prEN 50XXX

Railway applications - Fire protection rules for nickel cadmium batteries for auxiliary power supply systems prEN 50XXX

Scope

This European Standard comes as an addition to EN 50547: 2013 and specifies fire and smoke-oriented criteria for safe operation of rechargeable Ni-Cd batteries for 110 V voltage auxiliary power supply system for railway vehicles. By extension, it can also be applied to lower onboard battery voltages existing in European countries.
This European Standard may be applied to all types of rolling stock (as described in EN 17343:2020) if these are not in the scope of another specific standard.
Other technologies like Lead-Acid, NiMH or Lithium-ion are not covered by this standard. This European Standard focuses on:
- the description of considered Ni-Cd specific components: cells or monobloc batteries, terminal covers, backfire proof vents, filling circuit hoses, shims and possible specific components related to Ni-Cd cells and batteries. Generic components (e.g. fuses, thermal sensors, contactors,) are addressed by EN 45545 related chapters, additional requests in case of installation within a Ni-Cd battery will be specified.
- the roles of the miscellaneous parties working together toward the installation of a Ni-Cd battery system onboard a rolling stock, and the requirements at the different levels to minimize occurrence of fire event start in operation or for maintenance.
- the description and characterization of considered event at Ni-Cd battery level (e.g. additional abusive tests, consideration of age ingon characteristics,…).
- mechanical interfaces: installation of the trays and main battery box, localization inside the rolling stock, (as it generates different impact depending upon proximity of external components or equipment’s), battery accessibility.
- The minimum requirement tests on group of cells prepared for aged condition in permanent contact to electrolyte(not battery design dependent) to consider all items above.
The main objective of this standard is to minimize the risk of fire starting, and its propagation, for Ni-Cd cells and batteries.