BS EN 50264

Railway rolling stock power and control cables having special fire performance

SCOPE: The BS EN 50264 series specifies cables for power, control and associated circuits, which, in the event of fire, will limit the risk to people and improve the safety of railways in general. It covers sheathed and unsheathed cables with insulation and sheath based on halogen-free materials for use in railway rolling stock.

BS EN 50264, which covers a range of cables rated at up to 3,6/6 kV with conductor sizes 1,0 mm² up to 400 mm², is divided into 5 parts under the generic title “Railway applications – Railway rolling stock power and control cables having special fire performance”.

Part 1: General requirements

Part 2-1: Cables with cross-linked insulation – Single core cables

BS EN 50264-2-1:2008 – Railway applications. Railway rolling stock power and control cables having special fire performance. Cables with crosslinked elastomeric insulation. Single core cables

Part 2-1 of BS BS 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 50264-2-1 are sometimes referred to as Standard Wall, having traditional insulation and sheath thickness.

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.

Part 2-2: Cables with cross-linked insulation – Multi-core cables

BS EN 50264-2-1:2008 – Railway applications – Railway rolling stock power and control cables having special fire performance – Part 2 – Cables with cross-linked elastomeric insulation – Part 2-2  –  Multicore cables

Part 2-2 of BS EN 50264 specifies requirements for, and constructions and dimensions of, multicore cables of the following types and voltage ratings:

• 300/500 V screened or unscreened (1 mm2, 1,5 mm2 and 2,5 mm2, number of cores from 2 to 40);
• 0,6/1 kV screened or unscreened, (1 mm2 to 50 mm2, 2, 3 and 4 core).

NOTE 1 Not all conductor sizes or number of cores are specified for every type.

All cables have class 5 tinned copper conductors to BS EN 60228, halogen-free insulation and halogen-free sheath. 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 50264-2-1 are sometimes referred to as Standard Wall, having traditional insulation and sheath thickness.

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 EN 45545-1.

Part 3-1: Cables with crosslinked insulation with reduced dimensions – Single core cables

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

Part 3-1 of BS 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.

Part 3-2: Cables with crosslinked insulation with reduced dimensions – Multi-core cables

BS EN 50264-3-1 – Railway applications – Railway rolling stock power and control cables having special fire performance – Part 3-2: Cables with crosslinked elastomeric insulation with reduced dimensions – Multicore core cables.

Part of BS EN 50264-3-2 specifies requirements for, and constructions and dimensions of, multicore cables of the following types and voltage ratings:

• 300/500 V screened or unscreened (1 mm2, 1,5 mm2 and 2,5 mm2, number of cores from 2 to 40)
• 0,6/1 kV screened or unscreened, (1 mm2 to 50 mm2, 2, 3 and 4 core)

NOTE 1 Not all conductor sizes or number of cores are specified for every type.

All cables have class 5 tinned copper conductors to BS EN 60228, halogen-free insulation and halogen-free sheath. 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 are sometimes referred to as Medium Wall, having insulation and sheath thickness less than traditional values giving reduced dimensions.

Under fire conditions the cables 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 EN 45545-1.

Product Family: RAILWAYS & MASS TRANSIT CABLES/TRATOS ROLLING STOCK