Library Skills
British Standards
- British Standards Online This link opens in a new window Access to a select number of British/European/International standards online. The Library also has access to additional British Standards via the Construction Information Service. If a standard you require is not available via BSOL, please contact your Information Specialist.
This link opens in a new window
- Construction Information Service This link opens in a new window A comprehensive source of technical information for the construction industry, containing full text regulatory and advisory documents, including construction related British Standards, Eurocodes and building regulations. Choose 'Construction Information Service' from the menu of options: please note we do not have access to the other options
British Standards Online guidance
Where to find British Standards
We have access to collections of British/European/International standards via the British Standards Online platform (BSOL).
The Library also has access to additional civil engineering, building and construction related British Standards via the Construction Information Service.
If a standard you require is not available via BSOL, please contact your Information Specialist or email: informationspecialists@plymouth.ac.uk
Downloading British Standards via BSOL
An additional layer of security has been applied by British Standards Institute (BSI) to the online standards requiring users to open .pdfs in BSOL via a security plug-in called FileOpen.
How do I open files in BSOL using FileOpen?
- Students using a university computer: Software is already installed on all campus machines
- Students and staff using a personal computer: Download and install the FileOpen plug-in from this webpage: https://plugin.fileopen.com/all.aspx
- Staff using their university provided computer: Install FileOpen from the Software Center
I have installed FileOpen but how do I open the .pdf?
Open the file from your 'Downloads' folder as opening from the browser will not work.
Other restrictions
- You will not be able to email or share the .pdf with others (however you can send University colleagues the link to BSOL and they can download it for themselves)
- You can only print the .pdf once
- You should be able to open your saved .pdf on up to 3 devices.
Help and support with FileOpen
BSI have explained their rationale for this security layer and provided additional guidance: BSI FileOpen guidance
For any other problems with FileOpen installation, please log with the Service Desk: http://itselfservice.plymouth.ac.uk