The move from NFIRS to NERIS has reshaped fire incident reporting. Now that most agencies are reporting through NERIS, many are asking practical questions about validation rules, incident exports, mutual aid, and day-to-day workflows.
To help, we’ve compiled answers to common NERIS FAQs based on questions from fire agencies and administrators working through reporting and configuration issues.
1. Why Won’t My Incident(s) Export to NERIS?
Export failures are among the most common issues agencies encounter when reporting to NERIS. Frequent causes include:
- Required data elements that have not been completed
- Inactive Auto Post criteria
- National validation rules that have been inactivated
- Auto post criteria that requires a minimum validation score that has been set too low
- Missing NERIS IDs for aid agencies
- Unit response grid issues
If an incident fails to export, start with the export history post log. It identifies why the incident failed so you can correct the incident and any applicable configurations. You can find an easier to read message by clicking Troubleshoot Export with the More button.
2. Why Can’t I Get the NERIS Validation Score to 100?
The validation score is determined by whether the data entered satisfies the active validation rules. If an incident does not reach 100, the most likely cause is that a visibility rule is hiding a required field or the required field is not included on your form.
Administrators should review visibility rules to ensure that required fields are visible. Administrators should also review the NERIS form to ensure required fields are present on the form, then review the applicable validation rules.
Administrators should also subscribe to rulebook notifications so they will be notified when an update is published.
3. Do NERIS Validation Rules Update Automatically?
No. Validation rules must be manually imported when updates become available.
To apply new rules to existing incidents, an administrator must open the incident or use Bulk Actions from the incident list view to bulk execute validation.
4. How Does NERIS Auto Post Work?
Auto Post allows incidents that meet established criteria to be automatically submitted for export.
However, you should carefully review the criteria being used. Exporting incidents too early can result in incomplete reports and failed submissions. Many agencies work with ImageTrend support to refine Auto Post criteria and align them with local workflows.
Future enhancements are expected to provide additional flexibility around troubleshooting failed exports.
5. How Should Mutual Aid Incidents Be Handled?
Mutual aid reporting involves two areas: mutual aid agencies and mutual aid units.
For mutual aid agencies, confirm that supporting agencies have the appropriate NERIS IDs. NERIS only allows aid agencies with a valid NERIS ID. To document any other aid agency types, NERIS has added the Non-Fire Department Aid field. If you need to collect the name of the non-fire department aid agency, a supplemental question is the best option.
For mutual aid units, NERIS does not collect mutual aid unit information. However, ImageTrend allows for this data collection. Ensure Mutual Aid Functionality is turned on in Configuration. There are two options to manage mutual aid units:
- Enter each unit in Vehicle Maintenance and set the unit as mutual aid.
- Set the Mutual Aid Functionality configuration to Automatically Mark Non-Agency Vehicles from CAD as Mutual Aid.
Mutual aid units do not export to NERIS. Because of this, you need to ensure the Dispatch Unit Response grid of each incident includes at least one non-mutual aid unit to prevent a failed export. If the non-mutual aid unit did not respond, mark the unit as Unable to Dispatch.
Review both workflows during configuration and use the export history post log to identify the specific cause when a mutual aid incident fails.
6. Do Medical Calls Require the Medical Module?
No. NERIS does not require departments to complete the medical module. The module exists primarily for fire agencies that need to capture medical information but are not completing an electronic patient care report (ePCR).
Review your workflows, configurations, and visibility rules to ensure users are only completing the information required for your agency’s reporting needs.
7. How Do I Update Stations and Units in NERIS?
ImageTrend Elite should be the source of truth for Stations and Units. Update or create the Station or Unit record in Elite, then perform an Entity Export to update NERIS.
8. Why Did My Entity Export Fail?
Most often, an entity export fails because a Station in Elite does not have a Station ID, but that station already exists in NERIS with an ID. In this case, work with our Support team to import the Station ID in Elite, then perform the entity export.
Another common error is because the Unit has a Unit ID in Elite that does not match the ID in NERIS. In this case, our Support team can help you update the Unit ID in Elite, then perform the entity export.
9. How Can I Prevent Fields Required by Validation from Hiding?
As a best practice, each Visibility Rule should include a clause that only hides the field when it is blank. Another commonly used option is to create a Supplemental Question that is used as a clause in each Visibility Rule that unhides the field based on the response to the Supplemental Question.
10. Where Can I Find NERIS Training and Support?
A variety of NERIS training and support resources are available for agencies and administrators, including:
- NERIS Preparation FAQs – Setup and configuration guidance, including information that remains useful for troubleshooting.
- NERIS Webinars – On-demand sessions covering NERIS workflows, resources, and product updates.
- NERIS Post Go-Live Updated FAQs – Answers to frequently asked questions from agencies currently sending incidents to NERIS.
Using these resources can help you troubleshoot configuration challenges, stay current on updates, and strengthen ongoing NERIS reporting workflows.
NERIS Reporting Continues to Evolve
NERIS reporting is not static. As requirements evolve and new functionality is released, agencies should expect continued enhancements, updated validation rules, and new resources to support accurate reporting.
By using available training, keeping configurations current, reviewing post logs when exports fail, and staying informed about NERIS updates, fire departments can maintain smoother, more reliable reporting workflows.
Still have NERIS questions?
From validation rules and exports to ongoing reporting requirements, NERIS continues to evolve. See how ImageTrend helps fire agencies prepare for, manage, and stay current with NERIS fire reporting.
