What is BS EN 15152 about?
BS EN 15152 is a European standard on railway vehicle providing information on windscreens of trains.
BS EN 15152 specifies the functional requirements for rail vehicle windscreens, including type testing, routine testing and inspection methods for high-speed rail, heavy rail, light rail and metro applications.
BS EN 15152 is also applicable for tram vehicles.
For on-track machines (OTMs) when in transport mode (self-propelled or hauled) the requirements of BS EN 15152 are applicable.
BS EN 15152 applies to windscreens made of laminated glass, which is the most commonly used material but also to other materials, subject to the performance requirements being satisfied.
NOTE 1: BS EN 15152 does not specify requirements for the interfaces between the windscreen and the vehicle and does not address issues relating to: installation, structural integrity and crashworthiness.
NOTE 2: Determination of the size, shape, orientation and position of windscreens is not mentioned in BS EN 15152. These data form part of the windscreen technical specification.
Who is BS EN 15152 for?
BS EN 15152 on windscreens for trains is useful for:
- Railway engineer
- Railway operator
- Manufacturers of windscreens for trains
- Manufacturers of glass used for windscreens
Why should you use BS EN 15152?
Windscreens are positioned to allow observation of the track and signals ahead of a vehicle. BS EN 15152 provides the classifications of windscreens which includes driver's windscreens and passenger windscreens and determination of windscreen angles.
Visual and optical requirements of windscreens are given in BS EN 15152 providing procedure for appearance defects.
Also providing requirements on the Mechanical characteristics of windscreens for trains including impact resistance test, residual visibility test, resistance against abrasion, resistance to repeated impact from small particles, and bullet resistance tests.
BS EN 15152 provides the methods to check the performance of windscreens when in service that includes heating systems, and resistance against ageing.
Overall, BS EN 15152 let you design and manufacture windscreens for trains that must incorporate a high level of transparency and heat and shock resistance in high speeds ensuring safety of driver as well as passengers.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 15152:2019 supersedes EN 15152:2007. BS EN 15152:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to EN 15152:2007.
These include:
- Introduction of urban rail requirements, requirements for high-speed trains and for certain types of OTMs
- The normative references have been updated
- Creation of new definitions for different types of windscreens and glazing (e.g., lateral windscreens, passenger windscreens, etc.)
- The notion of negligible, minor and major defects has been replaced by the number of acceptable defects on a given surface of the windscreen
- Editorial rearrangement of the sub clause and introduction of more precise test methods.

