NERIS Address & Location

NERIS Address & Location

EPR FireWorks Documentation – Address & Location

Overview

The Location section captures comprehensive location data for accurate incident mapping and analysis. Locations in NERIS do not require an address. If the address is not available, you can add a polygon on a map defining the area of the incident.


Alert

Disclaimer 

NERIS is currently under development by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). This guide reflects the system as implemented in EPR FireWorks. Functionality may evolve as NERIS continues development toward full national implementation by January 2026.


To define location information, follow these steps:

  1. Complete location info
  2. Add exposures.
  3. Select the location type and subtype.

Completing Location Info

To define the incident address or polygon, follow these steps:

  1. Determine whether the incident location is associated with a parcel address.
  2. If you answered Yes, complete the location details below. If you answered No, skip this step.
  3. If you marked No, do as follows. If you answered Yes, skip this step.
  1. Using the toggle bar, select Pin or Area 
    for the type of location you are going to mark on the map.
    point area
  1. Mark the location on the map.
  1. If you selected Point, click the location on the map.
  2. If you selected Area., click the edges of the polygon you are marking up. When finished, click Save Polygon
    .
    polygon


Adding Exposures

Exposures in NERIS are defined as property or structures damaged or destroyed by the originating source of the hazard. An incident can include multiple exposures.

Idea
Example: The structure fire spreads to vehicles in the parking lot. Each vehicle is regarded as an individual exposure.

To add exposures, follow these steps:

  1. to the right of Location Info
    , click Add Exposure.
    image-20250420-200608.png
  1. Define the Exposure Type (Internal/External).
    image-20250420-201255.png
  1. Complete the following exposure fields:
  1. Type of Property
  2. Was There Damage
  3. Exposure Apt. Suite (if applicable)
    image-20250420-201210.png
  1. Click Show Map
    . Mark the exposure on the map.
    image-20250420-201431.png
  1. Repeat steps 1-4 for all exposures related to the incident.

Selecting Location Type

  1. Select the appropriate Location Type and Subtype 
    for this incident. The location types and subtypes are described in the tables below.
    image-20250420-204537.png
  1. Answer the following questions:
  1. Is the location in use?
    If you answered No, select the reason for vacancy.
  2. Were people present?
  3. Is the location used as intended?
    If you answered No
    , define whether the secondary use impacted the incident response.
    image-20250420-205149.png
  1. Select a secondary location type and subtype (if applicable).
    image-20250420-205236.png
  1. Record the number of people displaced by the incident (if applicable).
    image-20250420-205311.png

Location Types

Classification

Description/Subtypes

Agriculture

Farm buildings, silos, animal processing facilities, agricultural storage

Assembly

Gathering places including community centers, religious facilities, arenas

Commercial

Business establishments including offices, retail, restaurants, service locations

Education

Educational facilities including schools, universities, day care centers

Government

Public facilities including police stations, fire stations, jails, administration

Industrial

Manufacturing facilities, processing plants, refineries, factories

Health Care

Medical facilities including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, assisted living

Residential

Housing units including single-family, multi-family, temporary lodging

Utility & Miscellaneous

Infrastructure facilities, transportation hubs, public works

Storage

Storage facilities including warehouses, self-storage, portable structures

Roadway/Access

General vehicle access ways and approaches

Street

Municipal roads, streets, and public thoroughfares

Sidewalk

Pedestrian walkways adjacent to roadways

Highway/Interstate

Major roadways, expressways, and limited access highways

Bridge

Elevated roadway structures crossing obstacles (water, land features)

Tunnel

Underground vehicular or pedestrian passages

Parking Lot/Garage

Surface and structure vehicle parking facilities

Ground/Vacant Land

Undeveloped land, empty lots, open spaces

Camp Site

Designated recreation camping and outdoor living areas

Playground/Park/Rec Area

Developed recreational outdoor public spaces

Hiking Trail

Designated walking paths and outdoor recreation trails

Forest/Grass/Woodland

Natural vegetated areas, both managed and unmanaged

Water Proximity

Coastal areas, beaches, docks, marinas, shorelines

Open Water

Bodies of water including lakes, rivers, ponds, streams

Outdoor Industrial

Outdoor work sites including mines, quarries, construction zones


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