Double challenge in the railway sector for a hose for braking systems.

Rail Sparrow/2FV hose is a new 2018 product for the railway sector. It is used as a flexible connection in compressed air braking systems on railway carriages and locomotives. It has a patented structure that meets the requirements of the latest edition of Trenitalia Technical Specification n° 373407 esp. 06, issued at the beginning of 2018. The specification acknowledged the international regulatory changes that IVG’s technicians were already familiar with after developing a hose and hose assemblies in accordance with the new standards and technical specifications.

The Trenitalia specification proposed two important challenges to the hose. Today I start explaining the first one.

Sparrow/2FV hose meets fire behavior requirements of EN 45545-2, at the highest risk levels (HL2 and HL3) for use inside and outside trains (R22 and R23). It is halogen free and with very low toxicity and emission of fumes in the event of a fire.

But what does the EN 45545-2 standard deal with?

The EN 45545-2 standard specifies the fire behavior requirements of materials and products used on railway vehicles. It harmonized and replaced the previous national standards on fire behavior. It deals with the safety of travelers and operators in case of fire on board. In case of combustion materials do not have to emit opaque fumes that prevent visibility to passengers and fire fighters. They do not have to produce toxic gases that prevent breathing. Lastly, flames do not have to expand in a short period of time.  

Soon I will also tell you the second challenge related to EN 50553 (Running Capability). For more information contact me: [email protected] or https://www.ivgspa.it/it/tubi-in-gomma/rail