| Full title | BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, Section 716: Power over Ethernet |
| Publisher | IET and BSI |
| Status | Current. The previous edition was withdrawn on 15 October 2026 |
| Applies to | Extra-low voltage DC power carried over balanced ICT cabling, such as PoE |
| Related standards | BS EN 50173-1, BS EN 60512-9-3, BS EN 60512-99-001, BS EN 62368-1, BS EN 62368-3, BS EN 60950-22, ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802-3; IEC 60364-7-716 internationally |
What Section 716 covers
Section 716 is the first part of BS 7671 to deal directly with Power over Ethernet. It covers the distribution of extra-low voltage DC power over balanced ICT cables and connectors designed primarily for data, and Regulation 110.1 now lists PoE within the scope of the standard.
It sits in Part 7, which supplements or modifies the general rules for special installations. The PoE supply is usually SELV or PELV. Section 716 allows two kinds of source: power sourcing equipment built to the product standards below, or a Regulation 414.3 source, which is limited to 60 V ripple-free DC in dry conditions and 15 V ripple-free DC in all other locations, because wet or damp conditions reduce body resistance.
Requirements
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Power source (Regulation 716.414.1.1) | Power sourcing equipment to BS EN 62368-1 and BS EN 60950-22, meeting the interoperability requirements of ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802-3, or a source to Regulation 414.3 |
| Voltage (Regulation 414.3 source) | 60 V ripple-free DC in dry conditions, 15 V ripple-free DC in all other locations |
| Cabling | Category 5, 6, 6A, 7, 7A, 8.1, 8.2 or other. No category above Category 5 is mandated |
| Current | Design current in any conductor must not exceed 750 mA |
| Connecting hardware | Cables and connectors designed for data to the relevant standards, including BS EN 50173-1 for cabling and BS EN 60512-9-3 and BS EN 60512-99-001 for connectors |
PoE types against the 750 mA limit
| PoE type | Standard | Nominal max current per pair | Per conductor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | IEEE 802.3af | 350 mA | 175 mA |
| Type 2 | IEEE 802.3at | 600 mA | 300 mA |
| Type 3 | IEEE 802.3bt | 600 mA | 300 mA |
| Type 4 | IEEE 802.3bt | 960 mA | 480 mA |
Each pair’s current is shared between its two conductors, so every IEEE PoE type, including 90 W Type 4, stays inside the 750 mA limit. The cable and every connection in the link still need to carry that current continuously, which depends on conductor quality as much as category: pure copper runs cooler than copper-clad aluminium.
Design checklist
- Confirm the power sourcing equipment meets the standards listed above.
- If using a Regulation 414.3 source rather than standard PSE, check whether each location is dry; elsewhere the limit is 15 V.
- Check the current per conductor against 750 mA.
- Use connecting hardware rated for the PoE current, including unplugging under load (BS EN 60512-99-001).
- For large PoE bundles, check temperature rise against ISO/IEC TS 29125 and PD CLC/TR 50174-99-1.
For a wider guide to the amendment, including Section 545 on functional earthing, read BS 7671 Amendment 4: what the new PoE and ICT earthing rules mean for data cabling.