| Full title | EN 50575:2014+A1:2016, Power, control and communication cables. Cables for general applications in construction works subject to reaction to fire requirements |
| UK edition | BS EN 50575:2014+A1:2016 |
| Legal basis | Harmonised standard under the Construction Products Regulation, (EU) 305/2011 |
| Classification standard | EN 13501-6 |
| Applies to | Power, control and communication cables, copper and fibre, installed permanently in buildings and civil engineering works |
What EN 50575 does
EN 50575 is the harmonised European standard that brings cables under the Construction Products Regulation. It sets out how a cable’s reaction to fire is tested and classified, how the manufacturer’s production is checked, and what must appear on the Declaration of Performance and the CE marking. It has applied to power, control and communication cables since 1 July 2017.
It covers reaction to fire only: how much a cable contributes to a fire that starts elsewhere. Fire resistance, which is how long a cable keeps working in a fire, is a separate requirement for cables serving life-safety systems.
Reaction-to-fire classes
| Class | Fire performance | Main tests | AVCP system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aca | Non-combustible | EN ISO 1716 | 1+ |
| B1ca | Very limited contribution to fire | EN 50399 (30 kW burner), EN 60332-1-2 | 1+ |
| B2ca | Very limited contribution to fire | EN 50399 (20.5 kW burner), EN 60332-1-2 | 1+ |
| Cca | Limited contribution to fire | EN 50399 (20.5 kW burner), EN 60332-1-2 | 1+ |
| Dca | Medium contribution to fire | EN 50399 (20.5 kW burner), EN 60332-1-2 | 3 |
| Eca | A single cable does not propagate flame | EN 60332-1-2 | 3 |
| Fca | Does not meet Eca (flame spread H > 425 mm) | EN 60332-1-2 | 4 |
EN 50399 burns a bundle of cables on a vertical ladder and measures heat release, flame spread and smoke. EN 60332-1-2 applies a small flame to a single vertical cable.
Additional classifications
| Grade | Scale | Test | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke | s1, s1a, s1b, s2, s3 | EN 50399; EN 61034-2 for s1a and s1b | s1a: at least 80% light transmittance. s1b: at least 60% |
| Flaming droplets | d0, d1, d2 | EN 50399 | d0: none. d1: none lasting more than 10 seconds |
| Acidity | a1, a2, a3 | EN 60754-2 | a1 is the least acidic |
The additional grades apply to classes B1ca to Dca. Lower numbers are better, so Cca-s1a,d0,a1 is a better result than Cca-s1b,d2,a2.
Assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP)
- System 1+ (Aca to Cca): a notified product certification body tests the cable, inspects the factory and its production control, keeps it under continuous surveillance and audit-tests samples.
- System 3 (Dca and Eca): a notified testing laboratory type-tests the cable; the manufacturer runs its own factory production control.
- System 4 (Fca): no third-party involvement.
What the installer and specifier should check
- The class printed on the cable, drum or box label, with the CE (or UKCA) marking.
- A Declaration of Performance (DoP) stating the class, the standard and, for classes Aca to Eca, the notified body involved.
- That the class meets the specification or the building’s fire strategy. EN 50575 classifies the cable; the minimum class for an installation is set by national rules, specifications or standards such as BS 6701.
For a wider explanation of the ratings and BS 6701, read our guide to LSZH cable.