AS 1085.
7:2024
Railway Track Material –
Part 7: Spring Washers
AS 1085.7:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
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AS 1085.7:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Document details
First published as: AS E1a—1926T
ISBN: 978-1-76139-787-5
Document history
Publication Version Effective Date Reason for and Extent of Change(s)
2024 21 October 2024 This document has been reviewed to ensure it
remains relevant and applicable. The latest review
assessed the content, confirming that while updates
were made to align with current industry practices,
technologies, and regulatory requirements, the
original authorship and copyright have been
acknowledged as required.
Approval
Name Date
Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board 2 October 2024
Copyright
© RISSB
All rights are reserved. No part of this work can be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of RISSB, unless
otherwise permitted under the Copyright Act 1968.
Published by the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board, PO Box 518 Spring Hill Qld 4004, Australia.
© RISSB ABN 58 105 001 465 Accredited Standards Development Organisation Page 1
AS 1085.7:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Preface
The modifications in this edition acknowledge the authorship and copyright of the new updates as per
the terms of the agreement
Objective
The objective of this Standard is to provide manufacturers and users of spring washers with
performance requirements for spring washers for use in railway track.
The context and purpose of use describes the performance that the requirements and tests of the
Standard are intended to verify.
Compliance
There are four types of provisions contained within Australian Standards developed by RISSB:
(a) Requirements.
(b) Recommendations.
(c) Permissions.
(d) Constraints.
Requirements – it is mandatory to follow all requirements to claim full compliance with the Standard.
Requirements are identified within the text by the term ‘shall’.
Recommendations – do not mention or exclude other possibilities but do offer the one that is
preferred.
Recommendations are identified within the text by the term ‘should’.
Recommendations recognize that there could be limitations to the universal application of the control,
i.e. the identified control is not able to be applied or other controls are more appropriate or better.
Permissions – conveys consent by providing an allowable option. Permissions are identified within the
text by the term ‘may’.
Constraints – provided by an external source such as legislation. Constraints are identified within the
text by the term ‘must’.
For compliance purposes, where a recommended control is not applied as written in the standard it
could be incumbent on the adopter of the standard to demonstrate their actual method of controlling
the risk as part of their WHS or Rail Safety National Law obligations. Similarly, it could also be
incumbent on an adopter of the standard to demonstrate their method of controlling the risk to
contracting entities or interfacing organisations where the risk may be shared.
RISSB Standards address known hazards within the railway industry. Hazards, and clauses within this
Standard that address those hazards, are listed in Appendix A.
Appendices in RISSB Standards may be designated either “normative” or “informative”. A "normative"
appendix is an integral part of a Standard and compliance with it is a requirement, whereas an
"informative" appendix is only for information and guidance.
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AS 1085.7:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Commentary
Commentary C Preface
This Standard includes a commentary on some of the clauses. The commentary directly follows the
relevant clause, is designated by ‘C’ preceding the clause number and is printed in italics in a box. The
commentary is for information and guidance and does not form part of the Standard.
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Table of Contents
Section 1 Scope and general ......................................................................................... 6
1.1 Scope ................................................................................................................................ 6
1.2 Normative references ...................................................................................................... 6
1.3 Defined terms and abbreviations ..................................................................................... 6
Section 2 Context and purpose of use ........................................................................... 7
2.1 Function............................................................................................................................ 7
2.2 Action ............................................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Designation....................................................................................................................... 7
Section 3 Type 1 spring washers (for fishbolts) .............................................................. 7
3.1 General ............................................................................................................................. 7
3.2 Dimensions and tolerances .............................................................................................. 7
3.3 Tests for type 1 spring washers ........................................................................................ 8
3.3.1 General ............................................................................................................................. 8
3.3.2 Hardness test.................................................................................................................... 8
3.3.3 Mechanical tests............................................................................................................... 8
3.4 Materials........................................................................................................................... 9
3.5 Finish ................................................................................................................................ 9
3.6 Corrosion resistance ......................................................................................................... 9
Section 4 Type 2 spring washers (for screw spikes) ........................................................ 9
4.1 General ............................................................................................................................. 9
4.2 Dimensions and tolerances ............................................................................................ 10
4.3 Materials......................................................................................................................... 11
4.4 Finish .............................................................................................................................. 11
4.5 Corrosion resistance ....................................................................................................... 11
Appendix A Information to be provided by the purchaser (Informative).......................... 12
Appendix B Means for demonstrating compliance with this standard (Informative) ........ 13
B.1 Scope .............................................................................................................................. 13
B.2 Statistical sampling ......................................................................................................... 13
B.3 Production certification.................................................................................................. 13
B.4 Supplier’s quality management system ......................................................................... 13
B.5 Other means of assessment ........................................................................................... 14
Appendix C Twist test (Normative) ................................................................................. 15
C.1 Scope .............................................................................................................................. 15
C.2 Apparatus ....................................................................................................................... 15
C.3 Preparation of the specimens ........................................................................................ 15
C.4 Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 15
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Figures
Figure 1 Dimensions for Type 1 spring washers ........................................................................................ 7
Figure 2 Dimensions for Type 2 spring washers ........................................................................................ 9
Figure 3 Shape of Type 2 spring washers ................................................................................................. 10
Appendix Figure C.4-1 Washer twist test................................................................................................. 15
Tables
Table 1 Dimensions and Tolerances for Type 1 Spring Washers (for Fishbolts) ........................................ 8
Table 2 Nominal Dimensions of Type 2 Spring Washers ......................................................................... 10
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Section 1 Scope and general
1.1 Scope
This Standard sets out the requirements for spring washers for use in railway track.
Type 1 single coil spring washers as per Section 2 are used with fishbolts and nuts as detailed in
AS 1085.4. Type 2 single, double and triple coil spring washers as per Section 3 are used with screw
spikes as detailed in AS 1085.18.
Double- and triple-turn spring washers are sometimes referred to as ‘helical’; however, they are not
helical in shape.
1.2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document:
• AS 1085.4, Railway track materials Part 4: Fishbolts and nuts
• AS 1085.18, Railway track materials Part 18: Screw spikes and threaded inserts
• AS 1199, Sampling procedures and tables for inspection by attributes
• AS 1399, Guide to AS 1199 - Sampling procedures and tables for inspection by
attributes
• AS 1442, Carbon steels and carbon-manganese steels - Hot-rolled bars and
semifinished products
• AS 1815, Metallic materials - Rockwell hardness test
• AS 1815.1, Metallic materials - Rockwell hardness test Part 1: Test method scales
• AS 1815.2, Metallic materials - Rockwell hardness test Part 2: Verification and
calibration of testing machines (scales A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, N, T).
• AS 1815.3, Metallic materials - Rockwell hardness test Part 3: Calibration of
reference blocks (scales (scales A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, N, T).
• AS/NZS 4680, Hot-dip galvanized (zinc) coatings on fabricated ferrous articles
• ISO 9001, Quality management systems – Requirements
• ISO 9004, Quality management systems - Guidelines for performance
improvements
• HB18, Guidelines for third-party certification and accreditation
• HB18.28, Guidelines for third-party certification and accreditation Guide 28 -
General rules for a model third-party certification scheme for products.
NOTE:
Documents for informative purposes are listed in a Bibliography at the back of the Standard.
1.3 Defined terms and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply:
1.3.1
HRC
the C-scale of the Rockwell scale for measuring the indentation hardness of a material
General rail industry terms and definitions are maintained in the RISSB Glossary. Refer to:
https://www.rissb.com.au/products/glossary/
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AS 1085.7:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Section 2 Context and purpose of use
2.1 Function
Spring washers provide force against the nut of a bolt or head of a screw spike in order to maintain
tension and prevent loosening. They are also used to provide consistent force against materials held in
place by the bolt or screw spike.
2.2 Action
Spring washers are compressed to induce tension in the bolt or screw with which they are used.
Spring washers are subjected to compression, fatigue and corrosion.
2.3 Designation
Spring washers shall be designated by:
(a) the number of this Standard (i.e. AS 1085.7);
(b) the nominal diameter of the spring washer;
(c) the number of coils, where relevant; and
(d) the type of washer:
(i) Type 1 - normal duty spring washers for fishbolts; or
(ii) Type 2 - high tension shaped spring washers for screw spikes.
For example, 24 mm double coil Type 2 spring washers in accordance with AS 1085.7’.
Section 3 Type 1 spring washers (for fishbolts)
3.1 General
Type 1 spring washers (normal duty spring washers for fishbolts) shall be as given in this Section.
Figure 1 Dimensions for Type 1 spring washers
3.2 Dimensions and tolerances
Type 1 spring washers shall conform to the dimensions and tolerances set out in Table 1 (see Figure 1).
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3.3 Tests for type 1 spring washers
3.3.1 General
Testing shall be carried out within the temperature range 4°C to 40°C.
3.3.2 Hardness test
When tested in accordance with AS 1815, the hardness of the spring washers shall be between 43 HRC
and 50 HRC.
3.3.3 Mechanical tests
3.3.3.1 Permanent set
The measured unloaded height, X, of the spring washer, after a load sufficient to compress them to a
solid state has been applied and released three times in quick succession, shall not reduce by more
than 25%.
3.3.3.2 Twist test
When tested in accordance with Appendix D, spring washers shall not fracture when bent through 90°
and when taken to failure the fracture surface shall be fine grained, homogeneous or of uniform silky
appearance.
Table 1 Dimensions and Tolerances for Type 1 Spring Washers (for Fishbolts)
Dimensions and tolerances for type 1 spring washers (for Fishbolts)
millimetres
Dimension Nominal size of washer (see NOTE) Tolerance
(See figure 1) 20 22 24 27
Inside diameter 𝐴𝐴
Minimum 21 24 27 30 -
Maximum 22 25 28 31 -
Section width 𝐵𝐵 10 10 10 10 ±0.25
Section thickness 𝐶𝐶 6 6 10 10 ±0.25
Pitch
Minimum 6 6 10 10 -
Maximum 8 8 14 14 -
Gap, 𝐸𝐸 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 ±0.5
Un-loaded height, 𝑋𝑋 13 13 - - ±1
(𝑋𝑋 = ∁ + 𝐷𝐷) - - 22 22 ±2
NOTE: Washer designation is equivalent to the nominal shank diameter of the bolt
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
3.4 Materials
The steel used for manufacture of spring washers shall comply with AS 1442 and shall be capable of
meeting the requirements of this Standard.
3.5 Finish
Washers shall be of uniform size and free from roughness, burrs, notches, seams and other defects
detrimental to handling, manual installation and their end use.
3.6 Corrosion resistance
Washers shall be as made, with no corrosion protection coating or hot dip galvanized in accordance
with AS/NZS 4680, except that the spring washers are not required to be centrifuged or other
equivalent corrosion protection.
Other methods may be used when agreed between the purchaser and supplier.
Section 4 Type 2 spring washers (for screw spikes)
4.1 General
Type 2 spring washers as defined in section 2.2 shall be as given in this Section.
Type 2 spring washers shall be formed with a wave or corrugation in the steel in addition to the spiral
shape. This provides a secondary spring action following the torsional action of the spiral shape under
compression.
Figure 2 Dimensions for Type 2 spring washers
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Figure 3 Shape of Type 2 spring washers
4.2 Dimensions and tolerances
Type 2 spring washers shall conform to the dimensions and tolerances set out in in Table 2 and
Figure 2 and Figure 3.
Table 2 Nominal Dimensions of Type 2 Spring Washers
Nominal Dimensions of Type 2 Spring Washers
millimetres
Number of Dimension Washer designation (see NOTE 2)
coils (See
Figure ) 20 22 24 26
Inside diameter 𝐴𝐴 - - 25 28
Single coil Section width 𝐵𝐵 - - 10 12
Section thickness 𝐶𝐶 - - 6 6
Inside diameter 𝐴𝐴 21 - 25 28
Double coil Section width 𝐵𝐵 9 - 10 12
Section thickness 𝐶𝐶 5 - 6 6
Inside diameter 𝐴𝐴 - - 26 -
Triple coil Section width 𝐵𝐵 - - 10 -
Section thickness 𝐶𝐶 - - 6 -
NOTE 1: Dimensions are typical only and other dimensions may be used by agreement.
NOTE 2: Washer designation is equivalent to the nominal shank diameter of the screw.
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
4.3 Materials
The steel used for manufacture of spring washers shall comply with AS 1442 and shall be capable of
meeting the requirements of this Standard.
4.4 Finish
Washers shall be of uniform size and free from roughness, burrs, notches, seams and other defects
detrimental to handling, manual installation and their end use.
4.5 Corrosion resistance
Washers shall be as made, with no corrosion protection coating or hot dip galvanized in accordance
with AS/NZS 4680 (except that the spring washers are not required to be centrifuged) or other
equivalent corrosion protection.
Other methods may be used when agreed between the purchaser and supplier.
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Appendix A Information to be provided by the purchaser (Informative)
The following information should be supplied by the purchaser:
(a) The relevant designation of the washer required as per section 2.2, including the
number of this Australian Standard, i.e. AS 1085.7.
(b) Quantity.
(c) Packaging requirements.
(d) Any exceptions to the requirements specified in this Standard, and any special
or supplementary requirements.
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Appendix B Means for demonstrating compliance with this standard
(Informative)
B.1 Scope
This Appendix sets out the following different means by which compliance with this Standard can be
demonstrated by the manufacturer or supplier:
(a) Evaluation by means of statistical sampling.
(b) The use of a product certification scheme.
(c) Assurance using the acceptability of the supplier’s quality system.
(d) Other such means proposed by the manufacturer or supplier and acceptable to
the customer.
B.2 Statistical sampling
Statistical sampling is a procedure that enables decisions to be made about the quality of batches of
items after inspecting or testing only a portion of those items. This procedure will only be valid if the
sampling plan has been determined on a statistical basis and the following requirements are met:
(a) The sample needs to be drawn randomly from a population of product of known
history. The history needs to enable verification that the product was made
from known materials at essentially the same time, by essentially the same
processes and under essentially the same system of control.
(b) For each different situation, a suitable sampling plan needs to be defined. A
sampling plan for one manufacturer of given capability and product throughput
may not be relevant to another manufacturer producing the same items.
In order for statistical sampling to be meaningful to the customer, the manufacturer or supplier needs
to demonstrate how the above conditions have been satisfied. Sampling and the establishment of a
sampling plan should be carried out in accordance with AS 1199, guidance to which is given in
AS 1399.
B.3 Production certification
The purpose of product certification is to provide independent assurance of the claim by the
manufacturer that products comply with the stated Standard.
The certification scheme should meet the criteria described in HB 18.28 in that, as well as full type
testing from independently sampled production and subsequent verification of conformance, it
requires the manufacturer to maintain effective quality planning to control production.
The certification scheme serves to indicate that the products consistently conform to the
requirements of the Standard.
B.4 Supplier’s quality management system
Where the manufacturer or supplier can demonstrate an audited and registered quality management
system complying with the requirements of the appropriate or stipulated Australian or international
Standard for a supplier’s quality management system or systems, this may provide the necessary
confidence that the specified requirements will be met. The quality assurance requirements need to
be agreed between the customer and supplier and should include a quality or inspection and test plan
to ensure product conformity.
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Information on establishing a quality management system is set out in AS/NZS ISO 9001 and
AS/NZS ISO 9004.
B.5 Other means of assessment
If the above methods are considered inappropriate, compliance with the requirements of this
Standard may be assessed from the results of testing coupled with the manufacturer’s guarantee of
product conformance.
Irrespective of acceptable quality levels (AQLs) or test frequencies, the responsibility remains with the
manufacturer or supplier to supply products that conform to the full requirements of the Standard.
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
Appendix C Twist test (Normative)
C.1 Scope
This Appendix sets out the method for the twist test for spring washers and is intended to establish
the material properties of the spring washers.
C.2 Apparatus
The following apparatus is required:
(a) Saw for cutting down double and triple spring washers.
(b) Vice with sharp-edged jaws.
(c) Wrench or shifting spanner having sharp edges.
(d) Test assembly as shown in Appendix Figure C.4-1.
C.3 Preparation of the specimens
For double and triple spring washers, prepare the test specimens by cutting the spring washer down to
a portion just under 360°.
C.4 Procedure
The procedure shall be as follows:
(a) Place a 90° segment of the spring washer in the vice, so that the ends of the
spring washer are free and an axis passing through the slot is parallel to and
slightly above the top of the vice. Where double or triple spring washers are to
be tested, place the spring washer so that at least 225° of the washer is free of
the vice.
(b) Grip the free end of the spring washer with the wrench so that the edges of the
wrench are in a plane parallel to the vice.
(c) Move the wrench through 90°, in a direction that increases the free height of
the spring washer and check for signs of fracture (see Appendix Figure C.4-1).
(d) Continue to move the wrench until the spring washer breaks and observe the
texture of the fracture surface.
Appendix Figure C.4-1 Washer twist test
© RISSB ABN 58 105 001 465 Accredited Standards Development Organisation Page 15
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Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
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ISBN: 978-1-76139-787-5
