This article explains how engineers can continue working through a visit when they are on-site without network connectivity. It details which features remain available offline, what limitations to expect, and how the system handles data synchronization once connection is restored.
NoteRequired role: Engineer
Working Offline During a Visit
The BriqSafe mobile app is designed to support engineers working in locations with no signal, such as basements or plant rooms. Several core features continue to work without a connection, allowing you to carry on site work uninterrupted.
- Visit list, job list, and job form: These are native app elements and remain fully accessible.
- Thermometer pairing and flushing timer: You can pair Bluetooth thermometers and run the flushing timer natively offline.
- Photo capture: You can take photos and attach them to jobs offline.
Note that some content will not work offline:
- Embedded web pages: Pages like the Location jobs page accessed from a structure card’s overdue count will show Not Available Offline when there is no connection.
How Data is Cached and Queued Offline
The app automatically caches your visits locally to support offline work, but this cache has clear limitations:
- Only your own visits dated yesterday, today, or tomorrow are automatically cached.
- A colleague’s visit or a visit dated further in the future is cached only if you have opened it in the visits list while connected.
- Visits created elsewhere after you went offline do not arrive on your device.
Because of this, it is important to open the relevant visit on your device while online before going to site, to ensure the visit data is cached and up to date.
During offline work, any readings, photos, or status changes you record are queued locally on the device. A notice will inform you that these changes will be sent automatically once a connection is restored. The app drains this queue silently in the background when online.
Best Practices Before and After Offline Work
- Before leaving for a site with no signal, open the visit you will be working on while still connected to the internet. This ensures the visit and its jobs are cached on your device.
- Perform your work as usual, including filling in job forms, pairing thermometers, running flushing timers, and capturing photos.
- Avoid relying on embedded web pages during offline work, as they will not load and show Not Available Offline.
- After completing your offline work, reconnect to a network and open the sync indicator in the app header (status button or dynamic island pill).
- Review the sync-status sheet for pending changes and allow the app to upload all queued readings, photos, and status updates before leaving the site. Photos only upload on reconnect, so waiting prevents data loss.
Important Notes About Offline Data and Syncing
- Queued updates will synchronize automatically once a connection is available, but you can manually boost individual items via the sync-status sheet.
- The app blocks signing out or switching organisations if offline or if there are unsynced changes pending upload. To sign out or switch organisation, reconnect and wait for the queue to drain fully.
- Job answers have special sync behavior: if the same job was changed on the web by someone else while you were offline, your queued updates silently overwrite theirs without a conflict notice. Reopen the job after syncing to verify your changes.
- Some changes, such as edits to risk assessments, recommendations, or attachments, will trigger a sync conflict notice and your change may be discarded if modified elsewhere during your offline session.
- Data cached offline may become stale after about 12 to 24 hours. To refresh control schemes and job lists, reconnect and tap Get latest data on the sync-status card. This is disabled while offline or with unsynced changes.
Summary Table: Offline Capability vs. Limitations
| Feature | Works Offline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visit list (your own visits) | Yes | Visits dated yesterday, today, or tomorrow cached automatically; others only if opened while online |
| Job list and job form | Yes | Fully functional, including filling out forms and marking status |
| Thermometer pairing | Yes | Supports pairing Bluetooth thermometers natively offline |
| Flushing timer | Yes | Runs natively and enforces prescribed flush durations |
| Photo capture | Yes | Photos are stored and queued on device, uploading only on reconnect |
| Embedded web pages (e.g. Location jobs page) | No | Show "Not Available Offline" if accessed without signal |
| Queued readings, photos, status changes upload | Stored locally during offline, upload on reconnect | Must wait for queue to drain to ensure all data is sent |