TS 12635

TS 12635 is a vocational standard for the cold blacksmith trade, covering the definition and classification of the occupation, the tools and equipment used, and the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours, and assessment criteria expected at different levels. Its focus is the professional framework of cold metalworking rather than a single workshop task.

What cold blacksmithing means in practice

In general technical terms, cold blacksmithing involves shaping metal without heating it, using operations such as cutting, bending, drilling, joining, and surface preparation. Because the material is worked at ambient temperature, accuracy, tool selection, workholding, and finish quality become especially important. This standard helps define the occupation and distinguish the expected competence levels across the profession.

How the standard frames competence

The document does more than name the trade: it organizes the occupation into levels and links each level to the tools, equipment, and evaluation criteria that matter in practice. In vocational standards of this kind, knowledge, practical skill, and workplace behaviour are treated together, since measuring correctly, choosing the right hand tools, securing the workpiece safely, and meeting dimensional expectations are closely connected. That makes the standard a useful reference for training, assessment, and workplace role definition.

• Definition and classification of the cold blacksmith occupation
• Tools, equipment, and accessories used in the trade
• Expected knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours at different levels
• Measurement and assessment criteria for vocational performance
• Shared occupational terminology and task distinctions