This International Standard specifies the requirements for testing items of equipment intended for use on railway vehicles which are subsequently subjected to vibrations and shock owing to the nature of railway operational environment. To gain assurance that the quality of the equipment is acceptable, it has to withstand tests of reasonable duration that simulate the service conditions seen throughout its expected life.

Simulated long-life testing can be achieved in a number of ways each having their associated advantages and disadvantages, the following being the most common:

The amplification method as stated in a) above, is used in this standard and together with the publications referred to in Clause 2; it defines the default test procedure to be followed when vibration testing items for use on railway vehicles. However, other standards exist and may be used with prior agreement between the manufacturer and the customer. In such cases test certification against this standard will not apply. Where service information is available tests can be performed using the method outlined in Annex A. If the levels are lower than those quoted in this standard, equipment is partially certified against this standard (only for service conditions giving functional test values lower than or equal to those specified in the test report).

Whilst this standard is primarily concerned with railway vehicles on fixed rail systems, its wider use is not precluded. For systems operating on pneumatic tyres, or other transportation systems such as trolleybuses, where the level of shock and vibration clearly differ from those obtained on fixed rail systems, the supplier and customer can agree on the test levels at the tender stage. It is recommended that the frequency spectra and the shock duration/amplitude be determined using the guidelines in Annex A. Equipment tested at levels lower than those quoted in this standard cannot be fully certified against the requirements of this standard.

An example of this is trolleybuses, whereby body-mounted trolleybus equipment could be tested in accordance with category 1 equipment referred to in the standard.

This standard applies to single axis testing. However multi-axis testing may be used with prior agreement between the manufacturer and the customer.

The test values quoted in this standard have been divided into three categories dependent only upon the equipment’s location within the vehicle.

Category 1 Body mounted

Category 2 Bogie mounted

Cubicles, subassemblies, equipment and components which are to be mounted on the bogie of a railway vehicle.

Category 3 Axle mounted

Subassemblies, equipment and components or assemblies which are to be mounted on the wheelset assembly of a railway vehicle.

The cost of testing is influenced by the weight, shape and complexity of the equipment under test. Consequently at the tender stage the supplier may propose a more cost-effective method of demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this standard. Where alternative methods are agreed it will be the responsibility of the supplier to demonstrate to his customer or his representative that the objective of this standard has been met. If an alternative method of evaluation is agreed, then the equipment tested cannot be certified against the requirement of this standard.

This standard is intended to evaluate equipment which is attached to the main structure of the vehicle (and/or components mounted thereon). It is not intended to test equipment which forms part of the main structure. Main structure in the sense of this standard means car body, bogie and axle. There are a number of cases where additional or special vibration tests may be requested by the customer, for example: