UNE-EN 50121-1-2017 PDF

Full title and description

STB UNE-EN 50121-1:2017 — Railway applications — Electromagnetic compatibility — Part 1: General. This part defines the framework, overall performance criteria and the management requirements for the EN 50121 series on railway electromagnetic compatibility (EMC); it sets the structure and content of the full set of EN 50121 parts and provides informative guidance on railway-system characteristics that affect EMC behaviour.

Abstract

This standard outlines the structure and content of the EN 50121 series and specifies performance criteria applicable across the series, including EMC management requirements. Annex A (informative) describes railway-system characteristics relevant to EMC. The part does not by itself give presumption of conformity with the EMC Directive and excludes phenomena such as nuclear EMP, abnormal (fault) operating conditions and direct‑lightning‑strike induction effects. Safety and biological effects (e.g., pacemakers) are not covered.

General information

• Status: Current / active (confirmed national adoption status; EN 50121-1:2017 is the operative edition replacing the 2015 edition).
• Publication date: UNE adoption: 31 May 2017 (UNE‑EN 50121‑1:2017); original EN publication early 2017 (EN 50121‑1:2017).
• Publisher: Asociación Española de Normalización (AENOR) — national adoption as UNE‑EN; original European publisher: CENELEC / European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization.
• ICS / categories: 29.280 (Electric traction equipment); 33.100.01 (Electromagnetic compatibility in general); 45.020 (Railway engineering in general).
• Edition / version: 2017 edition (UNE‑EN 50121‑1:2017) — supersedes EN/UNE EN 50121‑1:2015.
• Number of pages: National/format-dependent (commonly listed as 16–18 pages for UNE/EN publications; UNE listings typically show 16 (English) / 18 (Spanish) pages).

Scope

Part 1 provides the framework for the EN 50121 family and specifies the performance criteria and EMC management measures that apply to the whole series. It applies to railway systems and equipment in the frequency range covered by the set (DC up to hundreds of GHz where applicable) and is intended to be used together with the other parts of EN 50121 that address system emission to the outside world, rolling stock, apparatus, signalling and power-supply installations. Certain phenomena (nuclear EMP, abnormal fault conditions, direct lightning‑strike induction) and safety/medical biological effects are excluded.

Key topics and requirements

• Framework and structure for the EN 50121 series and definition of how the parts interrelate.
• Performance criteria for EMC across the railway environment (emission and immunity principles and assessment levels).
• EMC management requirements (organisation, responsibilities, documentation and evidence needed for EMC assurance in railway projects).
• Informative Annex A describing railway‑system characteristics that affect EMC behaviour and guidance on how to apply the series.
• Clear exclusions and limits of applicability (safety requirements, biological effects, nuclear EMP, certain fault and lightning induction conditions).
• Compatibility with related product/equipment EMC standards and the EMC Directive (used together with other EN 50121 parts for conformity assessment).

Typical use and users

Used by railway system engineers, infrastructure owners, rolling‑stock and component manufacturers, signalling and telecommunications designers, power‑supply designers, test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies to define EMC requirements, perform EMC management and ensure interoperability between railway subsystems. Also used by project managers and procurement teams to specify EMC obligations in contracts and technical specifications.

Related standards

Part 1 is the generic framework for the EN 50121 series. The related parts include (but are not limited to): EN 50121‑2 (emission of the whole railway system to the outside world), EN 50121‑3‑1 (rolling stock — train and complete vehicle), EN 50121‑3‑2 (rolling stock — apparatus), EN 50121‑4 (signalling and telecommunications apparatus), and EN 50121‑5 (fixed power supply installations and apparatus). Part 1 supersedes the 2015 edition of EN 50121‑1.

Keywords

EMC, electromagnetic compatibility, railway, rolling stock, emission, immunity, EN 50121, UNE‑EN, AENOR, CENELEC, EMC management, rail infrastructure.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: EN/UNE‑EN 50121‑1:2017 is the generic part of the EN 50121 series that sets the framework, performance criteria and EMC management requirements for railway applications. It establishes how the other parts in the series are structured and applied.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the overall EMC framework for railway systems, defines performance criteria for emission and immunity, outlines EMC management responsibilities and provides an informative annex on railway‑system characteristics that influence EMC. It excludes certain phenomena (nuclear EMP, abnormal fault conditions, direct lightning‑strike induction) and does not address safety or biological effects.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Railway designers and integrators, rolling‑stock and component manufacturers, signalling and telecoms engineers, infrastructure owners, test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies—any stakeholder responsible for specifying, verifying or assuring EMC in railway projects.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2017 edition (UNE‑EN 50121‑1:2017) is the current operative edition that superseded the 2015 edition; national confirmations and adoptions have been recorded (confirmation actions noted in national catalogs). Users should check national standards bodies for any later revisions or draft updates that may affect national implementation.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — EN 50121 is a multi‑part European standard for railway EMC. Part 1 is the general/framework document and must be used in conjunction with the other EN 50121 parts (system emission, rolling stock, apparatus, signalling, power supply).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: EMC; electromagnetic compatibility; railway; emission; immunity; rolling stock; signalling; infrastructure; EMC management; EN 50121.