With the introduction of EU Regulation 305/2011, better known as Construction Products Regulation (CPR), C.E.CAM. S.r.l. wanted to comply with the market rules for construction products and this document sets out some of the obligations and fundamental aspects to be ensured in energy and transmission cables and the purpose of this Regulation and that of ensuring the free movement of construction products in the European Union adopting a harmonised technical language capable of defining their performance and essential characteristics, safeguarding the market for non-compliant products.
It is clear the importance of fully understanding the CPR Regulation, so as to comply with the Rules during the design and construction of an electrical system limiting to a minimum the risks to people and goods reducing the danger of fires.
The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and a directly applicable European law that immediately imposes duties and rights of Union citizens and/or Member States.
The CPR Regulation establishes the basic requirements and harmonised essential characteristics that all products designed to be permanently installed in civil engineering works (e.g.: housing, industrial and commercial buildings, offices, hospitals, schools, subways, etc.) must ensure for the scope. It is necessary that the installation takes place in a stable and lasting way during the service life of the work itself.
The concept of "construction" in the technical - legal sense is to be understood as "any three-dimensional artifact, however achieved, involving a well-defined occupation of land and airspace" (cf. Criminal Court, Sez. III, Sent. 24 febbraio 2012, n. 5624; Cassazione penale, Sez. III, Sent. 15 giugno 2017, n. 30157).
The cables have been classified in 7 classes of Reaction to Fire A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F identified by the pedice "ca" (cable) according to their decreasing performance:
Each class has minimum thresholds for heat release and flame propagation. In addition to this main classification, the European Authorities have also regulated the use of the following parameters additional:
UNDERSTANDING THE CPR CLASSIFICATION OF CABLES
NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE REACTION TO FIRE FOR CPR CABLES ACCORDING TO THE UNEL 35016 IEC
Dop is the legal document that describes the performance of construction products in relation to the characteristics essential with which the manufacturer assumes responsibility for the conformity of the product with the performance declared
The CE marking must be affixed on all cables permanently incorporated in buildings and civil engineering works (whatever the level of declared performance). In case it is not possible for lack of space to affix this marking directly on the product and comply with the above, the CE marking shall be marked on the label (fixed on reels, coils or other types of packaging) in a visible, legible and indelible manner. For low voltage power cables and for all communication cables, the CE marking ensures compliance with following European laws/regulations: CPR regulation (for fire performance) and LVD directive (for characteristics electrical and mechanical).
Example of C.E.C.A.M. label