EN 13481-5:2022
(Main)Railway applications - Track - Performance requirements for fastening systems - Part 5: Fastening systems for ballastless tracks
General Information
- Abstract
This document is applicable to fastening systems, in Categories A - D as specified in EN 13481-1:2012, 3.1 for attaching rails to the uppermost surface of concrete or steel elements in ballastless tracks, including tracks on open deck bridges, and for embedded rails in ballastless tracks, for maximum axle loads and minimum curve radii in accordance with Table 1.
[Table 1 - Fastening category criteria]
NOTE The maximum axle load for Categories A and B does not apply to maintenance vehicles.
The requirements apply to:
- fastening systems which act on the foot and/or web of the rail including direct fastening systems and indirect fastening systems;
- fastening systems for rail sections included in EN 13674-1 (excluding 49E4), or EN 13674-4.
This document is not applicable to fastening systems for wood or polymer composite sleepers used in ballastless track, which are included in EN 13481-3.
This document is not applicable to rigid fastening systems, special fastening systems used at bolted joints or glued joints or special low clamping force fastenings used to mitigate track-bridge interaction effects.
This document is for type approval of complete fastening systems. In track forms in which there are rail seat blocks or sleepers mounted in "boots" (under-sleeper pads) the concrete element and its resilient support are considered to be parts of the elastic fastening system. If the track form includes floating slabs, (i.e. resiliently supported concrete elements with more than one fastening per rail) those concrete elements and their resilient supports are considered to be parts of the ballastless track and not of the fastening system.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 12-Jul-2022
- Withdrawal Date
- 30-Jan-2023
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 256 - Railway applications
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 256/SC 1/WG 17 - Fastening systems
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
- Start Date
- 13-Jul-2022
- Due Date
- 30-Sep-2022
- Completion Date
- 13-Jul-2022
Overview
EN 13481-5:2022 is a CEN European Standard that specifies performance requirements for fastening systems for ballastless tracks (including tracks on open-deck bridges and embedded rails). It defines type-approval criteria for complete fastening systems acting on the rail foot and/or web (direct and indirect fastenings) for rail profiles covered by EN 13674‑1 (excluding 49E4) and EN 13674‑4. The standard applies to fastening categories A–D with defined maximum axle loads and minimum curve radii (see Key Topics).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and application
- Applies to fastening systems for concrete or steel ballastless supporting elements and open-deck bridges.
- Intended for type approval of complete fastening systems; excludes wood/polymer sleepers in ballastless track (covered by EN 13481‑3), rigid fastenings, special joint fastenings and low clamping force measures for track‑bridge interaction.
- Category criteria (Table 1)
- Category A: 130 kN max axle load, 40 m minimum curve radius
- Category B: 180 kN, 80 m
- Category C: 260 kN, 150 m
- Category D: 260 kN, 400 m
- Note: maximum axle loads for A and B do not apply to maintenance vehicles.
- Laboratory and type tests
- Longitudinal rail restraint / longitudinal stiffness (EN 13146‑1)
- Clamping force and uplift stiffness (EN 13146‑7)
- Vertical stiffness / static and dynamic stiffness (EN 13146‑9)
- Effect of repeated loading (EN 13146‑4)
- Electrical resistance and insulation properties (EN 13146‑5)
- Effects of severe environmental exposure (EN 13146‑6) and anchoring/pull‑out resistance (EN 13146‑10)
- Additional requirements
- Dimensional tolerances, effect on track gauge, in‑service testing, noise and vibration attenuation, fitness for purpose, marking/packaging.
Practical applications and users
EN 13481‑5:2022 is used by:
- Manufacturers and suppliers for design validation and type approval of ballastless-track fastening systems.
- Infrastructure owners, railway operators and procurement teams to specify compliant fastenings for new-build or replacement works.
- Design engineers and track system integrators when selecting fastenings for concrete or steel slab tracks and bridge decks.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies executing EN 13146 test methods for conformity assessment. This standard supports safe, durable track performance and helps manage noise/vibration and electrical continuity in ballastless track systems.
Related standards
- EN 13481 series (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7)
- Test methods: EN 13146 parts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
- Rail profiles: EN 13674‑1, EN 13674‑4
Keywords: EN 13481‑5:2022, ballastless track, fastening systems, rail fastenings, type approval, CEN, EN 13146, slab track, rail infrastructure.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 20-Jul-2022
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Referred By
EN 13232-9:2006+A1:2011 - Railway applications - Track - Switches and crossings - Part 9: Layouts - Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 13481-5:2022 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Railway applications - Track - Performance requirements for fastening systems - Part 5: Fastening systems for ballastless tracks". This standard covers: This document is applicable to fastening systems, in Categories A - D as specified in EN 13481-1:2012, 3.1 for attaching rails to the uppermost surface of concrete or steel elements in ballastless tracks, including tracks on open deck bridges, and for embedded rails in ballastless tracks, for maximum axle loads and minimum curve radii in accordance with Table 1. [Table 1 - Fastening category criteria] NOTE The maximum axle load for Categories A and B does not apply to maintenance vehicles. The requirements apply to: - fastening systems which act on the foot and/or web of the rail including direct fastening systems and indirect fastening systems; - fastening systems for rail sections included in EN 13674-1 (excluding 49E4), or EN 13674-4. This document is not applicable to fastening systems for wood or polymer composite sleepers used in ballastless track, which are included in EN 13481-3. This document is not applicable to rigid fastening systems, special fastening systems used at bolted joints or glued joints or special low clamping force fastenings used to mitigate track-bridge interaction effects. This document is for type approval of complete fastening systems. In track forms in which there are rail seat blocks or sleepers mounted in "boots" (under-sleeper pads) the concrete element and its resilient support are considered to be parts of the elastic fastening system. If the track form includes floating slabs, (i.e. resiliently supported concrete elements with more than one fastening per rail) those concrete elements and their resilient supports are considered to be parts of the ballastless track and not of the fastening system.
This document is applicable to fastening systems, in Categories A - D as specified in EN 13481-1:2012, 3.1 for attaching rails to the uppermost surface of concrete or steel elements in ballastless tracks, including tracks on open deck bridges, and for embedded rails in ballastless tracks, for maximum axle loads and minimum curve radii in accordance with Table 1. [Table 1 - Fastening category criteria] NOTE The maximum axle load for Categories A and B does not apply to maintenance vehicles. The requirements apply to: - fastening systems which act on the foot and/or web of the rail including direct fastening systems and indirect fastening systems; - fastening systems for rail sections included in EN 13674-1 (excluding 49E4), or EN 13674-4. This document is not applicable to fastening systems for wood or polymer composite sleepers used in ballastless track, which are included in EN 13481-3. This document is not applicable to rigid fastening systems, special fastening systems used at bolted joints or glued joints or special low clamping force fastenings used to mitigate track-bridge interaction effects. This document is for type approval of complete fastening systems. In track forms in which there are rail seat blocks or sleepers mounted in "boots" (under-sleeper pads) the concrete element and its resilient support are considered to be parts of the elastic fastening system. If the track form includes floating slabs, (i.e. resiliently supported concrete elements with more than one fastening per rail) those concrete elements and their resilient supports are considered to be parts of the ballastless track and not of the fastening system.
EN 13481-5:2022 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 93.100 - Construction of railways. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 13481-5:2022 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 13481-5:2012+A1:2017, EN 13146-7:2019, EN 13146-9:2020, EN 13674-1:2011+A1:2017, EN 13146-4:2020, EN 17343:2020, EN 13674-4:2019, EN 17319:2020, EN 13146-1:2019, EN 13146-5:2012, EN 13146-10:2017, EN 13146-6:2012, EN 13232-6:2023, EN 13232-7:2023, EN 13232-9:2006+A1:2011. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 13481-5:2022 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2008/57/EC, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU, 2016/797/EU; Standardization Mandates: M/483, M/591. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
EN 13481-5:2022 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2022
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 13481-5:2012+A1:2017
Železniške naprave - Zgornji ustroj proge - Zahteve za izdelavo pritrdilnih sistemov
- 5. del: Pritrdilni sistemi za progo z utrjenimi tirnicami
Railway Applications - Track - Performance requirements for fastening systems - Part 5:
Fastening systems for ballastless track
Bahnanwendungen - Oberbau - Leistungsanforderungen für
Schienenbefestigungssysteme - Teil 5: Befestigungssysteme für feste Fahrbahn
Applications ferroviaires - Voie - Exigences de performance pour les systèmes de
fixation - Partie 5 : Systèmes de fixations pour voies sans ballast
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 13481-5:2022
ICS:
93.100 Gradnja železnic Construction of railways
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN 13481-5
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 2022
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 93.100 Supersedes EN 13481-5:2012+A1:2017
English Version
Railway applications - Track - Performance requirements
for fastening systems - Part 5: Fastening systems for
ballastless tracks
Applications ferroviaires - Voie - Exigences de Bahnanwendungen - Oberbau -
performance pour les systèmes de fixation - Partie 5 : Leistungsanforderungen für
Systèmes de fixations pour voies sans ballast Schienenbefestigungssysteme - Teil 5:
Befestigungssysteme für feste Fahrbahn
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 8 May 2022.
CEN 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 CEN
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 CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 13481-5:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Symbols . 9
5 Requirements determined by laboratory testing . 9
5.1 Specimens used for laboratory testing . 9
5.2 Longitudinal rail restraint or longitudinal stiffness . 10
5.2.1 General case . 10
5.2.2 Special case for long structures . 10
5.3 Clamping force and uplift stiffness . 10
5.4 Vertical stiffness . 11
5.5 Effect of repeated loading . 11
5.6 Electrical resistance of the fastening system and slab track elements . 12
5.7 Effect of exposure to severe environmental conditions (surface mounted rails only) . 13
5.8 Anchoring fastening components. 13
5.8.1 Cast-in or glued-in components in concrete supporting elements . 13
5.8.2 Anchoring components on steel supporting elements . 13
6 Other requirements . 13
6.1 Dimensions . 13
6.2 Effect of fastening system tolerances on track gauge . 14
6.3 In-service testing . 15
6.4 Attenuation of noise and vibration . 15
7 Fitness for purpose . 16
8 Marking, labelling and packaging . 16
Annex A (informative) Vibration and noise . 17
A.1 General . 17
A.2 Symbols . 17
A.3 Parameters for environmental vibration calculations . 17
A.4 Calculating the vibration attenuation . 18
A.5 Environmental noise . 18
Bibliography . 19
European foreword
This document (EN 13481-5:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 256 “Railway
applications”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2023, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by January 2023.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 13481-5:2012+A1:2017.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
a) changes to the terminology to be consistent with the EN 16432 series of standards;
b) inclusion of details of in-service testing, replacing the reference to EN 13146-8, which is to be
withdrawn;
c) slight reduction of test loads in repeated loading test for fastening category D;
d) editorial changes to make clear which requirements are based on laboratory testing;
e) removal of Annex ZA.
This European Standard is one of the series EN 13481 “Railway applications — Track — Performance
requirements for fastening systems”, which consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Definitions
— Part 2: Fastening systems for concrete sleepers in ballast
— Part 3: Fastening systems for wood and polymeric composite sleepers
— Part 4: Fastening systems for steel sleepers
— Part 5: Fastening systems for ballastless tracks
— Part 7: Fastening systems for switches and crossings, check rails, insulated rail joints and rail expansion
devices
NOTE Part 6 does not exist in this series.
These European Standards are supported by the test methods in the series EN 13146 “Railway
applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems”.
This document has been prepared under a Standardization Request given to CEN by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
A series of tests is used to assess the suitability of fastening systems for use in railway track, i.e. for type
approval of complete fastening systems. This document only sets requirements considered relevant to
ensure the safe, long-term operation of the track system. The test methods are described in other
associated standards.
The various Categories of rail fastenings used in this document are defined in EN 13481-1:2012.
1 Scope
This document is applicable to fastening systems, in Categories A – D as specified in EN 13481-1:2012,
3.1 for attaching rails to the uppermost surface of concrete or steel elements in ballastless tracks,
including tracks on open deck bridges, and for embedded rails in ballastless tracks, for maximum axle
loads and minimum curve radii in accordance with Table 1.
Table 1 — Fastening category criteria
Category Maximum design axle load Minimum curve radius
kN m
A 130 40
B 180 80
C 260 150
D 260 400
NOTE The maximum axle load for Categories A and B does not apply to maintenance vehicles.
The requirements apply to:
— fastening systems which act on the foot and/or web of the rail including direct fastening systems and
indirect fastening systems;
— fastening systems for rail sections included in EN 13674-1 (excluding 49E4), or EN 13674-4.
This document is not applicable to fastening systems for wood or polymer composite sleepers used in
ballastless track, which are included in EN 13481-3.
This document is not applicable to rigid fastening systems, special fastening systems used at bolted joints
or glued joints or special low clamping force fastenings used to mitigate track-bridge interaction effects.
This document is for type approval of complete fastening systems. In track forms in which there are rail
seat blocks or sleepers mounted in “boots” (under-sleeper pads) the concrete element and its resilient
support are considered to be parts of the elastic fastening system. If the track form includes floating slabs,
(i.e. resiliently supported concrete elements with more than one fastening per rail) those concrete
elements and their resilient supports are considered to be parts of the ballastless track and not of the
fastening system.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 13146-1:2019, Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 1:
Determination of longitudinal rail restraint
EN 13146-4:2020, Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 4: Effect of
repeated loading
EN 13146-5:2012 , Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 5:
Determination of electrical resistance
EN 13146-6:2012, Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 6: Effect of
severe environmental conditions
EN 13146-7:2019, Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 7:
Determination of clamping force and uplift stiffness
EN 13146-9:2020, Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 9:
Determination of stiffness
EN 13146-10:2017, Railway applications — Track — Test methods for fastening systems — Part 10: Proof
load test for pull-out resistance
EN 13230-1:2016, Railway applications — Track — Concrete sleepers and bearers — Part 1: General
requirements
EN 13481-1:2012, Railway applications — Track — Performance requirements for fastening systems —
Part 1: Definitions
EN 13674-1:2011+A1:2017, Railway applications — Track — Rail — Part 1: Vignole railway rails 46 kg/m
and above
EN 13674-4:2019, Railway applications — Track — Rail — Part 4: Vignole railway rails from 27 kg/m to,
but excluding 46 kg/m
EN 17319:2020, Railway applications — Infrastructure — Performance requirements of rail fastening
systems for tramways
EN 17343:2020, Railway applications — General terms and definitions
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions given in EN 13481-1:2012,
EN 17343:2020 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
datum for applied test loads
flat bottom surface of a conventional concrete sleeper used as a datum plane to define the orientation of
the applied test loads
Note 1 to entry: For fastenings on supports which do not have a flat bottom surface, the orientation of the test
loads is defined relative to “running surface of the rails” which is defined in EN 13848-1:2019. See Figure 1.
As impacted by EN 13146-5:2012/AC:2017.
Key
1 centre of gauge corner radius
2 centre line of the rail profile
3 line of load application
Figure 1 — Load application position
3.2
purchaser
operator, owner or user of the rail fastening system
3.3
supplier
body responsible for the use of this European Standard
Note 1 to entry: Sometimes the manufacturer is also the supplier.
4 Symbols
For the purposes of this document, the following symbols apply.
D maximum longitudinal displacement of rail prior to slip, in mm;
r
F minimum force applied in measurement of low frequency dynamic stiffness of assembly, in
LFA1
kN;
F reference force for measurement of low frequency dynamic stiffness of assembly, in kN;
LFAmax
F notional fastening clip force assumed for measurement of low frequency dynamic stiffness of
LFP1
pad, in kN;
F reference force for measurement of low frequency dynamic stiffness of pad, in kN;
LFPmax
F axial load at which gross slip occurs in the longitudinal rail restraint test in kN;
max
F minimum force applied in measurement of static stiffness of assembly, in kN;
SA1
F force applied to assembly in measurement of static stiffness of assembly, in kN;
SAmax
F notional fastening clip force assumed for measurement of static stiffness of pad, in kN;
SP1
F force applied to pad in measurement of static stiffness of pad, in kN;
SPmax
k longitudinal stiffness in accordance with EN 13146-1:2019, in MN/m;
L
low frequency dynamic stiffness of assembly, in MN/m;
k
LFA
L sample length of embedded rail, in m;
T
P component of load parallel to the datum, in kN;
L
P component of load normal to the datum, in kN;
V
X distance between the line of application of P and the centre of the gauge corner radius of the
L
rail head as shown in Figure 1, in mm;
α angle between the load line and the datum as shown in Figure 1, in °.
5 Requirements determined by laboratory testing
5.1 Specimens used for laboratory testing
The laboratory tests described in 5.2 to 5.5 and 5.7 shall be carried out using a supporting element e.g. a
reinforced concrete block to represent concrete ballastless track or a steel plate to represent a steel
bridge structure.
For continuously supported rail, the test length of rail is the length which is supported on the pad. For
embedded rail, the test length of rail is the length which is embedded. In these cases, for category A the
test length should be (0,8 ± 0,01) m and for categories B to D the test length should be (0,6 ± 0,01) m.
The supporting element shall have a rail seat inclination no greater than the inclination to be used on the
application for which the type of fastening will be used.
For example, a fastening tested successfully on a support with 1:40 inclination does not need to be re-
tested at 1:20 inclination.
For the laboratory test described in 5.6 two fastenings shall be assembled on a section of concrete track
or steel structure with a length equivalent to the intended fastener spacing as described in
EN 13146-5:2012 .
For the laboratory test described in 5.8 a fastening system shall be assembled on a concrete block or steel
element as described in EN 13146-10:2017.
5.2 Longitudinal rail restraint or longitudinal stiffness
5.2.1 General case
The requirement for longitudinal rail restraint is included to control rail creep and pull apart in the event
of a broken rail.
For discrete fastening systems, and for continuously supported rail with mechanical fastening, the
longitudinal rail restraint shall be not less than 7,0 kN when measured by the procedure in
EN 13146-1:2019 before any repeated load test is carried out. For fastenings to
...