What is euroclass cabling and why should it be used in all new installations?

1. Do I have to install a Euroclass Compliantdata cablingin data cablinginstallation
Euroclass cables and data or fibre optic cabling inwhich these standards are affected?
Euroclass cable
The requirementtoinstall aEuroclass cable isto be compliantwith BS6701:2016+A1:2017
Therefore if youare not installingtothisstandardthenthe non-compliance isadvisedtobe notified
to the buildingowner.Insuchcasesa fire safetyreportcanbe undertakenunderBS9999 to lookat
waysto mitigate the risks
Communicationcable
Assemblyof suitablyinsulatedcoaxial conductorsortwistedpairsof insulatedconductorsfabricated
to meettransmission,mechanical andenvironmental requirements.Furthermore sufficienttoallow
conveyance of informationbetweentwopointswiththe minimumof radiation
Optical fibre cable
Assemblycomprisingone ormore optical fibresorfibre bundles.Thuscontainedinside acommon
coveringdesignedtoprotectthemagainstmechanical stressesandotherenvironmental influences.
In additionretainingthe transmissionqualityof the fibres
What is BS 6701:2016+A1:2017?
Thisis the BritishStandardassociatedwithcablingandtelecommunicationsequipment.Itcreates
specificallyalinkfromUK electrical installationstandardsandhow theyapplytothe cabling
equivalents
To beginwithitreferencestelecommunicationcablesandtheirreactiontofire performance in
regardsto CPR (ConstructionProductsRegulation)
“For newinstallationsandthe refurbishmentorextensionof existinginstallationswithinthe
external fire barrierof the building,installationcableswhichare subjecttothe CPR shall asa
minimummeetthe requirementsof EuroclassCca,s1b,d2, a2."
To illustrate thisthe Productsheetfromthe Excel CablingBrandManufacturerHighlightsthese
changesand standard - CPR and BS6701:2016+A1:2017 At a glance...
What is CPR?
Specificallythe ‘ConstructionProjectsRegulation’aimstobreakdowntechnical barriersandprovide
a commontechnical language.Thustoassessthe performance of constructionproductsandto
harmonise the rules formarketingthese products.
Four KeyConceptsof CPR:
 A systemof harmonisedtechnical specifications
 A frameworkof notifiedbodies
 A systemof conformityassessmentforeachproductfamily

2.  CE markingof products
Whyis LS0H no longer enough?
Low-smoke,zero-halogen(LS0H) cablesweredesignedtomeetthree IECstandards:
1. IEC60332: Flame Spread
2. IEC60754: Smoke Acidity
3. IEC61034: Smoke Emission
The CPR appliesadditional criteriaandtestingprocedurestopromote amore harmonisedstandard
to describe acable’sreactionto fire.
Are all cable types requiredto comply?
 The CPR appliestoall permanentlyinstalledcableswithinabuilding;communication,power
and control cablesinfixedinstallations.
 There isno distinctionbetweencopperand fibre,orshieldedandunshieldedcables.
 The onlyexceptionispatchleads,whichare notwithinscope of CPR.
So, which CPR Euroclass Cable shouldyou choose?
DifferentMemberStatesrequire differentCPRclassificationlevelsforvariousapplications.
Furthermore memberState mayimplementthe standardinline withtheirregional requirements.
For instance,hospitalsrequireaB2ca ratingin some countries,butonlyaCca rating inothers.
In thiscase to achieve standardscompliance inthe UK,itis importanttochoose a cable witha CPR
Euroclassof a minimumof Cca,s1b, d2, a2 - as stipulatedinBS6701:2016+A1:2017.
Likewise thisappliestoanynewinstallationsorthe refurbishmentand/orextensionof existing
installationswithinthe external firebarrierof the building.
Therefore itisalwaysadvisabletoalwayscheckwithacountry’slocal regulations.
Where can I locate the requirementsofthe standard compliantEuroclass cable?
 ProductData Sheets
 ProductPackingLabels
 Cable SheathPrinting
Price DifferencesofEuroclass cable
Cca and B2Ca euroclasscable due totheirsuperiorfire ratingare naturallyamore expensive
material acquisitionthanthe standardLSOH cable or PVCversions.Insome casesthismaybe 30-
40% incable material costs.

3. If comparable quotesshowone tobe significantlylowerinprice itsadvisable tocheckthatthe
correct cable specificationhasbeenquoted
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