Why CPR-Compliant Cables Are Essential for Fire-Safe Building Infrastructure
In today’s construction industry, safety is not a choice, it is a shared obligation. As buildings continue to grow in height, complexity, and capacity, every product used in their construction must meet strict safety standards. Among these, cables, although often hidden behind walls or ceilings, play a critical role in maintaining fire safety throughout a building’s lifespan.
The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) was introduced to address this need by setting harmonised rules for assessing the performance of cables in fire scenarios. CPR compliance ensures that the cables used in fixed installations do not contribute to the rapid spread of flames or the production of hazardous smoke and gases.
Unfortunately, we have seen the tragic consequences of inadequate fire safety measures. The Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017, which claimed 72 lives, shocked the world and triggered intense scrutiny into building materials and fire safety systems. While the external cladding was a major factor, the fire’s spread through service voids and internal systems, including cabling, raised concerns about the importance of fire-tested, low-smoke, and low-flame propagation components in modern buildings. A similarly devastating event occurred in Turkey in 2025, when a fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu. The incident led to the tragic loss of 78 lives. The rapid spread of the fire and dense smoke revealed significant weaknesses in fire containment and evacuation infrastructure—once again underscoring the vital role of fire-resistant electrical systems and compliant construction materials in public buildings.
CPR Framework
The CPR framework classifies cables based on their reaction to fire, providing a common system across the European market. Cables are assessed for flame spread, heat release, smoke emission, flaming droplets, and acidity of gases, and are assigned a Euroclass rating from Aca to Fca. A cable rated B2ca-s1a,d1,a1, for instance, is expected to limit flame spread, emit very little smoke, produce no flaming droplets, and release minimal acidic gases, making it highly suitable for installations in hospitals, schools, high-rise buildings, and public spaces where evacuation time and air quality are critical.
Using cables that meet CPR standards is not only about following the law—it is about actively reducing the risks of fire development, toxic exposure, and system failure. In a fire emergency, cables that release thick black smoke or flaming droplets can obstruct escape routes and damage critical building systems such as emergency lighting, alarms, and ventilation. These effects can significantly reduce evacuation time and endanger both occupants and first responders.
Compliance to meet CPR
To be CPR-compliant, cables must be tested according to EN 50575 by a notified product certification body and must carry a CE marking. They must also be accompanied by a Declaration of Performance (DoP), which outlines the cable’s fire behaviour. This documentation ensures that architects, engineers, and inspectors can verify whether a product meets the required fire safety performance for its intended use. Without these verifications, there can be no reliable risk assessment or accountability in the event of an incident.
BASEC, as a globally recognised notified body for CPR, supports the industry in achieving and maintaining compliance through rigorous product testing, Euroclass classification, certification, and continuous factory audits. Our role ensures that every certified cable on the market has undergone independent and repeatable assessment under controlled conditions. For manufacturers, this means access to markets with full traceability and performance assurance. For specifiers and contractors, it means peace of mind that the products they install will perform as expected in the event of a fire.
Key takeaways
In conclusion, the safety of a building relies not only on its structure but also on the performance of the materials within it. Cables may be out of sight, but they must never be out of mind. Choosing CPR-compliant cables, in particular to meet Euroclass Cca and above, is a proactive step toward ensuring safer buildings, protecting lives, and building public trust in the construction industry. The next time you design, specify, or install a cable—consider what’s at stake. Fire safety is a chain, and the strength of that chain depends on every link, including the ones we cannot see.
Article by Tugce Simsek - Regional Technical Manager, Europe, UK and Türkiye
