HAUSE FIELD GUIDE · REVIEWED 25 OCTOBER 2026
Safety comes before documentation
Do not enter an affected area, disturb materials or delay emergency assistance to take photographs. Existing photographs and written observations may be sufficient for an initial discussion. An assessor can explain what further information is appropriate and how it should be obtained.
Keep observations neutral
Label the date, room and what is visible. Avoid turning a stain, powder or damaged surface into a confirmed diagnosis. Record “suspected”, “unknown” and “not inspected” accurately. A later assessment may answer a different question than the original observation.
Minimise personal information
Exclude people, identity documents, medical details and unrelated belongings from an initial enquiry. Do not post incident photographs publicly to obtain informal diagnoses. Before sending sensitive material, confirm the recipient and the secure transfer method with the responsible provider.
Build a usable chronology
Keep the original files with a short incident timeline, authorisations and reports. Note who supplied each record and what they personally observed. A compact, accurate file is usually easier to act on than an unlabelled folder of images with uncertain dates and assumed conclusions.
The project questions are HAUSE planning prompts. Refer to the responsible authority and qualified provider for requirements that apply to your situation.