The January 2008 NFIRS 5.0 Design Documentation is posted below. This release incorporates all rule changes, system relational edits, and transaction file record layouts which had been identified since the January 2006 documentation release.

The Specification Changes and Corrections log has been updated to incorporate the January 2008 release items and is posted with the corresponding revision date.

USFA encourages vendors to review the documentation completely for changes.

NOTE: To download and save the document to the PC:
Click on the link for the desired document. A Download File Notice will be displayed. In the Download File Notice box, right click on the Download Now hyperlink and select "Save," and specify a location on the PC.

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NFIRS 5.0 Design Documentation (5.25 MB)

Or, download the Design Documentation in zipped format:
NFIRS 5.0 Design Documentation (1.94 MB)

This document was posted on 01/02/2008.

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Specification Changes and Corrections (138 KB)
This table contains a log of changes and updates to the Final Design Specification. The log is based on comments received by USFA between the period of January 1999 to January 2008. All errors, corrections or updates listed have been incorporated into the release of the NFIRS 5.0 Design Documentation, dated January 2008.

This document was posted on 1/02/2008.

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Spreadsheet Tables (1 MB)
It is VERY important that developers who have begun designing systems using previous specification releases download and review this file.

This file contains five spreadsheet tables in Microsoft EXCEL 97 Workbook format which may be useful to software developers. The tables are data dictionary (codes and descriptors), chemical database, system edits, system relational edits, and transaction file record layouts, and Federal Agency codes.

This document was posted on 01/02/2008.

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NFIRS 4.1 to 5.0 Conversion Tables (55 KB)
This file contains four spreadsheet tables in Microsoft Excel 97 which includes the conversion rules for the Basic, Fire, Structure, Civilian Casualty, Firefighter Casualty and Hazard Materials Modules.

No changes have been made to the conversion rules for the January 2008 cycle.

This document was posted on 09/20/2005.

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NFIRS 5.0 Paper Forms (328 KB)

This file includes the following forms: Basic, Fire, Structure Fire, Civilian Fire Casualty, Fire Service Casualty, EMS, Hazmat, Wildland Fire, Apparatus or Resources, Personnel, Arson, and Supplemental.

The Paper Forms have been updated to include the OMB (Office of Management and Budget) required Number and Expiration Date of the USFA Software, and makes available the Paperwork Burden Disclosure Notices for each NFIRS Module for viewing and printing in accordance with OMB regulation 5 CFR Part 1320(b)(2)(ii)(B).

This document was posted on 08/09/2007.

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Cause Category Methodology Matrix (26 KB)

The USFA fire cause methodology consists of using a set of hierarchical sorting rules based primarily on the Ignition Cause and Factors, Equipment Involved in Ignition, and Heat Source (plus Exposure Number) to create a hierarchical sorting of all fires into 35 priority (hierarchical) cause codes. These priority cause codes are then regrouped into 12 major cause categories plus a residual unknown-cause group. This framework has proved enormously useful to analysts over the years and is continued under NFIRS version 5.0.

Note: As was the cause in previous versions, these cause category groupings are intended for use with structure fires only. They will not accurately portray causes for Outside or Vehicle fires and they were not designed for that purpose.

No changes have been made to the fire cause methodology for the January 2008 cycle.

This document was posted on 12/23/2003.

Preparation for January 2009 Specification

The documents posted in this section are made available to assist Vendors prepare for the January 2009 Specification Cycle Release.

The changes noted in these documents will not go into effect in the live system until January 1, 2009.

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January 2009 Preliminary Specification Changes and Corrections (22 KBytes)
This table contains a preliminary log of changes and updates that will be incorporated into the January 2009 Design Specification. The log is based on comments received by USFA between the period of January 2008 to the September 2008.

This document was posted on 9/29/2008.

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Preliminary January 2009 Spreadsheet Tables (1075 KBytes)
The Spreadsheet Tables include separate worksheets for the Data Dictionary, Edit Requirements, Relational Edits, Flat File Transfer Format, etc. In this file, text that is highlighted indicates a change or modification to be implemented on January 1, 2009.

This document was posted on 9/29/2008.

Comments on the final specification may be addressed to FEMA-nfirshelp@dhs.gov