BS EN 15551:2017

What is BS EN 15551 – Requirements for buffers about?

BS EN 15551 discusses railway applications. BS EN 15551 is an international standard that provides for requirements for buffers in railway rolling stock.

BS EN 15551 outlines the requirements for buffers with 105 mm, 110 mm, and 150 mm stroke for vehicles or units which use buffers and screw coupling. BS EN 15551 covers the functionality, interfaces, and testing procedures, including pass-fail criteria, for buffers.

BS EN 15551 defines the different categories of buffers, the space envelope, static and dynamic characteristics, and energy absorption.

BS EN 15551 includes a calculation method to determine the minimum size of the buffer head to avoid override between buffers.

BS EN 15551 defines the static and dynamic characteristics of elastic systems.

BS EN 15551 also defines the requirements for buffers with integrated crash elements (crashworthy buffers) for tank wagons for dangerous goods.

The requirements of BS EN 15551 also apply to buffers of locomotives and passenger coaches which need to meet the crashworthiness requirements of EN 15227 for normal service only.

Typically, buffers with a stroke of 105 mm are used on freight wagons and locomotives, buffers with a stroke of 110 mm are used on coaches and locomotives and buffers with a stroke of 150 mm are used on freight wagons.

Note 1: Diagonal buffers are excluded from BS EN 15551.

Note 2: The requirements specified in Clause 7 for tank wagons for dangerous goods do not apply to the buffers of these locomotives and passenger coaches.

Who is BS EN 15551 - Requirements for buffers for?

BS EN 15551 on requirements for buffers  is useful for:

• Buffer manufacturers
• Test centers
• Regulatory bodies

Why should you use BS EN 15551 - Requirements for buffers?

Buffer is an absorber device of compressible type, comprising a housing and an elastic system, fitted at each side of the end of vehicles that need to be in contact with other rolling stock.

BS EN 15551 guideline assists you with general requirements on fixing on vehicle and interchangeability, buffer dimensions, mechanical characteristics of buffers, elastic systems, types of elastic systems, static characteristics, dynamic characteristics, type testing, and marking for buffers fitted at each side of the end of railway vehicles.

BS EN 15551 also guides on the plunger, base, buffer head, materials, boundary dimensions, standard dimensions of buffer head, tests, and crashworthy buffers for buffers fitted at each side of the end of railway vehicles.

This supports you in standardizing the performance for buffers that ensures the safety of passengers by minimizing hazards.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN 15551:2017 supersedes EN 15551:2009+A1:2010, which is withdrawn. BS EN 15551:2017 has made some technical changes compared to EN 15551:2009+A1:2010. These includes:

• The “Introduction” was checked upon and revised
• Clause 1 “Scope” was revised
• Clause 2 “Normative references” as well the final “Bibliography” was checked upon and revised
• Clause 3 was modified- damping (3.11) was deleted, the calculation of damping in 3.8 and definitions of stored energy and absorbed energy for the static and dynamic conditions were added as 3.12 to 3.15, and the term “technical specification” was added as 3.16
• The term “elastic device” was replaced by “elastic system”
• The classification of crashworthy buffers was added as new Subclause 4.5