BSI Case Study BSOL

“It’s a very efficient way of having access to all the standards you need.”

Robert AndersonSenior Policy Development Specialist Network Rail

Customer needs:

•�� �Meet�legal�and�health�and�safety�requirements

•�� �Communicate�complex�engineering�requirements�across�many�sites

•�� �Ensure�product�quality�and�consistency�to�reduce�maintenance�costs

Customer solution:

British�Standards�Online�(BSOL)�provides�online�access�to�the�most�complete�collection�of�British,�and�adopted�European�and�international�standards�available.

Customer benefits:

•�� �Time�saving�due�to�fast�search�and�browse�functionality

•�� �More�consistent�interpretation��of�standards,�as�a�result�of�having�direct�access�to�standards�across�the�organization

•�� �Having�access�to�a�wide�variety�of�appropriate�product�specifications�helps�reduce�maintenance�costs

How�Network�Rail�uses�BSOL�to�save�time�and�build�for�the�future.

BSI Case Study BSOL

Background

Network�Rail�owns�and�operates�Britain’s�rail�infrastructure,�including�rail�tracks,�signalling,�bridges,�tunnels,�level�crossings,�viaducts�and�17�key�stations.�They�employ�approximately�34,000�people.�

BSOL�is�used�across�the�organization,�including�in�the�Asset�Management�Department.�This�department�is�tasked�with�the�monumental�challenge�of�maintaining�and�renewing�Britain’s�vast�rail�infrastructure,�including�bridges,�retaining�walls,�stations�and�platforms.

They�cover�the�whole�lifecycle�including�management,�inspection,�maintenance�and�eventually�renewal�and�enhancements.

Why choose BSOL?

The�main�driver�for�Network�Rail’s�use�of�standards�is�to�ensure�they�meet�legal�and�health�and�safety�requirements.�To�achieve�this,�the�organization�creates�internal�standards�based�on�extracts�from�British�Standards�and�Eurocodes.�These�cover�topics�ranging�from�rail�gauges�to�platform�design.

When�standards�are�changed,�it�can�be�a�challenge�to�embed�new�practices�across�their�different�offices.�In�particular,�the�introduction�of�the�Eurocodes�for�structural�engineering�means�many�policies�are�now�being�changed�for�the�first�time�since�the�1990’s.�

For�the�Asset�Management�Department,�ensuring�the�quality�of�construction�products�is�also�critical.�Government�funding�cuts�have�put�pressure�on�the�‘New�Builds’�Department�to�provide�the�cheapest�possible�solution,�but�this�can�increase�maintenance�costs�in�the�long-term.�“If�we�renew�a�platform,�we’ve�also�got�to�consider�the�upkeep�and�maintenance�over�the�next�60�years.”�says�Robert�Anderson,�Senior�Policy�Development�Specialist.

How BSOL is used

Network�Rail�subscribes�to�16�modules,�and�has�an�additional�custom�collection�of�100�documents.�This�reflects�the�requirements�of�such�a�large�and�complex�organization.

The benefits

One�of�the�main�benefits�for�Network�Rail�is�time�saving.�‘I�like�the�way�you�can�find�a�document�in�a�number�of�ways,�by�entering�a�keyword�or�the�number.’�says�Robert.�‘For�example,�I�recently�wrote�a�policy�to�standardize�the�Slip�Resistance�Value�of�platform�edges,�using�BS�EN�13036-4.�I�quickly�found�the�document�on�BSOL�with�a�search�on�Pendulum�Test.’

BSOL�also�aids�Network�Rail�in�delivering�a�clear�and�consistent�interpretation�of�each�standard�throughout�their�network.�Part�of�Robert’s�role�is�to�travel�to�the�

different�offices�to�give�briefs�on�new�policies.�‘Sometimes�I’ll�be�in�a�meeting�and�someone�will�say�‘That’s�not�what�the�standard�says.’�With�BSOL�I�can�pull�it�up�on�my�laptop�and�show�it�to�them�right�there�and�then.’

‘I�also�find�it�very�useful�to�be�able�to�find�superseded�and�referenced�documents.”�says�Robert.�“Some�of�our�internal�standards�haven’t�been�updated�since�the�nineties,�and�otherwise�it�would�be�a�struggle��to�bring�them�up�to�date.’

BSOL�also�helps�keep�Network�Rail�ahead�of�changes�to�standards.�Each�employee�has�their�own�alerts�set�up�for�the�standards�they�are�most�concerned�with,�so�they�can�track�them�right�from�development�until�publication�and�replacement.

Having�access�to�the�latest�standards�throughout�the�organization�can�help�ensure�products�used�in�infrastructure�projects�are�up�to�the�job,�reducing�the�amount�of�maintenance�needed�over�their�lifetime.

Would�Robert�recommend�BSOL?�‘Absolutely’�he�says.�‘It’s�a�very�efficient�way�of�having�access��to�all�the�standards�we�need.’Your business could benefit from British Standards Online (BSOL), just like Network Rail.

To�find�out�more�visit��shop.bsigroup.com/BSOL��or�call�+44�20�8996�9001��for�details.

BSI389�Chiswick�High�RoadLondon,�W4�4ALUnited�Kingdom

T: +44�20�8996�9001�E: cservices@bsigroup.combsigroup.com

Contact�us�to�find�out�how�BSI�can�help�your�business�make�excellence�a�habit

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