Networks Europe Jan-Feb 2017 | Page 20

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CABLING REGULATIONS

Keeping up to date

OTHER RELEVANT STANDARDS
By Nancy De Clerck , Product Manager , Nexans Cabling Solutions
www . nexans . co . uk
Construction Products Regulations for cables : what you need to know
Originally a European Directive launched over 25 years ago , the Construction Products Regulation ( CPR ) is now applicable to power , data and communication cables . This has wideranging implications for network designers , manufacturers , distributors , installers and end users .
CPR replaces the Construction Products Directive ( CPD ), first published by the EC in 1989 , and introduces a set of harmonised rules for bringing construction products to market in the European Union ( EU ). It enables performance assessment of these products according to a common technical language , so that professionals and consumers can define and evaluate performance demands . Unlike Directives , Regulations – such as CPR – pass directly into national EU member state law .
Any national regulation or standard must , therefore , adopt the terminology of the European regulation and the standard ( s ) it references . CPR has repercussions for all cables brought to market throughout the European Economic Area ( EEA ). All member States – including the UK for the time being – must adapt their national standards and / or regulations in order to reflect CPR terminology .
National variations CPR references EN 50575 , a new harmonised standard published in July 2015 specifying requirements for cables used for permanent installation in construction works with regard to their reaction to fire . Compliance will be mandatory as of July 1 , 2017 . After that date , manufacturers ( or importers ) will no longer be allowed to market cables without CPR compliance in the European Economic Area . It ’ s up to each individual member state to determine which level of fire performance is required for which type of building and / or application . This will most probably vary from country to country .
CPR isn ’ t only relevant to manufacturers . During a coexistence period , which commenced on June 10 , 2016 , stakeholders such as consultants , specifiers , architects and building owners will need to familiarise themselves with the new regulations . And , incorporate these into their building
• EN50575 ‘ Power , control and communication cables - Cables for general applications in construction works subject to reaction to fire requirements ’
• EN 50399 Common test methods for cables under fire conditions
• EN 13501-6 Fire classification of construction products and building elements
• EN50576 Electric cables
CPR info and FAQs are available at www . nexans . co . uk / LANsystems specs and tender books while manufacturers can get ready to develop CPR-ready cables and prepare for certification .
EuroClasses for performance Performance levels are rated according to ‘ EuroClasses ’ for flame propagation and heat release . There are 7 EuroClasses to be distinguished : Aca , B1ca , B2ca , Cca , Dca , Eca and Fca , where Aca equates to ‘ non-combustible ’ and Fca indicates ‘ no performance determined ’. The ca subscript stands for cables , but the performance classes have been inherited from the CPR mother document and are therefore not all applicable to cables . EuroClass A , for example , would apply to bricks , marble , and so on .
For cables , the relevant EuroClasses are : B2ca , Cca , Dca and Eca . The majority of cables installed in Europe today are already compliant with IEC 60332-1 for flame propagation , and are therefore equivalent to EuroClass Eca – the minimum requirement specified by the EN 50174 series of installation standards for communication cabling . There are also three additional criteria determining smoke ( s ), acidity ( a ) and flaming droplets ( d ). The latter is a new parameter in reaction to fire testing . All tests are defined in the new harmonised standard EN 50399 .
Cables are to be tested and certified by a Notified Body , which is accredited by the EC – not by the manufacturer . Two levels of assessment and certification procedures exist : System 1 + for EuroClasses B2ca and Cca , the higher performance classes , and System 3 for medium to lower performance EuroClasses Dca and Eca . System 3 only involves a type test on samples submitted to the Notified Body by the manufacturer .
System 1 +, however , also includes factory audit and continuous verification through production inspection and warehouse sampling . Brexit notwithstanding , the UK is an early adopter of the new European regulation . BSI has amended a number of telecom cabling standards and a minimum of EuroClass Eca will apply inside buildings . The current requirements for escape routes specified by the Wiring Regulations correspond to EuroClass Cca .
Declaration of Performance Only after cables have been assessed in accordance to these systems , are manufacturers entitled to draw-up a Declaration of Performance ( DoP ). This is a mandatory document to be made publicly available to show CPR compliance . The DoP contains a unique reference number and cable type description , its EuroClass and smoke / droplets / acidity classifications according to EN 50575 and the ID number of the Notified Body that carried out the testing . This information must also be visible on the label of the cable packaging ( drum or box ), including the CE mark and the number of the DoP ( generated by the manufacturer ). Printing CPR information on the cable sheath is optional . Each party involved in specifying , supplying and installing cables need to be aware of the national requirements and recommendations to determine appropriate performance levels . CPR is expected to impact fire safety awareness and end users , consultants , installers and distributors must all make certain that they understand the obligations and have taken steps to ensure compliance . Any doubts or questions ? Speak to an expert ! n
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