IEC 62128-2-2013 PDF

Full title and description

IEC 62128-2:2013 — Railway applications — Fixed installations — Electrical safety, earthing and the return circuit — Part 2: Provisions against the effects of stray currents caused by d.c. traction systems. This international standard specifies requirements and protective provisions to limit corrosion and other unwanted effects produced by stray currents arising from d.c. traction systems on metallic fixed installations and other metallic structures in contact with the earth.

Abstract

IEC 62128-2:2013 defines assessment criteria, design provisions, measures for influenced metallic structures, protective techniques applied to metallic structures, and requirements for tests and measurements related to stray currents from d.c. traction systems. It applies to new d.c. lines and to major revisions of existing d.c. lines and includes informative annexes on measurement of track characteristics and stray current assessment for rails.

General information

• Status: Published / Current (2nd edition).
• 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: 61 pages (bilingual English/French edition).

Scope

The standard covers protective provisions against stray currents produced by d.c. traction systems and applies to all metallic fixed installations forming part of the traction system and to other metallic components in or on the earth that can conduct stray currents from railway operation. It does not address a.c. traction stray-current effects (given limited evidence of corrosion from a.c. systems at the time of publication) and is intended for application to new d.c. lines and significant revisions of existing lines.

Key topics and requirements

• Identification of hazards and risk assessment for stray currents.
• Criteria for stray-current assessment and acceptance limits.
• Design provisions to minimise stray-current generation and return-path leakage.
• Measures and protection for influenced metallic structures (corrosion control, isolation, cathodic protection where applicable).
• Specific provisions for depots and workshops where stray currents may concentrate.
• Tests, measurements and monitoring methods for track/return circuit characteristics and stray-current assessment.

Typical use and users

Used by railway electrical engineers, system designers, infrastructure owners/operators, asset managers, consultants and contractors involved in d.c. traction projects, depot and workshop design, corrosion control on rail-related metallic infrastructure, and by testing/measurement teams performing stray-current investigations and ongoing monitoring.

Related standards

IEC 62128 is a multi-part series on electrical safety, earthing and return circuits for railway fixed installations; closely related parts include IEC 62128-1 (protective provisions against electric shock / general electrical safety) and IEC 62128-3 (mutual interaction of a.c. and d.c. traction systems). IEC/TC 9 publications and other national/adopted variants may also reference this part when addressing stray-current mitigation and earthing practices.

Keywords

stray currents, d.c. traction, railway fixed installations, earthing, return circuit, corrosion protection, cathodic protection, track measurements, depot wiring, electrical safety.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 62128-2:2013 is the second edition international standard that specifies provisions to protect metallic fixed installations and other buried or exposed metallic structures from the effects of stray currents produced by d.c. railway traction systems.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers assessment criteria, design and protective measures, requirements for influenced structures, special considerations for depots/workshops, and tests and measurements for determining stray-current impact and compliance. Informative annexes give measurement and assessment examples.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Railway and infrastructure electrical engineers, designers, consultants, maintenance planners, and testing labs involved with d.c. traction systems and corrosion control on rail-related metallic assets.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC 62128-2:2013 is the 2nd edition published on 16 September 2013 and was the active edition published by IEC; information shown in IEC catalogues lists it as the published/current edition (stability planning information is indicated on the IEC webstore). Users should verify whether a newer revision or a planned 3rd edition exists before relying on it for new projects.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — IEC 62128 is a multi-part series addressing electrical safety, earthing and return circuits for railway fixed installations; Part 1 and Part 3 are the principal companion documents addressing electric shock protection and mutual a.c./d.c. interactions respectively.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Stray current, d.c. traction, earthing, return circuit, corrosion protection, track measurement, depot design, electrical safety.