Purpose Statement

The NFPA Fire Experience Survey feature allows fire departments to prepare, review, and submit their annual survey directly to NFPA from First Due.

The survey automatically collects applicable information from the Incident and Personnel modules while allowing authorized users to manually update or override information when needed. After the survey is reviewed and completed, users can submit it to NFPA through a secure SFTP connection.

This workflow reduces manual calculations, eliminates external PDF submission processes, improves data accuracy, and provides an auditable record of submission attempts and results.

Background Information

The NFPA Fire Experience Survey is available from the Reports module in First Due.

When a survey is created, First Due automatically populates applicable fields using information stored throughout the system. This may include data from the Incident and Personnel modules.

Users can review the automatically populated values and manually adjust information when necessary. Agency information should be reviewed carefully to confirm that the correct person submitting the survey is listed.

The feature supports:

• One survey instance per client for each survey year.
• Automatic population of derivable survey fields.
• Manual entry and overrides when corrections are required.
• Required-fields and completeness validation.
• NFPA-compliant CSV file generation.
• NERIS and NFIRS reporting logic.
• Direct submission to NFPA through SFTP.
• Submission history and status tracking.
• An audit trail of submission attempts and outcomes.

The survey year displayed in the portal is the year being reported. For example, a survey completed in 2026 may be submitted for the 2025 reporting year.

Required Permissions

Users may need access to the following areas to complete this process:

• Reports module.
• NFPA Survey page.
• Permission to create and edit an NFPA survey.
• Permission to submit an NFPA survey.

Exact permission names may vary based on agency configuration.

If the NFPA Survey menu option, survey creation button, editing controls, or submission button is not visible, contact a system administrator to verify the user’s Reports and NFPA Survey permissions.

Video

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open the NFPA Survey Portal

1. Click the First Due icon to open the module stack.
2. Expand the Reports module.
3. Locate NFPA Survey beneath Ad-Hoc Reports.
4. Click NFPA Survey to open the survey portal.
   
   
    

The survey portal displays the available annual survey year and any existing survey records.
 

2. Create the Annual Survey

1. Click the plus icon to start a survey.
2. Confirm that the survey opens with a Draft status.
   
   

First Due begins collecting applicable survey data from information stored throughout the system.

Only one survey instance can be created for each client and survey year.

3. Review the Agency Information

Review the Agency Information section near the top of the survey.

Pay particular attention to the information identifying the person responsible for submitting the report. Confirm that the submitter’s information is complete and accurate before proceeding.

 

4. Edit Agency Information

1. Click Edit Section.
   
   
   
    
2. Update any fields that need to be corrected.
   
   
    
3. Click Confirm Edits to save the changes.
   
   

Click Cancel to exit editing mode without saving changes.

 

5. Resynchronize Information, If Needed

Click Resynchronize when information stored elsewhere in First Due has been corrected and needs to be pulled back into the survey.

Resynchronizing refreshes the section using the applicable information currently stored in the system.

Review any manually entered values before resynchronizing because refreshed system data may affect previously displayed information.



 

6. Review the Survey Sections

Scroll through each section of the survey and review the automatically populated values.

First Due derives applicable survey information from system data, including information maintained in the Incident and Personnel modules.

Verify that:

• Automatically populated totals appear reasonable.
• Required sections are complete.
• Agency information is accurate.
• Incident and personnel values reflect the reporting year.
• Manually entered or overridden values are correct.

Agency surveys populate based on the information available in their First Due environment.

7. Make Manual Adjustments, If Needed

Use the available editing controls to update fields that cannot be derived automatically or that require correction.

Manual entries and overrides should be supported by the agency’s source records. Review overridden values carefully to ensure the final survey remains accurate and compliant.

8. Resolve Validation Issues

Review the survey for incomplete or invalid information before submitting it.

The survey applies required-field, validation, and completeness rules. Correct any missing or invalid values identified by the system.

The survey must be complete before it can be successfully submitted to NFPA.

9. Review Submission History

Scroll to the bottom of the survey to view previous submission attempts.

Submission History may show:

• Previous submission attempts.
• Whether an attempt passed or failed.
• Submission status.
• The outcome of each submission attempt.

Use this section to confirm whether a survey was successfully transmitted or whether additional corrections are required.



 

10. Submit the Survey to NFPA

1. Return to the top of the survey.
2. Confirm that all sections are complete and accurate.
3. Click Submit to NFPA.
4. Review the submission result.
   
   

First Due generates the required NFPA-compliant file and transmits it to NFPA through an SFTP connection.

The submission attempt and its outcome are recorded in the survey’s submission history.

Key Behaviors & Features

Survey Data Is Automatically Populated

First Due derives applicable survey values from information stored in the Incident and Personnel modules.

Users should review all values even when no manual changes appear necessary.

Manual Entry and Overrides Are Supported

Users can update fields that require manual entry or adjust automatically populated values when corrections are needed.

Manual overrides should be verified against agency records before submission.

Agency Information Can Be Resynchronized

The Resynchronize option pulls updated system information back into the survey.

Use this option after correcting source information in First Due.

One Survey Is Available Per Client Per Year

Each client can have one survey instance for a given reporting year.

Review the existing survey portal before attempting to create another survey for the same year.

Validation Is Enforced

The survey checks required fields, completeness, and applicable validation rules before submission.

Missing or invalid information must be corrected to support a successful submission.

NFIRS and NERIS Logic Is Supported

The generated NFPA file applies the appropriate NFIRS and NERIS split logic based on the client’s reporting configuration and switchover requirements.

Submission Uses a Secure SFTP Connection

Completed surveys are transmitted directly to NFPA through SFTP. Users do not need to generate and submit a separate PDF manually.

Submission Attempts Are Auditable

Submission attempts and outcomes are stored in the survey’s history.

This provides a record of successful and failed submissions for agency review and follow-up.

Best Practices

• Review the survey early enough to correct source data before the submission deadline.
• Confirm that Incident and Personnel records for the reporting year are complete.
• Verify the reporting year before editing or submitting the survey.
• Review the submitter’s name and contact information in the Agency Information section.
• Correct inaccurate source records in First Due before using Resynchronize.
• Document the reason for manual overrides according to agency procedures.
• Compare automatically populated totals with internal annual reporting records.
• Resolve all validation issues before attempting submission.
• Review the submission history after clicking Submit to NFPA.
• Do not assume the survey was accepted until the submission result shows a successful outcome.
• Avoid repeated submission attempts without first reviewing and correcting the reason for a failed submission.
• Retain supporting agency records used to verify manually entered or overridden values.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Where can I find the NFPA Survey feature?

Click the First Due icon to open the module stack, expand Reports, and select NFPA Survey beneath Ad-Hoc Reports.

Why don’t I see the NFPA Survey menu option?

Your user account may not have access to the NFPA Survey feature. Contact a system administrator to verify your Reports and NFPA Survey permissions.

How do I start a new survey?

Open the NFPA Survey portal and click the plus icon. The new survey opens as a draft.

Why can’t I create another survey for the same year?

Only one survey instance is supported per client for each survey year. Open the existing survey from the portal instead of creating a second survey.

Where does the survey data come from?

First Due automatically derives applicable values from information stored in the system, including the Incident and Personnel modules.

Can I change an automatically populated value?

Yes. The survey supports manual entry and overrides for fields that require adjustment.

What does Resynchronize do?

Resynchronize refreshes applicable survey information using the current data stored elsewhere in First Due. Use it after correcting source information in the system.

Why are my survey values showing zero?

Zero values may appear when no applicable data exists for the reporting year or when the source modules do not contain complete information. Review the relevant Incident and Personnel records.

What should I review before submitting?

Review agency information, submitter details, automatically calculated values, manual overrides, required fields, and any validation messages.

Why can’t I submit the survey?

The survey may contain missing required information or unresolved validation issues. Review each section and correct any incomplete or invalid fields.

How is the survey sent to NFPA?

First Due generates the NFPA-compliant file and submits it directly to NFPA through a secure SFTP connection.

Do I need to upload a PDF to NFPA?

No. The feature is designed to submit the survey directly from First Due without requiring an external PDF submission workflow.

How do I know whether the submission was successful?

Review the submission result and the Submission History section. The history identifies previous attempts and whether they passed or failed.

What should I do if the submission fails?

Review the submission status, correct any identified validation or data issues, and submit the survey again. If the survey continues to fail without a clear validation message, contact First Due Support.

Are submission attempts recorded?

Yes. Submission attempts and outcomes are maintained in the survey history to provide an audit trail.