EN 15551:2017

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2017
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 15551:2009+A1:2010
Železniške naprave - Železniška vozila - Odbojniki
Railway applications - Railway rolling stock - Buffers
Bahnanwendungen - Schienenfahrzeuge - Puffer
Applications ferroviaires - Matériel roulant ferroviaire - Tampons
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 15551:2017
ICS:
45.060.01 Železniška vozila na splošno Railway rolling stock in
general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 15551
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
January 2017
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 45.060.01 Supersedes EN 15551:2009+A1:2010
English Version
Railway applications - Railway rolling stock - Buffers
Applications ferroviaires - Matériel roulant ferroviaire Bahnanwendungen - Schienenfahrzeuge - Puffer
- Tampons
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 24 September 2016.

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, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, 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: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2017 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 15551:2017 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 7
Introduction . 9
1 Scope . 10
2 Normative references . 10
3 Terms and definitions . 11
4 Classification and designation . 14
4.1 General . 14
4.2 Buffers with buffer stroke 105 mm (Categories A, B and C) . 14
4.3 Buffers with buffer stroke 110 mm . 14
4.4 Long stroke buffer 150 mm . 14
4.5 Crashworthy Buffers . 15
4.6 Interaction coupling/buffer . 15
5 Requirements . 15
5.1 General . 15
5.2 Fixing on vehicle and interchangeability . 17
5.3 Buffer dimensions . 18
5.4 Mechanical characteristics of buffers . 19
5.5 Elastic systems . 20
5.5.1 Types of elastic systems . 20
5.5.2 Static characteristics . 21
5.5.3 Dynamic characteristics . 22
5.5.4 Type testing . 22
5.6 Marking . 22
6 Housing . 24
6.1 Plunger and base . 24
6.2 Buffer head . 24
6.2.1 Materials . 24
6.2.2 Boundary dimensions . 24
6.2.3 Standard dimensions of buffer head . 25
6.3 Type and series tests . 26
7 Crashworthy buffers . 28
7.1 On wagons . 28
7.2 On other vehicles . 28
Annex A (normative) Maximum space envelope of buffer . 29
A.1 Requirements for space envelope of buffer . 29
A.1.1 Buffers for freight wagons . 29
A.1.2 Buffers for coaches . 32
A.2 Notes on the definition of envelopes for overall dimensions of Buffers for freight
wagons . 33
A.2.1 General . 33
A.2.2 Study relating to definition of the envelope . 34
Annex B (normative) Mechanical characteristics of buffers – Test methods . 36
B.1 General . 36
B.2 Test methodology . 36
B.2.1 General . 36
B.2.2 Force F1 . 37
B.2.3 Force F2 . 37
B.2.4 Force F3 . 37
B.2.5 Force F4 . 37
B.2.6 Force F5 . 37
B.2.7 Force F6 . 38
B.3 Test documentation . 38
Annex C (normative) Requirements for elastic systems . 40
C.1 Rubber elastomer or other elastomer elastic systems . 40
C.1.1 General . 40
C.1.2 Metal inserts . 40
C.1.3 Constituents of rubber elastomer and/or other elastomer systems . 40
C.1.4 Static characteristics of the sets . 42
C.1.5 Dynamic characteristics of the sets. 42
C.1.6 Bonding . 42
C.1.7 Marking . 42
C.1.8 Inspection and tests . 42
C.2 Friction spring/ring spring . 44
C.2.1 Manufacturer's marks . 44
C.2.2 Flexibility test . 44
C.2.3 Endurance test . 45
C.2.4 Static characteristics for friction spring/ring spring . 45
C.2.5 Dynamic characteristics for friction spring/ring spring . 45
C.3 Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic systems . 45
C.3.1 General . 45
C.3.2 Absorbing energy medium . 46
C.3.3 Static tests of capsules . 46
C.4 Combined elastic systems . 46
Annex D (normative) Testing of static characteristics of buffers . 47
D.1 Test principle . 47
D.2 Test procedure . 47
D.3 Measurements . 47
Annex E (normative) Dynamic testing . 48
E.1 Dynamic testing of buffer . 48
E.1.1 General . 48
E.1.2 Temperature effects . 50
E.2 Dynamic characteristics of 105 mm stroke buffer . 50
E.2.1 Test programme . 50
E.2.2 Category A . 52
E.2.3 Category B . 52
E.2.4 Category C . 53
E.2.5 Comments on the test conditions . 53
E.3 Dynamic characteristics of 150 mm stroke buffer . 53
E.3.1 General . 53
E.3.2 Comments on test conditions . 54
E.4 Dynamic characteristics of 110 mm stroke buffer . 55
Annex F (normative) Endurance testing under service load for elastic system . 56
F.1 Aim of the test . 56
F.2 Test principle . 56
F.3 Test results to be obtained . 56
F.4 Test procedure . 57
F.4.1 Endurance test assembly . 57
F.4.2 Preliminary static test . 57
F.4.3 Endurance test . 58
F.4.4 Final static test . 58
Annex G (normative) Endurance testing under buffing load for life-cycle simulation . 59
G.1 Endurance tests for elastic systems for wagons . 59
G.1.1 Aim of the test . 59
G.1.2 Test principle . 59
G.1.3 Test results to be obtained . 59
G.1.4 Test procedure . 59
G.1.5 Delivery of elastic systems . 61
G.2 Endurance tests for elastic systems for coaches . 62
G.2.1 General . 62
G.2.2 Tests under alternating loads . 62
G.2.3 Repeated buffing tests . 63
G.2.4 Conditions to be observed . 63
Annex H (informative) Guidelines for buffer head materials . 64
H.1 Example of test program requirements for verification of buffer head materials . 64
H.2 Buffer head materials . 65
Annex I (normative) Calculation of the width of buffer heads . 67
I.1 General . 67
I.1.1 Introduction . 67
I.1.2 Comments on the preparation of the formulae in this annex . 67
I.1.3 Track . 67
I.1.4 Vehicle . 67
I.2 Data used in the calculation . 68
I.3 Calculation . 68
Annex J (normative) Crashworthy buffers for tank wagons . 72
J.1 Requirements on crashworthy buffers . 72
J.1.1 Objectives . 72
J.1.2 Additional requirements . 72
J.2 Test procedure for crashworthy buffers . 72
Annex K (normative) Maximum space envelope of crashworthy buffers. 74
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential
Requirements of EU Directive 2008/57/EC . 77
Bibliography . 80
Figures
Figure 1 — Force-stroke diagram for stored and absorbed energy . 13
Figure 2 — Mounting of buffers with non-metallic insert or head (top view for freight
wagons) . 17
Figure 3 — Fixing dimensions of 105 mm and 150 mm stroke buffers for interchangeability . 18
Figure 4 — Points of application of forces . 20
Figure 5 — Location of the mark . 22
Figure 6 — Marking . 23
Figure 7 — Boundary dimensions and minimum surface of buffer heads. 25
Figure A.1 — Dimension of the maximum space envelope of buffer – Side view . 29
Figure A.2 — Cross section A – A. 30
Figure A.3 — Cross section B – B. 30
Figure A.4 — Cross section C – C . 30
Figure A.5 — Cross section D – D . 31
Figure A.6 — Cross section E – E . 31
Figure A.7 — Cross section F – F . 32
Figure A.8 — Dimension of the buffer: Cross sections G – G, H – H, K – K and L – L . 32
Figure A.9 — Dimension of the maximum space envelope of buffer for coaches – Side view . 33
Figure B.1 — Location of measurement . 36
Figure B.2 — Tool for application of force F3 . 37
Figure F.1 — Definition of heights . 56
Figure F.2 — Representation of the stored energy . 57
Figure F.3 — Endurance test under service load . 58
Figure G.1 — Determination of the buffer strokes for endurance test . 60
Figure I.1 — The position of the bogie vehicles in the track . 70
Figure I.2 — The position of the other vehicles (non bogie vehicles) in the track . 71
Figure K.1 — Dimension of the maximum space of the buffer . 74
Figure K.2 — Cross section A – A . 75
Figure K.3 — Cross section B – B . 75
Figure K.4 — Cross section C – C . 75
Figure K.5 — Cross section D – D . 76
Figure K.6 — Dimension of the buffer: Cross section E – E, F – F, G – G and H – H . 76
Tables
Table 1 — Buffer stroke 105 mm . 14
Table 2 — Testing on buffers or their components . 16
Table 3 — Buffer dimensional characteristics . 18
Table 4 — Proof loads for buffers . 19
Table 5 — Static characteristics . 21
Table 6 — Standard widths of buffer heads . 26
Table 7 — Type and series tests . 27
Table B.1 — Measurement protocol (example) . 39
Table C.1 — Characteristics of the constituents . 40
Table C.2 — Nature of inspections and tests . 43
Table C.3 — Number of flexibility tests per batch of springs . 45
Table C.4 — Characteristics of absorbing energy medium . 46
Table E.1 — Standard high-sided open wagon . 48
Table E.2 — Characteristics and requirements with regard to both the test set-up and
measuring and technical assessment . 49
Table E.3 — Wagons – Buffers with a stroke of 105 mm, Definition of dynamic tests . 51
Table E.4 — Definition of dynamic tests . 54
Table E.5 — Dynamic characteristics of 110 mm stroke buffers . 55
Table G.1 — Hydrodynamic buffers . 62
Table G.2 — Hydrostatic buffers . 62
Table H.1 — Verification of buffer head materials . 64
Table H.2 — List of selection of existing buffer head materials . 66
Table I.1 — Vehicle specification and valid methodology . 69
Table ZA.1 — Correspondence between this European Standard, the Commission
Regulation concerning the technical specification for interoperability relating to the
subsystem ‘rolling stock – freight wagons’ of the rail system in the European Union
and repealing Commission Decision 2006/861/EC, as amended by Commission
Regulation (EU) 2015/924 (published in the Official Journal L 150, 17.06.2015,
p.10); and Directive 2008/57/EC . 78
Table ZA.2 — Correspondence between this European Standard, the Commission regulation
(EU) No 1302/2014 of 18 November 2014 concerning the technical specification for
interoperability relating to the ‘rolling stock locomotives and passenger rolling
stock’ of the rail system in the European Union (published in the Official Journal L
356, 12.12.2014, p.228) and Directive 2008/57/EC . 79

European foreword
This document (EN 15551:2017) 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 July 2017 and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by July 2017.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
This document supersedes EN 15551:2009+A1:2010.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive 2008/57/EC.
For relationship with EU Directive 2008/57/EC, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of
this document.
NOTE After the publication of EN 16839, Railway applications — Rolling stock — Head stock layout, as a
European Standard, the overlapping content and all items not pertinent to the product "Buffer" will be removed
from this document.
Compared with EN 15551:2009+A1:2010, the following main changes have been done:
a) the “Introduction” was checked upon and revised;
b) Clause 1 “Scope” was revised;
c) Clause 2 “Normative references” as well the final “Bibliography” were checked upon and revised;
d) Clause 3 was modified:
1) damping (3.11) was deleted and the calculation of damping in 3.8;
2) definitions of stored energy and absorbed energy for static and dynamic condition were added
as 3.12 to 3.15;
3) the term “technical specification” was added as 3.16;
e) the term “elastic device” was replaced by “elastic system”;
f) the classification of crashworthy buffers was added as new Subclause 4.5;
g) tests for type tests and series tests were defined in the new Table 2 and modified in Table 7;
h) the static requirements in Table 5 have been changed;
i) Table C.2 "Nature of inspection and tests" was revised;
j) for friction and ring springs the two Subclauses C.2.4 "Static characteristics" and C.2.5 "Dynamic
characteristics" were added;
k) Annex E was revised with the specification of the high sided test wagons;
l) Table H.1 was revised and new materials were added;
m) Annex I was modified to be analogous to prEN 16839 (this annex will be deleted after EN 16839 is
published);
n) in Annex J, the test for crashworthy buffers was modified;
o) the following figures were modified:
1) Figure 1 — Force-stroke diagram for stored and absorbed energy;
2) Figure 2 — Mounting of buffers with non metallic inserts or heads;
3) Figure 6 — Marking;
4) Figure 7 — Boundary dimensions and minimum surface of buffer heads;
5) Figure A.1 — Dimension of the maximum space envelope of buffer – Side view;
6) Figure B.1 — Location of measurement;
7) Figure K.1 — Dimension of the maximum space of the buffer;
p) editorial modifications were carried out.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Introduction
This European Standard is based on UIC 526-1, UIC 526-3, UIC 527-1, UIC 528, UIC 573, UIC 827-1 and
UIC 827-2.
1 Scope
This European Standard defines the requirements for buffers with 105 mm, 110 mm and 150 mm
stroke for vehicles or units which use buffers and screw coupling. It covers the functionality, interfaces
and testing procedures, including pass fail criteria, for buffers.
NOTE 1 Typically, buffers with a stroke of 105 mm are used on freight wagons and locomotives, buffers with a
stroke of 110 mm are used on coaches and locomotives and buffers with a stroke of 150 mm are used on freight
wagons.
It defines the different categories of buffers, the space envelope, static and dynamic characteristics and
energy absorption.
It includes a calculation method to determine the minimum size of the buffer head to avoid override
between buffers.
It defines the static and dynamic characteristics of the elastic systems.
It also defines the requirements for buffers with integrated crash elements (crashworthy buffers) for
tank wagons for dangerous goods.
The requirements of this European Standard also apply to buffers of locomotives and passenger
coaches which need to meet the crashworthiness requirements of EN 15227 for normal service only.
The properties for the energy absorbing function are defined in EN 15227 and the requirements
specified in Clause 7 for tank wagons for dangerous goods are not applicable to the buffers of these
locomotives and passenger coaches.
Diagonal buffers are excluded from this European Standard.
For the crashworthy buffers of locomotives, cab cars or passenger coaches according to EN 15227, and
tank wagons for dangerous goods or buffers which form part of a combined system consisting of a
special buffer and a deformation element, interchangeability with freight wagon buffers is not required,
and therefore the requirements of 5.2 (Fixing on vehicle and interchangeability), 5.3 (Buffer
dimensions) do not apply, those of 5.4 (Mechanical characteristics of buffers) and 5.6 (Marking) apply
with restrictions.
NOTE 2 For tank wagon subjected to dangerous goods regulation, see [35].
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1370, Founding — Examination of surface condition
EN 10025-2, Hot rolled products of structural steels — Part 2: Technical delivery conditions for non-alloy
structural steels
EN 10168, Steel products — Inspection documents — List of information and description
EN 10204, Metallic products — Types of inspection documents
EN 10243-1, Steel die forgings — Tolerances on dimensions — Part 1: Drop and vertical press forgings
EN 12663 (all parts), Railway applications — Structural requirements of railway vehicle bodies
EN 15227, Railway applications — Crashworthiness requirements for railway vehicle bodies
EN ISO 148-1, Metallic materials — Charpy pendulum impact test — Part 1: Test method (ISO 148-1)
EN ISO 148-2, Metallic materials — Charpy pendulum impact test — Part 2: Verification of testing
machines (ISO 148-2)
EN ISO 148-3, Metallic materials — Charpy pendulum impact test — Part 3: Preparation and
characterization of Charpy V-notch test pieces for indirect verification of pendulum impact machines (ISO
148-3)
EN ISO 868, Plastics and ebonite — Determination of indentation hardness by means of a durometer
(Shore hardness) (ISO 868)
EN ISO 6507-1, Metallic materials — Vickers hardness test — Part 1: Test method (ISO 6507-1)
EN ISO 6507-2, Metallic materials — Vickers hardness test — Part 2: Verification and calibration of
testing machines (ISO 6507-2)
EN ISO 6507-3, Metallic materials — Vickers hardness test — Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks (ISO
6507-3)
EN ISO 6507-4, Metallic materials — Vickers hardness test — Part 4: Tables and hardness values (ISO
6507-4)
EN ISO 6892-1, Metallic materials — Tensile testing — Part 1: Method of test at room temperature (ISO
6892-1)
EN ISO 11469, Plastics — Generic identification and marking of plastics products (ISO 11469)
ISO 37, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of tensile stress-strain properties
ISO 48, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of hardness (hardness between 10 IRHD
and 100 IRHD)
ISO 188, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Accelerated ageing and heat resistance tests
ISO 815-1, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of compression set — Part 1: At ambient
or elevated temperatures
ISO 815-2, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of compression set — Part 2: At low
temperatures
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
buffer
absorber device of compressible type, comprising a housing and an elastic system, fitted at each side of
the end of vehicles which need to be in contact with other rolling stock
Note 1 to entry: For this European Standard, buffer means side buffer.
3.2
housing
assembly consisting of a plunger, a buffer base and an anti-rotation device but without elastic system
Note 1 to entry: Casing or body are other words for housing, but only housing is used in this European
Standard.
3.3
plunger
movable part of the housing consisting of a sliding and guiding tube and an active face named buffer
head
3.4
base
part of the housing fixed to the rolling stock headstock
Note 1 to entry: The base consists of a guiding tube and a supporting plate (flange).
3.5
anti-rotation device
device preventing the rotation of the plunger around the longitudinal axis of the buffer
3.6
batch
group of component parts of the same type, originating from the same melt of raw material and having
undergone the same process of manufacturing
3.7
elastic system
system that allows the reversible deflection of the plunger and absorbing energy during buffing or
running operation
Note 1 to entry: Spring system is another common word for elastic system.
3.8
stroke
deflection of the buffer in the operating range of the elastic system
Note 1 to entry: For the purpose of this document, the plastic deformation of crashworthy buffers is not
included in the stroke.
3.9
stored energy
W
e
energy (W ) stored by a buffer for a given stroke
e
Note 1 to entry: The stored energy is represented, on the force-stroke diagram, by the hatched area lying
between the compressive curve, the axis of the abscissa and the straight line, perpendicular to the axis,
corresponding to the stroke under consideration, see Figure 1 a).
3.10
absorbed energy
W
a
energy (W ) absorbed by a buffer for a given stroke
a
Note 1 to entry: The absorbed energy is represented, on the force-stroke diagram, by the hatched area lying
between the compressive curve and the return curve, see Figure 1 b).

a) b)
Key
1 force in kN
2 stroke in mm
stored energy W in kJ
e
absorbed energy W in kJ
a
Figure 1 — Force-stroke diagram for stored and absorbed energy
Note 2 for entry: Damping is a ratio of absorbed energy divided by stored energy and it is calculated using the
following formula:
W
a
d ⋅100 %
%
W
e
where
d is the damping, in %.
%
3.11
crashworthy buffer
buffer with an additional function to allow plastic deformation to absorb a specified energy due to
abnormal impacts
3.12
static stored energy
W
es
stored energy during a static test
=
3.13
dynamic stored energy
W
ed
stored energy during a dynamic test
3.14
static absorbed energy
W
as
absorbed energy during a static test
3.15
dynamic absorbed energy
W
ad
absorbed energy during a dynamic test
3.16
technical specification
document describing specific parameters and/or product requirements as an addition to the
requirements of this standard
4 Classification and designation
4.1 General
Buffers are classified according to their stroke and their dynamic en
...