Railway Equipment EMC/EMI, Climatic, and Mechanical Certification Testing
The railway industry, with its complex and varied environments, necessitates stringent compliance with environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards to ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of equipment.
Keystone Compliance, as an industry leader in rail-related product and system testing, offers comprehensive testing services that encompass a wide array of environmental and EMC standards, crucial for the railway industry.
Environmental and EMC Testing in the Railway Industry
Environmental Testing:
The scope of environmental testing in rail-related products is vast, including but not limited to dust, sand, rain, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, and humidity. This testing is essential to ascertain that the equipment can withstand the varied and often harsh conditions they will encounter in real-world railway operations.
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Testing:
EMC testing encompasses a broad range of standards, ensuring that railway electronics operate without interference and maintain functionality amidst various electromagnetic disturbances. These tests cover aspects like electromagnetic radiated emissions, electrostatic discharge (ESD), radiated immunity, and more, which are vital for the seamless operation of railway electronics in an electromagnetically diverse environment.
Key Standards and Their Technical Aspects in the Railway Industry
The railway industry is governed by several critical standards, each addressing different aspects of equipment performance and safety. Compliance with these standards assures the reliability and safety of railway equipment under various operational and environmental conditions.
AREMA 11.5.1: Communications & Signals Testing
- Focuses on shock and vibration resistance for railway equipment.
- Ensures durability and reliability under the demanding conditions of railway operations.
- Critical for maintaining the structural integrity of railway components during transit and operation.
EN 50155: Rolling Stock – Electronic Equipment Testing
- Covers electrical equipment used in rolling stock.
- Addresses voltage variations, surge protection, temperature and humidity extremes, ensuring operational reliability across diverse climatic conditions.
- Divides standard device temperatures into classes (OT1 to OT6) for different environmental temperature ranges, aiding in regional adaptability.
IEC/EN 61373: Rolling Stock Equipment – Shock and Vibration Testing
- Specific to the performance of railway equipment under shock and vibration.
- Essential for maintaining electronic and mechanical component integrity in the dynamic railway environment.
- Ensures equipment meets global standards of durability and safety.
EN 50121-3-2: Railway Applications – Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Testing
- Addresses EMC and EMI issues specific to railway systems.
- Ensures electronic equipment in trains operates without electromagnetic interference, crucial for safety and communication systems.
IEC/EN 61000 Series: General Testing Standards for Industrial Environments
- Covers various aspects of EMC, including ESD (Electrostatic Discharge), RF (Radio Frequency) immunity, and conduction immunity.
- Critical for ensuring uninterrupted operation of electronic equipment in electromagnetically diverse environments.
AAR S9401: Railway Electronics Environmental Requirements
- Outlines the range of environmental conditions for storage and operations of railway electronics equipment.
Industry Trends and the Importance of Compliance Tests
The railway industry is evolving rapidly, influenced by various trends that underscore the importance of stringent compliance testing:
Increased Automation and Digitalization: Modern trains are equipped with advanced electronic systems for automation, requiring rigorous EMC testing to ensure smooth operation.
Higher Speeds and Enhanced Passenger Comfort: With trains operating at higher speeds, the need for robust shock and vibration resistance increases, making EN 61373 and IEC 61373 compliance essential.
Greater Emphasis on Safety and Reliability: Safety is paramount in the railway industry, necessitating compliance with standards like AREMA 11.5.1 and EN 50155 to ensure equipment reliability and passenger safety.
Environmental Sustainability: The trend towards greener transport solutions puts a spotlight on energy efficiency and reduced emissions, where compliance with EMC and environmental standards ensures the eco-friendliness of railway systems.
Global Market Access: Compliance with international standards like IEC 61373 and the EN 61000 series is crucial for manufacturers aiming for global market access, ensuring that their products are acceptable in multiple jurisdictions.
Keystone Compliance’s Advanced Testing Equipment
Keystone Compliance’s 40,000 lb/f shaker exemplifies the advanced testing equipment necessary for conducting these rigorous tests. The ability to simulate a vast range of environmental and electromagnetic conditions is crucial for validating the resilience and compliance of railway equipment with the aforementioned standards.
Additionally, our EMC/EMI lab is highlighted by five test chambers, including two anechoic/ferrite lined 3-meter chambers and three semi-anechoic EMC test chambers. A double-door entry into a 32’ by 20’ semi-anechoic chamber with an 8’ turntable allows us to accommodate oversized equipment. The two three-meter chambers have oversized doors as well.
Expert Railway Regulatory Compliance and Certification Testing
Listed below are some of the tests and specific standards that we have tested to. We are always seeking new testing capabilities and the opportunity to customize testing. If there is a standard that you require, but do not see on this list, please let us know and we can determine if it is within our scope.
Please contact us when you have an EMC or environmental testing need for your rail product.
Rail-Related Environmental Testing Scope
- Blowing Dust & Sand
- Blowing Rain
- Body Mounted – Shock & Simulated Long-Life Vibration
- Cold Start
- Contamination by Fluids
- Corrosion
- Damp Heat and Dry Heat
- Defrost & Thaw
- Dust Tight with Pressure
- Exploratory Sine Sweep
- External Icing & Freezing Rain
- Functional Random Vibration
- Fungus
- High & Low Temperature
- Humidity
- Impact Resistance
- Indoor Corrosion Protection
- Ingress Protection
- IP5X Dust
- IPX6 Powerful Water Jets
- Loose Cargo Vibration
- Mechanical Shock
- Oil Resistant Paint Film
- Operating Temperature
- Pyro Shock
- Rainfall
- Salt Fog Testing
- Salt Water Immersion
- Shock – Fork Lift Handling
- Shock – Incline or Horizontal Impact
- Shock – Rotational Drop & Tip/Tip Over
- Solar Radiation
- Soldering Heat
- Splash Proof IPX4
- Temperature Cycling
- Transient Drop
- Vibration – Random Functional, Sinusoidal & Long Life
- Water Ingress Including Hose Down, Immersion & Spray
- Water Spray
- Wind and Rain
Rail-Related EMC Testing Scope
- Battery Bus Continuous Voltage
- Battery Bus Cranking Operation
- Battery Bus Normal Operation & Reverse Polarity
- Broadband Electromagnetic Radiated Emissions
- CE101, 102, 106, 114, 115, 116, 117
- RS101 & 103
- RE102
- Combination Wave
- Conducted Disturbance & Emissions
- Conducted Immunity & Susceptibility
- Dielectric Strength Testing
- Dips
- EFT
- Electrical Transients
- Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
- Flicker
- Fluctuations, Dips and Short Interruptions of VDC Power Supply
- Harmonics
- High Potential AC / DC
- Immunity to Electromagnetic Radiation
- Imported Transients Susceptibility
- Insulation
- Magnetic Immunity
- Narrowband Electromagnetic Radiated Emissions
- Power Line AF & RF
- Proximity Fields from RF Wireless
- Pulsed Magnetic Field Immunity
- Radiated Disturbance & Emissions
- Radiated Immunity & Susceptibility
- Radio Transmitter and Cellular Telephone (RTCT) Tests
- Receiver Edge Distortion
- Receiver Insensitivity & Sensitivity
- Receiver Noise Rejection
- Reverse Polarity Protection for DC Inputs
- Ring Wave
- Shielding Effectiveness
- Signal Line RF
- Signaling Speed
- Surge
- Terminating Resistors
- Transient Associated with Failed Crank
- Transmitter End of Frame, Fault Tolerance and Signal Waveform
Rail-Related Environmental Standards
- AREMA 11.5.1
- ASTM B117-11
- BMS-BPEA-QUA-023
- EN 50125-3
- EN 50155
- EN 60068-2-30
- EN 60068-2-75
- EN 61010-1
- EN 61373
- IEC 60068-2-1
- IEC 60068-2-2
- IEC 60068-2-27
- IEC 60068-2-5
- IEC 60068-2-6
- IEC 60068-2-64
- IEC 60529
- IEC 60598
- IEC 62262
- IP65
- ISTA 1E
- MIL-STD-202
- MIL-STD-810G
- NEMA 250-2008
- NEMA-250:2014
- UL1105
Rail-Related EMC Standards
- ANSI-C 136.2
- AREMA 11.3.3, C.4A
- AREMA 11.5.1
- CISPR 16-2-1
- CISPR 16-2-3
- CISPR 22
- DCS04
- DCS08
- EN 300 386:2010
- EN 50081-2
- EN 50121-3-2:2006
- EN 50121-4
- EN 50155
- EN 55011
- EN 55022
- EN 55024:2010
- EN 61000-3-2
- EN 61000-3-3
- EN 61000-4-11
- EN 61000-4-2
- EN 61000-4-3
- EN 61000-4-4
- EN 61000-4-5
- EN 61000-4-6
- EN 61000-4-8
- EN 61000-4-9
- EN 61326
- FCC Part 15, Subpart B
- IEC 60571
- IEC 61000-4-29
- IEC 61373
- IEC 62236-3-2:2008
- ISO 13766
- MIL-STD-461 E & F
- MIL-STD-810G
- MIL-STD-833
- NF INTO 61000-6-4
- RTCA/DO-160G
- SAE J1455