Confederation of Fibre Optics and Network Infrastructure Installers
Built by industry. Focused on competence.
— WEBSITE AND DATA · POLICY 11
Technical Information and Standards Disclaimer
The limits of general technical guidance and the duties that remain with designers, installers, testers, employers and clients.
DOCUMENT CONTROL
STATUS
Committee approved 4 July 2026
VERSION
Approved 0.1
PREPARED
4 July 2026
APPLIES TO
Website users, applicants, members, trainers, event attendees, contacts and complainants
COMMITTEE APPROVED - 4TH JULY 2026
This document forms part of the approved COFNII governance framework.
1. General information only
COFNII technical content supports awareness, competence and good practice. Unless a written engagement expressly states otherwise, it is general information and is not project design, legal advice, a risk assessment, a warranty, an acceptance certificate or a substitute for competent professional judgement.
2. Standards and edition control
Standards are revised, corrected, amended or withdrawn. A summary may omit important definitions, exceptions, national conditions and normative requirements. Users must obtain lawful access to the current applicable publication and confirm the edition, national adoption, contract specification and transition arrangements for their project.
COFNII does not reproduce protected standards except where licensed or legally permitted. References to BS EN 50173, BS EN 50174, BS EN 50346, BS EN 50310, BS 6701, BS 7671, ISO/IEC 11801, IEEE or IEC publications do not imply ownership or official interpretation by COFNII.
3. Project-specific responsibility
The client and appointed duty holders must define the performance, safety, environmental, fire, security and operational requirements.
Designers must assess site conditions, interfaces, applicable law, standards, manufacturer data, future capacity and foreseeable use.
Installers must work within competence, follow the approved design and report conflicts or unsafe conditions.
Testers must use suitable methods, reference values, equipment settings and calibration and must retain valid raw evidence.
Project managers and main contractors must appoint competent people and maintain effective quality control rather than rely on a badge or CV alone.
4. Electrical and safety boundaries
Network cabling guidance does not authorise electrical work or override BS 7671, health and safety law, fire requirements, building regulations, CDM duties, site rules, utility requirements or manufacturer safety information. Separation, bonding and earthing decisions must be made by competent persons using the complete project conditions.
5. No guarantee of outcome
Technology, materials, installation conditions and network applications vary. COFNII does not guarantee that following a general article will achieve compliance, application support, safety or contractual acceptance. Liability is not excluded where it cannot lawfully be excluded, but users should not rely on general content as the sole basis for a high-risk or costly decision.
6. Reporting an issue
Send a suspected technical error, outdated reference or accessibility problem to info@cofnii.org with the page, statement and supporting source. COFNII may correct, qualify or withdraw content and will record material revisions.
Questions or adjustments?
Contact COFNII about this policy or request an accessible format.
POLICY OWNER
COFNII Board and Committee
JURISDICTION
England and Wales
NEXT REVIEW
Annually or after material change
UK legal and guidance references
External sources are provided for transparency. The legislation and official guidance in force at the relevant time should always be checked.