All cables sold in the UK have to be CPR Rated – with exception of PH30 / PH120 rated Fire Cables which have their own strict fire tests. Every cable reel should have a CPR Label that states it’s rating.
| CPR Level | Explanation |
|---|---|
| B2ca | Same tests as Cca, but to higher standards. Highest level any thermoplastic sheathed cable will meet. |
| Cca | Same test as Dca, but to higher standards. Minimum requirement for BS6701 Regulations. |
| Dca | 3rd party tested to EN ISO1716, EN 50399, EN 60332-1-2, EN 61034-2, EN 60754-2 |
| Eca | Basic 3rd party testing to EN60332-1-2 |
| Fca | Cable will either not pass basic Eca testing [PE Sheathed cables for example] or has not been tested. |
BS6701 calls for cables to be CPR Cca (not to be confused with cheap CCA conductor cables). However, not all installations are to BS6701, so anyone carrying out one of these installation MUST advise at the enquiry stage that the cable is required to CPR Cca. The vast majority of cables on the market are CPR Eca. Quite a few are now available (but not as standard) to CPR Dca, far fewer are to either CPR CCa or CPR B2ca. Some cables are simply not available to anything higher than CPR Eca.
This document from BASEC should help to explain the implications of CPR:
