On this page
- Which document should you order?
- Four questions a cable order must keep separate
- Write a schedule that survives substitution
- Evidence questions before accepting an offer
- A fictional purchasing decision
- Buy the base document and check the amendment
- Common buying questions
- Explore more standards buying guides
Which document should you order?
Genorma lists EN 50575:2014 as published and sells EN 50575:2014/A1:2016 as a separate amendment. The BSI catalogue lists the amended reference EN 50575:2014+A1:2016 as current. Specify the amended document set when that is what your review requires; an amendment purchase alone is not the base standard.
The public scope covers power, control and communication cables for construction works where reaction-to-fire requirements apply. It separates this subject from other cable characteristics and excludes cables whose function is to maintain power or signals for safety installations during a fire. This distinction is central when choosing the document.
Four questions a cable order must keep separate
| Purchase question | Role of EN 50575 | What else to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| How does this construction cable contribute to a fire? | Reaction-to-fire performance is its central subject. | Match the declared product and supporting classification to the order. |
| Will a safety circuit continue operating? | This function falls outside the stated scope. | Ask the responsible designer for the appropriate continuity evidence. |
| Is the cable electrically suitable? | The construction fire document does not settle all electrical characteristics. | Confirm voltage, conductor, insulation and application specifications. |
| Is this installation acceptable? | A cable product document is one input. | Resolve the location, routing and project requirements with the responsible reviewer. |
Write a schedule that survives substitution
A cable schedule should identify more than a trade name and a broad fire-performance claim. Record the supplier's product code, intended use, construction, relevant sizes and the exact evidence being offered. If a quotation covers a range, ask how the proposed diameter or conductor configuration relates to that evidence. A document for one member of a family may leave an unresolved question about another member.
Separate the required characteristics into columns. One column can identify the construction fire-performance evidence; another can hold electrical characteristics; a third can identify any circuit-continuity requirement. That arrangement lets a purchaser see why a cheaper substitute needs further review even when its packaging uses similar language. It also prevents an electrical certificate from being mistaken for the complete construction-product evidence.
Do not choose a fire class from the standard's title. The building, cable location and project context need their own assessment. Ask the responsible designer to state the requirement in the purchasing brief, then ask suppliers to explain how their exact offered cable meets that brief. Keep approval of a substitution separate from the purchasing department's commercial comparison.
Evidence questions before accepting an offer
- Does the cable code on the quotation match the product identified in the performance documentation?
- Which size and construction variants does the supporting evidence cover?
- Is the offered evidence about reaction to fire, continued operation during fire, or another characteristic?
- Who will resolve a mismatch between the cable schedule and the supplier's proposed substitute?
- What identification will remain available on delivery, so the received reels can be matched to the accepted offer?
These are procurement questions, not a reproduction of the standard's assessment procedures. The licensed document is needed by the technical reviewer who must determine the applicable requirements and assessment route.
A fictional purchasing decision
A building contractor receives an alternative offer described simply as a “construction fire cable”. The original schedule contains ordinary communication wiring and an alarm circuit that must keep operating under specified conditions. The buyer initially groups both items together because the alternative carries a reaction-to-fire claim.
The project designer separates the two functions. The buyer requests product-specific evidence for the ordinary wiring and a separate technical review of the alarm-circuit substitution. The decision is to clarify the offer before ordering, rather than infer continuity performance from a construction fire classification. This fictional example gives no recommended fire class or installation design.
Buy the base document and check the amendment
Separately listed amendment: EN 50575:2014/A1:2016. Check the seller's language, document contents, licence and checkout terms before purchase.
Common buying questions
Does EN 50575 cover every cable fire claim?
No. In particular, the public scope separates reaction to fire from maintaining the function of safety installations during a fire. Identify the actual claim before choosing an assessment document.
Can I use the cable's electrical specification instead?
It answers a different purchasing question. Keep electrical suitability and construction fire-performance evidence identifiable in the order.
Does a published catalogue record prove the project compliance route?
No. Have the responsible reviewer confirm the applicable product and project requirements, including any legal citation relevant to the intended market.
Public catalogue sources checked on 7 October 2026. For wider product selection, see the electrotechnical standards overview.
Explore more standards buying guides
Browse standards by reference and subject to compare related document choices.