EN 45545 Standard

Trains transport hundreds of thousands of people every day, which is why conducting appropriate research is necessary to reduce the risk of fire and ensure the safety of passengers and staff. Therefore, fire safety requirements for rolling stock have been specified in the EN 45545 standard.
 

What is the PN-EN 45545 standard?

EN 45545 is a European railway standard concerning fire safety. The development and spread of fire in crowded rail vehicles can lead to serious injuries to passengers and train staff. Therefore, all materials used in rail vehicles must comply with the above standard to ensure an adequate level of safety for passengers and train crew.

The directive regulates the selection of materials inside and outside rail vehicles, depending on their type. This standard applies to all rail vehicles, including high-speed trains, freight trains, trams, and metro trains.
 

EN 45545 standard includes the following parts:

Part 1: General

Part 2: Requirements for the fire behavior of materials and components

Part 3: Requirements for fire resistance of fire barriers

Part 4: Fire safety requirements for the design of railway rolling stock

Part 5: Fire safety requirements for electrical equipment

Part 6: Fire management and control systems

Part 7: Fire safety requirements for flammable liquid and gas installations

What is the purpose of the EN 45545 railway standard?

In 2016, the European standard EN 45545 replaced the previous national fire protection standards (in Poland, the PN K-02511 standard). This solution aimed to standardize norms and enhance fire protection for European railways by minimizing the possibility of fire outbreaks.
 

Fire hazard levels

Rail vehicles are classified into three fire hazard levels:

• HL1 - lowest hazard level
• HL2 - medium hazard level
• HL3 - highest hazard level

The classification depends on the constructional and operational category of the rail vehicle, e.g., vehicles designed for tunnel travel, double-decker vehicles, sleeper cars.

EN 45545-2 Standard

This standard sets stringent material requirements for different fire hazard levels (HL1, HL2, HL3). It applies to both external and internal materials, including floors, seats, cables, mechanical and electrical equipment. Through various material testing methods used in rail vehicles, parameters such as:

• flame spread

• flammability

• smoke generation

• production of toxic gases

are determined. In summary, test conditions are established based on the material type and fire hazard level. There are a total of 26 requirements (R1 - R26) tailored to specific types and components. Complying with the standards regarding the flammability of materials used in rail vehicles aims to limit the development of any fire outbreaks.

Materials certified to comply with the PN-EN 45545 standard must be flame-retardant, prevent fire spread in case of a fire, exhibit low smoke density and toxicity when exposed to fire or high temperatures.
 

Rubber Products with EN 45545 Railway Standard at Power Rubber Store

Fire protection in rail vehicles is essential, which is why at Power Rubber, we supply rubber products (e.g., flame-retardant sponge rubber sheets), which are characterized by high resistance to external factors and have undergone fire resistance testing based on the requirements of the flammability standard PN-EN 45545. The materials used are durable and meet all safety standards regarding fire safety and toxicity.

If you have any questions, we will be happy to provide you with detailed information about our rubber products. Feel free to contact us by phone at: +48 22 292 40 24 or +48 505 16 03 03, or via email (power|powerrubber.com| |Power|PowerRubber.com) or through our contact form