What is BS EN 50124-1 - Clearances and creepage distances for all electrical and electronic equipment about?
BS EN 50124 is a European standard that discusses insulation Coordination for railway applications. BS EN 50124-1 provides the best industry guidance on the basic requirements for the clearances and creepage distances for all electrical and electronic equipment to minimize hazardous situations and ensure the safety of workers.
BS EN 50124-1 is the first part of a multi-part series that deals with insulation coordination in railways. BS EN 50124-1 applies to equipment for use in signaling, rolling stock, and fixed installations.
An objective of insulation coordination is to avoid unnecessary over-dimensioning of insulation.
BS EN 50124-1 specifies:
- Requirements for clearances and creepage distances for equipment
- General requirements for tests about insulation coordination
However, they may require, with justification, different requirements due to safety and/or reliability reasons, e.g., for signaling, and/or operating conditions of the equipment itself, e.g., overhead contact lines which should comply with EN 50119
Note 1: The term equipment relates to a section as defined in 3.3 it may apply to a system, a sub-system, an apparatus, a part of an apparatus, or a physical realization of an equipotential line
Note 2: BS EN 50124-1 does not deal with:
- Distances through solid or liquid insulation
- Distances through gases other than air
- Distances through the air not at atmospheric pressure
- Equipment used under extreme conditions
Who is BS EN 50124-1 - Clearances and creepage distances for all electrical and electronic equipment for?
BS EN 50124-1 on clearances and creepage distances for all electrical and electronic equipment is useful for:
- Electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers
- Test centers
- Regulatory bodies
Why should you use BS EN 50124-1- Clearances and creepage distances for all electrical and electronic equipment?
Insulation coordination is concerned with the selection, dimensioning, and correlation of insulation both within and between items of equipment. In dimensioning insulation, electrical stresses and environmental conditions are considered. For the same conditions and stresses, these dimensions are the same. Clearance shortest distance in air between two conductive parts. Creepage distance shortest distance along the surface of the insulating material between two conductive parts.
BS EN 50124-1 guideline assists you with the basis for insulation coordination, requirements for clearances, dimensioning rules for clearances, dimensioning rules for creepage distances, tests, measurements, and specific requirements for applications in the railway field for clearances and creepage distances for all electrical and electronic equipment for railway applications.
With compliance and obedience to BS EN 50124-1, you can take safe Clearances and creepage distances for all electrical and electronic equipment. In addition, can minimize hazardous situations and ensure the safety of workers.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 50124-1:2017 supersedes EN 50124-1:2001, EN 50124-1:2001/A1:2003, and EN 50124-1:2001/A1:2005, which are withdrawn. BS EN 50124-1:2017 has made some technical changes compared to EN 50124-1:2001. These include:
- The scope has been enlarged to include altitudes higher than 2 000 m above sea level
- Related requirements have been included, especially new subclause 5.4, table a.9, and table a.10.