SweepBoardby TRMThe questions people ask before they say yes
If yours is not here, ask us. We will give you a straight answer.
Using it
Do wardens need to download an app?
No. They scan a QR code, which opens SweepBoard in the phone’s browser, and add it to the Home Screen. It then behaves like any other app, with its own icon.
Do wardens need a login?
No. They type their name the first time so that their actions are attributed to them. Only administrators sign in.
Which phones does it work on?
Current iPhones and Android phones, plus tablets and any modern desktop browser. The controller board works well on a tablet or laptop, and on a phone.
Can wardens use their own phones?
Yes. Nothing is installed from an app store and SweepBoard has no access to anything else on the phone. Whether personal phones are used is a decision for you.
What if the usual warden is not in?
Anyone can scan the floor’s poster and sweep it, and any warden can switch to another floor in the app. The record shows who actually did the sweep.
How long does it take to train someone?
A few minutes. The quick start guide is three pages. Most people understand the warden screen the first time they see it.
Alerts and signal
How are wardens alerted?
By your fire alarm, as now, and by a notification on their phone that tells them which floor to sweep. Phones that have not opened SweepBoard get automatic reminders.
Will the alert sound if a phone is on silent?
No. Like every web app, SweepBoard cannot override silent mode or Focus settings in the way government emergency alerts do. That is a rule set by Apple and Google.
Our set-up guide shows the phone settings that make alerts as prominent as possible. The fire alarm remains the signal to evacuate.
What happens with no mobile signal or Wi-Fi?
The warden carries on. Their taps are saved on the phone with the true time and sent to the board when the signal returns. The controller can also mark areas from a verbal report.
What if the whole system is unavailable?
You fall back to the printed checklists, which match the app exactly, and run the evacuation as you always have. SweepBoard is never a single point of failure.
The sweep
Is it for drills or real evacuations?
Both. The controller chooses which when they start. Drills are clearly labelled as drills on every screen and alert, and are recorded separately.
How are refuges handled?
The refuge is the last check on each floor. A warden marks it empty or in use, with the number of people and the assistance they need. The controller sees this immediately and the all-clear time is held until every refuge is resolved.
Do you store details of disabled people?
No. SweepBoard records how many people are in a refuge and the type of assistance needed. It does not hold names or medical information.
Can it be used for other emergencies?
The same sweep-and-confirm approach works for any evacuation where areas need checking, and the site plan can hold your wider emergency instructions. Talk to us about what you need.
Does it connect to our fire alarm panel?
No. SweepBoard is independent of the alarm system. An incident is started by the controller, which keeps it simple and avoids false triggers.
Set-up, data and cost
How long does set-up take?
A typical site takes under an hour once we have the floor plans. For pilots and roll-outs TRM usually does it for you.
We have lots of sites. Is that a problem?
No. Each site has its own plans, QR codes, history and emergency plan, and they all appear in one searchable list for your administrators.
Where is our data held?
In a database dedicated to your organisation, hosted on Google Firebase in Google’s Belgium region. See Security and data.
Does using SweepBoard make us compliant?
No tool can do that by itself. SweepBoard supports your procedures and gives you strong evidence that they are carried out and tested. See Compliance.
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on the number of sites and how much set-up you would like us to do. Start with a demo or a pilot and we will give you a clear proposal.
How do we start?
Book a demo. If you like what you see, we set up one site and you run a drill. See how the pilot works.
Still have a question?
Ask it. A fire safety practitioner will reply, not a sales script.