Essential Install | Smart Thinking
Are You Compliant ?
Jon Herbert , director at FS Cables , looks at the new Construction Products Regulation and what it mean for contractors .
Ladder test – during and after
Most cables designed for permanent use within domestic , residential and commercial buildings are now subject to the Construction Products Regulation ( CPR ), covered by EN50575 . This became a legal requirement from July 1 , 2017 so it is vital you understand how to stay compliant .
EN50575 enables designers and installers to consider the contribution that cables make to the spread of fire . Cables are a particular concern as they run between rooms and floors , above ceilings and are often made from flammable materials . They can be also be a source of ignition if badly installed , damaged or faulty .
The regulation classifies products into one of seven classes , but realistically only five classes will apply to cables . Classes Fca and Eca undertake a basic vertical flame test EN60332-1-2 . If the cable burns too much , then it can be classified as Class Fca . However , for the cable to meet the requirements of Class Eca , the same test has to be conducted by an authorised test house , known as a Notified Body ( NB ). Tests by NBs carry a significant cost . FS Cables has invested in a test rig to EN60332-1-2 to enable us to understand how cables will perform and where appropriate , classify to Class Fca .
Some cables have many different core combinations and each size may have to be tested individually . Costs can quickly add up therefore many products may only be classified to Class Eca for economic reasons .
Classes Dca , Cca , B2ca and B1ca also apply to cables . Like Class Eca , the tests are conducted by a
Notified Body but could cost tens of thousands of pounds to classify per group of cables . At
Classes Cca , B2ca and B1ca , the factories manufacturing the cable will be regularly audited by an approved third party at an additional cost . It is unlikely that any cables will meet the requirements of Class Aca , simply due to the materials they are made of . It is important to note that all CPRrated products can be used , whatever their classification . However , it is up to the designer , specifier or installer to satisfy themselves that the products chosen are appropriate for the application . When specifying cable , take care to assess the risk of fire within the building and the potential ease of evacuation . Airports , hospitals , prisons , tunnels and high-rise buildings all offer their own unique challenges and should be assessed individually .
So what can you do to stay compliant ? If the cable you purchase is intended for permanent installation within a domestic , residential or commercial building , or any other civil structure , a Declaration of Performance ( DoP ) should be available if the product has been classified . This document shows critical information such as manufacturer ’ s name , product type and class met . By law , manufacturers , distributors and wholesalers of CPRcompliant cables need to keep records of products and batches sold , together with DoP documentation for up to 10 years after the date of sale .
The cable itself is not required to be printed or embossed to show CPR compliance , however the regulation is very clear that the packaging ( usually a drum or spool ) must carry specific information on the label . This will include the CE mark , DoP reference and unique product type . All FSC-marked cables will carry a batch number to give full traceability about when and where the cable was made and also the materials and production lines used to manufacture that specific batch .
As part of the commitment to meeting current regulations , FS Cables has a readily available range of CPR-compliant products , such as alternative to Belden , structured wiring , fibre , coax , signal and control and power cables . All products are held in stock for next working-day delivery . If you would like more information and to see the full range of compliant products , please speak to a member of our CPR team .
More Information : FS Cables + 44 ( 0 ) 01727 840841 , www . fscables . com / cpr
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