A cable described as “CPR compliant” is still missing the information a buyer needs. The specification should state the complete reaction-to-fire class, such as B2ca-s1a,d1,a1 or Cca-s1,d1,a1, together with the applicable harmonised standard, Declaration of Performance (DoP), CE marking information and Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) route.
CPR classes describe how a cable reacts when exposed to fire. They do not state its voltage rating, conductor size, current-carrying capacity or circuit-integrity performance. They also do not make every cable with an LSZH jacket equal.
This guide explains how to read CPR cable classifications, what B2ca, Cca, Dca and Eca mean, how the s, d and a suffixes work, and which documents an importer or project buyer should check before approving a cable.
For product-family selection before reviewing fire performance, see our electrical cable product range and 0.6/1kV low voltage power cable guide.
Quick answer: what is a CPR cable class?
A CPR cable class is a European reaction-to-fire classification for a power, control or communication cable intended for permanent incorporation in construction works and covered by the applicable harmonised specification.
The main classes, from the highest reaction-to-fire performance to no performance determined, are:
Aca, B1ca, B2ca, Cca, Dca, Eca and Fca.
For classes where additional classification applies, the complete code can also state:
s: smoke productiond: flaming droplets and particlesa: acidity and corrosivity of gases
For example, B2ca-s1a,d1,a1 means that the cable has a B2ca main class, an s1a smoke classification, a d1 flaming-droplet classification and an a1 acidity classification.
The code must be supported by the correct assessment route and product documents. A sheath description, certificate logo or stand-alone flame-test report is not a substitute for the DoP and CE information.
CPR cable classification at a glance
| Main class | General performance position | Main test route used for classification | Additional s/d/a classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aca | Highest class, with very limited combustible contribution | EN ISO 1716 | Not normally expressed in the same way as B1ca to Dca |
| B1ca | Very high reaction-to-fire performance | EN 50399 and EN 60332-1-2 | Yes |
| B2ca | Higher performance than Cca | EN 50399 and EN 60332-1-2 | Yes |
| Cca | Higher performance than Dca | EN 50399 and EN 60332-1-2 | Yes |
| Dca | Lower performance than Cca but above Eca | EN 50399 and EN 60332-1-2 | Yes |
| Eca | Basic vertical flame-propagation performance | EN 60332-1-2 | No complete s/d/a classification in the normal Eca designation |
| Fca | No reaction-to-fire performance determined against the higher classes | No declared performance against Eca or above | No |
This hierarchy should not be converted into a universal building rule. CPR provides a common classification language, while national regulations and the project fire strategy determine the class required for a particular building, route or room.
What does CPR mean for electrical cables?
CPR refers to the European Construction Products Regulation framework. It provides harmonised methods for expressing the performance of construction products placed on the EU market.
For general power, control and communication cables installed permanently in construction works and subject to reaction-to-fire requirements, EN 50575 is the central cable specification commonly cited in the DoP and CE information. EN 13501-6 provides the reaction-to-fire classification framework for electric cables. The tests used within that framework include EN 50399, EN 60332-1-2, EN 61034-2, EN 60754-2 and EN ISO 1716, depending on the class being declared.
2026 regulatory note
The EU CPR framework is moving from Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 to Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 under transitional provisions. The EU also issued updated delegated classification rules in 2026. Buyers should therefore identify the destination country, intended market-placement date, applicable harmonised specification and required document version in the purchase order.
The familiar class code alone does not settle those transition questions. For an active project, confirm the legal and standard references with the project authority, importer, notified body or relevant national product contact point.
Which cables fall within the CPR scope?
CPR reaction-to-fire requirements generally concern cables intended for permanent incorporation in construction works when their intended use falls within the applicable harmonised specification. Examples can include:
- Building wires installed in conduits or trunking
- Low voltage power cables installed in buildings
- Control and instrumentation cables used as permanent building services
- Communication and data cables installed as part of the building
- Fire-alarm and safety-system cables where reaction-to-fire classification is required
The exact scope depends on intended use and the applicable harmonised specification. A cable does not enter or leave the scope merely because it has a familiar product name.
Products supplied for temporary wiring, machinery, vehicles, appliances, lifts, ships or other special uses may follow different legislation and product standards. A photovoltaic cable may also have its own product-standard requirements even when part of its route enters a building. The specification must separate product compliance from building reaction-to-fire requirements.
B2ca vs Cca vs Dca vs Eca
B2ca cable
B2ca sits above Cca in the CPR hierarchy. Its classification uses the bunched-cable fire test route in EN 50399 together with the single-cable flame-propagation test in EN 60332-1-2. The complete designation normally includes smoke, flaming-droplet and acidity classes.
B2ca may be specified for routes where national rules or a project fire strategy call for restricted fire growth, heat release, smoke and corrosive gas performance. That requirement must come from the project documentation. A supplier should not decide that every hospital, tunnel or escape route automatically requires the same B2ca suffix.
Cca cable
Cca is below B2ca and above Dca. It also uses EN 50399 and EN 60332-1-2, with the applicable additional classifications.
Cca is common in specifications that require more than the basic Eca flame test but do not call for B2ca performance. Two Cca cables can still behave differently in smoke, droplets and acidity. Cca-s1,d1,a1 and Cca-s3,d2,a3 are not equivalent declarations.
Dca cable
Dca is below Cca. The classification still considers bunched-cable fire behaviour through EN 50399 and single-cable flame propagation through EN 60332-1-2. Smoke, droplet and acidity suffixes remain relevant.
Dca can be acceptable in some building categories and routes, but the class is not a blanket permission for use across the EU. The destination country’s rules and the approved building specification decide where it can be installed.
Eca cable
Eca confirms basic performance under the single vertical flame-propagation test route in EN 60332-1-2. It does not provide the same heat-release, smoke, droplet and acidity classification package used for B1ca through Dca.
An Eca declaration therefore should not be described as low smoke, zero halogen or fire resistant unless separate, valid evidence supports those claims.
What about Aca, B1ca and Fca?
Aca is the highest main class and is based on gross heat of combustion. It is uncommon for conventional insulated power-cable constructions that contain combustible polymeric materials.
B1ca sits above B2ca and uses a more demanding classification route. It should appear in a quotation only when the exact product and documentation support it.
Fca means no performance has been determined against Eca or a higher class. It should not be rewritten as “fireproof” or “basic CPR” in a datasheet.
How to read the s, d and a suffixes
The main Euroclass does not tell the whole story. A complete code for B1ca, B2ca, Cca or Dca can include three additional classifications.
Smoke classification: s1, s1a, s1b, s2 and s3
The s suffix describes smoke production under the applicable test conditions.
| Smoke class | Buyer interpretation |
|---|---|
| s1a | s1 performance with the stricter light-transmittance subdivision |
| s1b | s1 performance with the next light-transmittance subdivision |
| s1 | Lower smoke production than s2 under the classification criteria |
| s2 | Higher permitted smoke production than s1 |
| s3 | Neither s1 nor s2 is declared, or no qualifying smoke performance is stated |
The s class concerns smoke production and, for s1a or s1b, light transmittance. It does not by itself measure every toxic substance that may be released during combustion.
Flaming droplets: d0, d1 and d2
The d suffix describes flaming droplets or particles during the applicable test.
| Droplet class | Buyer interpretation |
|---|---|
| d0 | No flaming droplets or particles within the stated classification conditions |
| d1 | Flaming droplets or particles may occur but do not persist beyond the permitted duration |
| d2 | Neither d0 nor d1 performance is declared |
Lower numbers indicate tighter performance. The correct class must still match the national or project requirement.
Acidity: a1, a2 and a3
The a suffix describes the acidity and conductivity of gases released from the cable’s non-metallic materials under the specified test conditions.
| Acidity class | Buyer interpretation |
|---|---|
| a1 | Tighter acidity and conductivity limits |
| a2 | Less restrictive than a1 |
| a3 | Neither a1 nor a2 performance is declared |
The acidity class is relevant to corrosive-gas risk, but it should not be described as a complete smoke-toxicity rating.
Example: B2ca-s1a,d1,a1 explained
The designation can be read in four parts:
| Code element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| B2ca | Main reaction-to-fire class for cable |
| s1a | Low smoke classification with the s1a light-transmittance subdivision |
| d1 | Limited persistence of flaming droplets or particles under the classification conditions |
| a1 | Tighter acidity and conductivity classification |
A buyer should copy the full code into the RFQ and purchase order. Writing only “B2ca cable” removes three performance fields that may matter to the building specification.
Which tests support CPR cable classifications?
| Standard | What it examines in the CPR classification route |
|---|---|
| EN ISO 1716 | Gross heat of combustion, used for Aca |
| EN 50399 | Fire spread, heat release, smoke production and flaming droplets for bunched cables, as applicable |
| EN 60332-1-2 | Vertical flame propagation on a single insulated wire or cable |
| EN 61034-2 | Smoke density and light transmittance used for the s1a and s1b subdivisions |
| EN 60754-2 | Acidity and conductivity of gases from cable materials |
| EN 13501-6 | Classification framework that converts the applicable test results into the declared cable class |
| EN 50575 | Harmonised cable specification connecting intended use, assessment, DoP and CE marking for cables subject to reaction-to-fire requirements |
Passing EN 60332-1-2 alone does not prove a B2ca or Cca classification. It is one part of the route for several classes. Likewise, a report to an IEC fire-test standard should not automatically be treated as a complete CPR document set.
For a wider explanation of complete-cable construction and testing, read our IEC 60502-1 cable guide.
CPR class vs LSZH, flame retardant and fire resistant
These terms answer different questions.
| Term | What it tells the buyer | What it does not prove by itself |
|---|---|---|
| CPR class | Reaction-to-fire performance under the applicable European classification route | Voltage rating, ampacity or circuit integrity |
| LSZH or halogen free | Low-smoke and halogen-related material or test performance when supported by named standards | A particular B2ca, Cca, Dca or Eca class |
| Flame retardant | Restricted flame propagation under a named test | Low smoke, low acidity or continued circuit operation |
| Fire resistant | Circuit integrity or functional survival during fire under a named test | A CPR reaction-to-fire class |
An LSZH cable can have different CPR classes depending on its construction and test results. A PVC cable may also achieve a declared CPR class, although its smoke and acidity suffixes can differ from an LSZH construction.
The distinction is covered in more detail in our H07Z1-K and H07Z-K LSZH building wire guide. That page explains the cable types. This article owns the CPR classification and document-checking intent.
AVCP systems for CPR cables
AVCP defines how product performance is assessed and how the manufacturer controls its consistency. The level of third-party involvement changes with the main class.
| CPR class | AVCP system | General assessment route |
|---|---|---|
| Aca, B1ca, B2ca, Cca | System 1+ | Notified product certification body, product assessment, factory production control review, continuing surveillance and audit testing as applicable |
| Dca, Eca | System 3 | Notified testing laboratory assesses product performance; the manufacturer operates factory production control |
| Fca | System 4 | Manufacturer assessment and factory production control under the applicable rules |
This distinction matters during supplier approval. A System 3 test that reaches B2ca-level laboratory results does not give the manufacturer the right to declare B2ca under System 1+. The certification and surveillance route must match the class being placed on the market.
What should be included in the Declaration of Performance?
The DoP connects the product identity to its intended use and declared performance. The exact format depends on the applicable legal framework, but a cable buyer should expect to find and cross-check at least:
- DoP reference number
- Unique product-type identification
- Intended use under the harmonised specification
- Manufacturer name and contact address
- Applicable AVCP system
- Harmonised standard and relevant edition
- Notified body identification and activity, where required
- Complete declared reaction-to-fire class
- Other declared essential characteristics where applicable
- Issue date and authorised signature or equivalent approval
The product code on the quotation, datasheet, cable marking, label and DoP should identify the same product. If the DoP covers a family or range, ask for the scope showing that the proposed conductor size, core count and construction are included.
What should the CE information show?
CE marking indicates conformity with the declared performance under the applicable harmonised route. For buyer verification, check the following information on the cable label, packaging or accompanying CE information as applicable:
- CE symbol
- Manufacturer identity and address
- Product-type or traceability code
- DoP reference
- Intended use
- Complete CPR class
- Harmonised standard reference
- Notified body number where the AVCP route requires one
- Production or identification details that connect the label to the delivered batch
A CE logo copied onto a datasheet proves very little on its own. The identifiers must connect the physical cable, packaging and DoP.
Our cable jacket markings guide explains how to compare cable printing with the technical specification and traceability documents.
Does every EU country require the same CPR cable class?
No. CPR harmonises the performance language and assessment route. Each country can set the class required for its building types and installation conditions within that classification system.
The required class may vary with:
- Residential, commercial, industrial or public-building use
- Building height and occupancy
- Escape routes and evacuation areas
- Tunnels, transport facilities and underground spaces
- Fire compartment and route design
- Cable quantity or fire load
- Local fire code and project specification
Do not copy a class from a project in one country into a different market without checking the local rule. The tender, approved cable schedule and national requirements should agree before the order is placed.
Can one CPR certificate cover every cable size?
Not automatically. Reaction-to-fire performance can change with cable diameter, insulation and sheath compounds, wall thickness, conductor configuration, fillers, screens, armour and the amount of non-metallic material.
A classification report or certificate may cover a defined product family or an extended application range, but the buyer must check that scope. Ask these questions:
- Does the document name the proposed product family?
- Are the required sizes and core counts covered?
- Is the proposed insulation and sheath compound the same as the assessed construction?
- Does the declared class include the required s/d/a suffixes?
- Is the manufacturing location covered by the certification route?
- Are the document numbers current and traceable?
Changing the jacket compound or reducing material thickness to meet a price target can affect the declared product. Do not accept a certificate for a similar-looking cable as proof for the supplied cable.
CPR cable buyer document checklist
Before order approval, request:
- Technical datasheet with exact cable construction
- Declaration of Performance
- CE label or marking information
- Classification report for the proposed product or covered family
- Certificate of Constancy of Performance for System 1+ classes
- Notified laboratory report for the applicable System 3 assessment
- Factory production control information when required by the purchasing plan
- Product-family or extended-application scope covering the ordered sizes
- Cable-marking artwork and packaging-label artwork
- Batch test and traceability plan
Check the notified body in the official EU database rather than relying on a logo in a PDF. Match the body number, assessment scope, manufacturer, factory and certificate reference.
For the production and shipment stage, use the electrical cable factory inspection checklist to connect approved documents to the cable drums that are actually shipped.
How to write a CPR cable RFQ
A usable RFQ should state the project requirement instead of asking for “best CPR cable.”
Use this format:
Destination market: [EU country]
Intended use: Permanent installation in construction works, exact route stated
Cable type: [building wire / 0.6/1kV power cable / control cable]
Product standard: [state required standard and edition]
CPR specification: EN 50575 and complete required class
Required class: [example: Cca-s1,d1,a1]
Voltage rating: [state]
Conductor: [copper or aluminium, class, number of cores and mm²]
Insulation and sheath: [state exact materials]
Installation route: [conduit, tray, riser, escape route or other approved method]
Documents: DoP, CE information, applicable AVCP certificate or report, datasheet and batch traceability
Marking and packaging: [language, label fields, drum or coil requirements]
Quantity and delivery lengths: [state]
The buyer should supply the class. The manufacturer should confirm whether an existing assessed construction covers it. If custom development is needed, the quotation should separate sample work, testing, certification, production approval and lead time.
Common CPR cable purchasing mistakes
| Mistake | Why it causes a problem | Better purchase instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Asking only for “CPR compliant” | The phrase does not state the class, suffixes, destination-country requirement or assessment route. | Write the complete designation. |
| Treating LSZH as a CPR class | LSZH describes material and emission-related performance when supported by tests. It does not equal B2ca, Cca or another main class. | State the material requirements and CPR code separately. |
| Comparing only B2ca and Cca | The s/d/a suffixes can change the suitability of two cables with the same main class. | Compare the complete declared codes. |
| Accepting a test report instead of a DoP | A report provides test evidence. The DoP is the manufacturer’s declaration for the identified product under the applicable CPR route. | Request the test evidence, DoP, CE information and correct AVCP evidence. |
| Ignoring certificate scope | A document for one construction, size range or factory may not cover another. | Match the ordered product to the documented scope. |
| Assuming one class works throughout Europe | National rules select the required performance level. | Confirm the country, building type and cable route. |
| Calling a CPR cable fire resistant | CPR classes cover reaction to fire. Circuit integrity during fire is a separate claim. | Name the circuit-integrity standard and evidence separately. |
How KingForYou Cable handles CPR-related enquiries
KingForYou Cable supplies building wire, low voltage power cable, aluminium cable and other electrical cable products for international buyers. CPR availability must be checked against the exact cable type, construction, size range, class and destination-market requirement.
For a CPR-related enquiry, send:
- Complete CPR class, including s/d/a suffixes
- Destination country and intended use
- Cable standard and voltage rating
- Conductor material, class, core count and size
- Insulation, sheath and armour requirements
- Quantity, delivery length and packing format
- Required DoP, CE and third-party documentation
Review our guide to choosing a cable manufacturer in China for broader supplier, test and export checks. You can also contact KingForYou Cable with the approved cable schedule for a specification review and quotation.
FAQs about CPR cable classes
Is B2ca better than Cca?
B2ca is higher than Cca in the CPR reaction-to-fire hierarchy. The final selection must still include the required smoke, droplet and acidity suffixes and match the national or project requirement.
Is Cca better than Dca?
Yes. Cca has tighter main classification criteria than Dca. Compare the full declared code rather than the main class alone.
What does the “ca” in B2ca mean?
The suffix identifies the classification as one for cables.
Is Eca cable LSZH?
Not necessarily. Eca confirms basic vertical flame-propagation performance. It does not prove low-smoke or halogen-free performance.
Does B2ca mean fire resistant?
No. B2ca is a reaction-to-fire class. Fire resistance or circuit integrity needs separate testing and documentation.
Can a PVC cable receive a CPR class?
Yes, if the identified cable construction completes the applicable assessment and documentation route. PVC or LSZH material naming does not determine the class by itself.
What is the difference between s1a and s1b?
Both are subdivisions of s1. The s1a subdivision has the tighter light-transmittance requirement under the applicable smoke-density test.
Is a CE logo enough to approve a CPR cable?
No. Match the CE information to the DoP, full class, product code, harmonised standard, notified body details where applicable and the delivered cable.
Who decides which CPR class a building needs?
National regulations, the project fire strategy and approved design documents set the required class. The manufacturer supplies a product with evidence for that declared class.
What should I send when requesting a CPR cable quotation?
Send the destination country, intended use, full CPR code, cable standard, voltage, construction, conductor size, core count, quantity, delivery length and required documents.
Final buyer recommendation
Write the complete CPR class into the cable schedule, including the s/d/a suffixes. Then match the quotation, datasheet, DoP, CE information, AVCP evidence, product-family scope, cable marking and packaging label before approving production.
If any identifier differs, stop the document review and ask the supplier to resolve it. The approved classification must belong to the cable that will be manufactured and shipped, not to a similar sample or a different product family.
