Do's

• Verify that pre-plan addresses exactly match the addresses used by your dispatch/CAD system to ensure responders receive correct pre-plan information during response.
• Establish departmental standards for complex naming conventions to maintain consistency across all pre-plans and support effective grouping and analysis.
• Coordinate with dispatch personnel when making address changes to ensure simultaneous updates in both pre-planning and CAD systems.
• Use special directions for occupancies that are difficult to locate, have confusing address numbering, or require specific access information that responders need before arrival.
• Restrict the "Location Not Shared" permission to specific administrative roles to prevent unauthorized control of data sharing with external agencies.
• Document the rationale for complex name groupings in departmental procedures to ensure consistency as different users create and edit pre-plans over time.
• Review and update address details during routine pre-plan review cycles to ensure accuracy as developments, street names, or addressing systems change.
  

Don'ts

• Don't create pre-plan addresses that differ from dispatch addresses, even slightly, as address mismatches prevent proper pre-plan delivery during emergency response.
• Don't use complex names inconsistently across related occupancies, as this defeats the purpose of grouping and creates confusion in reporting and analysis.
• Don't include sensitive security information in special directions fields that could compromise facility security if accessed inappropriately.
• Don't adjust latitude and longitude manually without verifying the occupancy icon placement on the map, as coordinates are automatically generated from icon location.
• Don't enable "Not Shared Location" without understanding the implications for mutual aid agreements, external agency coordination, and data sharing obligations.
• Don't forget to publish pre-plans after editing address details, as unpublished changes remain unavailable to responding crews.
  

Tips & Recommendations

• For large apartment complexes or multi-building campuses, use consistent complex naming (e.g., "Riverside Apartments" for all buildings) and use building identifiers or unit numbers in the individual address fields.
• When entering special directions, write from the perspective of a responding crew who may be unfamiliar with the area, providing clear landmarks and turn-by-turn guidance.
• Coordinate with fire prevention staff to ensure inspection zone assignments in address details align with fire prevention module configurations and inspection scheduling workflows.
• Use the Building Story integration for special directions when the information is critical for initial response decisions (access restrictions, special hazards) but keep routine navigation information separate.
• For occupancies with primary and secondary addresses, establish a clear policy for which address should be designated as primary based on main entrance, dispatch addressing, or other departmental standards.
• Create a master list of complex names used within your jurisdiction to promote consistency and prevent duplicate or similar complex name variations.
• When managing billing addresses separate from occupancy addresses, document the business reason (property management companies, corporate ownership) to maintain clarity for future users.