What is CPR?

CPR stands for Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011, a European regulation that lays down harmonized rules for the marketing of construction products, including electrical cables that are permanently installed in buildings or civil engineering works.

Company Statement

Cleveland Cable Company is committed to compliance with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). We confirm that all cables manufactured after 1st July 2017 have been assessed in line with CPR requirements where applicable, complete with supporting documentation.

The Legislation

From 1st July 17 all non-fire performance cables introduced into the EU market which are to be a permanent fixture in a building or construction must comply with CPR and be rated and certified accordingly. The legislation applies across all construction products across Europe and aims to provide harmonised standards to all new building projects.

1. Purpose of CPR for Cables

CPR aims to improve:

• Fire safety in buildings
• Performance transparency across EU markets
• Standardization of cable reaction to fire
• Cables are evaluated primarily for their reaction to fire, such as flame spread, heat release, smoke production, burning droplets, and acidity.

2. CPR Classification for Cables

Cables are classified into seven Euroclasses, from most to least fire-resistant:

Euroclass                         Description
Aca                                  No contribution to fire

B1ca                                Very limited contribution

B2ca                                Limited contribution

Cca                                  Acceptable fire behavior (often minimum for public buildings)

Dca                                  Moderate fire behavior

Eca                                   Basic performance

Fca                                   No declared performance

Each class may also have additional ratings:

• s1, s2, s3: Smoke production (s1 = least smoke)
• d0, d1, d2: Burning droplets (d0 = none)
• a1, a2, a3: Acidity of gases (a1 = low acidity)

Example: A cable labelled Cca-s1a,d0,a1 means:

• Cca - Fire performance
• Very low smoke emission
• No burning droplets
• Low-acid gas emissions

3. Applications

CPR applies to all power, control, and communication cables installed:

• Permanently in buildings
• In other civil engineering works (e.g., tunnels, bridges)

It does not apply to:

• Cables for temporary installations
• Portable appliances or machines
• Marine or railway-specific cables

4. Manufacturer Responsibilities

Manufacturers must:

• Test cables to EN 50575 (the harmonized standard)
• Issue a Declaration of Performance (DoP)
• Apply the CE marking with CPR classification

5. Why CPR Matters

• Enhances building safety
• Ensures compliance with EU laws
• Helps designers and installers select suitable cables based on fire safety needs