With roads becoming more congested and the demand for more efficient environmentally-friendly cars growing by the day, it is little wonder that the volume of passenger journeys on the UK’s railways is soaring. It reached a record high of 1.7 billion in 2016-17.
With train travel increasingly prevalent, passenger safety is paramount and tape manufacturer tesa is taking safety guidelines seriously by meeting the requirements of rail vehicle manufacturers and the drive to ensure care-free train journeys. With a range of adhesive tapes used in components that provide travel comfort such as the seats, wall claddings, and displays, the company has invested heavily in testing and developing fire protection tape for the railway industry.
The first of a range of fire-certified tape from tesa is the company’s tesa 4965. A transparent double-sided self-adhesive tape consisting of a PET backing and a tackified acrylic adhesive, its “outstanding technical properties” are said to fulfil all the requirements of DIN EN 45545-2 R1 and HL3, the highest hazard level.
The tests involved include smoke generation (smoke density and toxicity) and lateral flame spread (speed of burning). The outcome is “an efficient and certified fire protection for interior and exterior applications in railway vehicles – this even applies for double-decker vehicles operated underground or in tunnels”.
In today’s technological age, high-speed trains have become common place. Vibration and noise are areas that are constantly being addressed, in order to provide rail passengers with a comfortable and pleasant journey. “To prevent rattling, friction or squeaking, tesa tapes are used to separate different types of materials and provide good noise damping properties,” adds tesa. “tesa 4965 adhesive tape is suitable for a wide range of applications in the railway sector and helps ensure easy and efficient assembling jobs.”
These are said to include:
- Quick mounting of ABS parts
- Application of rubber and EPDM profiles
- Bonding of mouldings, signs and aluminium sheets
- Bonding to LSE surfaces.
In addition, tesa 4965 is described as right for the most demanding applications, such as heavy stress, high temperatures up to 200°C or critical substrates. “The tape’s robust MOPP liner prevents tearing when removed, optimising the production process – with immediate usability after assembly,” states tesa.
Other safety elements focusing on passenger hazards include protection against slipping on steps and walkways, exposed areas inside and outside the carriage and permanent fixation of insulation materials and body parts. tesa tapes play a role in these areas, providing protection against exposed areas, such as seating, tables and panelling inside the carriage, as well as doors, steps and windows outside.
Peter Spencer, strategic segment manager at tesa UK, is part of the team tasked with producing effective solutions to the rail sector. He comments: “Adhesive tape is now playing a key role in rail and, with our decades of experience, we are able to provide the innovative methods that will ensure the future of the industry remains in safe hands.
