EN 45545 Standard

Trains carry hundreds of thousands of passengers every day, so fire risk assessments are essential to protect passengers and staff. That’s why the EN 45545 standard defines fire safety requirements for railway rolling stock in Europe.

What is EN 45545?

EN 45545 is a European railway standard focused on fire safety. Fires in crowded trains can lead to serious injury. To minimise risk, all materials used in railway vehicles must comply with this standard to ensure the safety of passengers and personnel.

This directive covers material selection for both interior and exterior parts of rail vehicles, depending on type – including high-speed trains, freight trains, trams and metro systems.

EN 45545 consists of the following parts:

• Part 1: General

• Part 2: Fire behaviour requirements for materials and components

• Part 3: Fire resistance requirements for fire barriers

• Part 4: Fire safety design requirements for rolling stock

• Part 5: Fire safety for electrical equipment

• Part 6: Fire control and management systems

• Part 7: Fire protection for flammable liquid and gas installations

Why was EN 45545 created?

In 2016, EN 45545 replaced national fire safety standards (in Poland, PN K-02511). It was introduced to harmonise fire protection rules across Europe and reduce the risk of train fires.

Fire hazard levels

Rail vehicles are classified by three hazard levels:

• HL1 – low hazard

• HL2 – medium hazard

• HL3 – high hazard

Classification depends on vehicle design and use – such as tunnel travel, double-decker trains or sleeper carriages.

EN 45545-2: Key standard for railway materials

EN 45545-2 specifies strict fire performance requirements for materials at each hazard level (HL1–HL3). It applies to internal and external materials, including floors, seats, cables, mechanical and electrical components. Tests assess:

• flame spread

• flammability

• smoke production

• emission of toxic gases

There are 26 requirement categories (R1–R26), tailored to each component and hazard level. The goal is to use flame-retardant materials that limit smoke and toxicity in case of fire.

Rubber products certified to EN 45545 – Power Rubber

At Power Rubber, we offer railway-grade rubber products certified to EN 45545. Our materials are fire-tested, durable and meet all fire safety and toxic emissions standards required for railway use.

Need help or more information? Contact us at +48 22 292 40 24 or +48 505 16 03 03, by email: Power@PowerRubber.com or via our contact form.