CPR certificate: Summary of classes B2, C, D and E

The CPR certificate primarily assesses two aspects in the event of a fire: the reaction of installed cables and their emission of hazardous substances in this situation.

Safety is a crucial aspect to consider when starting a new project. All possible situations that the installation may face need to be evaluated, and maximum safety should be ensured at all times. That is why several criteria have been established at the European level to classify cables and assess their suitability under the certification nomenclature. The main criterion of the classification of electrical cables under the new European CPR fundamentally analyses two aspects. First, the reaction of electrical cables to fire (CPR fire compliance) and second, their emission of dangerous substances.

It is a fact that 90% of all fires that break out in Europe every year occur in buildings. The new CPR Regulation forces cable manufacturers, cable distributors, project managers, architects, constructors and installers throughout Europe to provide buildings with cables that have the right CPR classification. Top Cable can provide a whole range of cables for all purposes with the best CPR fire compliance performance. Because safety is our top priority.

What aspects of the cable are key to fire protection?

When choosing the safest possible cable in the event of fire, two main objectives are sought.
The first objective is to prevent the fire or, if this is not possible, its propagation. All the components of the cable must be designed to contribute to this objective. In this respect, it is very important to be able to rely on self-extinguishing and flame retardant properties.

The second main objective is to ensure maximum safety for people who may be trapped in a fire. To this end, it is important to minimise the formation of smoke and the toxicity of the gases generated in these situations.

CPR fire compliance categories

Europe, within the framework of the Construction Products Regulation of 2011 (CPR) created new fire protection categories for cables demanding a reassessment of fire Safety in buildings. cables are classified in 7 classes according to their flame spread and heat release.

The CPR defines several classes that indicate the impact of cables on the spread of fire, using a series of parameters obtained from the corresponding tests. The CPR includes four classes that apply directly to electrical cables:  A_ca, B1_ca, B2_ca, C_ca, D_ca, E_ca and F_ca.

At present time national ragulations have been established across Europe specifying CPR Classes between B2_ca and E_ca. The indsutry accordingly supplying products with this range of perfomance. These classes refer to combustible cables ranked in order of fire growth rate (FIGRA) and heat release.

CPR fire compliance classification criteria for of electrical cables

Cables classified as B2 and C are those with maximum performance against fire, providing maximum protection to people and equipment.

Cables belonging to classes D and E have a more basic level of safety.