ISO (Insurance Service Office) Rating

ISO is an independent organization that serves insurance companies and other agencies by providing information about risk. ISO collects information about municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States.

Public Protection Classification

In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data and assigns a Public Protection Classification – a number from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary fire protection, and class 10 indicates that the area’s fire-suppression program does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria. Virtually all U.S. insurers of homes and business property use ISO’s Public Protection Classification in calculating premiums.

Factors

A community’s Public Protection Classification depends on 3 major factors or departments:

  • The Fire Department (equipment, staffing, training, geographic distribution of fire companies)
  • Fire alarms and communications systems (911, dispatching, staffing)
  • The water supply systems (condition and maintenance of hydrants, and evaluation of the amount of available water compared with the amount needed to suppress fires)

Phenix City ISO

The City of Phenix City has an ISO class rating of 2/9 or 2/2x. The city obtained this rating in July, 2018. The following departments were graded:

  • Fire Rescue: 38.22
  • Communications: 7.59
  • Water Department: 36.22
  • Divergence: -2.82
  • Community Risk Reduction: 4.36

Total score: 83.57 %