RR Kabel offers building wire range with REACH, RoHS, CE and CPR compliances: Shreegopal Kabra

The RR Kabel journey began nearly 30 years ago. Today, it is one of India’s largest conglomerates in the electrical sector. It is spread across multiple business verticals, including wires and cables, switches, fans, lighting, switchgear, and appliances. RR Kabel continues to endeavor to create top-quality products using futuristic advances in design and engineering.

Shreegopal Kabra, MD, RR Kabel, tells us more. Excerpts from an interview:

DQ: Can you provide an overview of the different types of construction and building cables available from RR Kabel?

Shreegopal Kabra: We have all the wires and cables necessary for residential, commercial and public infrastructures. It includes cables as per IS 694. FIREX LS0H (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) is a halogen-free single core cable specially designed in such a manner that it emits negligible or low volumes of smoke and corrosive gases when exposed to fire. They are used in Auditoriums, Hospitals, Hotels, Schools, Stadiums, and all constructions for public usage where fire safety is of utmost importance.

Under this segment, we also have communication cables which include the entire range of LAN cables from 100 MHz to 600 MHz for internet or broadband communications and POE (power over Ethernet). We offer our telephone cables under the brand RATNACOM, and television cables under the brand RATNA CO-X for building infrastructure.

Cables for submersible motors with PVC, as well as XLPE insulation are also available. We also offer flexible CCTV camera cables with a tinned copper braid screen along with speaker cables for PA system as well as for domestic applications. EIB BUS cable, which is a part of ‘green’ building control systems and intelligent building technology that helps in reducing carbon footprint, is also available for home automation and BMS (building management system).

DQ: Can you enlighten us on LS0H insulated wires and cables offered by RR Kabel for construction and building segment?

Shreegopal Kabra: RR Kabel is the first company in India to offer FIREX LS0H (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) wires under construction and building segment. These wires are completely non-toxic and non-corrosive in nature. The specially-formulated insulation offers 56% higher short circuit temperature compared to the thermoplastic halogen free wires available in market.

In case of fire, these wires do not melt or drip thus eliminate the risk of flame propagation and a major fire. They are designed to emit negligible smoke in case of fire, offering excellent visibility and thus aiding the evacuation cum rescue operations.

DQ: How is RR Kabel ensuring they meet relevant industry standards and regulations in construction and building cables?

Shreegopal Kabra: RR Kabel is the only Indian cable manufacturing company to offer its building wire range with REACH, RoHS, CE and CPR compliances. Construction Product Regulation (CPR) is a regulation issued by the European Union with the purpose of regulating the limits of fire resistance and dangerous substances in the materials used in construction. This regulation applies to all products intended to be incorporated, permanently, in construction.



We design and develop our wires and cables at our in-house R&D centers certified by DSIR (Ministry of Science). These products are then tested at our state-of-the-art National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certified testing laboratory to ensure their compliances against various national and international standards and regulations.

DQ: What are the key features and specifications of RR Kabel's construction and building cables?

Shreegopal Kabra: Our cables are REACH, ROHS, CE and CPR compliant, and they are anti-rodent and anti-termite. These cables use 100% electrolytic copper, provide more than 101% conductivity, and are suitable for wiring in all types of residential and commercial infrastructure, where fire and electrical safety is of utmost importance.

DQ: What are the advantages of using RR Kabel's construction and building cables compared to other brands in the market?

Shreegopal Kabra: Our construction cables deliver both cost and operational efficiencies to our clients. In terms of value addition, we contribute by customizing the needs of the clients and ensuring superior delivery parameters. We are continuously in the process of expanding our product basket as we want our clients to get the maximum value for money, while offering them an innovative product range.

Since we have both national and international approvals that indicate our adherence to global safety standards, we are focused on increasing the availability of our products with a wider distribution network.

DQ: Provide examples of notable projects where RR Kabel's construction and building cables have been successfully implemented.

Shreegopal Kabra: The projects undertaken include major hospitals, educational institutions, hotels, religious places, airports, etc.

DQ: Can you explain any special features or technologies incorporated into RR Kabel's Fire Performance cables?

Shreegopal Kabra: Our fire and security cables are categorized into 3 categories – fire alarm cable, fire survival cable, and single-core fire resistant cable. Fire alarm cables are used for connection with heat detectors, smoke detectors, emergency lights, exit signboards, fire command centers and fire security systems. These cables have a metal foil shield to ensure a disturbance-free transmission of signals.

These cables are made as per BS 7629-1 and tested as per EN 50200 and BS 8434 standards. They are categorized into Standard 30, Standard 60, and Enhanced 120, depending upon their withstanding durations. Fire survival cables are armored cables used for power circuits in the fire panels. These are made as per BS 7846 and comply with CWZ test conditions at 950°C.

Single-core cables are designed as per BS 50525-3-41 to maintain the circuit integrity even in fire situations. All the above cables have complete halogen-free construction with various heat and fire barriers to ensure fire safety.