Managing Valve Types & Subtypes

🚰 Overview

Dynamic Valve Types give admin users the ability to manage and customize the Valve Type Catalog directly from their account's backend settings. Instead of using a fixed list of valve types, admins can customize the catalog to better align with their company's terminology and AHJ requirements. 

This feature must first be enabled by Inspect Point for existing Inspect Point customers who perform sprinkler inspections. 

👉 Understanding Dynamic Valve Types

📍 Locating the Valve Type Catalog 

The Valve Type catalog is managed in the backend settings. To review your current catalog: 

1. Navigate to Backend → Settings.
2. Under the Equipment & Devices section, select Valve Types.
3. You'll be brought to the Valve Type Catalog, where you will find all existing valve types and subtypes organized by category: Valves, Drain Valves, and Inspector's Test Valves (ITVs).
4. To view the subtypes associated with a valve type, click Edit next to the corresponding type.

Note: When Dynamic Valve Types is enabled, the existing valve types are organized into more specific categories than before. For example, Check Valves and Control Valves are now listed separately. Select Edit next to each valve type to view its associated subtypes. 

➕ Creating New Valve Types

New valve types can be created in the backend. Starting from the Valve Type Catalog: 

1. Click + New Valve Type.

2. Enter the Valve Type Details 

   • Type Name: Enter the name as you want it to appear throughout Inspect Point, including inspections and reports. Use terminology that your technicians, customers, and AHJs will recognize. 
   • Category: Select the appropriate category: Valves, Drain Valves, or Inspector's Test Valves (ITVs).
   • Classification: Select the classification that best matches the valve type. This determines which inspection questions apply to valves of this type.
3. Add Subtypes if applicable. 
   • You can return at any time to add or remove subtypes.
4. Click Save.  

The new valve type/subtypes will be added to your Valve Type Catalog and available for use based on the settings you've selected.

Valve Classification Information

The Classification determines the inspection questions for the Valve Type. 

• Control: Main water-supply control valves (open, exercise, and seal checks).
• System: System actuation valves, such as dry-pipe, preaction, and deluge valves.
• Check: Check valves (no stem lubrication or exercise questions).
• Regulating: Pressure-regulating valves.
• Drain: Drain and test-and-drain valves.
• Test: Inspector's Test Valves (ITVs).

🚨 Important: A valve's classification cannot be changed once the valve type is in use. Be sure to select the appropriate classification when creating a new valve type.

✏️ Renaming a Valve Type

To update the name of an existing valve type:

1. Navigate to the Valve Type Catalog. 
2. Locate the valve type you want to update.
3. Select the Edit option.
4. Update the Type Name.
   • Renaming a valve type does not change its underlying valve classification. The classification cannot be changed and is used to determine inspection questions. 
5. Save your changes.

The updated name will be used going forward throughout Inspect Point. Previously generated reports are not changed when a valve type is renamed.

🏷️ Managing Valve Subtypes

Admin users can add, rename, reorder, and delete valve subtypes when creating a new valve type or editing an existing one.

To manage subtypes, navigate to the Valve Type Catalog. Locate the valve type, click Edit, and scroll to the Valve Subtypes section, where you can:

• Add: Click + Add Subtype and enter the name.
• Rename: Update the name directly in the subtype field.
• Reorder: Use the drag handle next to each subtype to change its position in the list.
• Delete: Click the red trash can icon next to the subtype you want to remove.
• Require Subtype: Check Require Subtype to make subtype selection mandatory when assigning the valve type to a valve record.

Once you've made your changes, click Save. Technicians can select from the configured valve types and subtypes when adding valves in the field, but they cannot create or modify the Valve Type Catalog from the mobile app.

🗑️ Deactivating Valve Types & Deleting Subtypes

If your company no longer uses a particular valve type or subtype, you can manage its availability from the Valve Type Catalog.

Deactivating a Valve Type

Valve types, including the defaults provided by Inspect Point, can be deactivated to prevent them from being selected when creating or updating valve records.

Starting from Backend Settings → Equipment & Devices → Valve Types:

1. Locate the valve type you want to deactivate and click Edit. 
2. Uncheck the Active checkbox. 
3. Click Save. 

Once deactivated, the valve type will no longer be available for new assignments. Existing valve records assigned to that type will remain unchanged.

🚨 Important: Deactivating a valve type does not delete it or remove it from existing valve records.

Deleting a Valve Subtypes

Subtypes can also be removed when editing a valve type.

1. From the Valve Type Catalog, locate the valve type and click Edit.
2. Scroll to the Valve Subtypes section.
3. Click the red trash can icon next to the subtype. 
4. Repeat as needed, then click Save to apply your changes.

📱 Viewing Dynamic Valve Types iOS 

Technicians must be using the Inspect Point iOS app version 10.7.0 or later to access Dynamic Valve Types and Subtypes.

When changes are made to valve types or subtypes in the backend settings, technicians must log out and log back into the Inspect Point mobile app for the changes to appear.

If the Dynamic Valve Types are not appearing in the mobile app:

1. Confirm the technician is using Inspect Point iOS version 10.7.0 or later.
2. Have the technician log out of the mobile app and log back in to refresh the available valve types and subtypes.

🚨 Important: Technicians using an earlier version of the app will only see the original default valve types. Custom valve types and subtypes will not be available until the app is updated.

ℹ️ Additional Information

• This must be enabled by a member of the Inspect Point team. To enabled, have an admin user email our Support team, support@inspectpoint.com / Subject: Dynamic Valve Types.
• Existing valve types are provided when the feature becomes available, so you do not need to rebuild your current valve catalog.
• Changes to the valve type catalog take effect across the backend once saved.
• Custom inspection questions cannot currently be created for individual valve types.
• Be sure technicians are on the latest version of the Inspect Point app when the feature is enabled. 

Interested in Dynamic Valve Types? Have an admin user email our Support team: 
To: support@inspectpoint.com / Subject: Dynamic Valve Types
Body: Please enable Dynamic Valve Types for our instance, [instance link].