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FEM, FDM, FSLM, BRM Assessment Data Dictionaries

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Table of Contents

 

A data dictionary is a map or glossary for a dataset that defines and describes the fields, data types, and meanings of FEM, FDM, FSLM, and BRM assessment data. It tells you what each piece of data means, where to find it, and how it is structured.

Data dictionaries serve as guides that help better understand:

  • Reference IDs (RefIds) – The identifiers used to locate specific data points in the system.
  • Data Types – Identifies a field as a date, dropdown, checkbox, number, text, etc.
  • Descriptions – Plain-language explanations of what each field represents
  • Question Text – The questions corresponding to each field.
  • Version Information – How field names or refIds may have changed across different assessment versions, so users can make consistent year-on-year comparisons
  • Conditionalities and response options – for question-based assessments, what answers are possible and under what conditions a question appears

 

Data Dictionaries vs. Data Downloads

Data dictionaries and data downloads are used together. The data downloads provide data, while the data dictionary tells you what that data means.

Data dictionaries are available at the bottom of this article, while data downloads are accessed on the assessment's dashboard. 

Navigation to FEM Data Downloads 
  1. Navigate to Supply Chain followed by Higg FEM from the top navigation bar. 

    You can also select the applicable assessment from the homepage.

     
  2. This takes you to the Overview tab of the assessment. Select Data Download.
Navigation to FDM Data Downloads
  1. Navigate to Supply Chain followed by Higg FDM from the top navigation bar. 

    You can also select the applicable assessment from the homepage.

     
  2. Select Modules tab, followed by the Account Name.

     
  3. On the Overview tab of the assessment, select Data Downloads.
Navigation to FSLM Data Downloads
  1. Navigate to Supply Chain followed by Higg FSLM from the top navigation bar. 

    You can also select the applicable assessment from the homepage.

     
  2. This takes you to the Overview tab of the assessment. Select CSV v2 / scores, CSV v2 pretty-columns, or Excel EN / ZH under Downloads.
Navigation to BRM Data Downloads
  1. Navigate to Supply Chain followed by BRM from the top navigation bar. 

    You can also select the applicable assessment from the homepage.

     
  2. This takes you to the Overview tab of the assessment. Select CSV under Downloads.

 

What are Data Downloads?

Data downloads provide exports with assessment data. Learn more about each data download type by referring to the corresponding table for each assessment:

FEM Data Downloads

Click here to learn more about FEM Data Exports.

Download Type What it contains
Performance A curated, human-readable export containing key metadata, facility classifiers, scores, and quantitative values. It uses simplified, readable column names. Uniquely, it recognizes verified assessments and replaces facility-entered data with verifier-corrected values where applicable.
Meta An export providing key assessment-level information such as current status, status change events, location, and verifier details (once verification is complete). It does not include FEM answers.
Quantitative Impacts An export focused on facility resource usage and environmental impact metrics such as water, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions. Includes calculated values based on user responses, with common unit conversions (e.g., MJ, L, CO2e).
Allocation A sub-export within the Quantitative Impacts section of the Facility Data Manager (FDM). It is one of several calculated-value exports available for FDM data.
Areas of Focus and Improvement An export that highlights questions answered negatively, flagging them as areas where a facility can improve its environmental sustainability strategy. It also covers Critical Risks (basic legal compliance statuses) and Areas of Opportunity.
Raw Responses Section-by-section exports of the actual answers submitted by a facility for each question (e.g., Energy, Water, Waste, Chemicals).
FDM Data Downloads

Click here to learn about importing FDM data into FEM.

Download Type What it contains
Performance A curated, human-readable export containing key metadata, facility classifiers, scores, and quantitative values. It uses simplified, readable column names. Uniquely, it recognizes verified assessments and replaces facility-entered data with verifier-corrected values where applicable.
Table An export containing assessment tracking data for facilities.
FSLM Data Downloads
Download Type What it contains
CSV v2 A bulk export containing all module metadata and self + verified assessment answers. Column headers use internal IDs.
CSV v2 pretty-columns A variant of the Bulk CSV export where column headers match the platform display names rather than internal IDs.
Scores An export containing only the calculated self and verified scores for assessments — no question answers are included.
BRM Data Downloads

Here is some disclosed content.

Download Type What it contains
CSV A bulk export specific for BRM that contains all module metadata and self + verified assessment answers. Column headers use internal IDs.

 

Resources

  • Click here to learn more about FEM Data Exports.
  • Click here to learn about importing FDM data into FEM.

 

Data Dictionaries

Download the following data dictionaries for FEM, FDM, FSLM, and BRM below:

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