# Acquire a station and confirm the unit

Review selected requirements before recording any measurement.

Source: https://help.smartfact.ai/manuals/checkstation/start-an-inspection

Review edition: 25 October 2026

Roles: operator, supervisor

Start only when the physical unit, approved source context and required methods are available. Use your own Operator or Supervisor sign-in. Do not use a scan as proof that a unit has been measured.

## Acquire the physical station

Open Station and select the Named station matching your workplace. Choose Acquire station. If another person controls it, read the occupancy and arrange a handover. A passed idle deadline does not silently authorise takeover. The explicit takeover option requires fresh authentication and current control details.

The station name and signed-in person remain visible. Use Lock and release station when leaving control. Do not continue from an earlier tab after control has transferred.

## Identify and prepare

Use Scan or enter the unit code and Find unit. Select the exact matching physical unit. Choose Review before starting and read Confirm the unit and selected requirements.

Compare source details, family, drawing and selected checks with the actual work. Expand Why these requirements apply where needed. Preparation has a displayed expiry and can become stale if source or approved selection changes.

Enter the physical unit code in Enter the physical unit code to confirm and choose Confirm unit and start. This is the deliberate start. Cancel preparation if anything disagrees. Missing context, unsupported selection, active work, safety barriers or expired preparation can refuse start.

## Continue an existing inspection carefully

If the attempt belongs to a different control session, use Resume under this station with a Control transfer reason when authorised. The server requires fresh authentication for the transfer and invalidates the earlier station's control. Agree which person physically holds the unit before making that change.

An idle lock requires a fresh view and reauthentication before more work. A current-looking form does not preserve earlier control indefinitely.

## Verify the started record

Check the attempt identity and frozen selected checks. Confirm that readings will belong to the intended unit, approved check revision and station. Record the method using [manual readings](/manuals/checkstation/manual-readings) and [inspection evidence](/manuals/checkstation/inspection-evidence).

If the start answer is uncertain, use the original command's reconciliation before trying another start. A physical unit must not acquire competing inspection records merely because a browser answer was lost.