Today, I\u2019m going to write on everybody\u2019s favorite topic, reports! Simmer down Scooter, this is for everyone! Reports are the #1 thing that can either get you in trouble or get you OUT of trouble. What do you mean, Eddie? \u201cI just go through the report and answer the questions yes, no or N\/A. What\u2019s the big deal?\u201d Let me answer that by first stating this to you\u2026 Your report is a legally binding document that can and will be used against, or for you, in a court of law. Did I studder? Did you read that correctly? Did that scare you a little bit? I hope so!<\/p>\n
Now, I don\u2019t want you to be scared to go out and do an inspection. That\u2019s not the intent of this article. The intent of this article is to make you aware of how important your reports are. I\u2019ve said this before and it still rings true, but we are inherently lazy. \u201cNot me, Eddie! I\u2019m the best inspector in the world!\u201d\u00a0 Riiiiiiiight\u2026 If you think that about yourself, there is no need for you to read any further and you may need to seek counselling! LOL!<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what happens to a lot of us; \u201cI\u2019ve got 3 locations the office has sent to me to inspect today. I have to pick up Junior from school, feed him and then have him back at the ballpark for practice by 6pm. I\u2019m gonna really be pushing it to get all of these done in enough time in order to make all of this happen today.\u201d Have you ever been there? I have, for sure. So here\u2019s my question\u2026 What suffers? If you\u2019re honest, you\u2019ll say the inspection. I. Have. Been. There. I promise you, I\u2019m not throwing stones from my glass house!<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s my advice\u2026 You ready? Slow down. Take your time. Cross your T\u2019s and dot your I\u2019s. Fill your reports out with the mindset of \u201cI don\u2019t want to go to jail.\u201d Have a CYA mindset when you do your reports. And CYA doesn\u2019t mean See you later. Answer the questions honestly. If you don\u2019t know how to answer a question, pick up the phone and call someone. There is no shame in this industry. A correctly answered question can get you and your company out of hot water quickly. Also, \u201cN\/A\u201d \u00a0is NOT the correct way to answer a question if you don\u2019t know how to answer the question. It\u2019s also NOT a viable option if you\u2019re trying to save the customer money on repair costs. Answer the questions honestly. CYA.<\/p>\n
Document everything<\/strong>. For example, if you are doing an inspection at a hotel, strip mall or apartment complex and you can\u2019t get into every room, document every room you did not have access to. Why is this important? Remember the old saying of \u201cIf you didn\u2019t write it down, it didn\u2019t happen?\u201d It\u2019s true. If you do not write down what rooms \/ areas \/ apartments you did not visually inspect, its assumed that you did. This is a BIG deal.<\/p>\n Be precise<\/strong> with your reports. The more information you give, the more detailed you are, the more your \u201cassets\u201d will be covered if an issue arises. Being detailed on your reports is also a bonus for your salesmen. The more info you give keeps them from having to call you for questions or having to make a site visit in order to quote the job. \u201cPainted head in the breakroom\u201d is NOT an acceptable comment on your report! What kind of head? Upright or Pendant? Viking? Reliable? Victaulic? Tyco? Globe? Automatic? Grinnell? Size? Coating? Temperature rating? Quick or standard response? Ladder? Scaffolding? Lift? C\u2019MON MAN!!! See what I\u2019m getting at here? Take pictures and attach them to the report if you are unsure of something. Heck, take pictures of anything you write up, or anything in question!<\/p>\n Stay in scope! <\/strong>If you can\u2019t back it up out of NFPA 25, don\u2019t write it in the body of your report. If you feel that it is necessary for the customer to know, write it in an observation report. This will ensure that the customer is aware of the issue but will keep you from stepping outside the scope of NFPA 25. Here are a few items that we like to call out in a report that are outside of the scope of NFPA 25:<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Spacing, or layout of heads<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unsprinklered areas<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Signs (main drain, inspectors test, auxiliary drain, air-line, alarm test)<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mixed response heads<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mixed temperature heads<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hanger spacing<\/p>\n All of these listed above are NFPA 13 violations, NOT NFPA 25!! Are you a licensed designer? Are you a Fire Marshal? Do you work for an insurance company? No, no and no. You are an informer, not an enforcer, Remember that! Writing these items up listed above can and will get you in hot water, even if you write up just one of them. Dadgumit!! Listen to your elders! LOL!<\/p>\n I\u2019ll end with this: Take your time, be precise, be honest, document, document, document and stay in scope!! Your \u201cassets\u201d could be on the line \ud83d\ude2e<\/strong><\/p>\n Till next time!<\/p>\n -eddie-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today, I\u2019m going to write on everybody\u2019s favorite topic, reports! Simmer down Scooter, this is for everyone! Reports are the #1 thing that can either get you in trouble or get you OUT of trouble. What do you mean, Eddie?… Continue Reading