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City of <br /> <br />E <br /> <br />River <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council <br /> <br />Cliff Skogstad, Building Official <br /> <br />February 8, 2001 <br /> <br />ISO Rating for City of Elk River <br /> <br />Item ~4.6. <br /> <br />I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that the City of Elk River <br />Building Department ISO rating has dropped from a classification of five in <br />March 10, 1998 to a classification of a four on February 14, 2000. Since this <br />ISO rating is relatively new for the building department, I would like to give <br />you some information regarding these ratings. <br /> <br />HISTORY <br /> <br />In November 1995, I attended numerous meetings regarding ISO ratings for <br />building departments in Minnesota and other states. This ISO rating came <br />about because of all the catastrophic events that have occurred, such as, <br />earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. Insurance companies felt that a rating should be <br />applied to the building department since we are enforcing the codes during <br />construction. These codes weigh heavy during times when Mother Nature <br />wishes to employ her forces on the structures. Since the building codes enforce <br />wind loads, snow loads, etc. the insurance companies wanted a rating on the <br />building departments to ensure compliance with the codes. With compliance <br />to the codes this would lessen the effects of Mother Nature to the structures <br />and lessening the amount of money being paid out by insurance companies <br />from the devastating effects of straight-line winds, tornados, hurricanes, <br />earthquakes, etc. <br /> <br />EFFECTS OF THE ISO RATING <br /> <br />Traditionally, the ISO rating was based on the fire department's ability to <br />respond to fires with the equipment they had and the water supplies they <br />could provide. Depending upon that information, that would determine the <br />ISO rating for the city. Since the building department is the first line of attack <br />for safety aspects of fire prevention, the insurance underwriters determined <br />that this insurance rating should be also off the building departments ability <br /> <br /> isomemo.doc <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone (763) 441-7420 · Fax (763) 441-7425 <br /> <br /> <br />