A new service leverages quick-response (QR) code technology to give workers instant access to historical compliance data for a facility's building systems.

"We saw a need to eliminate the paperwork still associated with life-safety work in a facility," says Jason Kronz, president and chief technology officer for Building- Reports, Atlanta, the building safety-compliance firm that developed the QR service LiveArchive.

When used with a mobile device such as an iPhone or Android, LiveArchive allows inspectors, managers, owners and emergency responders to scan a QR code to access an equipment report for up-to-date, historical data on fire, life-safety, security and other building systems, says Kronz.

"When they need these reports, people are often in duress," says Kronz. "The fire marshal might be there, asking to see a report."

Once the QR code is scanned, any deficiencies or problems in the building are immediately displayed, says Kronz.

The report tracks manufacturer, model number, location, installation data and the dates of tests and inspections for all the equipment in the building.

"The main idea is redundancy of critical building data and eliminating mistakes," says Kronz. The service has more than 500 customers since its May 2014 release, he adds. Once a facility report is accessed, users can view or share it with others.

The company has offered digital building reports on a software-as-a-service basis since 1998, says Kronz. The software-as-a-service business model forces innovation to keep customers happy, and LiveArchive is the latest example.

Service members buy 100 inspections a year for $99 a month. The price increases if more inspections are needed, says Kronz.