Title
Briefing on Insurance Service Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification Summary Report
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The purpose of ISO is to help establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties, insurance companies need reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire-protection services. ISO provides that information through the Public Protection Classification (PPC™) program.
ISO collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using their Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). ISO then assigns a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program doesn't meet ISO’s minimum criteria.
To determine a community's Public Protection Classification (PPC™), ISO conducts a field survey. Expert ISO staff visit the community to observe and evaluate features of the fire protection systems. Using our manual called the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS), ISO objectively evaluates four major areas:
Emergency communications systems - A review of the emergency communications systems accounts for 10 points of the total classification. The review focuses on the community's facilities and support for handling and dispatching alarms for structure fires.
Fire department - A review of the fire department accounts for 50 points of the total classification. ISO focuses on a community's fire suppression capabilities. ISO measures suppression capabilities based on the fire department's first-alarm response and initial attack to minimize potential loss. Here, ISO reviews such items as engine companies, ladder or service companies, deployment of fire companies, equipment carried on apparatus, pumping capacity, reserve apparatus, company personnel, and training.
Water supply - A review...
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