Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 09 | Page 47

INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cabling Siemon continues to drive CPR compliance across copper and fibre product range James Kiriamiti, Marketing Manager for Europe, Russia and Africa, Siemon S iemon, a leading global network infrastructure specialist, is well positioned as a Construction Products Regulation (CPR) innovator by being one of only a few manufacturers currently offering a wide range of CPR compliant cables across copper and fibre. Siemon’s range of copper cables have passed third party testing and are fully compliant to Euroclass Eca, Dca, Cca and B2ca requirements. Furthermore, Siemon has completed all required steps to attain system 1+ certification for its cables meeting Euroclass Cca and B2ca with valid Declaration of Performance (DoP) certificates, which are now publicly available. With governmental bodies in Europe taking particular interest in materials used for commercial and residential developments, Siemon’s approach to manufacturing high quality, compliant products ensures support on all current and potential future CPR regulation changes currently in discussion. IEC 60332 flammability ratings are now replaced by seven different reactions to fire performance known as Euroclasses. These are A, B1, B2, C, D, E and F. With CPR having been in existence for close to two decades, copper and fibre products were not included in the regulated materials. However, as of 1 July 2017 the regulation expanded to include copper and fibre materials used in the construction of a building, must display the ‘CE’ mark and have publicly available DoP documentation to attain full compliance. Any cable manufacturer wishing to sell fibre and copper communication cables into the EU is required to have their cables tested for CPR compliance with a notified body commissioned to certify test results. www.intelligentcio.com As James Kiriamiti, Marketing Manager for Europe, Russia and Africa at Siemon, explains: “Regulatory controls are created to enhance safety and minimise the impact of unforeseen disasters. Recent events at London’s Grenfell Tower have spurred the country’s leaders to adopt tighter controls and regulations on construction products, including copper and fibre cabling products used in the construction of a building and their flammability ratings. So here we have a global issue that has to be addressed.” With many manufacturers claiming full CPR compliance, Siemon warns that all end users must ensure that they request and receive current, valid third party certification and relevant DoP documentation, as per the requirements of the latest published CPR standards. “It is important now more than ever that contractors, developers and designers are only using CPR compliant products” reiterates Steve Metherell, Global CPR Champion, Siemon. “If not compliant, cables can be a catalyst for casualties. Our engineering and product development team have invested time rigorously testing our cables to ensure the safety and compliance for our customers. Siemon will continue to review and enhance our product ranges by adding more products to the range of class Cca and B2ca in the coming months.” Kiriamiti points out that European countries are fast to adopt these higher standards for the greater good, and African governments need to do the same: “As African governments continue to focus their attention on infrastructure development, I would urge them not to overlook regulatory reforms and be quick to adopt global standards that are designed to protect by reducing the potential disasters that can be caused by nonconformity. “Countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa are already leaning towards adopting these global standards for all developments and offering retraining to engineers, developers and contractors to promote adherence to higher standards,” he concludes. n INTELLIGENTCIO 47