Nødbrems

Nødbrems is a safety system used to stop a vehicle, machine, or system rapidly when normal operation cannot or should not be used. The term is commonly used in Norwegian to describe emergency braking devices on trains, trams, elevators, and industrial machinery.

In railway operations, nødbrems can be activated by a passenger using a red emergency brake handle or a stop button, or by automatic safety systems under fault conditions. Activation typically interrupts normal traction and applies braking force to slow the train, sometimes isolating power to ensure prompt deceleration. After activation, control is returned to the driver or to automatic protection systems, and the vehicle is brought to a safe stop. The event is logged, and a post-incident inspection is performed before service resumes.

In elevators, nødbrems refers to the safety brake that engages if the car overspeeds, a cable fails, or a door obstruction is detected. The safety mechanism holds the car on its guide rails, ensuring it cannot fall. The system requires reset by qualified maintenance personnel after the fault is cleared.

In industrial machinery, nødbrems often takes the form of emergency stop buttons or switches that remove power or stop actuators and drives. These devices must be clearly marked, readily accessible, and tested regularly according to applicable standards; reset typically requires deliberate action by authorized personnel.

Standards for emergency stop devices emphasize reliability and clear signaling. EN ISO 13850 and related safety standards guide design, testing, and maintenance to ensure that nødbrems functions effectively in emergencies while minimizing risk to operators.