01 · Concept What sample templates are, and when to use one
TL;DR A template is the recipe for what an observation pin captures. One per inspection type; a plan can mix many.
Every pin you drop using a template opens the same form — same fields, same statuses, same colour. Inspectors stop improvising; reports stop needing translation.
Without a template vs. with one
| Aspect | Without template | With template |
|---|---|---|
| Each observation | Free-form note. Whatever the inspector typed. | Structured form. Every pin asks the same questions. |
| Required data | Easy to forget on site. No safety net. | Required fields block sample completion until captured. |
| PDF report | Hand-written prose. Each row reads differently. | Consistent layout. The structure writes itself. |
| Canvas | All pins look alike. | Pin colour = template; status dot = open / closed at a glance. |
What a template defines
Four things, in this order: a name, a pin colour, a list of possible statuses (Pending, Issue, Resolved…), and the fields the inspector fills in on site. When a pin is dropped using the template, the sample sheet opens with exactly those fields ready.
Each plan can use as many templates as you like — one for moisture, one for electrical safety, one for asbestos. Pins are labelled per template (M1, M2… for Mold Inspection; A1, A2… for Asbestos), so a glance at the plan tells you the type and order of every observation.
Templates live on your account and sync between phone, tablet, and web dashboard. Edit one in either place and the change shows up wherever you sign in next.
When you'd reach for one
Anywhere you find yourself typing the same handful of fields on every observation. A few patterns we see in real inspections:
- Mold inspection — mold type, moisture reading, source, extent, photos, notes.
- Asbestos surveys — material, friability, sample ID, location notes, lab reference photo — matching the lab's intake form so transcription is one-to-one.
- Electrical safety — outlet condition, RCD presence, earth bonding pass/fail, photo of the panel.
- Generic property checks — a single template with a short text field plus before/after photos works fine if you don't need structured data yet.