- Certified solutions within the Ultramid® and Ultradur® portfolio for safety-critical E&E applications in the railway industry
- Flame retardancy based on halogen‑free alternatives and high design freedom support standards‑compliant E&E components
Safety, fire protection, and reliability are key requirements in the railway industry - especially for electrical and electronic components. Numerous BASF Engineering Plastics grades meet the European railway standard EN 45545 and are certified accordingly. This enables manufacturers to reliably fulfill the stringent fire safety requirements in rail vehicle construction.
The EN 45545 standard aims to minimize the likelihood of fire ignition, slow down flame spread in the event of a fire, and limit the emission of smoke and toxic gases. This ensures that passengers and personnel have sufficient time to safely evacuate the vehicle even in extreme situations. Depending on the area of use and the specific application, different Hazard Levels (HL) are defined. BASF engineering plastics are qualified for relevant application groups such as R22, R24, R25, and R34.
The focus of BASF plastic solutions tested according to EN 45545 is clearly on applications for electrical and electronic components. Specially developed flame‑retardant systems of classes FR30, FR40, and FR72 - particularly relevant for the railway sector - are used, for example. The flame‑retardant systems are based on nitrogen/phosphorus intumescent systems as well as magnesium hydroxide as a halogen-free alternative. These flame retardants without intentional addition of chlorine and bromine also minimize the potential risk of secondary damage caused by corrosive smoke gases.
Another advantage for processors and OEMs is that EN 45545 certification is color‑independent. Once a material is certified, all color variants can be used without requiring additional approval. Different wall thicknesses are covered in the tests by defined minimum and maximum thicknesses, providing additional design freedom.
Currently, EN 45545 classification reports are available for numerous Ultramid® and Ultradur® grades from BASF. Depending on the required Hazard Level (HL 1 to HL 3), the area of use, and the application category (R1 to R26), the following grades meet the requirements of the European railway standard:
- Ultramid® A3UG5
- Ultramid® A3U40G5
- Ultramid® A3U42G6
- Ultramid® A3U32
- Ultramid® T6340G6
- Ultramid® B3UG4
- Ultramid® B3UGM210
- Ultramid® KR4450 GY
- Ultramid® B3U50G6
- Ultramid® C3U
- Ultramid® TKR4340G6
- Ultramid® Advanced N3U41G6
- Ultramid® Advanced N4U41
- Ultramid® Advanced T2340G6
- Ultradur® B4450G5
- Ultradur® B4441G5
With this broad portfolio, BASF supports rail vehicle manufacturers and system suppliers in implementing safe, high-performance, and standards-compliant plastic solutions for demanding railway applications.