Changes to brazing personnel qualifications! New standard PN-EN ISO 13585:2025-01 – what is changing?

Did you know that the way hard-brazing qualifications are obtained and maintained is undergoing a major transformation? If you work in refrigeration, air conditioning or with pressure equipment, this information is essential.

Based on an expert article by Miłosz Gratkowski published in Chłodnictwo & Klimatyzacja (issue 9/2025), we have prepared a summary of the key changes under the new standard PN-EN ISO 13585:2025-01. The full article can be read below:

Longer validity of qualifications – good news for professionals

Let’s start with the most positive change for every specialist. Until now, brazing certificates (under the old 2012 standard) were valid for 3 years.

The new standard extends this period to as much as 5 years!

That means major savings of time and money and less bureaucracy for companies. Qualification ranges have also changed. In simple terms: one exam now gives broader rights.

• Example: Under the old standard, brazing a 1 mm sample gave a range of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. Under the new standard the same sample covers everything up to and including 2.0 mm (i.e. ≤ 2.0 mm). That makes work much more flexible.

Safety first – the PED Directive

Brazing pipes in refrigeration installations or heat pumps is not a game – it is work on pressure equipment. That is why the article in Chłodnictwo & Klimatyzacja places strong emphasis on the Pressure Equipment Directive PED 2014/68/EU.

If you work on equipment in categories II, III or IV (and most large refrigeration installations fall there), your qualifications must be approved by a so-called third party.

How to check whether your certificate is valid under the law?
To be legally “strong” (PED-compliant), a certificate must:

1. Be issued by a Notified Body.
2. Contain the number of that body (e.g. NB 1462).
3. Refer directly to Directive 2014/68/EU.

An ordinary certificate without a Notified Body stamp only confirms skills but does not authorise work on certified pressure equipment subject to supervision.

Which brazing methods does the new standard cover?

PN-EN ISO 13585:2025-01 is comprehensive. It covers not only classic flame brazing (most common in refrigeration) but also:

• induction brazing,
• furnace brazing,
• laser and electron beam brazing,
• and even arc braze welding.

Where to find reliable certification bodies?

The author, representing the Central Refrigeration Centre “COCH” in Kraków, stresses the need to verify bodies in the NANDO database (European Commission). Only bodies listed there with appropriate accreditation (in Poland granted by PCA) may issue documents recognised across the European Union.

Summary

The entry into force of PN-EN ISO 13585:2025-01 is a step toward making life easier for professionals (5-year certificates!) while keeping high safety standards. Remember that in the pressure sector paperwork matters – always check that your qualifications comply with the PED.

Want more on technical details and examination procedures? We recommend the full article in issue 9/2025 of Chłodnictwo & Klimatyzacja.