Fire safety: Ever more advanced cables
Active on several national markets, ACOME is constantly developing new cables in the FireProtect and FireProtect+ ranges to meet the highest Euroclass fire performance requirements.
The Construction Products Regulation (CPR), regulating the fire performance of cables, went into effect in France on 10 June 2016 and has been mandatory for all products entering the market since 1st July 2017.
Having been involved for more than 15 years in work to standardise the CPR’s new test methods, ACOME possesses its own Cofrac-certified laboratory, allowing it to pre-test its products before submitting them to the notified laboratory test to ensure total compliance with this Regulation.
More than 2000 ACOME product references have obtained CPR approval in various fields of application.
ACOME goes further with FireProtect and FireProtect+
Active on several national markets, ACOME ensures that it meets the country requirements by developing new product ranges that meet the exigencies of the highest Euroclasses.
Through the combined expertise of its fundamental research department and its Cofrac-certified test laboratory, ACOME has developed two innovative ranges:
- FireProtect (Cca), available on the ACOLAN copper, ACOHOME (residential), ACOLAN optical and ACOPTIC (FTTH) ranges.
Laboratory tests show that the energy releases are 10 times lower with a B2ca cable than with an Eca cable.
- FireProtect+ (B2ca), available on ACORAIL products for railways, notably for cables in tunnels, which require the highest level of fire resistance.
About the Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
Applicable as of 10 June 2016, Construction Products Regulation (CPR) No. 305/2011/EU applies to all cables installed inside buildings (insulated power, control and communications cables and wires permanently installed in buildings and civil engineering works).
The CPR requires harmonisation of test methods and cable performance classification, as well as a common language. The two main criteria are:
- Reaction to fire, i.e. the behaviour of the cable in the event of a fire,
- Emission of dangerous substances: smoke, droplets and acidity.
Cables are classified according to four Euroclass categories applied to cables, based on the thermal potential of the product.
|
Fire performance |
Euroclasses |
Description |
|
Optimal |
B2ca-s1a, d1, a1 |
Cables with optimal performance to respond to fire risk when the consequences (smoke, gas, etc.) would be most dramatic |
|
Improved |
Cca-s1, d1, a1 |
Cables with improved fire performance, which limit opaque and toxic smoke emissions |
|
Basic |
Dca-s2, d2, a2 |
Communication cables with basic fire performance, adapted to installation in bundles |
|
Basic |
Eca |
Energy cables with basic fire performance, flame-retardant |
Source : Sycabel