EN 45545 is the harmonized European Standard for fire protection on railway vehicles. It unifies fire safety rules across Europe, covering materials testing, vehicle design, and electrical safety, replacing older national standards like BS 6853 and DIN 5510.

Is EN 45545 mandatory?

Yes, EN 45545 is mandatory for all new railway vehicles authorized to operate in the European Union under the TSI LOC&PAS (Technical Specifications for Interoperability).

How many parts are there in EN 45545?

The EN 45545 series consists of 7 parts. Part 1 defines classification, Part 2 covers material testing (the most commonly used part), and Parts 3-7 cover barriers, design, electrical equipment, control systems, and flammable liquids respectively.

EN 45545: The European Standard for Railway Fire Protection (Complete Overview)

EN 45545 is the comprehensive European Standard for railway fire safety, superseding national norms (BS, DIN, NF F). This guide serves as the master index for the 7-part series, covering Vehicle Classification (HL1-HL3), Material Testing (Part 2), Fire Barriers (Part 3), and System Design, forming the mandatory compliance framework for TSI LOC&PAS.

December 15, 2023 11:22 am

EN 45545 is the definitive European Standard series regarding “Fire Protection on Railway Vehicles.” Before its implementation, manufacturers had to deal with a fragmented landscape of national standards (BS 6853 in the UK, DIN 5510 in Germany, NF F 16-101 in France). EN 45545 harmonized these into a single, rigorous framework, becoming a mandatory requirement for the TSI LOC&PAS (Technical Specifications for Interoperability).

This standard dictates everything from how a seat fabric burns (Material Behavior) to how a train is evacuated (Design) and how electrical faults are contained. It applies to all rolling stock, including High-Speed Trains, Metros, Trams, and Locomotives.

1. Structure of the EN 45545 Series

The standard is divided into 7 specific parts. Understanding this hierarchy is crucial for compliance:

Part	Title & Scope	Key Metric
Part 1	General & Classification	Defines Hazard Levels (HL1, HL2, HL3).
Part 2	Materials & Components	Tests for Heat Release (MARHE), Smoke, Toxicity.
Part 3	Fire Barriers	Fire Resistance ratings (E / I / W) for walls/doors.
Part 4	Design for Fire Safety	Evacuation paths, Emergency Exits, Kitchen safety.
Part 5	Electrical Equipment	Fusing, Battery ventilation, HV equipment safety.
Part 6	Control & Management	Fire Detection Systems and Emergency Management.
Part 7	Liquids & Gases	Fuel tanks, LPG, Hydraulic systems containment.

2. The Hazard Level (HL) System

Unlike old standards that classified trains by country, EN 45545 classifies them by Risk. The entire system revolves around the Hazard Level (HL).

Risk Calculation: It combines the Operation Category (Tunnel length/Evacuation difficulty) with the Design Category (Double-decker/Sleeper).
Impact: A material approved for HL1 (Tram) will likely fail the strict toxicity limits of HL3 (Underground Metro).

3. TSI LOC&PAS Compliance

For any train to operate across European borders (TEN-T network), it must be certified under the TSI LOC&PAS (Locomotives and Passenger Rolling Stock). EN 45545 is the reference standard for fire safety within the TSI. This means no “CE Marking” or “Homologation” is possible without a full EN 45545 compliance dossier.