Understanding Catalogues

Before you start adding assets to floor plans, it helps to understand how the Catalogue system works. It’s the backbone of consistent asset tracking.

The Problem Catalogues Solve

Without standardization, asset tracking becomes chaos:

Without Catalogues	With Catalogues
”fire extinguisher” vs “Fire Ext” vs “FE 5kg”	One consistent “5kg CO2 Fire Extinguisher”
Everyone invents their own fields	Pre-defined specifications for each asset type
No energy data, or inconsistent data	Power consumption, efficiency ratings built in
Impossible to compare or aggregate	Every asset of a type has the same structure

Catalogues ensure that when you create an asset, it comes with all the right fields, specifications, and data - no guessing required.

The Three Levels

CATALOGUE ──contains──> LISTING ──creates──> ASSET
(Library)              (Template)           (Your Instance)

1. Catalogue

A Catalogue is a collection of equipment specifications organized by category.

Think of it as: A product library you browse to find the right equipment type.

Types of Catalogues:

Global Catalogues

Standard equipment available to everyone. Fire safety equipment, common HVAC systems, standard lighting - the basics.

Estate Catalogues

Custom catalogues for your organization. Your specific approved equipment, custom asset types for your industry.

2. Listing

A Listing is a specific product template within a catalogue.

Think of it as: One item from the parts library, with all its specifications filled in.

What a Listing contains:

Information	Example
Name	”5kg CO2 Fire Extinguisher”
Category	Fire Safety > Extinguishers
Dimensions	Height: 520mm, Diameter: 150mm
Weight	13.6 kg
Power consumption	N/A (not powered)
Custom fields	Discharge time, certification, etc.

3. Asset

An Asset is what you create when you drag a Listing onto a floor plan.

Think of it as: The actual physical equipment in your building.

The Asset inherits specifications from the Listing, but also has its own unique properties:

From the Listing (inherited)	Unique to this Asset
Product specifications	Serial number
Dimensions, weight	Installation date
Power consumption	Physical location
Category, manufacturer	Maintenance history
Custom field structure	Attached photos/documents

Key insight: You can have 50 fire extinguishers on your floor plan, all created from the same Listing. Each is an independent Asset with its own location and history, but they share the same specifications.

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How to Use Catalogues

Browsing the Catalogue

1. Open a floor plan for editing
2. Look for the Catalogue panel (usually on the left or right side)
3. Browse by category or use search
4. Click a Listing to see its full specifications

Creating an Asset

Tip

The easiest way: Drag a Listing directly onto the floor plan. This creates an Asset at that location in one action.

Alternatively:

1. Click on a Listing
2. Click Create Asset
3. The asset is created (you can place it on a floor plan later)

Finding the Right Listing

Search tips:

• Search by product name: “condensing boiler”
• Search by manufacturer: “Vaillant”
• Search by category: browse the tree to “HVAC > Heating > Boilers”

If you can’t find what you need, you may need to create a custom Listing (see below).

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Custom Catalogues

If the global catalogues don’t have what you need, you can create custom Listings in your Estate’s catalogue.

When to Create Custom Listings

• Equipment specific to your industry
• Non-standard or bespoke items
• Local suppliers not in the global catalogue
• Custom asset types your organization tracks

Creating a Custom Listing

1. Navigate to your Estate’s Catalogue
2. Click New Listing
3. Select the appropriate category
4. Fill in specifications
5. Add any custom fields you need
6. Save (some organizations require approval)

Caution

Creating custom Listings typically requires Catalogue Admin permissions. Contact your administrator if you need access.

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Why This Matters for Carbon Tracking

Catalogues are where the CO2 in “CO2 Asset Management” begins.

Energy Data in Listings

Well-configured Listings include:

• Power consumption (kW, kWh)
• Fuel type (gas, electric, oil)
• Efficiency ratings (SEER, EER, COP)
• Refrigerant type (for HVAC)

When you place an Asset, this energy data comes with it automatically.

From Assets to Carbon Footprint

Asset specifications → Energy consumption → Emission factors → Carbon footprint

By ensuring every Asset has accurate specifications from its Listing, you build the foundation for:

• Summing energy consumption by building, floor, or asset type
• Identifying high-impact replacement opportunities
• Calculating carbon footprint for reporting
• Modeling improvement proposals

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Quick Reference

Question	Answer
What’s a Catalogue?	A library of asset specifications
What’s a Listing?	A template for one type of equipment
What’s an Asset?	An actual item, created from a Listing
How do I create an Asset?	Drag a Listing onto a floor plan
Can I customize Listings?	Yes, in your Estate’s custom catalogue
Why does this matter for carbon?	Listings contain energy data

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Ready to place assets? Learn how to add assets to floor plans →