Inspection Body CKBIS
The inspection body CKBIS exists independently within CERSS Kompetenzzentrum Bahnsicherungstechnik GmbH according to annex II of the CSM regulation (EU 402/2013 and standard EN ISO/IEC 17020). It is set up as a Type C inspection body and executes inspections of systems and components in the sector of railway signalling as well as other technical systems with safety assignments.
The scope of the inspection mainly covers development, proof of concept, safety cases, verification and validation, certification and appraisals of damage. Therefore, expert opinions and inspection reports are created.
Assessment Body
evaluation of proof of concept and safety cases
planning and acceptance tests
appraisals of damage
certifications
Task
The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 402/2013 defines a risk management process to assess the impact of changes on safety levels and compliance with rail safety requirements.
For significant changes, an Assessment Body carries out an independent assessment of the demonstrated risk management process and its results.
Solution
An Assessment Body shall carry out an independent assessment of the suitability of both the application of the risk management process as set out in annex I of CSM regulation ((EU) 402/2013) and its results.
As part of the independent assessment, the produced documents are checked for completeness and conformity with the CSM regulation. Furthermore, procedures used for safety and quality management of the significant change are evaluated. The inspection tasks are in line with the CSM regulation.
The result of an independent assessment is always a safety assessment report.
Our Competence
The Inspection Body CKBIS is recognised according to § 5 Abs. 1d Nr. 2 Allgemeines Eisenbahngesetz for the following areas of activity:
- Control-command and signalling
- Traffic operation and management.
Task
Modifications, extensions and backfitting as well as new systems require a comprehensible assessment concerning its correct functionality.
Railway signalling components have to pass demanding development and application conditions and existing technologies have to be adapted persistently to the changed conditions. Therefore, objective evidence of their correct and safe operation is necessary.
Solution
The inspection activities involve all phases of the RAMS life cycle according to EN 50126.
The wide range of examined objects primarily refers to interlocking technology (including older technologies) and its components, level crossings and level crossing protection systems, automatic train control systems such as ETCS and others.
Proof of safety and function according to Mü 8004 are evaluated, likewise.
Our Competence
Inspectors of the inspection body CKBIS have extensive and long-time experience in components of railway signalling components and methods for proof of safety and function.
The assessment activities are recognized by the Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, the State Representatives for Railway Supervision and by technical supervisory authorities and courts in Germany and abroad.
Portfolio
Expert opinion on basic relay circuit at a mechanical interlocking
Within the scope of a modification activity in a station, a passenger crossing is constructed. Thereby, an additional speed indicator (Zs3 indicator „2“) has to be installed at a mechanical entry signal.
The resulting basic relay circuit and its corresponding safety case have to be assessed. The aim of the assessment is the declaration that the basic circuit is appropriate for its intended use.
Safety Case and assessment on a system solution
In station Meppen four level crossing activation sites are defined. They are route dependent and require an interface between the mechanical interlocking and the level crossing system. A basic circuit system solution with relay technology shall be developed for this application.
Both, the basic circuit relay solution and the safety case, shall be examined.
Assessment for a route adaption by using a basic relay circuit
At the Doberlug-Kirchhain station, a track free detection system is retrofitted and hence completed. Furthermore, the signal control mechanism in a mechanical interlocking is converted to the button controls. For doing this, a route adaption by using a basic relay circuit was developed. An assessment report shall be created for the application of this basic relay circuit and its associated safety case.
Task
Planning and acceptance tests are used to monitor the plans and projects created as part of construction projects.
These tests serve to assess whether a building project complies with the legal requirements. In this way, both compliance with the recognized rules of technology and the absence of safety-relevant defects are evaluated.
Solution
In addition to the established test procedures, neutral procedures are also implemented in a customer-oriented manner while maintaining neutrality.
The result of the tests is presented in the form of a test report or expert opinion.
Our Competence
Inspectors of the inspection body CKBIS have extensive and long-time experience in components of railway signalling components and systematic procedures for planning and acceptance tests.
The assessment activities are recognized by the Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, the State Representatives for Railway Supervision and by technical supervisory authorities and courts in Germany and abroad.
Portfolio
Design review according to BOStrab regulations
The subject of the project consists of design reviews according to § 60BOStrab for the Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen.
We provide design review PT 1 and PT 2 for serveral states of construction.
Design review of ETCS line installations
In conjunction with the introduction of ETCS in Denmark, the Danish train control system shall be replaced by ETCS Level 1 LS on the German line Niebüll – Süderlügum – Danish border. Thereby, the permissible speed will be increased.
Various design reviews are to be included in the project.
Design review for ETCS
In the course of the project Karlsruhe – Basel high-speed railway, the ETCS equipment has to be extended in the marshalling yard Basel Bad.
The Inspection Body CKBIS undertakes the design review.
Task
Even with high safety requirements, railway accidents can never be ruled out. In this case, scientific assessment is required for investigation.
Next to the preparation of classic proactive risk and safety analyses, the evaluation of incident data is important for an effective safety management for railway systems. The main task of an accident analysis is to determine the causes of the accident in order to provide safety recommendations and requirements. Moreover, an appraisal of damage can be inevitable.
Solution
First, independent, scientific evaluation of railway accidents, their causes and their consequences can provoke an increase of safety of existing systems and activities. Second, they can define the monetary effects of railway accidents.
Within the scope of an expert opinion cause analysis, appraisal of damage or substantiated functional chains are conducted independently by the inspection body CKBIS.
Our Competence
Inspectors of the inspection body CKBIS have extensive and long-time experience in the field of railway safety technology, especially risk evaluation of safety systems in Germany and abroad.
Various tools will be used for the analyses.
Portfolio
Expert opinion to determine a cause of derailment with minor property damage
There are different views on the cause of a derailment due to the passing of a switch under the shunting unit: rail transport company or rail infrastructure company. CKBIS inspection body was assigned to provide an expert opinion to investigate the cause of the accident. For this purpose, existing documents are to be evaluated, the interlocking logic of the relay interlocking is to be analysed and the event has to be reconstructed on site. The assessment will include possible scenarios in order to consider all operational, safety and external influencing factors.
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Expert opinion on rail accident in Hosena
On July 26 2012, a railway collision between two freight trains happened in Hosena station, resulting in the complete destruction of the mechanical interlocking W3.
The project concerned an independent economic assessment, aiming to restore the operability after a railway operation error by utilising the methods relating to signalling. The scope of the project refers to the analysis of the pre-accident status of the control and safety technologies and the construction and planning documents used for their conversion into computer-based interlocking. The assessment is to examine which methods were necessary in view of the recognised rules of the technology and which methods could not be applied to the case due to their limitations.
Expert opinion on level crossing accident
An expert opinion shall be compiled for a level crossing accident. The aim is to assess the cause of the accident and the consecutively actions in order to re-establish the railway operation. The expert opinion was part of a court case.
Task
It is obligatory to apply the CENELEC-standards for changes and new safety relevant systems in the area of railway systems. This applies especially for the safety features and components of the safety technology, for which a proof of the development and certification conducted in conformity with standards is necessary.
During the evaluation of the conformity with standards and the subsequent certification, the entire system developments (EN 50126), software developments (EN 50128) as well as hardware developments (EN 50129) are to be examined.
Solution
Our comprehensive performance spectrum regarding this competency is designed according to customer’s requirements. We compile the required life-cycle documents for the certification of the entire system. Alternatively, a consultation can support the compilation of the documents.
Moreover, phase-related results are to be verified in the process of the compilation of the documents in line with EN 50126. Supported with inspection of the development and production process, a SIL-certification is to be subsequently created.
The required proof, that the system correlates to the safety requirements, can be produced with the aid of assessment and certificate upon a preceding positive verification. The certificate issued in the result enables a recognition by the National Supervisory Authorities.
Our Competence
Our staff is experienced. The certification is taken over by our inspection body CKBIS, which guarantees an independent assessment.
Portfolio
Certification of platform screen doors
The stations at São Paulo Metro lines 5 and 17 are upgraded with platform screen doors. This will prevent passengers from unintentionally falling into the track area or, in the case of monorail systems, into depth. There are functional safety requirements for the communication between the train and the platform screen doors. Safety needs to be proven according to the European standard for RAMS.
Our company supervises this process. Furthermore, we advise operators and system suppliers and we also conduct the risk and safety analysis. The resulting SIL 3 selection is verified by our independent experts.
Finally, the generated, verified and validated documents are examined according to EN 50126 and a certificate is prepared.
Certification process for level crossing system
The system supplier adapts an existing level crossing system. This process is supported by CERSS Kompetenzzentrum Bahnsicherungstechnik GmbH. Therefore, we compile several documents and verify all required lifecycle documents according to EN 50126. A risk analysis is provided, too.
Certification process for electronic back-mirror-system
Within the scope of the certification process, the documentation of the development process was verified independently by our experts according to CENELEC standards. A safety assessment expertise was performed, too.