News

New ISO Rating - Laurel
Tuesday, January 3, 2012

LAUREL FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES NEW ISO RATING

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) collects and evaluates information from communities in the United States on their structure fire suppression capabilities. ISO is an independent company that serves insurance companies, communities, fire departments, insurance regulators, and others by providing information about risk. Data gathered by the ISO is analyzed using Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) and then a Public Protection Classification (PPC) number is assigned to the community. The ISO’s PPC program evaluates communities according to a uniform set of criteria, incorporating nationally recognized standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association and the American Water Works Association. A community’s PPC depends on:

Needed Fire Flows

Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms

Fire Department

Water Supply

Classifications are numbered 1-10. Class 1 represents an exemplary fire suppression program, and 10 indicates that the area’s fire suppression program does not meet ISO’S minimum criteria. After a combination of meetings between trained ISO field representatives, dispatch center coordinators, community fire officials, town officials and a comprehensive questionnaire the ISO has issued the Laurel Fire Department a rating of Class 4/8B. It is a split classification and the following applies:

The first class (4) applies to properties within 5 road miles of a recognized fire station and within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant or alternate water supply.

The second (8B) applies to properties beyond 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant but within 5 road miles of a recognized fire station.

Alternative water supply: The first class (4) applies to properties within 5 road miles of a recognized fire station with no hydrant distance requirement.

Class 8B applies to properties over 5 road miles of a recognized fire station.

As of 2011 Delaware had 3 Class 3, 18 Class 4, 34 Class 5, 13 Class 6, 2 Class 7 and 11 Class 9 communities.

The rating is better than the previous 5/9 and the Department is proud to have obtained this new rating which affects insurance premiums of residence in our district and we look forward to improving on it when we are evaluated again.