Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Flooding, Scour,
Wave and Tidal
Action –
Managing the
Risk
Synopsis
This document mandates the
minimum requirements for assessing
and managing the risk to railway
infrastructure from flooding, scour,
wave and tidal action, and for the
action to be taken when flood
warnings are received.
Submitted by
Contents
Section Description Page
Part A
A1 Issue record 2
A2 Implementation of this document 2
A3 Scope of Railway Group Standards 2
A4 Responsibilities 3
A5 Health and safety responsibilities 3
A6 Technical content 3
A7 Supply 3
Part B
B1 Purpose 4
B2 Application of this document 4
B3 Definitions 5
B4 Principle 7
Part C
C1 Listing of structures 8
C2 Requirements for the collection of data 8
C3 Assessment of structures susceptible to water action 8
C4 Evaluation of structures susceptible to water action 9
C5 Action plans for susceptible elements of the infrastructure 9
C6 Receipt of flood warnings 10
C7 Records 10
C8 Competency 10
Appendices
1 Data collection and recording 11
2 A method for determining the need for an action plan 12
3 Validity of evaluations 13
4 Action plans 14
References 15
Part A
A1 Issue record
Issue Date Comments
One November 1995 Original document
Two April 2004 Supersedes issue one. Revised throughout,
title amended to reflect enlarged scope
Changes in this new issue have not been marked by a vertical black line
because the document has been revised throughout.
A2 Implementation of
this document
The publication date of this document is 3 April 2004.
A3 Scope of Railway
Group Standards
The overall scope of Railway Group Standards is set out in Annex F of the
Railway Group Standards Code, issue 1, January 2004. The specific scope of
this document is set out in Part B2.
A4 Responsibilities
Railway Group Standards are mandatory on all members of the Railway Group*
and apply to all relevant activities that fall into the scope of each individual’s
Railway Safety Case. If any of those activities are performed by a contractor, the
contractor’s obligation in respect of Railway Group Standards is determined by
the terms of the contract between the respective parties. Where a contractor is a
duty holder of a Railway Safety Case then Railway Group Standards apply
directly to the activities described in the Safety Case.
* The Railway Group comprises Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, Rail Safety
and Standards Board Limited and the train and station operators who hold
railway safety cases for operation on or related to infrastructure controlled by
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited.
A6 Content
The content of this document has been approved by:
A7 Supply
Controlled and uncontrolled copies of this document may be obtained from the
Industry Safety Liaison Department, Rail Safety and Standards Board, Evergreen
House, 160 Euston Road, London NW1 2DX or e-mail enquiries@rssb.co.uk.
Railway Group Standards can also be viewed at www.rssb.co.uk.
Part B
B1 Purpose
This document mandates the requirements for assessing and managing the risk
to railway infrastructure from flooding, scour, wave and tidal action, and for the
action to be taken when flood warnings are received.
B2 Application of this
document
B2.1 To whom the requirements apply
This document contains requirements that are applicable to duty holders of the
infrastructure controller category of Railway Safety Case.
The requirements of Part C of this document shall be complied with no later than
5 June 2004, with the exceptions set out below:
B3 Definitions
Action plan
For the purposes of this document, a set of actions required to be taken at a
structure following a flood warning or other relevant warning of extreme weather.
Assessment
The determination of the safe load-carrying capacity of a structure, taking into
account its physical condition, use and location. The term includes the use of
quantitative methods unless otherwise justified, checks, inspections and the use
of historic data, where appropriate. Quantitative methods include:
a) carrying out calculations
b) carrying out documented and technically approved stress measurements
c) the use of valid design documentation.
Bridge
A structure of one or more spans greater than or equal to 1800 mm, whose
prime purpose is usually to carry traffic or services over an obstruction or gap.
Catchment area
The area of land that contributes surface or overland flow of water to a particular
location.
Culvert
A structure with a span or diameter greater than 450 mm and less than
1800 mm, whose prime purpose is usually, but not exclusively, to permit water or
services to pass under a railway or road. The term excludes effluent pipelines
passing under a railway or road.
Embankment
An earthwork that allows railway lines or access roads to pass over low lying
ground, or ground liable to flood, at an acceptable level and gradient.
Estuarine defence
A particular section of infrastructure which protects the railway or low-lying areas
from flooding by estuarine waters and which falls inland of the Fourth Schedule
of the Coast Protection Act 1949.
Erosion
Washout of embankments or cuttings as a result of water action.
Evaluation
The appraisal of all relevant reports, information, assessments and
circumstances relating to a structure to establish whether further action is
required to ensure that it does not pose an unacceptable risk to safety as a result
of its condition, use or location.
Flood warning
For the purpose of this document, this term includes any warning or advance
notice of increasing fluvial or tidal water levels or flows as are issued from time to
time by the Environment Agency or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
It includes: ‘Flood Watch’, ‘Flood Warning’ and ‘Severe Flood Warning’.
Morphology
The plan, gradient and shape of the river channel and banks, including features
such as gravel shoals and bars.
Natural defence
For the purpose of this document, a natural defence is a coastal or estuarine
defence formed by non-man-made topography.
Obstruction
Reduction in the opening area of a structure, that could normally carry water, as
a result of floating debris, construction of fences or screens, or accumulation of
gravel and silt.
Opening ratio
The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the structure opening to the estimated
cross-sectional area of the watercourse/floodplain upstream. As an
approximation, the ratio of the width of the structure opening during flooding to
the estimated width of the watercourse/floodplain upstream can be used.
Scour
The removal of the bed or bank of a watercourse or undermining of a structure
by the action of flowing water, including wave or tidal action.
Scour protection
A scour-resistant invert or bed extending around all the support elements of the
structure that could be subject to water action.
Sea defence
A particular section of infrastructure which protects the railway or low-lying areas
from flooding from the sea and which falls seaward of the Fourth Schedule of the
Coast Protection Act 1949.
Viaduct
A bridge containing five spans or more.
Structure
Something built to support or retain a load. The term includes: bridges; viaducts;
tunnels; culverts; retaining walls (including minor retaining walls); coastal and
estuarine infrastructure; gantries, posts and stanchions carrying overhead line
equipment, lighting, signals etc; trainsheds; platform canopies; platforms;
buildings and water retaining structures. The term includes any permanent
access facilities provided.
Water action
A term use to refer collectively to flooding, scour, wave or tidal action.
Watercourse
Any river, stream, channel or canal that could be reasonably expected to be
taken by flowing water during flooding or high sea levels.
B4 Principle
This document supports Principle 8 in HMRI Railway Safety Principles and
Guidance that ‘Earthworks and structures above or adjacent to the railway
should be capable of supporting the loads imposed upon them and afford
protection to the railway’.
Part C
C1 Listing of structures
C1.1 General requirements
The general requirements for the listing of structures are set out in GC/RT5100.
The general requirements for the listing of embankments, cuttings and natural
slopes are set out in GC/RT5151.
The infrastructure controller shall ensure that the listings identify those structures
and embankments that can be reasonably expected to be subject to water
action.
C2 Requirements for
the collection of data
C2.1 Bridges, viaducts and culverts
For bridges, viaducts and culverts subject to water action from watercourses,
sufficient data shall be obtained and recorded in order to evaluate the
susceptibility of the structure to the water action.
Appendix 1.1 lists data that is usually needed to meet this requirement.
Appendix 1.2 lists data that is usually needed to meet this requirement.
Appendix 1.3 lists data that is usually needed to meet this requirement.
C3 Assessment of
structures susceptible to
water action
GC/RT5100 sets out requirements for the assessment (as defined in section B3)
of structures. The assessment of structures, identified as susceptible to water
action in accordance with section C1, shall also consider the potential for
reduced loading capacity as a result of the water action.
C4 Evaluation of
structures susceptible to
water action
GC/RT5100 sets out requirements for the evaluation (as defined in section B3) of
structures.
An evaluation shall also be carried out for coastal and estuarine infrastructure
and natural defences.
An action plan (as defined in B3) shall be prepared for those elements of the
infrastructure determined as being susceptible to damage or reduced loading
capacity as a result of water action. It is permissible for the determination of the
need for an action plan to be based on an existing valid evaluation.
The evaluation shall be reviewed when changes are identified that are likely to
affect its validity. Circumstances that could affect the validity of evaluations are
listed in Appendix 3.
Appendix 4 lists information and actions that could be included in action plans to
meet this requirement.
C6 Receipt of flood
warnings
The infrastructure controller shall have procedures in place to receive all
appropriate river and coastal flood warnings issued by the relevant authorities.
The infrastructure controller shall maintain a list of national, regional and area
offices of the relevant authorities.
C7 Records
All decisions made and actions taken to meet the requirements of this document
shall be recorded. Records shall be retained for the lifetime of the structure.
C8 Competency
The infrastructure controller shall ensure that the responsibilities of all persons
engaged in managing the risk from water action at a structure are clearly defined
in writing and understood by those persons.
The skill, expertise and training of the persons carrying out the duties shall be
related to the nature of the structure and the nature of the risk from water action.
Appendix 1
Data collection and recording
(The content of this appendix is non-mandatory.)
This appendix lists data that is usually needed to meet the requirements of
section C2 of this document.
d) shape of the structure and its position relative to the water flow
e) opening ratio
b) estimated extreme sea levels taking into account the predicted wave height
and the effects of storm surge
e) records of any scour protection works and protection works against wave or
tidal action
Appendix 2
A method for determining the need for an action
plan
(The content of this appendix is non-mandatory.)
More
High
Probability of than 50%
extreme
flooding, Less than Action plan required
scour, wave 50% but
or tidal action Medium
more
occurring in than 20%
the remaining
design life of
the structure Less than Action plan not required
Low
20%
The probability of the risk scenario occurring, Pr, within the remaining design life,
Ly (in years), is calculated by the formula:
Ly
Pr = 1 – (1- (1 / N))
Where N is the return period (in years) (that is, annual probability of occurrence)
of the risk scenario.
Appendix 3
Validity of evaluations
(The content of this appendix is non-mandatory.)
e) following any work to the structure below the highest recorded flood or tide
level
h) following changes to the criteria upon which flood warnings are issued and
where such changes are likely to affect the validity of the evaluation
Appendix 4
Action plans
(The content of this appendix is non-mandatory.)
b) the level to which the water can rise before the safe load capacity of the
structure is jeopardised (including marking the critical levels on the
structure)
c) specific actions to be taken dependent upon the water level and flow
conditions
d) parts of the structure not normally in the water flow or affected by normal
sea levels
The markers should be positioned and maintained so that they are readily
observed from a position which is accessible and safe in adverse conditions.
References
Railway Group Standards and Other Railway Group Documents
The Railway Group Standards Code, issue 1, January 2004.
GC/RT5021 Track System Requirements
GC/RT5100 Safe Management of Structures
GC/RT5151 Safe Asset Management – Embankments and Cuttings
GE/RT8000 The Rule Book
GO/RT3411 Exceptional Weather – Managing the Risks
The Catalogue of Railway Group Standards and the Railway Group Standards
CD-ROM give the current issue number and status of documents published by
RSSB. This information is also available from www.rssb.co.uk.
Other References
Coast Protection Act 1949