PAS 700 Provision of ICT facilities and services in workplaces. Specification
When an occupier moves into a workplace there is usually some effort required to set up ICT facilities and services. This could either be a simple task or a major challenge depending on what is already in place. There may be unforeseen costs in bringing in a broadband connection from a distant telephone exchange or routing telecommunications cables through solid concrete floors.
The extent of installed ICT facilities, and the ease with which ICT services can be deployed has become a significant consideration for organizations choosing to relocate.
This Publicly Available Specification (PAS) specifies the requirements for the provision of ICT facilities and services in a workplace.
ICT facilities and services are implemented in layers. PAS 700 splits ICT facilities and services in buildings across four layers. Layers 1 and 2 are facility based. Layers 3 and 4 are service based. Each layer is dependent on the layers below it for operation, i.e. layer 3 services require layer 2 facilities to work.
- Layer 1: Building – covers the characteristics and facilities of the building itself and their suitability for ICT usage. It includes ductwork, risers and other permanent facilities necessary for the deployment of cabling. It also covers aspects of flooring, lighting, power and physical security that relate to ICT usage.
- Layer 2: Infrastructure – covers the ICT facilities within the building such as cabling, communications rooms, wiring closets, wireless networking, network security, power supplies and the availability of external services such as the Internet.
- Layer 3: Basic services – covers essential services such as telephone and Internet connections and their related support.
- Layer 4: Extended services – layer 4 builds upon layer 3 to include other ICT services such as telephone and video conferencing, VPN support, hosting and co-location services.
This PAS uses the four-layer concept to assist in identifying which ICT facilities and services are implemented in a given workplace and in determining whether those facilities and services meet the requirements of this PAS.
The primary focus of the PAS is the ICT facilities and services office spaces. It allows for three workplace types:
- Part-fitted workplace
- Ready-to-occupy workplace
- Public workplace.
This PAS specifies the requirements that are applicable to each workplace type. It is applicable to workplaces located in part of a building, in a whole building or on a campus.
It is applicable to anyone specifying ICT facilities and services for a workplace, including architects, developers, agents, operators and occupiers.
It would also assist anyone wishing to assess the ease of deployment, extent, usability, reliability and flexibility of ICT facilities and services in a workplace or potential workplace.
Contents of PAS 700 Provision of ICT facilities and services in workplaces. Specification include:
- Introduction
- Background
- Layering of ICT facilities and services
- Workplace types
- ICT-ready work areas, potential work areas and user capacity
- Operators, occupiers and service level agreements
- Scope
- Normative references
- Terms and definitions
- Workplace type
- ICT facilities and services
- Claims of conformance
- Conformity evaluation
Layer 1: Building
- Provision for generic telecommunications cabling
- Lighting
- Raised access flooring
- Electricity supply
- Building security
- Availability of the workplace
- Radio frequency transmittance
Layer 2: Infrastructure
- Electricity supply
- Provision of generic telecommunications cabling
- Network security
- Wireless networking
- Availability of an Internet connection
- Working environment
Layer 3: Basic services
- Service level agreements
- Provision of ICT-ready work areas
- Telephone services
- Internet services
- Technical support
Layer 4: Extended services
- Extended telephone services
- Extended Internet services
- Video conferencing
- Data backup service
- Print services
- Publicly available wireless networking
- Co-location services
- Email services
- Web hosting services
- Backup power supply
- ICT disaster recovery facilities
- Bibliography
PAS 700 does not provide a comprehensive specification or even “shopping list” of all of the ICT facilities and services that the occupier might require.
The following documents would also prove useful in the application of PAS 700:
- BS 6701 Telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling. Specification for installation, operation and maintenance
- BS EN 50173-1 Information technology. Generic cabling systems. General requirements
- BS EN 50173-2 Information technology. Generic cabling systems. Office premises
- BS EN 50173-5 Information technology. Generic cabling systems. Data centres
- BS EN 50174-1 Information technology. Cabling installation. Specification and quality assurance
- BS EN 50174-2 Information technology. Cabling installation. Installation planning and practices inside buildings
- BS EN 60603-7 (series), Connectors for electronic equipment
