CPR regulation for network cables

This regulation establishes that a network cable that is installed permanently, typically inside a wall and in the conduit, must be certified according to its reaction to fire.

In summary: when you install a network cable, or when you choose a cable to install, you choose, depending on the performance you need, the category, 5e, 6, 6A, 7, 8.1, the shielding, the type of sheath, then the type of building and the risk associated with it must be assessed, and the CPR class appropriate to the situation must be identified.

The CPR fire reaction classes are, from highest to lowest:

Aca - B1ca - B2ca - Cca - Dca - Eca - Fca

Depending on this fire reaction class, the cable can be used in certain environments, according to this table which lists the main categories of CPR classes:

Places	Risk Level	Cable
Airports, railway stations, maritime stations, subways that are completely or partially underground. Road tunnels longer than 500 m and railway tunnels longer than 1000 m.	High	B2ca
Health facilities, entertainment and entertainment venues in general, gyms and sports centres. Hotels, guesthouses, motels, villages, tourist - hotel residences. Schools of every order, degree and type. Premises used for display and/or wholesale or retail sales. Companies and offices with over 300 people present; libraries and archives, museums, galleries, exhibitions and exhibitions. Buildings intended for civil use, with a fire prevention height exceeding 24m.	Medium	Approx
Other activities: Buildings intended for civil use, with a fire prevention height of less than 24 m, waiting room, bar, restaurant, medical office.	Bass	Cca (Cables installed in bundles)
Other activities: installations not foreseen in the buildings mentioned above and where there is no risk of fire and danger to people and/or things	Bass	Eca (Cables installed individually)

In addition to this main classification, the European authorities have also regulated the use of the following additional parameters, usually in use for the higher classes, B2 and C:

• s = smoke opacity. It varies from s1 to s3 with decreasing performance
• d = dripping of incandescent particles which can spread the fire.

It varies from d0 to d2 with decreasing performance

• a = acidity which defines the danger of the fumes for people and the corrosivity for things. It varies from a1 to a3 with decreasing performance.

Final notes: The CPR regulation does not concern network patch cables: it only concerns wall cables in fixed installations. Therefore the request for CPR certification of patch cables from PC to wall socket makes no sense.

CPR concerns fire reaction classes. It does not concern fire resistance, which will be the subject of future legislation.

CPR certification does not affect the performance of the cable. The cable must also have CE certification.

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See also

Modular Electrical Cabinets