Network Communications News (NCN) October 2016 | Page 23

CPR requirements

F E AT U R E

The harmonised
European standard
provides requirements
for cables used in
permanent constructions
with regard to their
reaction to fire.

Peak performance
New Construction Products Regulation (CPR) updates are set to harmonise cable
requirements for reaction to fire across Europe. Nancy De Clerck of Nexans
explains what the changes mean for manufacturers, distributors and end users.

T

he Construction Products
Regulation (CPR) has been
around for over 25 years
(initially as a European
Directive) and is now being
applied to power, control and
communication cables. But
what does this mean for manufacturers,
distributors and end users?

Common language
The CPR lays down harmonised rules for
bringing construction products to market
in the European Union (EU). It provides
a common technical language to assess
the performance of these products with
the purpose to allow professionals and
consumers to define their performance
demands and to enable free circulation

of these goods throughout the European
Economic Area (EEA).
Each EU member state - without
exception - is obliged to adopt CPR
terminology into its national regulations.
With the publication of h/EN 50575 in
July 2015, the CPR now also includes
cables. This harmonised European
standard provides requirements for
cables used in permanent constructions
(buildings and other civil works) with
regard to their reaction to fire. All power,
control and communication cables copper and fibre - are in scope.

A closer look at
performance levels
The performance levels are classified
by a ‘EuroClass’ for flame propagation

and heat release, going from A (noncombustible) to F (no fire performance),
and by three additional criteria for
smoke (s), acidity (a) and flaming
droplets (d).
For cables, only four EuroClasses are
relevant: B2ca, Cca, Dca and Eca.
Manufacturers are not allowed to
‘self-declare’ these performance levels,
but need to have their cables tested and
certified by a Notified Body accredited
by the EC.
There are two levels of assessment
and certification procedures: System
1+ for the higher performance
EuroClasses B2ca and Cca and System
3 for the medium to lower performance
EuroClasses Dca and Eca. System 3
only involves a type test on samples
submitted to the Notified Body by the
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03/10/2016 12:03