Construction Products Regulation (CPR) update

The Construction product regulation (CPR) for cables is coming. This will be a mandatory requirement for fixed installation cable placed on the market in the EU, where it is to be used in the construction market. It will introduce a CE mark to allow free movement of goods in the EU where its scope will be considerably wider than the existing CE mark under the LV directive.

The Date of Applicability (DoA) of the CPR is 1st July 2016. Until that date it is not permitted to CE mark cables to the CPR. The co-existence period is 1 year, so transition will end on 1st July 2017. From the 1st July 2017 it will be obligatory for the CPR requirements to be followed.

The CPR for cables will cover two key areas:-
1. Reaction to fire*
The EC Date of application will be 1st July 2016 for this part. The product standard EN50575:2014 covering this, was published at the end of 2014.

2. Resistance to fire.
This standard will not be available for some time and therefore Fire resistant cables will be excluded from the CPR until it is published.

From the 1st July 2017, all fixed installation cable put onto the market in the EU for the construction market, will require the manufacturer to prepare and have available a declaration of performance (DOP) to a declared euroclass levels of performance. This level of performance will have to be 3rd party approved by an authorised notified body. At this time we are still awaiting Notified Bodies for cable testing to be appointed. Once in possession of the DOP the manufacturer will then be able to, and must, add a CE mark to the packaging, which will contain more information that just the “CE” under the current LV Directive. The Uk is not legislating the euroclass level to be declared.

It will become a legal requirement, from 1sy July 2017, that fixed installtion construction market cables put onto the market must have a DOP and appropriate CE mark as detailed in EN50575. This will also apply to products made outside of the EU. However, when importing cables from outside of the EU, the distributor placing them on the market takes on the responsibilities of the manufacturer for testing, DOP’s and CE.

Prysmian have a compliance team who will ensure all the products we supply will comply with the CPR requirements by the 1st July 2017.

*this refers to cables of all types used in construction works with requirements for Reaction to Fire - meaning flame/spread/propagation, evolution of smoke and acidic/corrosive gases, and restriction on flaming droplets.