NR NR/CIV/SD/TUM/1999 ISSUE E PDF

INTRODUCTION TO STANDARD DESIGNS AND DETAILS

The development of the Standard Designs and Details (SDD) has been undertaken by Network Rail to improve safety, asset reliability and increase efficiency. Their development is linked to Network Rail’s overall business objectives, to improve reliability of the railways and reduce the funding requirements for on-going management and maintenance of the network. The basis of the SDD focuses on two main areas that derive from these issues:

• Ensuring that the design meets Network Rail’s requirements

• The design is as successful as the designs of previous railway engineers, who built and maintained bridges that have given good service for approaching 150 years.

The use of the SDDs is promoted from the highest level within Network Rail. Alternatives to the SDDs will only be considered where it can be demonstrated that a SDD cannot be used and must be agreed with Network Rail’s professional head of civil engineering. Failure to use a SDD may lead to project authority being withheld.