What is BS 6701 about?
For everyone dealing with telecommunications equipment and cabling, this standard provides a link between UK-specific electrical installation standards and their IT cabling equivalents.
The 2017 Amendment adds two new sections (see ‘What’s changed’ below) that were necessary so that the standard aligns with changes to The Wiring Regulations standard, BS 7671.
Who is BS 6701 for?
- Electricians
- Designers
- Consultants
- Specifiers
- Architects
Why should you use BS 6701?
It specifies requirements for the installation, operation, administration and maintenance of telecommunications equipment and cabling, other than that specified in BS EN 50174.
It also specifies requirements beyond the scope of the BS EN 50174 series, but doesn’t cover those aspects of installation associated with the transmission of signals in free space between transmitters, receivers or their associated antenna systems (for example, radio microwave or satellite).
What’s changed since the last update?
BS 6701 needed to be amended to reflect that the revision of BS 7671 references BS 6701 for the selection of telecommunications cables in relation to reaction to fire performance under the Construction Products Regulation.
Therefore two new sections – 4.1.3 and 5.1.3.1 – have been introduced to BS 6701, both of which have the same title: “Fire performance of telecommunications cables”.
