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©2006 John Petrakis 11

20092009Insurance Standards OfficeInsurance Standards Office

Public Protection Class Grading SummaryPublic Protection Class Grading Summary

City of PrincetonCity of Princeton

John Petrakis, Fire ChiefJohn Petrakis, Fire Chief

TimelineTimeline

ISO Grading SummaryISO Grading Summary

March 1999March 1999ISO assigns a

Public Protection Class Rating of 5.

September 1999September 1999Water Department modernizes and

increases capacity for the existing

water plant.

August 2004August 2004Fire Department adds

Deputy Chief tasked with improvement of training

administration and oversight of fire operations.

February 2009February 2009Fire department requests ISO to

conduct a grading with noted improvements.

June 2009June 2009ISO field

representative conducts

evaluation using fire suppression rating schedule.

December 2009December 2009ISO assigns new Public Protection

Classification of 4.

September 2007September 2007Water Department began fire hydrant rehabilitation project.

This project hascontinued each year with the

complete rebuild of approximately 18-20 fire

hydrants each year.

August 2005August 2005Water Department placed 1.5 million gallon water tower

in service.

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Scope of the Public Protection Scope of the Public Protection

Classification EvaluationClassification Evaluation�� The purpose of an ISO public protection survey is to gather The purpose of an ISO public protection survey is to gather

information to determine a numerical rating that insurers use for information to determine a numerical rating that insurers use for

underwriting and to calculate premiums for fire insurance. underwriting and to calculate premiums for fire insurance.

�� The Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) recognizes fireThe Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) recognizes fire--

protection features only as they relate to suppression of fires in protection features only as they relate to suppression of fires in

structures.structures.

�� The Public Protection Classification (PPC) Evaluations are typically The Public Protection Classification (PPC) Evaluations are typically

conducted every 10 years or when a community makes major conducted every 10 years or when a community makes major

improvements to the related evaluation criteria.improvements to the related evaluation criteria.

Fire Suppression Rating Fire Suppression Rating

Schedule Evaluation CriteriaSchedule Evaluation Criteria�� A community's PPC depends on:A community's PPC depends on:

–– Fire alarm and communication systemsFire alarm and communication systems

–– Community fire suppression capabilitiesCommunity fire suppression capabilities

–– Public waterPublic water--supply systemsupply system

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FSRS Grading BreakoutFSRS Grading Breakout

Specific FSRS Grading ElementsSpecific FSRS Grading Elements

�� Communications Communications System System

–– Receipt and dispatch Receipt and dispatch of alarmsof alarms

–– Number of operators Number of operators

staffedstaffed

–– Response timesResponse times

–– Organization of the Organization of the

dispatch centerdispatch center

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Specific FSRS Grading ElementsSpecific FSRS Grading Elements

�� Fire SuppressionFire Suppression

–– Quantity of inQuantity of in--service fire and service fire and reserve apparatusreserve apparatus

–– Apparatus pump capacityApparatus pump capacity

–– Equipment carried on Equipment carried on apparatusapparatus

–– Initial and available staffingInitial and available staffing

–– Fire station locations and their Fire station locations and their

effect on response times effect on response times

–– Staff trainingStaff training

–– Training facilitiesTraining facilities

Specific FSRS Grading ElementsSpecific FSRS Grading Elements

�� Water SupplyWater Supply–– Needed fire flows for Needed fire flows for

extinguishmentextinguishment

–– Hydrant spacing driven by Hydrant spacing driven by

fire flowsfire flows

–– System capacity for fire System capacity for fire

flows sustained for a flows sustained for a

–– Inspection and testing of Inspection and testing of

fire hydrantsfire hydrants

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Illinois Public Protection Class Illinois Public Protection Class

Rating DistributionRating Distribution�� Princeton ILPrinceton IL

–– 10% of all Illinois ISO 10% of all Illinois ISO

rated departments rated departments share a PPC of 4.share a PPC of 4.

Princeton and the Class 4 RatingPrinceton and the Class 4 Rating

�� There are very few communities of Princeton's size who There are very few communities of Princeton's size who meet the protection class 4 requirements.meet the protection class 4 requirements.

�� Most IL communities earning this level of protection or Most IL communities earning this level of protection or better are Chicago Suburbs or have a larger population better are Chicago Suburbs or have a larger population

such as Peoria or Normal.such as Peoria or Normal.

�� Only about 15% of the nation's communities have Only about 15% of the nation's communities have earned PPC 4 or better.earned PPC 4 or better.

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Central Illinois Public Protection Central Illinois Public Protection

Classification ComparisonClassification Comparison

DeKalb PPC 5

Mendota PPC 5

Ottawa PPC 5

Peoria PPC 2

Kewanee PPC 5 LaSalle PPC 5

Sterling PPC 4

Dixon PPC 5

Peru PPC 5

Rock Falls PPC 5

Spring Valley PPC 5

Community Benefit of the Public Community Benefit of the Public

Protection Classification RatingProtection Classification Rating�� A community's investment in fire control is a A community's investment in fire control is a proven and proactive mitigation element of proven and proactive mitigation element of

future fire losses. future fire losses.

�� Insurance companies use PPC information to Insurance companies use PPC information to

help establish fair premiums for fire insurance help establish fair premiums for fire insurance which generally offer lower premiums in which generally offer lower premiums in

communities with better protection. communities with better protection.

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Community Benefit of the Public Community Benefit of the Public

Protection Classification RatingProtection Classification Rating�� By offering economic benefits for communities By offering economic benefits for communities that invest in their firefighting services, the that invest in their firefighting services, the

program provides a real incentive for improving program provides a real incentive for improving and maintaining public fire protection.and maintaining public fire protection.

�� Statistical data on insurance losses exemplifies Statistical data on insurance losses exemplifies the relationship between excellent fire protection the relationship between excellent fire protection

and low fire losses. and low fire losses.

Public Protection Classes’ Affect Public Protection Classes’ Affect

on Individual Insurance Policieson Individual Insurance Policies�� Most all insurance companies, including the larger Most all insurance companies, including the larger

carriers, use PPC information in one or more of the carriers, use PPC information in one or more of the following ways:following ways:

–– Identify opportunities for writing new business Identify opportunities for writing new business

–– Achieve a reasonable awareness of property risks Achieve a reasonable awareness of property risks

–– Review loss experience in various rating territories Review loss experience in various rating territories

–– Price policies, offer Price policies, offer coveragescoverages, and establish deductibles for , and establish deductibles for

individual homes and businesses individual homes and businesses

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Public Protection Classes’ Affect Public Protection Classes’ Affect

on Individual Insurance Policieson Individual Insurance Policies�� The methodology a company uses to calculate premiums for The methodology a company uses to calculate premiums for

property insurance may depend on the company's fireproperty insurance may depend on the company's fire--loss loss

experience, underwriting guidelines, and marketing strategy. experience, underwriting guidelines, and marketing strategy.

�� It is not known how each company incorporates PPC information It is not known how each company incorporates PPC information

into its pricing structure, so it's difficult to generalize how an into its pricing structure, so it's difficult to generalize how an

improvement in PPC will affect individual policies.improvement in PPC will affect individual policies.

�� Residents are encouraged to contact their insurance carrier and Residents are encouraged to contact their insurance carrier and

review the potential for any reduction in premiums.review the potential for any reduction in premiums.

Strategic VisionStrategic Vision

�� Utilize the suggested improvements provided by Utilize the suggested improvements provided by the Public Protection Classification report to the Public Protection Classification report to

guide the community fire protection planning guide the community fire protection planning process within the City of Princeton.process within the City of Princeton.

�� Continue to use the ISO standards in the coming Continue to use the ISO standards in the coming years to guide superior fire suppression planning years to guide superior fire suppression planning

and delivery within our community.and delivery within our community.

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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

�� Mike Eggers, Princeton Water Mike Eggers, Princeton Water SuperintendantSuperintendant

�� Members of the Princeton Water Members of the Princeton Water DepartmentDepartment

�� Members of the Princeton Fire DepartmentMembers of the Princeton Fire Department

�� Laura Laura RueterRueter, Scott Brothers Insurance , Scott Brothers Insurance ––Princeton ILPrinceton IL