The significance of the CPD for cables will be critical in Europe. Requirements to fire safety will be statutory as they will not "just" be determined by standards, but by European law. Costs of cables will then in the future be conditioned by the specified fire safety regulation applicable for a certain installation.

So far no final agreement has been made, and presently the decision has been delayed for a minimum of an additional 4 months (at least to October 2005) with no certain positive outcome this year.

General Advance Information

The following general advance information about the CPD can be provided:

The CPD for cables, as presently drafted, contains 6 different EuroClasses of safety ranging from Aca (no burning) to Fca (no limitation of burning). EuroClass B has been split into two sub-classes B1ca and B2ca satisfying either "plenum type" or "LSFR0H type" requirements. Sub-ratings are applied for some EuroClasses in addition to the fundamental fire ratings. This involves smoke generation, acidity of smoke and formation of burning droplets. Passing of the CPD requirements for cables will be documented by CE marking of the cables, but is of course only possible after its agreement.

After agreement of the CPD for cables it will be determined by each individual European country how the market implementation will be. As an imaginary example a country might decide that all hospitals will be EuroClass Cca and then all cables installed in hospitals in this country must be minimum EuroClass Cca.

Cable Testing

3P now has a facility for carrying out the CPD testing of cables. Testing of both flame retardancy, fire retardancy, smoke density, acidity of smoke and CPD fire testing are covered by the 3P certification activities.