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Understanding Categories
Asset categories group similar types of equipment together using a two-level hierarchy. They help organise your asset register, generate meaningful asset codes, and determine which check templates apply to which assets.
How categories are structured
Categories use a parent and subcategory hierarchy:
- Parent categories represent broad equipment types (e.g. "Lifting Equipment", "Fire Safety")
- Subcategories represent specific equipment within a parent (e.g. "Forklift Truck", "Overhead Crane" under Lifting Equipment)
When creating an asset, you first select a parent category, then choose a subcategory within it.
Each parent category defines:
- Name — a descriptive label (e.g. "Lifting Equipment")
- Code prefix — a short code used to generate unique asset identifiers (e.g.
LIFTproduces codes likeLIFT-001,LIFT-002) - Default criticality — the criticality level automatically assigned to new assets in this category
- Regulation — the relevant health and safety regulation (e.g. "LOLER 1998", "PUWER 1998")
System default categories
When you create your organisation, AssetBuddy sets up the following default categories:
| Category | Subcategories | Code Prefix | Regulation | Default Criticality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifting Equipment | Forklift Truck, Overhead Crane, Hoist, Pallet Truck, Lifting Accessories | LIFT | LOLER 1998 | Critical |
| Access Equipment | Ladder, Stepladder, Scaffold Tower, MEWP, Fixed Scaffolding | ACC | WAHR 2005 | High |
| Electrical Equipment | Portable Appliance, Power Tool, Extension Lead, Fixed Installation, Generator | ELE | EAW Regs 1989 / IET CoP | High |
| Fire Safety | Fire Extinguisher, Fire Alarm System, Emergency Lighting, Fire Door, Sprinkler System | FS | RRO 2005 | Critical |
| Pressure Systems | Compressor, Pressure Vessel, Boiler, Autoclave | PRES | PSSR 2000 | Critical |
| Vehicles & Transport | Van, HGV, Company Car, Trailer, Minibus | VEH | Road Traffic Act / PUWER | High |
| Work Equipment | Hand Tool, Bench Tool, Workshop Machine, Cleaning Equipment, Welding Equipment | GEN | PUWER 1998 | Medium |
| PPE | Safety Harness, Hard Hat, Safety Footwear, Hi-Vis Clothing, Eye Protection, Hearing Protection | PPE | PPE at Work Regs 2022 | Medium |
| Building Services | HVAC System, Water System, Gas Appliance, Automatic Door/Gate, Ventilation System | BLD | Various (ACOP L8, BS 5839) | Medium |
These defaults cover common asset types, but you can create your own categories for anything specific to your organisation.
How categories relate to templates
Check templates can be linked to a parent category or a specific subcategory. When a template is linked to a parent category:
- It applies to all assets in that category and all of its subcategories
- Scheduled checks are generated automatically for matching assets
When a template is linked to a specific subcategory, it only applies to assets in that subcategory.
How categories relate to authorities
Authorities can restrict which asset categories an operator or supervisor is allowed to perform checks on. Authorities are set at the parent category level — granting authority for a parent category (e.g. Lifting Equipment) automatically covers all of its subcategories (Forklift Truck, Overhead Crane, etc.).
Regulation references
Each parent category references a UK health and safety regulation. For a full list of abbreviations, their full names, and links to the official legislation, see Regulation References.