Start inspection
Open Inspections → NEW in Thermal →
What it's for
Start inspection is how an inspection begins. It ties a checklist template to a work order that already has equipment on it, and takes a snapshot of that checklist so the questions can never change underneath a half-finished inspection.
Reach it from Start inspection on the Inspections list, at
/inspections/new. The page describes itself as "Search for a work order with
linked equipment, choose a template, and snapshot the checklist."
Tabs
The form has no tabs. It is two choices on one page.
Panels and controls
- Work order — search across customer, unit, and serial with "Search by customer, unit, or serial…". Only jobs that already have equipment linked can be picked: an inspection is a record about a specific unit, so there has to be a unit.
- Template — the checklist to run. Which templates are offered depends on the equipment type on the job, so a chiller checklist is not offered for a rooftop unit.
- Start inspection creates the record and takes you to it.
Why the snapshot matters
The checklist is copied onto the inspection at the moment you start it. Edit the template afterwards and existing inspections keep the questions they were actually run against — which is what makes an old inspection defensible rather than merely old.
What it accepts
| Field | Format | Required | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work order | Search and pick | Yes | Must have equipment linked; jobs without a unit are not offered |
| Template | Pick a template | Yes | Offered templates depend on the equipment type on the job |
How to configure it
- Inspection templates under Settings decide which checklists exist, what they ask, and which equipment types they apply to. A template that matches nothing on your job will not appear in the picker.
Who can see it
This screen sits behind the Inspections area.
Owners, office managers and dispatchers can open it. Technicians start their inspections from the job in the field app. The gate is checked on the server, not just hidden in the sidebar, so a direct link does not get around it.
The full role matrix is on Roles & permissions.