BS EN 13146-8:2012

BSI Standards Publication

Railway applications — Track

— Test methods for fastening
systems
Part 8: In service testing
BS EN 13146-8:2012 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 13146-8:2012.
It supersedes BS EN 13146-8:2002 which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical
Committee RAE/2, Railway Applications - Track.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be
obtained on request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct
application.
© The British Standards Institution 2012. Published by BSI Standards
Limited 2012
ISBN 978 0 580 68153 0
ICS 45.080
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 April 2012.
Amendments issued since publication
Date Text affected
 BS EN 13146-8:2012

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 13146-8

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM April 2012

ICS 93.100 Supersedes EN 13146-8:2002

English Version

Railway applications - Track - Test methods for fastening

systems - Part 8: In service testing

Applications ferroviaires - Voie - Méthodes d'essai pour les Bahnanwendungen - Oberbau - Prüfverfahren für
systèmes de fixation - Partie 8: Essai en service Schienenbefestigungssysteme - Teil 8: Betriebserprobung

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 26 November 2011.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2012 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 13146-8:2012: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
BS EN 13146-8:2012
EN 13146-8:2012 (E)

Contents Page

Foreword ............................................................................................................................................ 3
1 Scope..................................................................................................................................... 5
2 Normative references .......................................................................................................... 5
3 Terms and definitions .......................................................................................................... 5
4 Principle ................................................................................................................................ 5
5 Test conditions..................................................................................................................... 5
6 Procedure ............................................................................................................................. 6
6.1 Duration of test ..................................................................................................................... 6
6.2 Maintenance ......................................................................................................................... 6
6.3 Inspection ............................................................................................................................. 6
7 Test report ............................................................................................................................ 7
Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................... 8

2
 BS EN 13146-8:2012
EN 13146-8:2012 (E)

Foreword
This document (EN 13146-8:2012) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 256 “Railway
applications”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2012, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by October 2012.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 13146-8:2002.

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and
the European Free Trade Association.

No major changes have been made in this revision of EN 13146-8:2002.

This European Standard is one of the series EN 13146 "Railway applications — Track — Test
methods for fastening systems" which consists of the following parts:

 Part 1: Determination of longitudinal rail restraint;

 Part 2: Determination of torsional resistance;

 Part 3: Determination of attenuation of impact loads;

 Part 4: Effect of repeated loading;

 Part 5: Determination of electrical resistance;

 Part 6: Effect of severe environmental conditions;

 Part 7: Determination of clamping force;

 Part 8: In service testing;

 Part 9: Determination of stiffness.

These support the requirements in the series EN 13481 "Railway applications — Track —
Performance requirements for fastening systems".

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

3
BS EN 13146-8:2012
EN 13146-8:2012 (E)

Introduction
As fastening systems are safety critical, there is a need to have a standardized procedure to evaluate
their performance in normal use. Performance in track is not always completely predicted from the
laboratory tests in EN 13146, Parts 1 to 7 and 9.

The test described in this part of EN 13146 is intended to provide a procedure which can be used to
compare the performance in track of new or modified fastening systems with systems whose
performance is known.

In accordance with EN 13481-2:2012, EN 13481-3:2012, EN 13481-4:2012, EN 13481-5:2012 and

EN 13481-7:2012, this test has to be performed when required by the user.

4
 BS EN 13146-8:2012
EN 13146-8:2012 (E)

1 Scope
This European Standard specifies a procedure for the comparative testing of fastening systems in
track. The test procedure is applicable to fastening systems which in all other respects conform to
EN 13481-2:2012, EN 13481-3:2012, EN 13481-4:2012, EN 13481-5:2012 and EN 13481-7:2012.

This test applies to complete fastening assemblies.

It is only used for comparative testing of such fastening systems installed at the same time on the
type of support for which they are intended.

2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

EN 13146-9:2009, Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 9:
Determination of stiffness

EN 13481-1:2012, Railway applications — Track — Performance requirements for fastening systems

— Part 1: Definitions

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 13481-1:2012 apply.

4 Principle
The fastening system under test is installed in track at the same time as a reference fastening system,
on sleepers, bearers or slab track of the same material and design. Location in track is arranged so
that the test and reference fastening systems are in track with similar geometry and service conditions.

5 Test conditions
The performance of a fastening system, systems or variants of a system under test shall be compared
with a reference fastening system. Test and reference fastening systems shall be installed in one
track in lengths containing not less than 500 sleepers each or 200 sleepers each on metro systems or
their equivalent for slab track. Installation shall be within a period not exceeding 7 days. All fastening
systems in any test shall be installed on the type of sleeper for which they are designed and only one
type of sleeper shall be used in a test. Each fastening system in a test shall be installed in track with
similar conditions of formation, ballast support, curvature, gradient and cant, and with similar traffic
conditions including traffic volume, type, speed, braking and acceleration.

If installation has involved a change in sleepers the track shall be consolidated mechanically, or by the
5
passage of 1 × 10 t (gross) traffic, prior to commencement of the test. The following shall be recorded.

 method of installing sleepers, bearers or slab;

 method of installing fastening components;

 method of installing rail;

5
BS EN 13146-8:2012
EN 13146-8:2012 (E)

 weather conditions during installation.

Rail used in the test shall be the same grade and section for the whole test length. The head shall be
free of defects and consistent throughout the test lengths, and the foot shall be smooth on its
underside.

Any welded or bolted joints shall be suspended or supported in accordance with the normal practice
of the user. During the test all mechanical joints shall be properly maintained. All track maintenance of
the test lengths shall be done concurrently.

6 Procedure

6.1 Duration of test

The minimum test period shall be that necessary for the following traffic to pass over the test track
and shall be not less than 1 year.
6
For category A and B fastening systems 10 × 10 t (gross)
6
For category C, D and E fastening systems 20 × 10 t (gross)

NOTE Categories of fastening systems are defined in EN 13481-1:2012.

6.2 Maintenance

During the test each fastening system shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions.

6.3 Inspection

Prior to the commencement of measurements, behaviour of the fastening system shall be visually
observed and recorded during installation and consolidation of the track.

At the commencement, at any specified intermediate stage and at the end of the test the following
shall be measured or observed for all systems being tested, including the reference system:

a) track gauge;

b) longitudinal movement of rail, relative to the sleeper or slab support, and maximum daily
temperature range;

c) effect on performance of signalling systems;

d) clamping force, on not less than 10 assemblies, using the manufacturer's recommended test
method for use in track;

e) rail pad static stiffness on not less than 10 pads, if required by the purchaser, measured in
accordance with EN 13146-9:2009;

f) details of installation methods and weather during installation;

g) security of attachment to the sleepers;

h) condition of the rail head;

i) condition of sleepers including rail seat area;

6
 BS EN 13146-8:2012
EN 13146-8:2012 (E)

j) condition of individual fastening components;

k) ease of assembly and removal using the tools recommended by the manufacturer.

For items (d), (i), (j) and (k) not less than 2 % of the assemblies shall be selected at random for
examination. The assemblies selected shall be the same each time the measurement or observation
is repeated.

7 Test report
The test report shall include at least the following information:

a) railway organization involved, location and dates of test;

b) description of the fastening system including manufacturer's designation;

c) description and manufacturer's designation of reference fastening system;

d) details of the track used for the test, including sleeper type, rail type, formation, ballast type and
depth, gradient, curvature and cant;

e) rail pad static stiffness on not less than 10 pads, if required by the purchaser;

f) details of installation methods and weather during installation;

g) duration of test, type and quantity and speed of traffic;

h) results of inspection and testing described in 6.3;

i) an assessment of the performance of the fastening system under test relative to the reference
fastening system;

j) maintenance record of the track and the fastening assembly during test period.

7
BS EN 13146-8:2012
EN 13146-8:2012 (E)

Bibliography

[1] EN 13481-2:2012, Railway applications – Track – Performance requirements for fastening

systems — Part 2: Fastening systems for concrete sleepers

[2] EN 13481-3:2012, Railway applications — Track — Performance requirements for fastening

systems — Part 3: Fastening systems for wood sleepers

[3] EN 13481-4:2012, Railway applications — Track — Performance requirements for fastening

systems — Part 4: Fastening systems for steel sleepers

[4] EN 13481-5:2012, Railway applications — Track — Performance requirements for fastening

systems — Part 5: Fastening systems for slab track with rail on the surface or rail embedded
in a channel

[5] EN 13481-7:2012, Railway applications — Track — Performance requirements for fastening

systems — Part 7: Special fastening systems for switches and crossings and check rails

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