Public Protection Classification Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:39, 18 March 2015

Revision as of 07:21, 19 March 2015

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==Class Determination==

ISO collects data for more than 47,000 communities and fire districts throughout the country.<ref name="ISO Public Protection Classifications" /> The data is then analyzed using a proprietary Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS).<ref name="ISO Public Protection Classification">{{cite web | url=http://www.firefighternation.com/article/firefighter-safety/iso-public-protection-classification | title=ISO Public Protection Classification | publisher=Firefighter Nation | date=1 January 2015 | accessdate=5 March 2015 | author=Robert L. Andrews}}</ref> The Schedule then assigns a PPC score between 1 and 10 to the department, with ''Class 1'' representing "superior property fire protection" and ''Class 10'' indicating that an area doesn't meet the minimum criteria set by the ISO. On July 1, 2013, the revised FSRS was released, adding an emphasis on a community's effort to limit loss before an incident occurs.

In developing a PPC, the following major categories are evaluated:

*'''Emergency Communications:''' Fire alarm and communication systems, including telephone systems, telephone lines, staffing and dispatching systems.<ref name="ISO Public Protection Classifications" />

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*'''Water Supply:''' The water supply system, including the condition and maintenance of hydrants and the amount of available water compared with the amount need to suppress fires.<ref name="ISO Public Protection Classifications" />

Added 2013 criteria:<ref name="ISO Public Protection Classification" />:

*'''Fire Prevention:''' programs that contain plan review; certificate of occupancy inspections; compliance follow-up; inspection of fire protection equipment; and fire prevention regulations related to fire lanes on area roads, hazardous material routes, fireworks, barbecue grills, and wildland-urban interface areas.

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==Minimum Requirements==

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To receive a PPC, a fire department must meet minimum infrastructure, staffing and equipment requirements. If a department does't meet at least one of the following requirements, then they are assigned a ''Class 10'' rating.

;Organization

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*Must have one person responsible for the operation of the department (example: Chief).

*Service area must have definite boundaries.

*For departments that service multiple communities, a written contract must be present.

;Membership

*The department must respond at least four firefighters to structure fires. The chief may account for one of those required positions.

;Training

*The department must conduct at least two hours of training every two months for active firefighters.

;Alarm Notification

*There must be no delay in receiving alarms and dispatching firefighters/apparatus.

;Housing