REFERENCE REPORT Qinghai-Tibet Railway nora® Rubber Floor Coverings on Top of the World The railways approaches Tibet from the north, carrying its Project: Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Lhasa to passengers 2,000km across the Kunlun and other mountains Xining, PR China and as many as 675 bridges over dry, icy, barren mountain landscapes to Lhasa in less than 48 hours. While travelling across Client: Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) the Himalayan “Roof of the World” to the Tanggula Pass, it climbs Transportation Ltd. (BST) up to about 5,100m above sea level and thus holds the title as Products: noraplan® plus mobil (931) the world’s highest track and Tanggula Station, only 4m lover, the colours 2233 and 2302 world’s highest railway station ever built. The railway’s extreme Installed: 2002 – 2008 conditions – mostly through permafrost environment and at an altitude where the air contains 35–40% less oxygen than at sea level – passenger safety has been a major concern during the planning and construction process of the railway cars. Chinese The People’s Republic of China is famous for impressing the rest coach builder Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation of the world with superlatives and records. With regard to its Ltd. (BST) (former BSP: Bombardier Sifang Power (Qingdao) transporation network, for instance, the country not only runs the Transportation Ltd., BSP) has been looking for materials that fastest trains and by 2012 probably more high-speed railways fulfil the high standards of quality and performance especially than the rest of the world combined. It has also the world’s highest required for this project. Floor coverings, for instance, needed to railway: the Qinghai-Tibet railway, or Lhasa Express, which links meet the strict fire protection requirements specified by the railway China’s Qinghai province’s capital of Xining to the Tibetan capital whilst being durable, easy to maintain and elegant in design and of Lhasa. appearance. nora® rubber floor coverings: functionality, durability and versatility for sophisticated railway projects: • Outstanding fire-protection properties: fire/smoke behaviour tested according to EN 13 501-1, DIN 5510-2, NF F 16-101, ASTM E-648 and E-662, BS 476 p.7, BS 6853 App. B.5.4, UIC-Codex 564- 2/12. Carbonisation gases are non-toxic; no corrosive vapours, no source for dioxins and furans occur. • Free of PVC, plasticizers (phthalates) and halogens (e.g. chlorine) as well as asbestos, cadmium, CFCs and formaldehyde • Extraordinary wear-resistance: extremely long lifespan, thus less frequent need of for renovation and disposal • Dirt-repellent and easy to clean surface: thanks to its extremely dense surface and “nora cleanguard®“, the factory post-curing surface finishing • No need for extra coating: significantly reduced care and maintenance costs as well as wastewater loading • Dimensionally stable: does not contain any plasticizers; thus is shrinkage resistant • Resistant to cigarette burns: no surface damage 2233 2302 • Permanently resilient: lasting high walking comfort Additionally, the floor covering met the durability requirements of the railway. BST searched for a flooring solution that was • Excellent footfall sound absorption: insulation values up abrasion-resistant, and durable enough to withstand the train’s to 20dB heavy foot traffic, particularly in aisles and entranceways where • Antistatic: no electrostatic charge build-up from walking; traffic flows non-stop as passengers make their way through the therefore, thus no perceptible discharges train. • Environmentally safe: made of high-quality rubber, nora rubber floor coverings stepped up to the challenge, mineral fillers, and environmental friendly colour providing the required durability and a dense surface that makes pigments the floor resistant to dirt, stains and grime whilst its structure ensures slip resistance. Above that, the flooring’s design and decent beige colour support the design of the trains and help create a calm environment where passengers can relax, enjoy the breathtaking This record-setting train thus relies on a number of special scenery around them, dine comfortably and sleep peacefully. features, including nora rubber floor coverings, to safely carry its passengers between the two cities. The nora floor covering As with any mode of transportation where passengers are free BST selected had been especially developed to meet highest to move about the conveyance, slip-resistance properties were demands with regard to fire safety. The chosen noraplan plus mix another important criteria for selecting noraplan plus. In fact, nora 931 provides superior resistance to flame, smoke and toxicity as it rubber floor coverings exceed OSHA recommendations for slip does not contain any PVC, plasticizers (phthalates) and halogens resistance, providing a reliable and safe surface. Both passengers (e.g. chlorine). This ensures that there is no risk of toxic off-gassing and crew members can count on sure footing, even as the railway from substances like hydrogen chlorine, hydrochloric acid, dioxins makes its way around mountain passes and through elevated or furan in the event of fire. tunnels. Visit our website www.nora-transportation.com for more detailed information on nora rubber floor coverings! The ‘nora’ trademark as well as any other registered trademarks used in this reference report have been registered for the company, country or a company affiliated with nora systems GmbH. nora systems GmbH Höhnerweg 2–4 69469 Weinheim · Germany Phone: +49 – 6201 – 80 5945 Fax: +49 – 6201 – 88 5945 E-Mail: [email protected] www.nora.com.