Help
Answers to common questions about using Qapacity.
Getting started
Do I need to know which facility or equipment I need?
No. Start with what you are trying to build, test, characterise or validate. Qapacity suggests the capabilities, processes, equipment and operating conditions involved, and you confirm them.
Should I search or describe a requirement?
Search is useful when you already know a capability, equipment type or facility name. If you have a real technical need, describe a requirement: facilities are then assessed against each of your criteria, showing what matches, what does not and what is unknown.
Who can see my requirements?
Requirements are Organisation private by default — only members of your organisation can see them. Before anything is sent to a provider, you review exactly what information will be shared.
Requirements and matching
What does an AI suggestion label mean?
Items marked AI suggestion — review before accepting were proposed automatically. They may be incomplete or incorrect and are not part of your requirement until you accept them. See AI Use.
Why is there no percentage match score?
A single score hides what matters. Each criterion instead shows a state such as Confirmed match, Unknown or Confirmed mismatch, together with the evidence behind it.
A criterion shows Unknown. What should I do?
Unknown means the information is not available — not that the facility is unsuitable. Request technical confirmation from the provider to resolve it.
No matches were found. Does that mean no facility can do this?
No. Some requirements may be too restrictive, or the relevant capability may not yet be represented in Qapacity. Review your mandatory criteria, or ask Qapacity to research options.
Facility information
Does Qapacity certify facilities?
No. A facility appearing on Qapacity does not mean that Qapacity has certified, accredited or approved it. Information shows a verification state such as Provider verified or Source supported. See Trust.
What does “may be out of date” mean?
“This information may be out of date. Confirm with the provider before relying on it.” is shown when information has passed its review date or has been marked stale.
What do the external access states mean?
They describe how a facility says external users can work with it: Open to external users, Conditional external access, Collaborative projects only, Commercial service available, Academic access, Internal only, Unknown.
I found incorrect information on a facility profile.
Use “Suggest a correction” on the facility page and include any evidence. A reviewer assesses it before the profile changes.
Access requests
Does sending an access request book the facility?
No. An access request is a structured enquiry. A booking request is not a confirmed booking, and a request never authorises physical work — the provider controls safety, training and sample acceptance.
Is an accepted quote an invoice?
No. A quote is not an invoice, and recording acceptance in Qapacity is not proof of payment. Contracts for services are between you and the provider.
What about export control or security restrictions?
Qapacity does not determine that access is legally permissible because a facility matches technically. Where restrictions may apply you will see: “Additional eligibility review may be required.”
For providers
Our facility is already listed. How do we manage it?
Use “Claim this facility” on its profile, or create a provider account. A reviewer confirms your organisation’s relationship with the facility.
How do we mark information as verified?
Once your claim is accepted, you can confirm capability information from the provider portal. It is then shown as provider verified.