SIST EN ISO 15608:2026

Welding - Grouping system for metallic materials (ISO 15608:2025)

This document specifies a uniform system for grouping materials for welding purposes. This document can also be applied for other purposes, such as heat treatment, forming and non-destructive testing.
This document is applicable to grouping systems for the following standardized materials:
—    steels;
—    aluminium and its alloys;
—    copper and its alloys;
—    nickel and its alloys;
—    titanium and its alloys;
—    zirconium and its alloys;
—    cast irons;
—    cobalt alloys.

Schweißen - Gruppeneinteilung von metallischen Werkstoffen (ISO 15608:2025)

Dieses Dokument legt ein einheitliches System für die Gruppeneinteilung von Werkstoffen fest, die zum Schweißen verwendet werden. Dieses Dokument kann auch für andere Zwecke wie Wärmebehandlung, Umformen und zerstörungsfreie Prüfung angewendet werden.
Dieses Dokument ist anwendbar auf Gruppeneinteilungen für die folgenden genormten Werkstoffe:
-   Stähle;
-   Aluminium und seine Legierungen;
-   Kupfer und seine Legierungen;
-   Nickel und seine Legierungen;
-   Titan und seine Legierungen;
-   Zirkonium und seine Legierungen;
-   Gusseisen;
-   Kobaltlegierungen.

Soudage - Système de groupement des matériaux métalliques (ISO 15608:2025)

Le présent document spécifie un système uniforme de groupement des matériaux à des fins de soudage. Le présent document peut aussi s'appliquer pour d'autres utilisations telles que le traitement thermique, le formage et les contrôles non destructifs.
Le présent document est applicable aux systèmes de groupement relatifs aux matériaux normalisés suivants:
—    les aciers;
—    l'aluminium et ses alliages;
—    le cuivre et ses alliages;
—    le nickel et ses alliages;
—    le titane et ses alliages;
—    le zirconium et ses alliages;
—    les fontes;
—    les alliages de cobalt.

Varjenje - Sistem razvrščanja kovinskih materialov v skupine (ISO 15608:2025)

Ta dokument določa enoten sistem za razvrščanje materialov za namene varjenja. Uporabiti ga je mogoče tudi za druge namene, kot so toplotna obdelava, oblikovanje in neporušitveno preskušanje. Ta dokument se uporablja za sisteme razvrščanja za naslednje standardizirane materiale: –   jeklo; –   aluminij in njegove zlitine; –   baker in njegove zlitine; –   nikelj in njegove zlitine; –   titan in njegove zlitine; –   cirkonij in njegove zlitine; –   železove zlitine; –   kobaltove zlitine.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 01-Mar-2025
• Publication Date: 18-Feb-2026
• ICS: 25.160.01 - Welding, brazing and soldering in general
• ICS: 25.160.10 - Welding processes
• Technical Committee: VAR - Welding
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 21-Jan-2026
• Due Date: 28-Mar-2026
• Completion Date: 19-Feb-2026
• Ref Project: EN ISO 15608:2025 - Welding - Grouping system for metallic materials (ISO 15608:2025)

Relations

• Replaces: SIST-TP CEN ISO/TR 15608:2017 - Welding - Guidelines for a metallic materials grouping system (ISO/TR 15608:2017)
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 12732:2013 - Gas infrastructure - Welding steel pipework - Functional requirements
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 1011-3:2001 - Welding - Recommendations for welding of metallic materials - Part 3: Arc welding of stainless steels
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN ISO 15618-2:2003 - Qualification testing of welders for under-water welding - Part 2: Diver-welders and welding operators for hyperbaric dry welding (ISO 15618-2:2001)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 14532-1:2005 - Welding consumables - Test methods and quality requirements - Part 1: Primary methods and conformity assessment of consumables for steel, nickel and nickel alloys
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 15085-3:2008 - Railway applications - Welding of railway vehicles and components - Part 3: Design requirements
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 1090-2:2018+A1:2024 - Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures - Part 2: Technical requirements for steel structures
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN ISO 17642-3:2005 - Destructive tests on welds in metallic materials - Cold cracking tests for weldments - Arc welding processes - Part 3: Externally loaded tests (ISO 17642-3:2005)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 12952-5:2012 - Water-tube boilers and auxiliary installations - Part 5: Workmanship and construction of pressure parts of the boiler
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 1011-2:2001 - Welding - Recommendations for welding of metallic materials - Part 2: Arc welding of ferritic steels
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 12972:2018 - Tanks for transport of dangerous goods - Testing, inspection and marking of metallic tanks
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN ISO 15614-5:2004 - Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials - Welding procedure test - Part 5: Arc welding of titanium, zirconium and their alloys (ISO 15614-5:2004)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 13480-4:2018 - Metallic industrial piping - Part 4: Fabrication and installation
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 12972:2018+A1:2024 - Tanks for the transport of dangerous goods - Testing, inspection and marking of metallic tanks
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 1090-2:2018 - Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures - Part 2: Technical requirements for steel structures
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026

Overview

SIST EN ISO 15608:2026 is an international standard establishing a uniform system for grouping metallic materials for welding purposes. Published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST), and harmonized with ISO 15608:2025, this standard is a critical reference for anyone involved in welding, materials engineering, quality assurance, and related fields. The grouping system enhances clarity and consistency in the selection, qualification, and testing of materials, streamlining processes across industries and borders.

While developed for welding, the grouping system is also suitable for other industrial applications, such as heat treatment, forming, and non-destructive testing. By providing a consistent classification approach, this standard supports better communication among manufacturers, suppliers, and certification bodies and enhances the quality and safety of metallic structures.

Key Topics

SIST EN ISO 15608:2026 covers the following core aspects:

• Uniform Material Grouping System: Defines groups and subgroups of metallic materials based on chemical composition and structure, facilitating compatibility assessment.
• Material Coverage: Applicable to a comprehensive range of standardized metallic materials, including:
  • Steels
  • Aluminium and its alloys
  • Copper and its alloys
  • Nickel and its alloys
  • Titanium and its alloys
  • Zirconium and its alloys
  • Cast irons
  • Cobalt alloys
• Standardized Reference: Incorporates assignments from related technical reports (e.g., ISO/TR 20172 for European materials), ensuring global harmonization.
• Application Guidance: Provides a roadmap for users to determine material groups according to standard criteria, supporting qualification and quality assurance processes.

Applications

The grouping system for metallic materials specified in SIST EN ISO 15608:2026 is fundamental for:

• Welding Procedure Qualification: Enables simplified welding procedure approvals by grouping similar materials, reducing the need for redundant tests and streamlining qualifications.
• Materials Selection: Helps engineers and designers select appropriate base materials for welding and allied processes, ensuring compatibility and desired performance.
• Heat Treatment and Forming: Facilitates proper grouping when applying heat treatment or forming processes by referencing consistent material classifications.
• Non-Destructive Testing: Supports the setup and reporting of non-destructive tests by linking material groupings to expected properties and test requirements.
• Quality Control and Certification: Enhances consistency in quality management and certification of welded products by using recognized grouping standards.
• International Procurement: Assists in sourcing and substituting materials in a global marketplace by establishing clear equivalence between material grades and standards.

Related Standards

For a comprehensive approach to material grouping and welding, users should consult these related documents:

• ISO/TR 20172: Welding - Grouping systems for materials - European materials
• ISO/TR 20173: Welding - Grouping systems for materials - American materials
• ISO/TR 20174: Welding - Grouping systems for materials - Japanese materials

These references provide supplementary grouping information for regional material standards, ensuring that practitioners achieve global consistency and compliance with SIST EN ISO 15608:2026.

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By implementing SIST EN ISO 15608:2026, organizations can ensure a consistent, transparent, and internationally recognized approach to material grouping for welding and related processes, strengthening quality, safety, and efficiency in manufacturing and engineering operations.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST-TP CEN ISO/TR 15608:2017
Varjenje - Sistem razvrščanja kovinskih materialov v skupine (ISO 15608:2025)
Welding - Grouping system for metallic materials (ISO 15608:2025)
Schweißen - Gruppeneinteilung von metallischen Werkstoffen (ISO 15608:2025)
Soudage - Système de groupement des matériaux métalliques (ISO 15608:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 15608:2025
ICS:
25.160.10 Varilni postopki in varjenje Welding processes
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 15608
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 25.160.01 Supersedes CEN ISO/TR 15608:2017
English Version
Welding - Grouping system for metallic materials (ISO
15608:2025)
Soudage - Système de groupement des matériaux Schweißen - Gruppeneinteilung von metallischen
métalliques (ISO 15608:2025) Werkstoffen (ISO 15608:2025)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 11 October 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 15608:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 15608:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 44 "Welding
and allied processes" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 121 “Welding and allied
processes” the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2026, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes CEN ISO/TR 15608:2017.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 15608:2025 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 15608:2025 without any modification.

International
Standard
ISO 15608
First edition
Welding — Grouping system for
2025-10
metallic materials
Soudage — Système de groupement des matériaux métalliques
Reference number
ISO 15608:2025(en) © ISO 2025
ISO 15608:2025(en)
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 15608:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Grouping systems . 1
4.1 General .1
4.2 Steels . . .2
4.3 Grouping system for aluminium and aluminium alloys .4
4.4 Grouping system for copper and copper alloys .4
4.5 Grouping system for nickel and nickel alloys .5
4.6 Grouping system for titanium and titanium alloys .5
4.7 Grouping system for zirconium and zirconium alloys .5
4.8 Grouping system for cast irons .6
4.9 Grouping system for cobalt alloys .6
Bibliography . 7

iii
ISO 15608:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 44, Welding and allied processes, Subcommittee
SC 10, Quality management in the field of welding, in collaboration with the European Committee for
Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 121, Welding and allied processes, in accordance with
the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This first edition of ISO 15608 cancels and replaces the fourth edition of ISO/TR 15608:2017, which has been
technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— changed from a Technical Report to an International Standard;
— title modified as a result of the change from a TR;
— cobalt alloys have been added;
— new general subclause added as 4.1 and subsequent subclauses renumbered;
— Table 1 revised;
— editorial revisions;
— spelling of pearlite corrected.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s
national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at
www.iso.org/members.html. Official interpretations of ISO/TC 44 documents, where they exist, are
available from this page: https://committee.iso.org/sites/tc44/ho
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