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An item of feedback we’ve received includes the name of the Discrepancy Report.  Several partners requested we change the title from “Discrepancy Report” to “Deficiency Report”, however that doesn’t fit all ScanSeries apps and the preference is to keep these uniform as requested by large facility customers. While researching options we looked at the meaning of the words Deficiancy and Discrepancy:

Deficiency: A deficiency refers to a lack or insufficiency of something that is required or expected. It implies that something is missing or not present in the desired quantity or quality. In various fields such as nutrition, finance, or engineering, deficiency often refers to a shortage or inadequacy. For example, a deficiency in a nutrient in the diet may lead to health problems, a deficiency in financial resources may hinder a project, or a deficiency in structural integrity may compromise the stability of a building.

Discrepancy: A discrepancy, on the other hand, refers to a difference or inconsistency between two or more things. It indicates a variance or deviation from an expected or standard value. Discrepancies can occur in measurements, calculations, records, or any comparison between two sets of data. They highlight inconsistencies that may need to be addressed or investigated further to reconcile the differences. Unlike deficiencies, discrepancies do not necessarily imply a lack or insufficiency but rather highlight inconsistencies or variations between expected and actual values. In summary, while both deficiency and discrepancy imply differences, deficiency suggests a shortage or inadequacy, whereas discrepancy indicates a variance or inconsistency between two or more things.

We also reviewed the codes, e.g.,
NFPA 72: 3.3.74 Deficiency. – A condition that interferes with the service or reliability for which the part, system, or equipment was intended.

3.3.145 * Impairment. – An abnormal condition during either a planned or emergency event where a system, component, or function is inoperable.

A.3.3.145 Impairment. – An impairment is a system component or function that is not working properly, which can result in the system or unit not functioning when required. This might be due to an intentional act, such as closing a valve or disabling an initiating device. The impairment also might be caused by a deficiency in a piece of equipment or subsystem. An example of emergency impairment is physical damage to a control unit or wiring. Examples of a planned impairment include the addition of new devices or appliances or the reprogramming of system software.

3.3.193 * Observation. – A suggested correction, improvement, or enhancement to the fire alarm or signaling system that is not considered to be an impairment or deficiency.

A.3.3.193 Observation. – Examples of observations could include, but are not limited to, the manufacturer’s suggested device replacement, executive software updates, corroded electrical component replacement, and other similar items not directly impacting a system’s ability to complete its intended function at the point in time when the observation is made.

The Discrepancy Report, therefore, includes not only Deficiencies, but also Impairments and Observations so the sub-heading was included to benefit your customers who view the inspection reports.