As a result of the new harmonised European standards, Armacell have extended their range of Armaflex Rail flexible, closed-cell insulation materials for railway vehicle construction.

Insulation products for rolling stock air conditioning systems are governed by a section of the new European standard EN 45545-2 that defines tighter requirements for the fire behaviour of materials and components.

The fire protection standard came into force in March 2016 when the existing national BS 6853 was withdrawn. EN 45545-2 maintains that products with low smoke density in a fire can be of vital importance in order to allow passengers and staff to escape, or be rescued quickly and safely.

Depending on where they are used, materials are assigned to the categories R1 to R26 (R = Requirement Set). The various operating and design classes provide the basis for the hazard levels (HLs) which in turn define the requirements of the classification system. There are a total of three hazard levels (HL1 to HL3).

HL3 is the highest level and thus makes the greatest demands of the materials used. In accordance with their classification as R1 materials, technical insulation materials are tested under ISO 5658-2 (spread of flame), ISO 5660-1 (heat release, smoke development and mass loss rate) and EN ISO 5659-2 (optical smoke density and smoke gas toxicity).

Now Armacell have extended their range of Armaflex Rail flexible, closed-cell insulation materials for railway vehicle construction. These are able to achieve hazard level HL2 or 3 and can even be installed in sleeping cars and couchettes, which are operated on underground track sections or in tunnels. The range, which includes halogen-free and covered insulation materials, has very good fire properties and develops extremely little smoke.

Armacell provides an extensive range of EN 45545-compliant insulation materials for railway vehicles that are capable of achieving hazard level HL2 or 3 and can even be installed in sleeping cars and couchettes operated on underground track sections or in tunnels.