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Safety rules and precautions should be in the front of the manual, so the
reader is confronted with them before she gets to the instructions. I see no
reason why the rest of it couldn't be in the back. I'm not familiar w/ FCC
notices, but you may want to contact the FCC directly to find out what their
guidelines are. For example, many of the products I write manuals for are
certified by NSF. At the front of the manual, we put a brief statement that
uses the NSF seal and directs the reader to the Performance Data page, which
we place at the back of the manual, for more complete info.
I would suggest trying to find out who established the format for you
manuals to begin with, and why that format was established. If this can't be
done, then maybe try establishing your own template and then presenting it
to both your legal department and your Quality Control department (who
probably deal most closely w/ ISO procedures). I've usually found both to be
quite cooperative when approached with definite ideas and suggestions.
___________________________________________________________________________
Jennifer Jelinek
Marketing Services Manager
Plymouth Products, Inc. Sheboygan, WI
jjelinek -at- plymouthwater -dot- com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Helen Cygnarowicz [SMTP:helenc -at- CYLINK -dot- COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 1998 3:41 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: legalese in manuals
>
> my company manufactures products that require FCC approvals, as well as
> approvals from other country regulation agencies. i know that this
> information needs to be presented to our customers for every product.
>
> we also provide a warranty and a license for each product (digital
> microwave radios).
>
> there are also safety rules and precautions that the customers need to
> know
> about.
>
> and of course the copyright information.
>
> all of this information can take up 3 to 8 pages of 9 pt helvetica.
>
> 1 - is there some sort of requirement that means this info MUST be in the
> front matter?
>
> 2 - can i limit this front matter to just the copyright and FCC notice(s)?
>
> 3 - can i create an appendix for all this stuff?
>
> 4 - how does your company handle similar front matter?
>
> 5 - is there an ISO standard about this?
>
> 6 - should i talk to a company lawyer/attorney?
>
> if you prefer to respond off line, i will summarize, but there may be
> others out there with similar questions who would profit from your direct
> response to the listserv.
>
> thanx in advance for your time and help.
>
>
> Helen Cygnarowicz
> Manager, WCG Technical Publications
> A P-Com Company
> 408-328-5241
>
>
> ~
