EN 16116-2 Railway Applications - Design Requirements for Steps, Guardrails and Related Access for Personnel - Part 2: Freight Wagons

The European standard "EN 16116-2 Railway applications - Design requirements for steps, guardrails and associated access for personnel - Part 2: Freight wagons" applies to all types of freight wagons. This standard describes the minimum requirements for the ergonomic and structural integrity of steps and guardrails used together to provide personnel access. This standard does not cover stairs, overhead platforms and overpasses. This standard specifically defines the required space for shunting guardrails, shunting stands, steps and guardrails. It also defines their dimensions, location, durability and functional limits. It also defines the general requirements for access to tail lights.

For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply in addition to the terms and definitions given in EN 17343:

• Clearance is the defined empty space required to ensure safety during correct operation and handling of devices.
• A step is a step with features defined for personnel use only.
• The maneuverer is the maneuvering personnel who couples and uncouples vehicles and directs movements.
• The maneuverer step is a special step used for the maneuver vehicle stand.
• A handrail is a railing with features defined for personnel use only.
• The maneuverer's guardrail is a special guardrail that is installed on the header under each bumper.
• A maneuvering stand is a maneuvering step used with a guardrail for the exclusive use of maneuvering personnel to allow the maneuverer to step outside the vehicle during maneuvering.
• Reserved areas refer to the defined free space required to ensure safe working conditions for maneuvering personnel during the assembly and separation of screw connections.

Unless otherwise specified in this standard, steps and handrails used by personnel shall be secured as follows:

• With sufficient length bolts and self-locking nuts
• With bolts and hexagon nuts of sufficient length
• With high strength locking ring bolts

The mechanical strength of the material used for any type of railing and step for which the properties are not required according to this standard must be at least class S10025JR of EN 2-235 standard.

The requirements for the steps in this standard are explained as follows:

• Steps must have non-slip surfaces.
• If the steps are fixed by welding, this must be done in accordance with the EN 15085 standard series.
• The clearance of the steps must comply with the EN 12561-7 standard.
• This should be a metal grid as in the figures given in the standard.

For all other solutions, the following properties must be met for the steps:

• Friction resistance: The average value of the coefficient of friction measured in three directions (longitudinal, transverse and crosswise) must reach the following minimum values: 0,65 in the dry state, 0,65 in the wet state (water) and 0,30 in the lubricated state. The coefficient of friction values ​​are determined by means of a 80 mm × 100 mm moving plate to which a rubber pad with a hardness of 100 shore is glued. A weight of 75 kg is loaded onto this plate. For measurements with water and oil, the grid must be completely immersed
• Mechanical strength: Metal gratings must withstand a horizontal compressive force of at least 4 kN applied parallel and at right angles to the edge of the step board and a force of at least 8 kN applied diagonally relative to the edge of the step board without permanent deformation. Elastic deformations should not exceed 10 mm.
• Grid structure: To ensure that the grids are sufficiently adapted to winter conditions, the ratio of the void area to the total area must be at least 50 percent. Only openings with an area of ​​at least 400 mm2 should be considered to determine this ratio. The void area is the free space provided by the grid openings in the vertical direction.

Maneuver staff step,

• The support material for the steps should be S10025J2C + N in accordance with the EN 355-2 standard.
• Cold forming is not allowed for steps.
• The maneuvering staff step is shown in the figure given in the standard. According to this figure, the grid is mandatory.
• For a specific operation, the size of the step of the maneuvering staff stand can be reduced to 270 mm x 225 mm.
• The surface protection (e.g. hot galvanizing) must ensure a sufficient service life.

Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies that our organization has carried out for businesses in various sectors, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, it also provides testing services defined in the standard “EN 16116-2 Railway applications - Design requirements for steps, guardrails and related access for personnel - Part 2: Freight wagons”.