NEWS
CENELEC published a new important standard for the railway community. EN 50388-2:2025 ‘Fixed installations and rolling stock for railway applications - Technical criteria for the coordination between electric traction power supply systems and rolling stock to achieve interoperability - Part 2: Stability and harmonics’ establishes the acceptance criteria, according to EN 50388-1:2022, for the compatibility between traction units and power supply for known phenomena and known technologies. The standard was developed by CLC/TC 9X ‘Electrical and electronic applications for railways’.
Screwed and bolted joints are often used to assemble safety-critical components on rail vehicles. The function of a bolted joint is to connect two or more parts in a sufficient and safe manner over the intended service life under the conditions of the railway environment. Bolted joints have huge implications for the safety of railway equipment: on the mechanical level, they are designed to transmit forces between the connected components without failure, separation or relative movement. On the electrical level, they are designed to ensure current transmission between electrical conductors safely and without separation or relative movement.
The EN 17988 series of European standards on the circular design of fishing gear and aquaculture equipment has officially been published, marking a significant milestone in promoting circularity within the fishing gear industry. Developed by CEN/TC 466, these standards provide a comprehensive framework to support circular design and life-cycle management of fishing gear and aquaculture equipment.
CEN/TC 133 'Copper and copper alloys' develops standards in the field of unwrought, wrought and cast products made from copper and copper alloys, and addresses topics such as designations, terms and definitions, material specifications, and testing methods.
Railway travel has long been celebrated for its efficiency and environmental benefits. Yet passenger experience, particularly ride comfort, remains a crucial aspect for improving rail systems. The European Standard EN 12299:2024, recently developed by CEN/TC 256, provides a groundbreaking methodology for evaluating and enhancing ride comfort in rail vehicles. This updated standard replaces the 2009 version, introducing advanced methods to ensure passenger comfort is measurable, repeatable, and aligned with modern rail technologies.
Last month, a critical update in the world of small craft safety was introduced with the release of EN ISO 15085:2024, focusing on preventing man-overboard accidents and providing solutions for reboarding. Developed by ISO/TC 188 ‘Small Craft’ mirrored at the European level by CEN/TC 464, this standard sets out detailed requirements to enhance the safety of small craft, providing a safer environment for users and reducing risks of falling in the water.
The need for clear, consistent terminology around assistance dogs has become more critical than ever, especially as individuals with disabilities rely on these essential companions for independence and support in a variety of settings.
A new standard was recently published about the minimum safety characteristics for powered inflatable boats and rigid inflatable boats. The goal is to have increased safety for the different design categories of recreational crafts.
The EN ISO 18113 series outlines key requirements that manufacturers must provide for information accompanying in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical devices, including the product label and instructions for use. It encompasses various aspects of IVD medical devices, with specific parts in the standard series dedicated to reagents and instruments intended to meet the specific needs of both professional and self-testing users.
Data is the backbone of the digital economy: it enables economic growth and competitiveness, fosters innovation, improves public services, and advances scientific research.