What is ISO 12856‑1 - Polymeric railway sleeper characteristics about?
Polymer sleepers combine the best characteristics of timber and concrete – the lower rigidity of timber and the lifespan of concrete.
ISO 12856‑1 is an International Standard that discusses railway applications in terms of polymeric composite sleepers, bearers, and transoms.
ISO 12856‑1 is the first part of the ISO 12856 multi-series, and specifies the characteristics of polymeric composite and reinforced polymeric composite materials in the manufacture of polymeric composite railway sleepers.
ISO 12856‑1 is applicable to sleepers, bearers, and transoms to be installed in all tracks (both heavy and urban rail) with or without ballast.
In ISO 12856‑1, the term “sleeper” refers to “sleeper, bearer, and transom”.
Who is ISO 12856‑1 - Polymeric railway sleeper characteristics for?
ISO 12856‑1 on polymeric railway sleeper characteristics is useful for:
- Relevant railway authorities / Train operating companies (TOCs)
- Owners and managers of the rail transport networks
- Manufacturers and suppliers of rail components
- Manufacturers of polymeric composite railway sleepers
- Product design engineers
- Contractors / welders / welding supervisors
- Infrastructure managers
- Project managers
- Railway engineers
- Quality control and testing authorities
- Railway infrastructure regulatory bodies
Why should you use ISO 12856‑1 - Polymeric railway sleeper characteristics?
Newer materials in railway applications can improve performance and longevity.
ISO 12856‑1 is useful in the manufacture of polymeric composite sleepers, bearers, and transoms with the capacity to resist the bending of the ballasted track. ISO 12856-1 guidelines help in determining the thermal expansion coefficient of the sleeper, bearer, or transom.
The permanent deformation of the screw is used in fastening the system elements that are embedded or fixed into the sleeper, bearer, or transom. ISO 12856‑1 is useful in evaluating the ignitability of the sleepers, bearers, and transoms by conducting fire tests.
ISO 12856‑1 walks you through aspect of the material such as environmental resistance, resistance to water, and environmental compatibility of material characteristics.
ISO 12856‑1 specifies the test methods and test procedures for conducting the test that determines the performance of polymeric composite sleepers, bearers and transoms. ISO 12856‑1 contributes towards getting passengers and goods safely to their destinations.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS ISO 12856‑1:2022 supersedes BS ISO 12856‑1:2014, which is withdrawn. BS ISO 12856‑1:2022 includes the following change with respect to BS ISO 12856‑1:2014:
- ISO 12856‑1 has been updated in accordance with the addition of the new ISO 12856‑2 (product testing) and ISO 12856‑3 (general requirements)
