The ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC©) program evaluates the structure fire suppression capabilities of communities across the United States, focusing on four key areas: Needed Fire Flows, Emergency Communications, Fire Department capabilities, and Water Supply.

 

These elements work together to ensure effective fire protection, but their effectiveness is interdependent. For example, even the best fire department may be limited by an inadequate water supply, and a superior water supply cannot reach its potential without proper fire department resources. To address this, the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) includes a divergence factor, which adjusts the PPC score to reflect disparities between the fire department’s capabilities and the water supply.

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Within 5 road miles of a fire station and 1000' of a fire hydrant: Class 3

Within 5 road miles of a fire station and greater than 1000' of a fire hydrant: Class 6

Greater than 5 road miles of a fire station: Class 10​​​​

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This comprehensive evaluation helps communities improve fire protection services and supports lower insurance premiums through better risk mitigation.