Manufacturers urged to transition towards revised rail standard testing

The revised standard, entitled ‘Railway Applications – Fire Protection on Railway Vehicles – Requirements for Fire Behaviour of Materials and Components’, has been effective in the UK since August last year. However, it’s yet to be written into the National Technical Specification Notice (NTSN), which is a set of standards that define how the UK’s rail system should be designed, built, operated and maintained as mandated by the Department for Transport.

As a result, many UK manufacturers continue to test under the older BS EN 45545-2:2013+A1:2015 as the updated version has not yet been mandated through the NTSN. In contrast, the European Union has established a clear transition deadline, allowing manufacturers to use the older standard until 1 January 2026, after which point compliance with the updated standard will be compulsory.

With the UK yet to confirm when the updated standard will be officially mandated, Warringtonfire (itself part of Element Materials Technology and a leading provider of testing, inspection and certification services) is urging manufacturers to make the switch proactively.

Facing uncertainty

Dennis Tuyogon, lead analytical chemist at Warringtonfire and a member of the FSH/19 (Fire Precautions in Railway Vehicles) Technical Committee, has emphasised the importance of adoption.

Tuyogon explained: “While the European Union has provided a clear timeline, UK manufacturers face uncertainty as the updated standard has not yet been incorporated into the UK rail standards. By adopting the updated 2020 standard, they will fully meet current UK and European Union requirements, thereby making the transition straightforward and ensuring compliance with the latest regulatory expectations.”

Tuyogon continued: “Waiting for this mandate could lead to costly re-testing as products tested under the older standard may no longer comply when the new standard is enforced. Transitioning now not only ensures industry products deliver safe and effective fire resistance and compliance, but also provides a competitive advantage, demonstrating a commitment to current Best Practice.”

Rail Industry Seminar

In order to support (and raise awareness of) the impending transition, Warringtonfire held its first Rail Industry Seminar on 15 October, duly bringing together customers, train manufacturers, Trade Associations and rail engineering professionals to discuss the implications of the updated standard.

Building on this success, Warringtonfire plans to continue hosting quarterly seminars, with the next event scheduled for February 2025, whereby experts will provide detailed insights into the new regulations and their impact on the rail industry. This move highlights Warringtonfire’s ongoing commitment to rail safety and its active role in shaping industry standards.

The 2020 revisions to BS EN 45545-2 incorporate updates to test methods, lessons learned from prior applications and editorial improvements, ensuring the standard reflects the very latest industry knowledge.

Flammability, smoke density and toxicity

When it comes to rail industry applications, Warringtonfire provides fire testing, inspection and certification for flammability, smoke density and toxicity testing in the following areas:

*Smoke and Toxicity Assessment: BS EN 17084:2018+AC:2020 – Method 1 (T10.01, T10.02, T10.04 and T11.01)

*Spread of Flame: ISO 5658-2:2006+A1:2011

*Cone Calorimeter: ISO 5660-1 (2015+A1:2019)

*Smoke Generation: ISO 5659-2:2017

*Gaseous Effluents Analysis: NF X 70-100/BS EN 17084:2018 – Method 2

*Burning Behaviour by Oxygen Index: BS EN ISO 4589-2:2017

*Further information is available online at https://www.warringtonfire.com/testing-services/reaction-to-fire-testing/rail-fire-testing