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AS 7708:2017

S i g n a l l i n g E a r t h i n g a n d S u r g e

P r o t e c t i o n

Train Control Systems Standard

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AS 7708:2017

Signalling Earthing and Surge Protection

RISSB ABN 58 105 001 465 Page 1 Accredited Standards Development Organisation

This Australian Standard® AS 7708 Signalling Earthing and Surge Protection was prepared by a Rail Industry Safety

and Standards Board (RISSB) Development Group consisting of representatives from the following organisations:

Queensland Rail Transport for NSW Dehn

Erico Novaris Siemans

Pivot Electronics

The Standard was approved by the Development Group and the Train Control Systems Standing Committee in May,

2017. On June 22, 2017 the RISSB Board approved the Standard for release.

This standard was issued for public consultation and was independently validated before being approved.

Development of the Standard was undertaken in accordance with RISSB’s accredited process. As part of the

approval process, the Standing Committee verified that proper process was followed in developing the Standard.

RISSB wishes to acknowledge the positive contribution of subject matter experts in the development of this Standard.

Their efforts ranged from membership of the Development Group through to individuals providing comment on a draft

of the Standard during the open review.

I commend this Standard to the Australasian rail industry as it represents industry good practice and has been

developed through a rigorous process.

Paul Daly

Chief Executive Officer

Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board

Keeping Standards up-to-date

Australian Standards developed by RISSB are living documents that reflect progress in science, technology and

systems. To maintain their currency, Australian Standards developed by RISSB are periodically reviewed, and new

editions published when required. Between editions, amendments may be issued. Australian Standards developed

by RISSB may also be withdrawn.

It is important that readers assure themselves they are using a current Australian Standard developed by RISSB,

which should include any amendments that may have been issued since the Standard was published. Information

about Australian Standards developed by RISSB, including amendments, can be found by visiting www.rissb.com.au.

RISSB welcomes suggestions for improvements, and asks readers to notify us immediately of any apparent

inaccuracies or ambiguities. Members are encouraged to use the change request feature of the RISSB website at:

http://www.rissb.com.au/products/. Otherwise, please contact us via email at [email protected] or write to Rail

Industry Safety and Standards Board, PO Box 4271, Kingston ACT 2604, Australia.

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AS 7708:2017



AS 7708:2017


Document details

First published as: AS 7708:2017

ISBN 978-1-76035-803-7

Published by SAI Global Limited under licence from the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board,

PO Box 4271, Kingston ACT 2604, Australia

Copyright

© RISSB

All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or

mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of RISSB, unless otherwise permitted under the

Copyright Act 1968.

Notice to users

This RISSB product has been developed using input from rail experts from across the rail industry and represents

good practice for the industry. The reliance upon or manner of use of this RISSB product is the sole responsibility of

the user who is to assess whether it meets their organisation’s operational environment and risk profile. Signall

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AS 7708:2017



Document control

Document identification

Designation / Title

AS 7708:2017 Signalling Earthing and Surge Protection

Document history

Publication Version Effective Date Reason for and Extent of Change(s)

2017 June 22, 2017 First Published

Approval

Name Date

Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board 22/06/2017

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AS 7708:2017



Contents

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6

1.1 Purpose .......................................................................................................... 6

1.2 Scope ............................................................................................................. 6

1.3 Compliance ..................................................................................................... 7

1.4 Referenced documents ................................................................................... 8

1.4.1 Normative references ...................................................................................... 8

1.4.2 Informative references .................................................................................... 8

1.4.3 Definitions ....................................................................................................... 9

1.4.4 Abbreviations ................................................................................................ 11

2 General ...................................................................................................................... 12

2.1 Principles ...................................................................................................... 12

2.2 Safety ........................................................................................................... 12

2.2.1 Functional safety ........................................................................................... 12

2.2.2 Legislation .................................................................................................... 12

2.3 Competency requirements ............................................................................ 12

2.4 Change management ................................................................................... 12

2.5 Interface co-ordination .................................................................................. 12

2.6 Documentation and record management ...................................................... 13

2.6.1 Quality assurance ......................................................................................... 13

2.6.2 Quality assurance documentation ................................................................. 13

2.7 Verification and validation ............................................................................. 13

2.8 Risk management ......................................................................................... 13

2.9 Environmental conditions .............................................................................. 13

2.10 Design life ..................................................................................................... 13

3 Design and development ............................................................................................ 13

3.1 Design inputs ................................................................................................ 13

3.2 Design management plan ............................................................................. 14

3.3 Reliability Availability and Maintainability (RAM) ........................................... 14

3.3.1 Installation design ......................................................................................... 14

3.4 Cables .......................................................................................................... 15

3.5 Safety in design ............................................................................................ 15

3.6 Surge protection design requirements........................................................... 15

3.6.1 SPD selection ............................................................................................... 17

3.7 Earthing arrangement ................................................................................... 19

3.7.1 AC Traction railway earthing arrangement .................................................... 19

3.7.2 DC traction railway earthing arrangement ..................................................... 20

3.7.3 Non-electrified railway earthing arrangement ................................................ 21

3.7.4 Earth system ................................................................................................. 22

3.7.5 Adjacent structures ....................................................................................... 22

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AS 7708:2017



3.8 Test points .................................................................................................... 23

3.9 Earth leakage detector .................................................................................. 23

3.10 Documentation of earth wires ....................................................................... 24

3.11 Records and documentation ......................................................................... 24

4 Construction and implementation ............................................................................... 24

4.1 Detailed requirements ................................................................................... 24

4.2 Factors to be considered............................................................................... 24

4.2.1 Safety integrity of inter-connections .............................................................. 24

4.2.2 Interface co-ordination .................................................................................. 25

4.2.3 Signalling system availability risk and possible solution ................................ 25

4.2.4 Accessibility and maintainability .................................................................... 25

4.2.5 Wiring separation and cable routing .............................................................. 25

4.2.6 Labelling ....................................................................................................... 27

5 Testing and commissioning ........................................................................................ 27

5.1 General ......................................................................................................... 27

5.2 Inspection and test plans .............................................................................. 27

5.2.1 Earth system resistance testing .................................................................... 28

5.2.2 Testing of safety integrity of inter-connections .............................................. 28

5.2.3 System availability risk and management ..................................................... 28

5.3 Testing documentation .................................................................................. 28

6 Monitoring and maintenance ...................................................................................... 28

6.1 Maintainability ............................................................................................... 28

6.1.1 Periodic examination ..................................................................................... 28

6.1.2 Performance monitoring ................................................................................ 29

6.1.3 Corrective maintenance ................................................................................ 29

7 Modification ................................................................................................................ 29

7.1 Risk management ......................................................................................... 29

7.2 Configuration management ........................................................................... 29

8 Decommissioning and Disposal .................................................................................. 30

8.1 General ......................................................................................................... 30

8.2 Decommissioning.......................................................................................... 30

8.3 Recovery ...................................................................................................... 30

Appendix Contents

Appendix A Hazard List ................................................................................................... 32

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1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose

This Standard describes a set of requirements for the nomenclature, design and development,

construction and implementation, testing and commissioning, monitoring and maintenance,

modification, decommissioning and disposal of Signalling earthing and surge protection in

Australia.

The main purpose of the requirements are to –

(a) provide a uniform basis to address all identified hazards associated with

lightning and electrical surges in railway signalling equipment and railway

signalling telecommunications equipment;

(b) clearly and accurately describe each of the essential requirements (functions,

design considerations and constraints, performance, maintainability,

monitoring and safety) of signalling earthing and surge protection devices for

railway application, and

(c) promote a consistent or uniform treatment of signalling earthing and surge

protection methods across the Australian railway networks.

1.2 Scope

This Standard provides a whole-of-life cycle approach to safety application of signalling earthing

and surge protection devices. It covers the general management requirements, design and

development, construction and implementation, testing and commissioning, monitoring and

maintenance, modification, decommissioning, recovery and disposal of signalling earthing and

surge protection devices in Australian rail networks.

The following are covered under this Standard for signalling installations:

(a) Lightning surges.

(b) Traction surges.

(c) Power surges.

(d) Earth potential rise from power system faults and cloud-to-ground lightning

flashes.

(e) Worker safety risk.

(f) Signalling system availability risk and possible solutions.

(g) Signalling computer and data communications system interfaces.

(h) Standard requirements for products being protected.

(i) Signalling earthing requirements.

(j) Coordination between earthing systems and traction

(k) Earth wiring within location / earth impedance.

(l) Protection within the electric traction drop zone.

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