BS EN 50264-3-1 – Railway applications – Railway rolling stock power and control cables having special fire performance – Part 3-1: Cables with crosslinked elastomeric insulation with reduced dimensions – Single core cables

Scope

Part 3-1 of EN 50264 specifies requirements for, and constructions and dimensions of, single core cables of the following types and voltage ratings:

• 0,6/1 kV unscreened, unsheathed (1 mm2 to 400 mm2);
• 1,8/3 kV unscreened, unsheathed (1,5 mm2 to 400 mm2);
• 1,8/3 kV unscreened, sheathed (1,5 mm2 to 400 mm2);
• 3,6/6 kV unscreened, sheathed (2,5 mm2 to 400 mm2).

All cables have class 5 tinned copper conductors to BS EN 60228, halogen-free insulation and halogen-free sheath, in the event of fire, they will limit the risk to people and improve the safety on railways in general. They are for use in railway rolling stock as fixed wiring or wiring where limited flexing in operation is encountered. The requirements provide for a continuous conductor temperature not exceeding 90° C and a maximum temperature for short circuit conditions of 200 °C based on a duration of 5 seconds.

The cables in this part of the standard BS EN 50264 are sometimes referred to as Medium Wall, having insulation and sheath thickness less than traditional values giving reduced dimensions.

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 Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4 of BS EN 45545-1.