scope:

The content of this specification is applicable to all Railtrack-approved types of ultrasonic rail testing instruments used by manual rail flaw detector operators when testing rolled steel rails. The complex nature of a rolled steel rail and the potential for failure necessitates a number of different procedures each related to a particular part of the rail, form of defect or type of rail steel.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this specification is to define ultrasonic testing procedures for:

1 The detection of defects in rolled steel rails

2 Estimation of crack size in rolled steel rails

3 The measurement of rail depth and gall

4 The detection of fusion face defects in alumino-thermic welds and rail head weld repairs,

In addition, the document details the linking procedure defining their use together with requirements for the training and certification of operators applying the procedures.