Pre-Plans: Adding Units

Pre-Plans: Adding Units

Purpose Statement

This article demonstrates how to add, configure, and manage pre-planned units within the Pre-Plan module. Pre-planned units are visual icons and annotations placed on pre-plan maps to communicate critical tactical information, building features, hazards, and operational considerations to responding personnel. This feature enables departments to create standardized, detailed pre-plans that improve situational awareness and operational safety.

Background Information

The Pre-Plan module in First Due includes over 189 standard pre-planned units, with the ability to create countless custom units. Pre-planned units serve as visual communication tools that convey important information about a structure or location, including building sides (A, B, C, D), hazards, utilities, access points, and tactical considerations.

Effective use of pre-planned units requires departmental standardization through SOPs, SOGs, or policies. Without proper management and standardization, the extensive library of available units can become overwhelming and reduce the effectiveness of the pre-planning program. Units can be added, edited, cloned, and managed from multiple locations within the interface, and can be configured with expiration dates, visibility settings, and supporting documentation.

Required Permissions

To access and edit visible zoom levels in pre-plans, users must have the following permissions:
  1. Pre-Plans - Read: View Pre-Plan permissions
  1. Pre-Plans - Edit: Edit Pre-Plan Permissions
  1. Pre-Plans - Publish: Required to make changes visible to responders
Info
These permissions are typically assigned to all roles that will be creating Pre-Plans.

Video



Step-by-Step Guide

There are two ways to add Units:

OPTION 1:

    1. Selecting the Plus Icon  on the right side of the screen:




    1. This will open a drop down menu of available Units.




    1. Select the Unit you wish to place.




    1. Select where you wish to place it on the map.




OPTION 2:

  1. Selecting the Plus Icon  from the top left of the screen:

    1. Opens up the top-left Units menu.

    1. Select Add New




    1. Choose the desired Unit Type from the drop down list.




    1. Select   and the Unit will show in the lower left of the map window in Unmapped Items.


    2. Drag the Unit from Unmapped Items to the appropriate place on the map.




Idea
TIP: Unmapped Items are a great way to identify Pre-Plan Items that need to convey information to the responding units but do not need to be displayed on the map itself. For example, the user can add a hoarder per-plan unit type to the unmapped area and not assign it a location on the map. This will allow the pre-plan unit to still display information within the dashboard if it is configured as an alert tile as well. This allows the vital information to be conveyed to the responding personnel without cluttering the Pre-plan map with unnecessary icons.


Editing a Unit

  1. Place the Unit as close to its actual location on the map.
  2. Try to find the most appropriate Unit icon for a particular need, because a quick glance at the map may be the only thing the responder may have time for on the way to an incident.
  3. Selecting the unit icon on the map allows you to:

    1. 1 - Make the icon larger in the web view
    2. 2 - Make the icon smaller in the web view
    3. 3 - Duplicate the Unit
    4. 4 - Delete the Unit




  4. Each Unit has a menu where you can add supporting information, set an expiration, add a photo, add location information and supply other important details. Some of this information will then be available when the user selects the icon on the map and in the Dashboard.

     





  1. There are times when the description of a Unit isn't quite enough.  In that case, add a photograph.  In the case below is a Sprinkler Room inside of a storage unit.
Notes
NOTE: Be sure your photograph provides proper context. Don't just take a close up photograph of the item. Step back and show why you are including the image.

"If a picture tells a thousand words, be sure yours doesn't just convey one." - J.A.



Best Practices

Do's

  • Establish departmental SOPs, SOGs, or policies for standardized pre-planned unit usage to ensure consistency across all pre-plans
  • Choose units that most accurately represent the information you need to convey to responding personnel
  • Place units in precise, accurate locations on the map that correspond to actual physical locations
  • Keep descriptions concise but descriptive to enable rapid understanding during emergency operations
  • Use the expiration feature for temporary conditions or hazards that may change over time
  • Organize complex pre-plans using multiple levels to avoid cluttering the map view
  • Upload supporting photos, diagrams, or documentation to provide additional context when needed
  • Set appropriate visible zoom levels to prevent map clutter while maintaining necessary detail

Don'ts

  • Don't add excessive units without proper departmental standardization—this creates confusion rather than clarity
  • Don't leave pre-planned units unmapped in the bottom left corner after adding them from the left side menu
  • Don't use vague or overly lengthy descriptions that slow down information processing during emergencies
  • Don't forget to click "Update" after making changes to a pre-planned unit, or your modifications will be lost
  • Don't clone units unnecessarily—only duplicate when you need multiple instances of the same unit type
  • Don't ignore expired pre-planned units—review and remove outdated information regularly to maintain accuracy

Tips & Recommendations

  • When adding multiple similar units (like multiple building sides), use the clone feature and then reposition rather than adding each unit individually
  • Review the complete library of 189+ standard pre-planned units before creating custom units to avoid duplication
  • Establish a regular review cycle for pre-plans to ensure pre-planned units remain current and accurate
  • Use the expiration settings strategically for construction zones, temporary hazards, or seasonal conditions
  • Consider visibility zoom levels carefully—too high and units disappear when zoomed in; too low and the map becomes cluttered
  • Coordinate with field personnel to determine which pre-planned units provide the most operational value
  • Test pre-plans on mobile devices to ensure units are visible and readable in field conditions

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Why can't I see the pre-planned unit I just added to the map?
A: Check your visible zoom level setting. If the zoom level is set too high or low for your current map view, the unit won't display. Adjust the visible zoom level in the unit's settings (range: 8-Street to 12-Rooms) to match your typical viewing level.

Q: I added a unit from the left side menu but can't find it on the map. Where did it go?
A: Units added from the left side menu appear in an unmapped area in the bottom left corner of the map. You must manually select the unit and drag it to the appropriate location on the map.

Q: Why don't I see options to review or remove expired pre-planned units?
A: The ability to view, review, and remove expired pre-planned units is permission-based. Contact your system administrator to verify you have the necessary permissions to manage expired units.

Q: I made changes to a pre-planned unit but they didn't save. What happened?
A: You must click the "Update" button after making any changes to a pre-planned unit. If you navigate away or close the editing panel without clicking "Update," your changes will be lost.

Q: Can I change a pre-planned unit type after I've already placed it on the map?
A: Yes. Click on the unit to open the editing options, then use the unit type dropdown selector to change it to a different type. Remember to click "Update" to save the change.

Q: How do I know which pre-planned unit fields are editable?
A: Different pre-plan unit types have different available fields. When you open a unit for editing, all editable fields for that specific unit type will display in the left side menu. Fields vary based on the nature and purpose of each unit type.

Related Articles

  1. Pre-Plans: Where to Start/Edit a Pre-Plan
  2. Pre-Plans: Address Details
  3. Pre-Plans: Editing Occupancy Details
  4. Pre-Plans: Visible Zoom Levels
  5. Pre-Plans: Adding HAZMATs
  6. Pre-Plans: Managing Contacts
  7. Pre-Plans: Managing Attachments
  8. Pre-Plans: Adding Levels
  9. Pre-Plans: Adding Annotations


    • Related Articles

    • Pre-Plans: Regional Pre-Planning

      Purpose Statement Regional Pre-Planning enables users to create pre-plans for situations requiring a broader view than individual building pre-plans. This functionality supports planning for large-scale events (marathons, fairs), critical ...

    • Pre-Plans: Visible Zoom Levels

      Purpose Statement This article explains how to configure visible zoom levels for annotations and pre-plan units within the Pre-Plan module. This feature allows pre-planners to control when specific map elements appear in Web Responder, improving ...

    • Pre-Planning SOPs/SOGs: Fairfax County, VA

      Purpose To provide sample SOPs and SOGs for Pre-Planning from a First Due client. Agency SOPs and SOGs Fairfax County, VA SOP for Pre-Planning is attached below image.

    • Pre-Planning SOPs/SOGs: Charlotte, NC "Field Guide"

      Purpose To provide sample SOPs and SOGs for Pre-Planning from a First Due client. Agency SOPs and SOGs Charlotte, NC Field Guide for Pre-Planning attached below image.

    • Pre-Planning SOPs/SOGs: Fort Worth Fire Department TX.

      Purpose To provide sample SOPs and SOGs for Pre-Planning from a First Due client. Agency SOPs and SOGs Fort Worth, Texas SOP for Pre-Planning is attached below image.