Intermodal load units
Intermodal load units
We proudly offer independent assessment and codification of your intermodal load units, in accordance with the latest UIC International Railway Standard (IRS) IRS 50592 for transportation on railways.
What is an intermodal load unit?
Intermodal load units (ILUs) include freight containers and swap bodies, designed to carry goods via multiple modes of transport such as road, rail and sea. ILUs can take various forms – from dry cargo containers and tanks to specialised units such as coil carriers. ILUs may be built to ISO standards, or may be built to other specifications.
Non-ISO ILUs intended for transportation on the UIC railway network must be independently assessed against the International Railway Standard IRS 50592 and carry a coding plate stating the profile codes. The profile codes are used to ensure ILUs are only transported on railway lines which are capable of conveying them. As a UIC-approved assessment body, NCB can provide you with required assessment services and coding plate details for railway transportation.
Why choose NCB
With our help, you can expect:
- Fast and efficient assessment service – our processes are streamlined, based on many years of direct experience.
- Supporting innovation – as a member of the UIC combined transport working group, NCB contributes to developing standards to include the latest industry developments.
- Industry experts – as a subsidiary of the British railway infrastructure manager Network Rail, NCB can provide you with the specialist railway expertise needed to assess your ILUs.
- Worldwide service – NCB offers its assessment service around the world with existing clients based across Europe, Asia, America and Africa.
What does the assessment process involve?
NCB will use drawings, specifications and other technical documents to assess your ILUs against the requirements set out in IRS 50592. NCB will also use this information to determine the details needed for the coding plate that needs to be fitted to your ILUs. This will include the combined transport profile code ‘C’, the special combined transport profile code ‘S’, as well as the group code and unique approval number for the application, and the gross mass category where applicable.
Having successfully passed the assessment, NCB will issue a registration letter including the details to be applied to the coding plate. Once applied to the ILUs, the coding plate is valid for the life of the unit, providing no modifications or changes are made.