Conformity assessment assures that equipment, integration and installation of an energy metering system conform to EN50463 or TSI LOC&PAS. In this way accurate and thus fair energy billing can be assured to all parties involved.
If you want to use (measurement data from) energy meters within the new settlement method, the used equipment must meet the applicable standards.
As prescribed in EN-50463, you must maintain a compliance file for each combination of Traction Unit Type (TUT) and type of Energy Measurement System (EMS).
Independent body, a consumption point administrator (CP admin), registers traction units and it should receive a complete compliance (conformity assessment) file.
The consumption point administrator will process your submission. If you meet all requirements, your train runs can be settled on measured values. The confirmation will be registered and consumption point administrator will confirm your successful registration.
For which vehicles a Conformity Assessment File should be supplied?
Conformity Assessment File should be provided for each traction unit even if it is already registered with Eress in other country. Multisystem traction units consume energy from networks of different voltages, so several sensors are installed.
The documentation should prove also sensors for voltages used in Netherlands are appropriate and that this was tested according to norm after installation.
Furthermore, in some countries which started process of energy metering earlier documentation needed was not completely aligned with EN-50463.
What exactly is the content of Conformity Assessment File?
The standard (EN-50463) states that a complete Conformity Assessment File (CAF) consists of several types of files.
In the attached document you can find an overview of the different types of required files, the issuing party and a brief explanation of the content. The files are the result of the different steps in the Conformity Assessment process. The figure below gives a graphical overview of the four main steps in the process.
First, all components (meter, sensor, etc.) are tested individually, usually by equipment manufacturers.
Secondly, multiple components are tested as a whole energy metering system (EMS), usually by independent Assessment Body (e.g. NoBo)
Thirdly the EMS installation (in the vehicle) is tested and certified.
Finally, the EMS conformity needs to be confirmed periodically.
What actions to take now?
- Determine if all documents are available. A good starting point is to first track down the following documents.
- Integration and Installation type test report (per Traction Unit Type; issued by independent assessment body). This might be to documents or one single document.
- EMS routine test report (per Traction Unit; issued by installer)
- For finding these documents, it is best to start within your own organization
- If the documents are not present in your organization, it is best to contact the installer and/or supplier
- If the documents have not yet been created, please find out if a Conformity Assessment according to EN-50463 has been executed
- If this is the case, it may yet be possible to create the required documents
- If the Conformity Assessment has not yet been executed by an independent Assessment body, please contact such a body to request an assessment.
You must complete the enclosed cover sheet per compliance file.
For questions about registration of vehicles for commercial billing, please contact info.VTE@NS.nl
For further technical advice regarding EMS, please note that Gregor Hribar is available until December 2019. (gregor.hribar(at)eastvision.nl) ,
