ISO
ISO Rating
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) evaluates public fire-protection services and classifies a communities’ ability to suppress fires. The Public Protection Classification system provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.
The Department received an ISO Class 3 rating during its latest evaluation conducted in August of 2009. While the Class 3 rating has been in effect since 1988, the department has improved its overall credits from 72.31 in 1994 to 76.17 in 2009. Credits for fire department improved by an additional 3.13 credits. The Class 3 rating continues to be the highest in Allegheny County. The Department is currently participating in a re-evaluation as a beta test site for the ISO’s new Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. The Department’s goal is to improve its rating to a Class 2.
2009 ISO Evaluation
| Receiving & Handling Fire Alarms |
Maximum Credit |
Credit Received |
| Receipt of Alarms |
2.00 |
1.90 |
| Operators |
3.00 |
3.00 |
| Dispatch Circuits |
5.00 |
1.50 |
| Total – Receiving & Handling Alarms |
10.00 |
6.40 |
| Fire Department |
Maximum Credit |
Credit Received |
| Pumpers |
10.00 |
10.00 |
| Reserve Pumpers |
1.00 |
0.99 |
| Pump Capacity |
5.00 |
5.00 |
| Ladders/Service Units |
5.00 |
4.79 |
| Reserve Ladder / Service Units |
1.00 |
0.27 |
| Distribution |
4.00 |
2.95 |
| Company Personnel |
15.00 |
6.99 |
| Training |
9.00 |
5.04 |
| Total – Fire Department |
50.00 |
36.03 |
| Water Supply |
Maximum Credit |
Credit Received |
| Adequacy of Water Supply |
35.00 |
34.20 |
| Hydrant Size, Type & Installation |
2.00 |
2.00 |
| Hydrant Inspection & Condition |
3.00 |
2.46 |
| Total – Water Supply |
40.00 |
38.66 |
| TOTAL |
100.00 |
76.17 |