Power cables

CE marking of construction products of power cables in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) has become mandatory with effect from 1st July 2017 following expiry of the coexistence period with harmonised standard EN 50575.
 
Essential requirements to be met are Reaction to fire and Emissions of dangerous substances.
 
The reaction to fire classification of cables is specified by standard EN 13501-6 that in addition to classes, also defines the rules and test methods to be applied.
 
The reaction to fire class is an alphanumeric designation covering various aspects:
 

General reaction to fire classification:	Smoke production classification:	Acidity of gases classification:	Flaming droplets/particles classification
Aca B1ca B2ca Cca Dca Eca Fca	s1 Additionalclassification: S1a S1b s2 s3	a1 a2 a3	d1 d2 d3

Standard EN 50575 requests application of a different assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP) system based on the reaction to fire class.
 
Up to class Dca, it utilises AVCP 3 that merely requires initial type testing (ITT) to be carried out in the notified body’s laboratory.
For cables of class Cca or higher, it utilises system 1+.
It should be remembered that test results can be extended to a product family by following the EXAP rules of standard EN 50576, thus notably reducing the number of tests to be performed.
 
Istituto Giordano, notified body for AVCP 1+ and 3, performs preliminary testing, inspection and factory production control for ce certificate of conformity of electric cables.