Leading the Way: Phasing Out PVC for Better Fire Safety

Nexans' new EASY product line helps save lives, reduces financial risk, and meets environmental standards. 

Nexans is the first cable manufacturer in the Norwegian market to commit to phasing out PVC and halogens in all its cables intended for use in buildings and homes. 

We are now reconfiguring the production lines at our factory in Langhus to remove PVC and halogens from our products. This will have a major impact on fire safety in Norway,” says Business Unit Manager, Torbjørn Blomsnes. 

The transition involves investments of several million kroner and is a decision Nexans deems vital for the industry and society.  

Halogen- and PVC-free cables will help save lives and reduce financial risk in case of fire. They will also meet the requirements for Nordic Swan-labeled buildings by eliminating environmentally harmful substances, such as phthalates. 

"PVC emits thick, dangerous smoke when it burns. On average, 45 people* die each year in fires in Norway.  In 67% of these cases, the cause of death is smoke** which is harmful to inhale and obstructs visibility. Sweden and Denmark phased out PVC in building cables long ago. It’s time for Norway to follow suit," says Blomsnes. 

Electrification of society will drive growth in the Norwegian electrical industry in the coming years. Nexans aims to increase production capacity at the Langhus factory, with Blomsnes confirming investments in both machinery and local labor to meet demand. 

Urging the Whole Industry to Embrace the Change 

Nexans’ new cables will be marketed under the brand name “EASY.” EASY will be synonymous with low-smoke, halogen- and PVC-free cables that meet environmental requirements, including those for Nordic Swan labelled-buildings. The EASY series will also comply with fire safety class D requirements under the European Construction Products Regulation (CPR). 

“For installers, this means they will need to choose new cables. Previous generations of halogen- and PVC-free cables have had a reputation for being stiffer and less installation-friendly. We are changing this going forward. Our new cables will have the same great qualities that electricians are accustomed to,” says Blomsnes. 

Nexans’ wholesale customers have warmly received the news. 

“Electrical wholesalers support the decision and want to offer safer, more sustainable products. Additionally, they will benefit from simpler inventory management as they can phase out an entire range of PVC cables,” says Blomsnes. 

Nexans also hopes other industry players will follow suit, phasing out PVC- and halogen-containing plastics from the Norwegian electrical market in the coming years. 

Need for Stricter Fire Safety Standards 

An essential task ahead is to convince building owners, engineers, installers, and electricians that they should prefer low-smoke, halogen- and PVC-free cables that meet fire safety class D standards. 

Nexans advocates for a general regulatory requirement for fire safety class D cables, with no exceptions, for all types of buildings. Such a requirement would significantly improve fire safety in Norwegian homes, hospitals, schools, public and commercial buildings, and industries and data centers. 

“If the fire requirement is changed to class D, buildings and homes will have cables that burn more slowly, generate less heat, release fewer corrosive gases, and produce less smoke, which in turn aids visibility during evacuation and rescue operations,” says Blomsnes. 

Each year, insurance companies receive claims totaling 5-7 billion kroner*** due to fires, with most of the damage caused by smoke. 

“Cables in fire class D burn slower, ignite later, and release less corrosive smoke. They, therefore, cause less damage to buildings, property, and equipment in the event of a fire. Financial risk is reduced due to less damage and faster rehabilitation, allowing buildings to be put back into use more quickly,” says Blomsnes. 

Sources: 
*    DSB, Brannstatistikk.no, average last 15 years. 
** 2017 RISE Fire Research report  reasons of death 2005-2014. 
***Finans Norge average estimated insurance claims 2018-2023