INTRODUCTION 

Chapter 600 introduces the terms of reference against which handling quality requirenents can be established. A number of handling requirenients which are generally applicable to all channels are also included Requirements which are more specifically related to particular channels are dealt with in subsequent chapters. 

In many cases handling requirements are inevitably subjective in nature, and in others adequate data on which to quantify them is not currently available. Consequently, the mandatory requirenents, stated in the Chapters of Part 6, are often expressed in qualitative terms. Additional explanatory and advisory material on how compliance with the requireaents might be demonstrated is included in Leaflets associated with each Chapter.