Frequently Asked Questions  

MIRS™ is an integrated, modular software package built around the hazardous materials used or stored in your facility. Most modules address a specific regulation or data management need. For example, the FORM R module addresses SARA Title III, Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory compliance. Modularity provides clients with the option to purchase only the modules that pertain to their facility’s regulatory compliance needs, with the option to add modules at any time. Integration means that the information you enter into MIRS™ is accessible from any module. This eliminates tedious re-entry of data and makes the most of information by sharing databases from one module to another. You should purchase the specific modules which address your facility’s compliance needs. For example, if your facility files Tier reports each March, has SDS management needs, and Clean Air Act permits, you would purchase SARA, SDS, AIR and CLE modules. You may also purchase PERMIT, INVENTORY and OSHA HAZCOM to expand your EHS data management capabilities. No matter what you purchase or when you purchase, you can always add modules to MIRS™ without time or cost penalty.

There are many configuration options available, including: Single stand-alone workstation. Install MIRS™ on your standalone workstation and track EHS information for one facility right at your desk. Multi-facility. This multi-facility option allows a user or multiple users to track information at multiple facilities from a central location. The information for each facility is stored separately and the user can produce separate facility reports. Data can also be shared between facilities. The MIRS™ multi-facility option allows up to 999 facilities. Additional facilities can be added to MIRS™ at any time. Multi-User LAN connected workstations. A Local Area Network MIRS™ installation allows multiple users, with multiple access levels. A user’s access can be restricted by facility, by module or by function.

Yes, with any one of the following approaches: A multi-facility version of the MIRS™ software. (See Multi-facility description above, for capabilities.) A multi-facility version of MIRS Online™ software. (See below) Multiple installations of MIRS™. Install MIRS™ at each of your facilities.

MIRS Online™ can give you safe, secure access to all the MIRS™ modules and your data from any location that has a high-speed internet connection: at your office or plant location, on the road, or at home.

MIRS Online™ can give you safe, secure access to all the MIRS™ modules and your data from any location that has a high-speed internet connection: at your office or plant location, on the road, or at home.

MIRS Online™ can give you safe, secure access to all the MIRS™ modules and your data from any location that has a high-speed internet connection: at your office or plant location, on the road, or at home.

MIRS™ is purchased software that you install on your stand-alone workstation or laptop or on your company network server. You can select modules based on your compliance needs. The initial installation as well as new version upgrades can be downloaded from the MIRS™ technical support website. A V Systems recommends that you install MIRS™ where it will be included in your company's regular backup cycle. You can continue to run MIRS™ if you allow your annual support to lapse. Warning: if you allow your annual support to lapse, you miss out on new features and regulatory updates. MIRS Online™ is leased software hosted on a secure and protected cloud server with daily backups. MIRS Online™ includes all modules and add-on options except SDS NETVIEW. A V Systems performs the initial installation and new version upgrades, relieving you and your IT staff of this burden.. Access MIRS Online™ from any computer that can run Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection. No additional hardware or software installation is required. MIRS Online™ is best for situations when users want to log in from multiple locations, like your facility, on the road, or home. Access to MIRS Online™ ends if you allow your lease to lapse (you can backup your data to your local or network drive if desired). The interface, features and capabilities are the same in both MIRS™ and MIRS Online™. Current clients get unlimited, senior level telephone and email technical support in both MIRS™ and MIRS Online™.

MIRS™ provides an option to require a password or user id option for controlling user access. Access can be secured by: Module - Access to a specific module can be restricted by user Access rights within a module - Access rights can be restricted by access type (read/write/edit/view, etc.) and menu option type (data entry, report, utility). For example, an administrative level employee could have data entry access, and a shop floor employee view-only access, while a manager could have ability to enter data and print reports. Facility - User access rights can be restricted to specified facilities. You can also use the PC network’s security scheme to limit access. By design, access to SDS NETVIEW, the MIRS™ add-on module which provides Worker Right-to-Know compliance, is limited to retrieval-only.

Each MIRS™ module includes access to a complete EPA SARA-regulated database of approximately 3,000 chemicals. This database covers all chemicals regulated by SARA Section 302 (Extremely Hazardous Substances list), Section 304 (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Emergency Liability Act), and Section 313 (Toxic Release Inventory). Data included for each chemical (when available or applicable) includes CAS registry number, name, synonyms in English and other supported languages, EC number, RTECS number, UN/NA Number, DOT hazard class, RCRA Waste Number*, Color Index number, formula, molecular weight, physical properties*, OSHA / ACGIH and many other exposure limits*, GHS classification*, etc. * = when available for specific chemicals. Other modules or add-ons increase the chemical database size: The FORM R module provides the complete 3,000-strong chemical EPA SARA-regulated database, including all listed SARA Section 313 toxic chemicals and adds more than 20,000 category chemicals not individually listed by the EPA. The CLE (Chemical List Extension) add-on chemical database includes all the chemicals mentioned above. Additionally, CLE supports 100+ agency lists, with a total of more than 220,000 chemicals and categories. A V Systems researches and monitors changes to agency lists and then incorporates those changes into the CLE. This saves you the time and trouble of researching which chemicals in your facility are reportable under various regulations. The CLE is required for LOCAL and AIR modules.

The following indicates the MIRS™ minimum system requirements: CPU: Pentium or Athlon 1 Ghz or higher. Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8, 10, or 11. For MIRS Online™: any operating system that runs Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection. Monitor: Screen resolution of 1024x768 (XVGA) or higher. Memory: 128 Mb or more of free physical RAM. Hard Drive: 2.0 Gb or more of free disk space recommended. Disk space requirements to run MIRS™ varies widely dependent on the modules purchased. For MIRS Online™: there are no disk space requirements. CD/DVD Drive and/or Broadband Internet: You need either a CD/DVD drive to install MIRS™ from physical media or a broadband internet connection to download the MIRS™ installation files. (Not required for MIRS Online™.) Printer: Inkjet or laser printer recommended. Any printer with a Windows driver capable of producing standard 8.5x11" output. Certain forms, such as waste manifests, require a printer that handles multi-copy forms OSHA 300 Injury and Illness report requires legal 8.5x14" paper size. Additional requirements for scanning SDS images: For scanned SDSs, allow 10-140K per page per SDS compressed size, dependent on scan resolution. The recommended resolution is 300 dpi (1 bit depth), which results in 80K average per page file size. Scanner Any scanner capable of producing at least 300 dpi GIF, BMP, PCX, TIF, etc. files. A multi-sheet loader improves efficiency when scanning multi-page SDSs.

MIRS™ is ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) compliant, it can share information with other ODBC-compliant applications such as ACCESS, EXCEL, FoxPro, Lotus, MySQL, etc. MIRS™ features a simple two-step import process which enables you to incorporate data from other company systems (accounting, purchasing, inventory, SAP, JD Edwards, BAAN, PeopleSoft, etc.) for use in MIRS™.

No training is required to use MIRS™. All MIRS™ modules include on-line and field-specific help information, in addition to full documentation in PDF format. Because MIRS™ is intuitive and easy-to-use, most clients are very comfortable with the software functions and quickly become efficient without training.

Annual Support is the MIRS™ ongoing service and software update subscription. Annual Support provides software updates covering regulatory changes associated with the modules, chemicals, thresholds, rules of reporting and the reporting forms or files. The software updates also provide new features and program enhancements which are selected and implemented based on user input. The Annual Support Agreement provides unlimited telephone technical support from a senior level Technical Support representative. The first year’s Annual Support is incorporated into the initial module purchase and covers a 12-month period. You can extend the Annual Support period for three additional months, for a total of 15 months, simply by returning your signed software License Agreement. All clients with current Annual Support will receive automatic distribution of the latest program version each January, with another update each Spring for clients with the FORM R module. Users with expired Annual Support will receive renewal reminders and can renew the Annual Support at any time to receive the latest software version. We encourage any client with lapsed Annual Support to renew at anytime, no matter how long the lapsed period. You'll find the renewal cost attractive and the update process simple. Clients who renew MIRS™ receive the full, current-version program download (CD also available) and do not have to install interim versions or re-enter data.

A V Systems will make custom enhancements to MIRS™, as long as those enhancements are consistent with the system. The enhancements can be made on a fixed price or an hourly basis, with a predetermined delivery date. Any enhancements made by A V Systems are fully supported as part of the product.

A V Systems can provide a one-time import of existing EHS data into MIRS™ to populate the program, save your staff tedious data entry time and maintain OSHA HAZCOM compliance. A V’s technical support staff can work directly with your IT or EHS staff to coordinate the retrieval of existing EHS data from your in-house system. Imported information can include material inventory, manufacturer and SDS data. This information can then be incorporated into MIRS™ before the program CD is sent to you for installation or into MIRS Online™ at the time your usernames and passwords are generated.

A V Systems has performed successful data conversions from dozens of existing and outdated software packages, even some of those with proprietary data formats. You must purchase the equivalent MIRS™ modules to utilize A V Systems' data conversion service. The cost for this service varies, dependent on the amount of data and the custom programming required to extract it. Because A V Systems has considerable experience and expertise in this area, we are able to provide most data conversions at a cost less than that of one software module. Following are examples of some of the software packages from which A V Systems has converted data: CHEMTOX®; OSHA-Soft/Achieve Technology; HAZ/TRAK/Hawkwa Group; Rainbow MSDS/Pro-Am Software; HITS; HAZOX/Hazox Corporation.

A V Systems has performed successful data conversions from dozens of existing and outdated software packages, even some of those with proprietary data formats. You must purchase the equivalent MIRS™ modules to utilize A V Systems’ data conversion service. The cost for this service varies, dependent on the amount of data and the custom programming required to extract it. Because A V Systems has considerable experience and expertise in this area, we are able to provide most data conversions at a cost less than that of one software module. Following are examples of some of the software packages from which A V Systems has converted data: CHEMTOX®; OSHA-Soft/Achieve Technology; HAZ/TRAK/Hawkwa Group; Rainbow MSDS/Pro-Am Software; HITS; HAZOX/Hazox Corporation.