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Fire Equipment <br />Fire equipment accounts for 26% of the rating. Again, there are both some specific minimum <br />equipment requirements, and additional equipment standards based on the numbers and types of <br />structures in the community. Regular testing of the equipment is also a factor. (Incidentally, the <br />ISO rating system does not have a maximum age for fire trucks, but instead focuses on the <br />equipment's capabilities. if the 1949 pumper is tested regularly and meets performance <br />requirements, it's as good as a brand new truck as far as ISO is concerned.) <br />Personnel <br />Personnel accounts for 24% of the rating. 15% of that is based on the numbers of firefighters <br />available for the initial response and how quickly the firefighters can respond. The other 9% <br />reflects the initial and ongoing training the firefighters receive. <br />Alarm/Paging System <br />The alarm and paging system accounts for the remaining 10% of the rating. <br />When ISO rates a community's fire protection, they will prepare a "Classification Detail Report" <br />which shows in detail how much credit the city received in the rating process for each item <br />reviewed, compared to the maximum credit possible for that item. ISO will also prepare an <br />"Improvement Statement" which identifies what changes a city would need to make in order to <br />move up to a particular grade. To get a copy of these reports, the fire chief needs to request them <br />from ISO in writing on official letterhead. <br />Re-rating the City's Fire Protection <br />ISO will periodically send the city a "Community Outreach <br />Questionnaire", asking for information about the city's fire <br />protection system. If the city completes and returns the <br />questionnaire, ISO will check for significant changes in the <br />city's fire protection system that might merit a review of the <br />city's current classification. <br />Changes in the area served, improvements in the city's water <br />system improvements, additional fire stations constructed, <br />new equipment added, improvements in the city's alarm and <br />paging system, etc., are some of the items most likely to <br />trigger a review. If the city has made improvements in any of <br />these areas, it may be worthwhile to contact ISO to request a <br />survey. The city can also download a copy of the community <br />Outreach Questionnaire from ISO's web site, complete the <br />survey, and return it to ISO to get the process started. <br />Learn More <br />ISO's website <br />www. Isom iti~ation.com/fire 1. htm <br />I offers a great deal of useful and <br />well-organized information on the <br />Public Protection Classification <br />system and the Fire Suppression <br />Rating Schedule. <br />You can also contact the ISO <br />office for Minnesota by phone or <br />mail. <br />Insurance Services Office <br />111 North Canal Street, Suite 950 <br />Chicago, IL 60606-6214 <br />(312) 923-0070 or (800) 444-4554 <br />