BS EN 50124-1:2017

BSI Standards Publication

Railway applications —
Insulation coordination
Part 1: Basic requirements — Clearances
and creepage distances for all electrical and
electronic equipment
BS EN 50124-1:2017 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 50124-1:2017.
It supersedes BS EN 50124-1:2001+A2:2005 which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical
Committee GEL/9, Railway Electrotechnical Applications.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be
obtained on request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct
application.
© The British Standards Institution 2017.
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2017
ISBN 978 0 580 86076 8
ICS 29.080.01; 29.280; 45.020
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 March 2017.
Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication
Date Text affected
 BS EN 50124-1:2017

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50124-1

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM March 2017

ICS 29.080.01; 29.280 Supersedes EN 50124-1:2001

English Version

Railway applications - Insulation coordination - Part 1: Basic

requirements - Clearances and creepage distances for all
electrical and electronic equipment

Applications ferroviaires - Coordination de l'isolement - Bahnanwendungen - Isolationskoordination - Teil 1:

Partie 1: Prescriptions fondamentales - Distances Grundlegende Anforderungen - Luft- und Kriechstrecken für
d'isolement dans l'air et lignes de fuite pour tout matériel alle elektrischen und elektronischen Betriebsmittel
électrique et électronique

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2017-02-06. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization

Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2017 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.

Ref. No. EN 50124-1:2017 E

BS EN 50124-1:2017

EN 50124-1:2017 (E)

Contents Page

European foreword ............................................................................................................... 5

Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 6
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................... 7
2 Normative references ................................................................................................ 7
3 Terms and definitions ............................................................................................... 8
4 Basis for insulation coordination ........................................................................... 11
4.1 Basic principles ....................................................................................................... 11
4.1.1 General ..................................................................................................................... 11
4.1.2 Insulation coordination with regard to voltage ...................................................... 11
4.1.3 Insulation coordination with regard to environmental conditions ........................ 12
4.2 Voltages and voltage ratings .................................................................................. 13
4.2.1 General ..................................................................................................................... 13
4.2.2 Rated insulation voltage U Nm .................................................................................. 13
4.2.3 Rated impulse voltage U Ni ....................................................................................... 13
4.3 Time under voltage stress....................................................................................... 14
4.4 Pollution ................................................................................................................... 14
4.5 Insulating material ................................................................................................... 15
4.5.1 General ..................................................................................................................... 15
4.5.2 Comparative tracking index (CTI) ........................................................................... 15
5 Requirements and dimensioning rules for clearances .......................................... 16
5.1 General ..................................................................................................................... 16
5.2 Minimum clearances ................................................................................................ 16
5.2.1 Functional insulation............................................................................................... 16
5.2.2 Basic and supplementary insulation ...................................................................... 16
5.2.3 Reinforced insulation .............................................................................................. 16
5.3 Contingency ............................................................................................................. 16
5.4 Clearances for altitudes higher than 2 000 m ........................................................ 17
6 Dimensioning rules for creepage distances ........................................................... 17
6.1 General ..................................................................................................................... 17
6.2 Minimum creepage distances ................................................................................. 17
6.2.1 Functional, basic and supplementary insulations ................................................. 17
6.2.2 Reinforced insulation .............................................................................................. 17
7 Tests and measurements ........................................................................................ 18
7.1 General ..................................................................................................................... 18
7.2 Measurement of creepage distances and clearances ............................................ 18
7.2.1 Method and values .................................................................................................. 18
7.2.2 Acceptance criteria ................................................................................................. 18
7.3 Verification of clearances by impulse test ............................................................. 18
7.3.1 Method and values .................................................................................................. 18
7.3.2 Test acceptance criteria .......................................................................................... 19
7.4 Verification of clearances by power-frequency test .............................................. 19
7.4.1 Method and values .................................................................................................. 19
7.4.2 Test acceptance criteria .......................................................................................... 19
7.5 Verification of clearances by d.c. voltage test ....................................................... 19
7.5.1 Method and values .................................................................................................. 19

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7.5.2 Test acceptance criteria .......................................................................................... 19

8 Specific requirements for applications in the railway field ................................... 20
8.1 General ..................................................................................................................... 20
8.2 Specific requirements for signalling ...................................................................... 20
8.2.1 Overvoltage categories ........................................................................................... 20
8.2.2 Rated impulse voltages ........................................................................................... 21
8.2.3 Induced voltages ..................................................................................................... 21
8.2.4 Installation instructions .......................................................................................... 21
8.2.5 Pollution degrees .................................................................................................... 21
8.3 Specific requirements for rolling stock .................................................................. 21
8.3.1 Determination of the rated impulse voltage U Ni by method 1 ................................ 21
8.3.2 Creepage distances ................................................................................................. 22
8.3.3 Roof installations .................................................................................................... 22
8.4 Specific requirements for fixed installations ......................................................... 22
8.4.1 Determination of the rated impulse voltage U Ni by method 1 ................................ 22
8.4.2 Distances of outdoor insulators ............................................................................. 23
Annex A (normative) Tables .............................................................................................. 24
Annex B (normative) Provisions for type and routine dielectric tests for
equipment ........................................................................................................................... 31
B.1 General ..................................................................................................................... 31
B.2 Tests ........................................................................................................................ 31
Annex C (normative) Methods of measuring creepage distances and clearances ......... 33
Annex D (normative) Correlation between U n and U Nm ..................................................... 40
Annex E (informative) Macro-environmental conditions .................................................. 41
Annex F (informative) Application guide .......................................................................... 42
F.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 42
F.2 Determination of minimum clearances and creepage distances ........................... 42
F.3 Examples ................................................................................................................. 48
F.4 Tests ........................................................................................................................ 50
Annex ZZ (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the
Essential Requirements of EU Directive 2008/57/EC ......................................................... 52
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 53

Tables

Table A.1 — Rated impulse voltage U Ni for low voltage circuits not powered
directly by the contact line ................................................................................................. 24
Table A.2 — Rated impulse voltages (U Ni ) for circuits powered by the contact line
and for traction power circuits in thermo-electric driven vehicles .................................. 25
Table A.3 — Minimum clearances in air for the standard altitude ranges based on
the rated impulse voltage U Ni ............................................................................................. 26
Table A.4 — Definition of pollution degrees ...................................................................... 27
Table A.5 — Minimum creepage distances based on rated insulation voltage U Nm
up to 1 000 V for printed wiring material and associated components ............................ 27
Table A.6 — Minimum creepage distances for low values of rated insulation
voltage U Nm for materials other than printed wiring material ........................................... 28

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EN 50124-1:2017 (E)

Table A.7 — Minimum creepage distances (in mm/kV) for high values of rated
insulation voltage U Nm ........................................................................................................ 28
Table A.8 — Test voltages for verifying clearances at atmospheric and altitude
reference conditions, not to be used for routine dielectric tests ..................................... 29
Table A.9 — Altitude correction factors for clearances in circuits with U Ni up to
and including 60 kV when equipment is intended to be used above 2 000 m .................. 30
Table A.10 — Altitude correction factors for clearances in circuits with U Ni higher
than 60 kV when equipment is intended to be used above 2 000 m ................................. 30
Table B.1 — Dielectric test for equipment - Short-duration power-frequency (a.c.)
test levels U a (kV) based on the rated impulse voltage U Ni (kV) ....................................... 32
Table C.1 — Minimum dimensions of grooves .................................................................. 33
Table D.1 — Correlation between nominal voltages of the railway power
distribution system and the required insulation voltages for circuits of
equipment which are intended to be connected to these systems .................................. 40
Table E.1 — Correlation between pollution degrees and macro-environmental
conditions ........................................................................................................................... 41
Table F.1 — Example for the determination of clearances and creepage distances ....... 50
Table ZZ.1 — Correspondence between this European Standard, the TSI
“Locomotives and Passenger Rolling Stock” (REGULATION (EU) No 1302/2014 of
18 November 2014) and Directive 2008/57/EC ................................................................... 52
Table ZZ.2 — Correspondence between this European Standard, the TSI “Energy”
(REGULATION (EU) No 1301/2014 of 18 November 2014) and Directive 2008/57/EC ....... 52

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EN 50124-1:2017 (E)

European foreword

This document (EN 50124-1:2017) has been prepared by CLC/TC 9X, “Electrical and electronic
applications for railways.”

The following dates are fixed:

• latest date by which this document has to be (dop) 2018–02–06

implemented at national level by publication
of an identical national standard or by
endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards (dow) 2020–02–06
conflicting with this document have to
be withdrawn

This document supersedes EN 50124-1:2001, EN 50124-1:2001/A1:2003 and

EN 50124-1:2001/A1:2005.

EN 50124-1:2017 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 50124-
1:2001:

• the scope has been enlarged to include altitudes higher than 2 000 m above sea level;

• related requirements have been included, especially new subclause 5.4, Table A.9 and
Table A.10.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CENELEC by the European Commission
and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).

For the relationship with EU Directive(s) see informative Annex ZZ, which is an integral part of this
document.

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Introduction

Special conditions occurring in railway applications and the fact that the equipment here concerned
falls into the scope of both the EN 60071 series (prepared by CLC/SR 28) and EN 60664-1 (prepared
by CLC/SR 109), led to the decision to draw from these documents and from EN 60077-1 (prepared
by CLC/TC 9), a single document of reference for all standards applicable to the whole railway field.
EN 50124 consists of two parts:
— EN 50124-1, Railway applications - Insulation coordination - Part 1: Basic requirements -
Clearances and creepage distances for all electrical and electronic equipment;

— EN 50124-2, Railway applications - Insulation coordination - Part 2: Overvoltages and related

protection.

This Part 1 allows, in conjunction with EN 50124-2, to take into account advantages resulting from the
presence of overvoltage protection when dimensioning clearances.

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EN 50124-1:2017 (E)

1 Scope

This European Standard deals with insulation coordination in railways. It applies to equipment for use
in signalling, rolling stock and fixed installations.
Insulation coordination is concerned with the selection, dimensioning and correlation of insulation both
within and between items of equipment. In dimensioning insulation, electrical stresses and
environmental conditions are taken into account. For the same conditions and stresses, these
dimensions are the same.
An objective of insulation coordination is to avoid unnecessary over dimensioning of insulation.
This standard specifies:
— requirements for clearances and creepage distances for equipment;

— general requirements for tests pertaining to insulation coordination.

The term equipment relates to a section as defined in 3.3 it may apply to a system, a sub-system, an
apparatus, a part of an apparatus, or a physical realization of an equipotential line.
This standard does not deal with:
— distances through solid or liquid insulation;

— distances through gases other than air;

— distances through air not at atmospheric pressure;

— equipment used under extreme conditions.

Product standards should align with this generic standard.

However, they may require, with justification, different requirements due to safety and/or reliability
reasons, e.g. for signalling, and/or particular operating conditions of the equipment itself, e.g.
overhead contact lines which should comply with EN 50119.
This standard also gives provisions for dielectric tests (type tests or routine tests) on equipment (see
Annex B).
NOTE For safety critical systems, specific requirements are needed. These requirements are given in the
product specific signalling standard EN 50129.

2 Normative references

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 50123 (all parts), Railway applications - Fixed installations - D.C. switchgear

EN 50163, Railway applications - Supply voltages of traction systems

EN 60060-1, High-voltage test techniques - Part 1: General definitions and test requirements (IEC
60060-1)

EN 60071-1, Insulation co-ordination - Part 1: Definitions, principles and rules (IEC 60071-1)

EN 60112, Method for the determination of the proof and the comparative tracking indices of solid
insulating materials (IEC 60112)