ISO Scores 101: what your fire department needs to know

No matter the community they live in, people want to know their local fire department can protect them and their property. Insurers want that same assurance, departments that prevent fires or respond to them quickly help limit property insurance claims.

That's why the property insurance industry calls on the Insurance Services Office (ISO) to determine how well specific fire departments protect the communities they serve. Those capabilities are represented by a metric known as an ISO score. Here's what an ISO score entails, what it means for public safety, and how your department can earn a better one.

What is an ISO score?

An ISO score, also known as a Public Protection Classification (PPC) score, is a rating given to municipal fire departments that evaluates their ability to offer adequate fire protection to the communities they serve. The ISO determines these scores by analyzing department data with its proprietary Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS).

Based on several criteria, the ISO issues a classification on a scale of 1 to 10. A Class 1 score indicates excellent service from a fire department. A Class 10 score means the department doesn't meet minimum standards.

In many cases, ISO scores help underwriters make decisions about insurance rates. They're also designed to help fire departments improve their services.

What factors determine your ISO score?

An ISO score measures how well your department does with fire prevention and response. The rating may feel subjective, but it's based on objective factors that affect your department's ability to protect the community.

Fire department: 50%

The largest factor in an ISO fire rating is how healthy your department is and how prepared you are to respond to fire incidents. Several aspects affect this part of your score:

• Department size
• Staffing levels
• Staff training
• Equipment maintenance

Departments that aren't stretched too thin and maintain high standards are most likely to earn full credit here.

Water supply: 40%

Fire departments with access to a reliable water supply system are often able to put out residential fires quickly. Part of your ISO score comes from an evaluation of your water supply levels after daily consumption is accounted for, along with how many fire hydrants serve your area. These elements may feel outside your control, but the ISO's position is that they directly affect a department's ability to suppress fires.

Emergency communications: 10%

The quality of your emergency communication system impacts how quickly residents can reach you when a fire breaks out, and how long it takes you to respond. To rate your department in this category, the ISO considers:

• 9-1-1 response system quality
• Communications center staffing
• Emergency call center agent training
• The number and size of computer-aided dispatch (CAD) facilities
• How dispatch circuits communicate incident location

When these elements are in place, you can respond to emergencies promptly and prevent life and property loss.

Community risk reduction: 5.5%

The last piece of an ISO score is what your department does to prevent fires in the community. According to the FSRS, you should at least consider:

• Community-based fire safety education
• Updated fire prevention techniques
• Robust fire investigation procedures

Proper education helps residents reduce the likelihood of a fire, and thorough investigation helps departments make better decisions about future responses. Note that the community risk reduction category represents "extra points" in the eyes of the ISO, the organization doesn't punish departments that haven't yet adopted these additional prevention measures.

How does your fire department's ISO rating affect your community?

Earning a strong classification is a marker of distinction for your department and your community. When a third party recognizes the work you've put into keeping the community safe, it's something to be proud of, and it makes residents feel safer knowing their fire professionals are more than capable of protecting them.

The community also benefits financially. Many insurance companies factor ISO scores into both home and commercial insurance rates: the better the classification, the better the rate a home or business owner receives. In some cases, businesses pass those insurance savings on to their customers, so community members save even more.

How can you improve your fire department's ISO score?

You can improve your department's ISO score by working on the FSRS categories where you previously scored lowest. Some suggestions:

• Use online education platforms to deliver adequate training as outlined by the ISO, see our guide to ISO fire training requirements
• Hold hiring events or develop a volunteer firefighter program to recruit personnel for understaffed departments and communications centers
• Improve equipment tracking and maintenance schedules so your resources are always working well
• Develop and implement community-based fire prevention and safety education programs
• Collect robust fire incident data to ensure thorough investigations and data-driven improvements
• Advocate for a better water supply with community leaders and lawmakers

Some of these actions will be outside your control, but many can be solved with a little ingenuity, some networking, and the right tools.

How can RedAlert help?

RedAlert easily tracks schedules and attendance, giving you peace of mind that you have adequate personnel for emergency responses. The platform also centralizes your data for everything that affects your ISO score, including training events, equipment maintenance, and incident response times.

With customized reporting and a user-friendly interface, you'll have everything you need at your fingertips to start working toward a better ISO score and stronger community safety. Book a demo to see it in action.

This is part 1 of our ISO series. Continue with ISO Scores 202: ISO scores by state, ISO Scores 301: fire training requirements, and ISO Scores 401: efficiency and funding.