IEC 62128-1-2013 PDF

Full title and description

Railway applications - Fixed installations - Electrical safety, earthing and the return circuit - Part 1: Protective provisions against electric shock. This International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard specifies requirements for protective provisions relating to electrical safety in fixed installations associated with a.c. and/or d.c. traction systems and for installations that can be endangered by the traction power supply system; it also addresses safety during maintenance work on electric traction installations.

Abstract

IEC 62128-1:2013 (Edition 2.0) defines protective measures, touch-voltage limits and earthing/return-circuit considerations for fixed railway installations connected to traction power. The 2013 edition restructures clauses from the previous edition and updates touch-voltage limits and related requirements to improve personnel safety and harmonise requirements across a.c. and d.c. traction systems.

General information

• Status: Published (active edition, in force).
• Publication date: 16 September 2013.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 45.060.01 Railway rolling stock in general.
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2013).
• Number of pages: 183.

Key bibliographic and availability details are published on the IEC webstore and standards distributors.

Scope

Specifies requirements for protective provisions relating to electrical safety in fixed installations associated with a.c. and/or d.c. traction systems and for any installations that may be endangered by the traction power supply. Applies to fixed installations necessary to ensure electrical safety during maintenance and is intended for all new lines and for major revisions to existing lines. The scope covers touch-voltage limits, earthing arrangements and return-circuit considerations for traction power systems.

Key topics and requirements

• Protective provisions against electric shock for personnel working on or near fixed traction installations.
• Definitions and limits for permissible touch and step voltages in traction environments.
• Earthing and return-circuit arrangements for a.c. and d.c. traction power systems.
• Requirements and guidance for electrical safety during maintenance activities.
• Normative references and interfaces with related electrical-safety standards (examples: IEC/TS 60479‑1, IEC 60050‑101, IEC 60364‑4‑41 as referenced in the standard).

These requirements are intended to be applied at the design and major-revision stages of fixed traction installations.

Typical use and users

Used by railway infrastructure owners, power-system and traction engineers, earthing/grounding specialists, safety assessors, vehicle/way-side system designers, maintenance planners and testing laboratories to design, check and validate protective provisions for fixed traction installations. Contracting and procurement teams use the standard to set technical requirements for new and substantially revised electrification projects.

Related standards

IEC 62128 is a multi-part series; the most closely related document is IEC 62128-2 (Provisions against the effects of stray currents caused by d.c. traction systems). IEC 62128-1:2003 is the previous edition of Part 1. The standard also cross-references general electrical-safety and human-effects documents such as IEC/TS 60479‑1 and IEC 60364‑4‑41. Note: work on a newer edition of IEC 62128-1 has been recorded in IEC project listings (development activity beyond the 2013 edition).

Keywords

railway applications; fixed installations; electrical safety; earthing; return circuit; traction systems; touch voltage; step voltage; a.c.; d.c.; maintenance safety.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 62128-1:2013 is an international standard that defines protective provisions against electric shock for fixed installations associated with railway traction power systems (both a.c. and d.c.).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers protective measures, acceptable touch/step voltage limits, earthing and return-circuit requirements, and safety measures for maintenance work on fixed traction installations. It applies to new lines and major revisions of existing lines.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Railway infrastructure owners, traction and power-system engineers, safety and earthing specialists, maintenance planners, testing laboratories and procurement/specification teams.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2013 edition (Edition 2.0) is the current published edition and has a published stability date noted by IEC; earlier (2003) editions were superseded by 2013. IEC committee records also show follow-up development activity for a further edition in progress (check IEC project listings or the IEC webstore for the absolute latest publication status before use).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — IEC 62128 is a multi-part series. Part 1 addresses protective provisions against electric shock; Part 2 addresses stray currents from d.c. traction systems. Users should consult the relevant part(s) of the series for complete coverage of earthing, return circuits and stray-current protection.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Railway applications; electrical safety; earthing; return circuit; traction; touch voltage; step voltage; a.c.; d.c.; maintenance safety.