5.2. SR 04-14-2003TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
MEMORANDUM
Mayor and City Council
Bruce A. West, Fire Chief
April 14, 2003
Results of Insurance Services Office (ISO) Survey
Item 5.2.
The Elk River Fire Department has consistendy been ~vorking towards a goal of always providing
quality fire protection for the citizens of our community. Once again in 2002, the Elk River Fire
Department had an ISO survey conducted in the effort of reducing our fire protection classification
rating for the City of Elk River and also for the City of Otsego. The results of the 2002 Public
Protection Classification, as stated in the letter of May 20, 2002, reports an improvement of our
classification rating to a class 3. This means our communities fire suppression services are improving
in the face of demands of an ever-changing environment.
When a fire department improves its Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating, the entire
community can benefit economically. If a fire department improves its PPC, homeowners and
businesses in the community often save money on their insurance premiums. A community with
improved fire protection may fred it easier to attract ne~v businesses, increase jobs, and boost the
local economy even more.
The lower the fire protection classification rating, the fire department is recognized under the
insurance services office in providing a consistent and high level of service for everyone in the
community. A tremendous amount of work and effort by the Elk River Firefighters was involved in
the completion of our latest Public Protection Classification survey. I would also like to thank the
Elk River Municipal Utilities for providing frequent inspection of hydrants, adequate hydrant
distribution, and continual review of the type of hydrants needed within our community. Without
the excellent planning and future vision of the Elk River Utilities in reference to providing an
adequate water supply for the community, our water supply rating would not be at the excellent level
it currently maintains.
A community's public protection classification depends on:
Fire alarm and communication systems, including telephone systems, telephone lines,
staffing, and dispatching systems. In reference to this area of fzre alarm and communication
systems, Sherburne County dispatch is studied in reference to its enhanced 911 system and
its relationship with the dispatching for the Elk River Fire Department.
The fire department, including equipment, staffing, training, and geographical distribution of
fire stations. Here, ISO studies the fire department's equipment in relation to pumpers,
tankers, aerial ladders, and other equipment within the fire department.
The water supply system: The water supply system within a community is a very important
part of ISOs public protection classification rating. This includes the condition and
maintenance of hydrants, and a careful evaluation of the amount of available water
compared with the amount needed to suppress frres.
The ISOs PPC program evaluated our community according to a uniform set of criteria,
incorporating nationally-recognized standards developed by the National Fire Protection
Association and the American Water Works Association. The PPC program provides a useful
benchmark that helps fire departments and other public officials measure the effectiveness of their
efforts and to assist in planning for improvements.
In recap, the ISO Public Protection Classification rating affects the insurance premiums of the
citizens and specifically, the businesses within our community. For the average homeowner, the
lowering of our f~re protection classification rating will not have a significant impact on their
insurance premiums; however, for the business community each time the fire protection
classification rating lowers they should realize on average a %7% drop in their business insurance
premiums. The Elk River Fire Department believes that any potential lowering of our fire protection
classification rating will have an impact on our commercial and industrial facilities in reference to
their f~re insurance premiums.
Additionally, I would like to comment on the survey results for the City of Otsego which is within
the Elk River Fire Department's fire protection area. The results of the ISO survey were very
positive for the City of Otsego, reducing it's classification from a previous 9 to a class 4. The results
of this survey have been passed on the Mayor, City Council, and City Administrator of the City of
Otsego. If you have any questions in reference to the results of the Insurance Services Office Public
Protection Classification survey, please feel free to call me at the Elk River Fire Department at 763-
441-4919. I will be in attendance at the April 14, 2003 City Council meeting to present and discuss
the public protection classification results.
S:\COUNCIL\Bruce\isosurvey.doc
111 NORTH CANAL STREET SUITE 950 CHICAGO, IL 60606-7270
TEl.: (312) 930.0070 (800) 444-4554 FAX: (312) 930-0017
May 20, 2002
Patrick Klaers, City Administrator
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: Public Protection Classification Results
Elk River, Sherbume County, MN
Dear Mr. Klaers:
We wish to thank you and the other community officials for your cooperation during our recent
Public Protection Classification (PPC) survey. ISO is the leading supplier of statistical,
underwriting, and actuarial information for the property/casualty insurance industry. Most
insurers use the PPC classifications for underwriting and calculating premiums for residential,
commercial and industrial properties.
ISO has completed its analysis of the structure fire suppression delivery system provided in your
community. We are very pleased to report that the resulting classification is a Class 3/9. This is
an improvement from the former classification of Class 4/9. That means your community's fire
suppression services are improving in the face of the demands of a changing environment.
Congratulations on this recognition of your commitment to serve the needs of your community's
property owners and residents.
Enclosed is a summary of the ISO analysis of your fire suppression services. If you would like to
know how your community's classification could improve, or if you would like to learn about the
potential effect of proposed changes to your fire suppression delivery system, please call us at the
phone number listed below.
The PPC program is not intended to analyze all aspects of a comprehensive structure fire
suppression delivery system program. It is not for purposes of determining compliance with 'any
state or local law, nor is it for making recommendations about loss prevention or life safety.
If you have any questions about your classification, please let us know.
Sincerely,
~u6[ic ~rotection ~epartment
312-930-0070 Ext. 6209
Encl.
cc: Fire Chief West
Water Superintendent Berg
t11NORTH CANAL STREET SUITE950 CHICAGO, IL60606-7270
TEL: (312) 930-0070 (800) ~{ {554 FAX: (312) 930-0017
May 20, 2002
· Larry Fournier, Manager
Otsego City Hall
8899 Nashua Ave. NE.
Elk River, MN 55330-7314
RE: Public Protection Classification Results
Elk River FD, Anoka County, MN
Dear Mr. Fournier:
We wish to thank you and the other community officials for your cooperation during our recent
Public Protection Classification (PPC) survey. ISO is the leading supplier of statistical,
underwriting, and actuarial information for the property/casualty insurance industry. Most
insurers use the PPC classifications for underwriting and calculating premiums for residential,
commercial and industrial properties.
ISO has completed its analysis of the structure fire suppression delivery system provided in your
community. We are very pleased to report that the resulting classification is a Class 4/9. This is
an improvement from the former classification of Class 9/9. That means your community's fire
suppression services are improving in the face of the demands of a changing environment.
Congratulations on this recognition of your commitment to serve the needs of your community's
property owners and residents.
Enclosed is a summary of the ISO analysis of your fire suppression services. If you would like to
know how your community's classification could improve, or if you would like to learn about the
potential effect of proposed changes t° your fire suppression delivery system, please call us at the'
phone number listed below.
The PPC program is not intended to analyze all aspects of a comprehensive structure fire
suppression delivery system program. It is not for purposes of determining compliance with any
state or local law, nor is it for making recommendations about loss prevention or life safety.
If you have any questions about your classification, please let us know.
Very truly yours,
Public Protection Classification.Dept.
930-1677 Ext. 6209.,/~
(800)
Encl.
cc: Bruce West, Fire Chief
Kurt Neidermeier, Water Supt.
THE ISO PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATION (PPC) PROGRAM
ISO's PPC program evaluates communities according to a uniform set of criteria defined in the
Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). This criteria incorporates nationally recognized
standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association and the American Water Works
Association.
Using the FSRS, ISO objectively reviews the fire suppression capabilities of a community and
assigns a Public Protection Classification - a number from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary
fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire suppression program does not meet
minimum recognition criteria.
The FSRS allocates credit by evaluating the following three major features:
· Fire alarm and communication system. This review accounts for 10% of the total
classification which centers upon a community's facilities and support for handling and
dispatching fire alarms.
· Fire department. This review accounts for 50% of the total classification which focuses
upon items such as engine companies, ladder or service companies, distribution of fire
stations and fire companies, equipment carried on apparatus, pumping capacity, reserve
apparatus, department manning, and training.
· Water supply system. This review accounts for 40% of the total classification
highlighting the water supply a community uses for fire suppression, including hydrant
size, type, and installation, as well as the inspection frequency and condition of fire
hydrants.
When ISO develops a single classification for a community, all of the community's properties
receive that classification. In many communities, ISO develops a split classification (for
example, 5/9). Generally, the first class, (Class 5 in the example) applies to properties within a
defined distance (5-road miles in most states) of a fire station and within 1000 feet of a fire
hydrant. The second class (Class 9 in the example) applies to properties beyond 1000 feet of a
hydrant but within the defined distance of a fire station. ISO generally assigns Class 10 to
properties beyond the defined distance of a fire station.
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%,
Countrywide Public Protection Classification Summary
34.3%
16.3%15.0%
0.1% 0.7%
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Classifications