| Full title | BS 6701:2016+A1:2017, Telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling. Specification for installation, operation and maintenance |
| Publisher | BSI, prepared by subcommittee TCT/7/2 |
| Current edition | BS 6701:2016+A1:2017 (Amendment 1 issued 30 November 2017). Supersedes BS 6701:2016, which superseded BS 6701:2010 |
| Status | Current, under review (BSI). A British Standard, not law |
| Related standards | BS EN 50174 series, BS EN 50310, BS 7671, BS EN 13501-6, BS EN 50575, BS 8492 |
What it covers
BS 6701 specifies requirements for the installation, operation, administration and maintenance of telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling in the UK. It applies to cabling other than that specified in the BS EN 50174 series. It also specifies requirements beyond those of the BS EN 50174 series.
It does not cover installation aspects linked to the transmission of signals in free space between transmitters, receivers or their antenna systems, such as radio, microwave or satellite links.
The 2016 edition was a full revision published to support the BS EN 50174 series. Amendment 1, issued on 30 November 2017, added reaction-to-fire requirements for cables under the Construction Products Regulation.
Structure
| Clause | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Scope |
| 2 | Normative references |
| 3 | Terms, definitions and abbreviations |
| 4 | Requirements for owners of premises housing telecommunications systems (general, operating procedures, maintenance, repair) |
| 5 | Requirements for installers of telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling |
| 5.2 | Earthing |
| 5.3 | Power supplies |
| 5.4 | Telecommunications cabling |
| Annex A | Remote powering (informative) |
Like BS EN 50174-1, the standard splits duties between the premises owner (Clause 4) and the installer (Clause 5).
Reaction to fire: the A1:2017 requirement
Amendment 1 sets a minimum Euroclass, classified to BS EN 13501-6, for cables installed inside the boundary created by the building’s external fire barrier. The requirement depends on where the cable is installed, not on what the cable is.
| Cable | Meaning | Minimum performance |
|---|---|---|
| Installation cable | Cable intended for installation in pathways that are hidden (below floors, above ceilings, behind walls) or to which access is limited | Cca-s1b,d2,a2 |
| Other cable | Cable not intended for installation in hidden or limited-access pathways | Eca, or the recommended requirements of BS EN 60332-1-2 |
- Patch cords, equipment cords and jumpers in cabinets and racks are normally “other cables”.
- A cord that is run in a hidden or limited-access pathway becomes an installation cable and must meet Cca-s1b,d2,a2.
- Cables that are not for permanent installation fall outside the CPR, but are still expected to meet the recommended performance of BS EN 60332-1-2.
The Euroclass itself is declared by the cable manufacturer under BS EN 50575. BS 6701 sets which class to use; the classification and marking rules are covered on the EN 50575 and CPR pages of this library.
Separation from LV power cabling
Clause 5.4.4.2 requires telecommunications cabling and LV power supply cabling to be separated by:
| Option | Minimum separation | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| a) | 150 mm | No further condition |
| b) | 50 mm | Separation provided and maintained by a partition as specified in BS 7671 |
| c) | 50 mm | The LV cables are in a separate conduit or trunking (bonded to BS 7671 if metallic), or are mineral-insulated, or of earthed armoured construction, or of a flexible, insulated and sheathed type such as a “kettle lead” feeding equipment in a cabinet |
BSI has published a proposal on its standards development site stating that clause 5.4.4.2 contains an error and setting out corrected wording. Until a correction is formally issued, work to the published text and check BSI for any corrigendum.
This is a safety separation. It is separate from the electromagnetic segregation distances in BS EN 50174-2, which depend on the segregation classification of the IT cable, the type and number of power circuits, and any containment between them.
How it relates to other standards
| Document | Relationship |
|---|---|
| BS EN 50174 series | BS 6701 applies alongside it and adds UK requirements beyond its scope |
| BS 7671 | BS 7671 points to BS 6701 for telecommunications cabling. BS 6701 refers back to BS 7671 for partitions and bonding of metallic containment |
| BS EN 13501-6 and BS EN 50575 | Define and declare the Euroclasses that A1:2017 calls up |
| BS 8492 | Referenced for further guidance on reaction to fire of telecommunications cabling |
| BS EN 50310 | Bonding networks for telecommunications in buildings |
Legal status and what it means in practice
BS 6701 is a British Standard, not legislation. It becomes a contractual requirement when a specification, contract or client standard calls it up. It is also widely used as the benchmark for good practice in UK telecommunications installations.
- Check where each cable will run. Anything hidden in floors, ceilings or walls, or with limited access, needs Cca-s1b,d2,a2 as a minimum.
- Check the Euroclass on the cable’s Declaration of Performance, not just the sheath print or a datasheet.
- Record the separation method used where data cabling runs alongside LV power cabling.
- If a client or specification calls for a higher class than the BS 6701 minimum, the higher class applies. Record the class specified in the project documentation.
Related reading: What is LSZH cable and when do you need it? · BS 7671 Amendment 4: PoE and ICT earthing rules.