Cpr Guide
Cables and Construction Products Regulation (CPR) - EU 305/11
The CPR Regulation concerns all manufactured products for permanent installation in buildings and civil engineering locations (for example: homes, industrial and commercial buildings, offices, hospitals, schools, subways, etc.).
For cables, the European Commission has decided to consider, within the characteristics considered relevant to the safety of buildings (7 basic requirements), the reaction and fire resistance in case of fire.
All cables permanently installed in structures, whether they are for the transport of energy or data transmission, any voltage level and with any type of metal conductor or fiber optic cable, must be classified according to the Euro classes of its installation environment.
The cables are classified into 7 classes of reaction to fire: Aca, B1ca, B2ca, Cca, Dca, Eca, Fca identified by the subscript “ca” (cable) in function of their level of performance. In addition to this main classification, the European authorities have also regulated the use of the following additional parameters.
s = smoke density.
Vary from s1 to s3
d = flaming droplets/particles.
Vary from d0 to d2.
a = acidity of combustion gases.
Vary from a1 to a3
Assignment of conformity system
SMOKE OPACITY
s1: Little production and slow propagation of smoke.
s1a: S1 with visibility over 80% (UNE-EN 61034-2).
s1b: S1 with visibility over 60% and below 80% (UNE-EN 61034-2).
s2: Intermediate values of production and propagation of smoke.
s3: Neither s1 nor s2.
FALL OF DROPLETS DURING COMBUSTION
d0: No fall of droplets of flamed particles (UNE-EN 50399).
d1: Fall of droplets and inflamed particles that persist for less than 10 seconds (UNE-EN 50399);.
d2: Neither d0 nor d1.
SMOKE ACIDITY
a1: Low acidity (UNE-EN 60754-2 conductivity <2.5 ns/mm, pH > 4.3).
a2: Intermediate values of acid (UNE-EN 60754-2 conductivity <10 ns/mm, pH > 4.3).
a3: Neither a1 nor a2.
ENVIROMENT
Airports, railway stations, marine stations,subways all or underground parts, road tunnels more than 500 meters and railway above 1000m.
Health facilities that provide long-term hospitality and/or residence and/or day-care, nursing homes for the elderly with more than 25 beds; health facilities that provide diagnostic examinations and laboratory services. Showrooms and entertainment facilities in general and sports centers, gyms both public and private. Hotels, guest houses, motels, hotel-villages, tourist residences, student residences, resorts, accommodation in farms, youth hostels, mountain refuges, bed & breakfast, dormitories, houses for holidays with more than 25 beds. Outdoor tourist accommodation structures (i.e., camping, resorts) with capacity accommodation for more than 400 people. Schools of any grade and type, colleges, academies with over 100 people; nurseries with over 30 people. Rooms used for expositions and/or wholesale and retail sales, fairs and fairgrounds. Companies and offices with over 300 people; libraries and archives, museums, galleries, exhibitions, and shows. Buildings intended for civil use, with a fire height greater than 24 m.
Other activities: buildings for civil use, with fire-fighting height of less than 24 m,waiting rooms, bars, restaurants, medical offices
Other activities: installations not covered in the buildings above and where there is risk of fire and danger to people and property.
Level of risk
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW (bunch laying)
LOW (single laying)
CLASS reference
B2ca – s1a,d1,a1
Cca
Cca – s3,d1,a3
Eca
Declaration of performance (DoP)
The Declaration of Performance (DoP) outlines the performance of the product’s most important properties.
The properties are assessed and described in a uniform European way.
This allows people to compare products, no matter where they were manufactured.
The DoP also includes information about the product’s application, manufacturer, and whether any third party was involved in production control.
The product is therefore only approved for CE marking after it has been tested and has a valid DoP, allowing the manufacturer to guarantee that the product meets the specified standard.
CE marking
CE marking is mandatory if the products are to be placed on the European market.
Depending on the compliance system, different requirements apply for the content of the labelling. As a general rule for cables, the marking has to be displayed on the product, the packaging, the labelling or a combination of thereof. The marking must be clearly visible, easily legible and indelibly fixed on the cable reel.
Below is an example of a label taken from standard EN 50575, for the cables responsive to system class Cca 1+ and a DoP:
