2010, Page 3 of 4 members (one month time to answer, no answer means "Yes"). 5.7
Internet-Database EN 15085
The Internet Database EN 15085 is of central importance for the exchange of information between the different countries, parties and members. The main language is English. The participation in the online database and the relevant contract is mandatory for the certification body being members of ECWRV. 6 Regulation of costs
6.1
The participation in meetings of ECWRV and the organising work by the secretariat takes place on honorary basis. Additional costs for the work of ECWRV will be agreed if necessary. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Keitel, Chairman 30.09.2010
Version: 30.09.2010, Page 4 of 4