BS EN 50306-3:2020 Railway Applications: Railway Rolling Stock Cables with Special Fire Performance

Introducing the BS EN 50306-3:2020 standard, a comprehensive guide designed for the railway industry, focusing on the safety and efficiency of railway rolling stock cables. This standard is essential for professionals seeking to ensure that their railway applications meet the highest safety and performance criteria.

Overview

The BS EN 50306-3:2020 standard is a crucial document for anyone involved in the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of railway rolling stock. It provides detailed specifications for thin wall single core and multicore cables that are screened and thin wall sheathed, ensuring they meet special fire performance requirements. This standard is part of a series that addresses the unique challenges faced by the railway industry, particularly in terms of safety and reliability.

Key Features

• Standard Number: BS EN 50306-3:2020
• Pages: 20
• Release Date: April 1, 2020
• ISBN: 978 0 580 93928 0
• Status: Standard

Why Choose BS EN 50306-3:2020?

This standard is indispensable for ensuring that railway cables are not only efficient but also safe under fire conditions. The thin wall design of the cables allows for space-saving installations without compromising on performance. The special fire performance criteria ensure that in the event of a fire, the cables will perform optimally, reducing the risk of fire spread and enhancing passenger safety.

Special Fire Performance

Fire safety is a paramount concern in railway applications. The BS EN 50306-3:2020 standard addresses this by specifying cables that have been rigorously tested for fire performance. These cables are designed to limit the emission of smoke and toxic gases, which is critical in maintaining visibility and air quality during a fire, thus facilitating safe evacuation and minimizing health risks.

Thin Wall Design

The thin wall design of these cables is a significant advantage in modern railway systems where space is at a premium. This design not only saves space but also reduces the weight of the cable installations, contributing to the overall efficiency and performance of the railway vehicles. Despite their reduced thickness, these cables do not compromise on durability or safety, making them an ideal choice for contemporary railway applications.

Applications

The BS EN 50306-3:2020 standard is applicable to a wide range of railway rolling stock applications. Whether you are involved in the design of new railway vehicles or the maintenance of existing ones, this standard provides the guidelines necessary to ensure that your cable installations meet the latest safety and performance standards.

Single Core and Multicore Cables

This standard covers both single core and multicore cables, providing flexibility in design and application. Single core cables are ideal for straightforward installations, while multicore cables offer the advantage of multiple conductors within a single sheath, simplifying complex wiring systems and reducing installation time.

Screened and Sheathed Cables

The inclusion of screened and sheathed cables in this standard ensures that electromagnetic interference is minimized, which is crucial in maintaining the integrity of communication and control systems within railway vehicles. The sheathing provides an additional layer of protection against environmental factors, further enhancing the durability and reliability of the cable installations.

Conclusion

The BS EN 50306-3:2020 standard is an essential resource for professionals in the railway industry. By adhering to this standard, you can ensure that your railway rolling stock cables are not only compliant with the latest safety regulations but also optimized for performance and efficiency. With its focus on special fire performance and innovative thin wall design, this standard is at the forefront of modern railway cable technology.

Invest in the safety and efficiency of your railway applications with the BS EN 50306-3:2020 standard, and ensure that your cable installations are equipped to meet the challenges of today's demanding railway environments.

BS EN 50306-3:2020

This standard BS EN 50306-3:2020 Railway applications. Railway rolling stock cables having special fire performance. Thin wall is classified in these ICS categories:

• 45.060.01 Railway rolling stock in general
• 29.060.20 Cables
• 13.220.40 Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products

This document specifies requirements for, and constructions and dimensions of, multicore cables, rated voltage U₀/U = 300/500 V, of the following type:

Screened (0,5 mm² to 2,5 mm², number of cores from 1 to 8).

All cables have stranded tinned copper conductors, and thin wall thickness, halogen-free, insulation and sheath. They are for use in railway rolling stock as fixed wiring or wiring where limited flexing in operation is encountered.

These cables are rated for occasional thermal stresses causing ageing equivalent to continuous operational life at a temperature of 90 °C. For standard cables, this is determined by the acceptance test defined in EN 50305, using accelerated long-term (5 000 h) thermal ageing indicating a 110 °C/20 000 h temperature index. If the customer were to require lifetime predictions this would be demonstrated based on the temperature index of the product as supplied by the manufacturer. The maximum temperature for short circuit conditions is 160 °C based on duration of 5 s.

Under fire conditions, the cables exhibit special performance characteristics in respect of maximum permissible flame propagation (flame spread) and maximum permissible emission of smoke and toxic gases. These requirements are specified to permit the cables to satisfy Hazard Level 3 of EN 45545-1 and EN 45545-2.

EN 50306-3:2020 is expected to be used in conjunction with EN 50306-1:2020, General Requirements, and EN 50306-2:2020, Single core cables.