Prysmian’s Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LS0H) cables are specifically designed for public and occupied spaces where fire safety is critical. In enclosed or poorly ventilated areas, they help minimize the emission of toxic smoke and gases in the event of a fire, making them a preferred choice for environments with heightened fire safety requirements, including:
On 1 July 2017, CPR (Construction Product Regulation) became mandatory throughout the EU. This regulation defines the rules and requirements of construction products to be manufactured, distributed or installed cables included.
In the event of a fire in crowded spaces such as airports, hospitals, municipal buildings, schools, or skyscrapers it is crucial to have low toxic gas and smoke emission cables to facilitate the evacuation process.
Cables designed for fixed installation in residential and commercial buildings are subject to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), regulated by EN 50575. For the reaction to fire of cables the CPR directive has identified seven different performance classes, where heat release and flame propagation are the main classification criteria. Class Aca defines non-flammable (non-reactive) cables, while class Fca contains cables that do not meet the requirements of class Eca (i.e. of indeterminate performance). In addition to heat release and flame propagation there are three additional classifications that apply to classes Dca, Cca, B2ca and B1ca: smoke emissions, flame droplets and acidity.
The Prysmian plant in Kistelek operates in compliance with stringent quality, fire safety, and TÜV requirements, where LS0H cables undergo regular testing and inspections to help ensure the highest levels of safety and performance.
Pick the CPR class based on your building's fire risk and how many people use it. Eca or Dca is typical for homes. Cca or B2ca is increasingly required in public buildings such as schools, hospitals, offices and hotels. B2ca-s1,d0,a1 or B1ca-s1,d0,a1 is best for escape routes, tunnels, metro stations, data centres and critical infrastructure. Your national building regulations and the project specification always decide the minimum class.
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CPR classes rate how a cable behaves in a fire. The four classes from safest to most basic are:
From B2ca to Dca, the class also shows extra ratings: s for smoke, d for burning droplets and a for acidity. For example, B2ca-s1,d0,a1 is one of the safest ratings for cables. National building rules set the minimum class
The EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) sets fire-safety rules for cables installed permanently in buildings. Since 2017, these cables have needed a fire-performance class and CE marking under EN 50575.
Why it matters:
Flame-retardant cables help limit the spread of fire along the cable route. Fire-resistant cables keep power and signals running during a fire, so safety systems keep working while people get out.
Good to know:
Use fire-resistant cables wherever a circuit has to keep working during a fire. They're required in buildings with a high fire risk, buildings where many people gather, buildings holding valuable assets, and anywhere with high safety requirements.
LSOH stands for Low Smoke Zero Halogen. These cables are designed to emit very low levels of smoke and no halogen acid gases when exposed to fire, helping improve visibility and safety during evacuation.
Compared with traditional PVC cables, LSOH cables generate less smoke and fewer corrosive gases during a fire. This can improve visibility for evacuation, reduce damage to equipment, and create safer conditions for occupants and first responders.
The main difference between PVC and LSOH cables is fire performance. LSOH cables minimize smoke and toxic emissions during a fire, making them a preferred choice for hospitals, schools, data centers, and other public buildings.
When PVC cables burn, they can produce dense smoke and corrosive gases. These emissions may reduce visibility, make evacuation more difficult, and damage nearby equipment and infrastructure.
AFUMEX is Prysmian's low-fire-hazard cable technology. It is designed to reduce flame spread, smoke emissions, dangerous gases, and corrosive by-products, helping create safer environments during fire incidents.
Modern cable technologies help improve building safety by reducing flame propagation, smoke production, and corrosive emissions. Selecting the right cable can support safer evacuations and better protection for people, infrastructure, and equipment.
