BS 6701:2016+A1:2017

BCA position paper

Background

The British Cable Association’s (BCA) public release in March 2018, entitled Construction
Products Regulation (CPR) and cables – March 2018 - UK position, set out to clarify the legal
position in respect of the requirements for the reaction to fire of cables under Construction
Products Regulation (CPR). It has been well received and understood and can be accessed at:
http://www.bcauk.org/application/files/4215/2292/1826/CPR_and_cables_-
_UK_position_March_2018.pdf
The paper especially emphasised that well-established and respected British Standards, such as
BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations - IET Wiring Regulations are, in legal
terms, classed as voluntary. Such British Standards may, of course, be taken into a legally-
binding contract which thereby changes their status for that project.

The purpose of this follow-up paper is to examine similar aspects as they affect BS 6701
Telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling – Specification for
installation, operation and maintenance, and in particular its Amendment No 1 (A1), published
in December 2017. This amendment set out to identify installations that are in areas of higher fire
risk, and to prescribe a minimum performance for cables in such circumstances. It introduced
requirements to address this by reference to the classes of reaction to fire for cables under CPR.

Amendment No 1 to BS 6701 has brought about two points that raise concern and require
attention. These are:
- The terms and definitions used in A1. As they relate to higher fire risks, they are
insufficiently robust, and have caused confusion.
- The requirements introduced in A1 for cables for higher fire risk installations, namely
to class C ca -s1b,d2,a2. There have been extensive reports that the class has been wrongly
quoted as a mandatory requirement for all cables.
Technical experts are considering an Amendment No 2 (A2) to BS 6701, so that more robust
wording can be agreed.
BS 6701 has ‘supplementary’ requirements in addition to those in BS 7671, and is intended for
telecommunication systems.
The 18th edition of BS 7671 identifies fire performance requirements of cables encroaching on
escape routes in paragraph 422.2.1. It requires them to meet BS EN 60332-3 and have 60% light
transmittance when tested in accordance with BS EN 61034-2. This however, does not translate
into Construction Product Regulation requirements for cables.
These requirements as they effect communications cables are defined in BS 6701:2016+A1:2017.
(Telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling – Specification for installation,
operation and maintenance)
BS 6701:2016+A1:2017 informs the reader that the standard translates the existing general
requirements of BS 7671 into the terminology of the Construction Products Regulation. This
means that in addition to meeting the requirements of BS EN 60332-1-2 or BS EN 60332-3,
whichever is appropriate, the cable also must be tested and meet an appropriate CPR class.

BS 6701:2016+A 1:2017 – an executive summary

• No legal requirement - as indicated in the BCA’s Construction Products Regulation

(CPR) and cables – March 2018 – UK position paper, there is, at present, no legal
requirement in the UK for a specific class of cable to be installed in a particular
installation. Designers and specifiers are free to select any class as long as their decision
reflects the demands of any applicable regulations.

• BS 6701: 2016 - Specifies the requirement for the installation, operation, administration
and maintenance of telecommunications equipment and cabling.

• BS 6701:2016+A1:2017 - was primarily introduced to include reference to the CPR

(Reaction to Fire) and to give specific reaction to fire ‘class’ requirements for cables in
‘normal’ and in `high fire risk’ situations such as ‘escape routes’.

• Installation cables – a new and sometimes confusing term, ‘Installation cables’ was
introduced in BS 6701:2016 +A1: 2017 to try to define the cable fire performance
required for situations where there is a greater risk from flame propagation and smoke.

• Confusion and misunderstanding - It is evident that there is misunderstanding in the

marketplace where a ‘greater risk from flame propagation and smoke’ exists as against
‘normal’ installations – and in turn which installations require the use of cables to meet
CPR class C ca –s1b, d2,a2 or class E ca . Clarification is needed here. After any fire risk
assessment, a higher CPR class could be determined.

• Clarification - A possible Amendment 2 (A2) to BS 6701 which would help clarify

this issue could be to replace the term ‘Installation cables’ with a new term ‘Higher
Fire Performance Telecommunications Cables’. This term would define
telecommunications cables that are intended for installation and use in escape routes
(pathways) and areas where the risk of flame propagation is high and immediate access
for firefighting is severely restricted.

• BS 7671: 2018 - when it comes into effect on the 1st January 2019 will require all
cables to meet BS EN 60332-1-2 (clause 422.3.4) as a minimum level of performance. It
will also specify ‘Where the risk of flame propagation is high the cable shall meet the
requirements of the appropriate part of BS EN 60332-3’ (part 24 or 25). These are
long established fire tests to assess the vertical flame spread on bunches of wires and
cables.

• BS 7671 clause 422.3.4 note 1 - provides an example of high flame propagation as

‘where cables are bunched or installed in long vertical runs’
 • BS 7671 clause 422.3.4 note 2 states ‘Cables manufactured for the above applications
also need to satisfy the requirements of the CPR in respect of their reaction to fire’. In
addition to meeting the requirements of BS EN 60332-1-2 or BS EN 60332-3
(whichever is appropriate), the cable must also be tested and meet an appropriate CPR
class.

• BS 8492 – communication cables installed in buildings using the guidance and

recommendations of BS 8492 on ‘compartmentalisation to mitigate the spread of fire
and flames’. Using that approach to fire safety and design within buildings can be
considered as an improvement.

• Fire Safety Engineering - to determine whether a higher fire performance class of cable
is required for a location or installation it would be prudent to carry out a fire risk
assessment for example BS 7974 Fire Safety Engineering or other authoritative fire
assessment methodology. Note PD 7974-6 also provides useful information.

• BS 9999 2017 ‘Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings - code of
practice’ provides useful information and definitions on ‘escape routes’ Below are some
clauses which relate to fire safety:
o 10.3.1 - Housekeeping.
o 10.3.2 - Equipment and fittings maintenance
o 10.4.2 - Fire doors and escape route
o 10.4.3 - Signs and signage
o 13 - Internal subdivision and spatial/visual orientation
o 15.4 - Artificial and emergency escape lighting
o Table 8 - Provisions for emergency escape lighting
o 15.9 - Mechanical ventilation and air conditioning systems
o 16 - Horizontal means of escape
o 16.6.2 - Corridors and escape routes

• Responsibility - it is important that all ‘users’ of BS 6701 understand their obligations

for installing the appropriate communications cables in buildings under the regulations
in force at the time. This includes ensuring the appropriate ‘class’ of cable for a
particular location is installed. This is especially important where a risk of flame
propagation exists in areas defined as ‘escape routes’

Note ‘users’ of BS 6701 and/or those with ‘responsibility’ include system designers,
suppliers, installers, inspectors (auditors), maintainers and building owners.

Concluding – the information and guidance given in this paper are not meant as specific
recommendations for the use of any particular class of cable for an application but is made in
good faith for the assistance for all those who are involved in the specifying and installation of
communications cables.

BCA 03 October 2018

Disclaimer: All the above information reflects our understanding of the current position and is, to
the best of our knowledge and belief, correct and reliable. In case of doubt, specifiers, users and
installers should seek their own advice regarding the interpretation of the Construction Products
Regulation, it being the primary regulatory source, and also the MHCLG.