City of Rockwall

	Fire Department

	Insurance Services Offices In the battle against fire losses, one of the insurance industry’s most important weapons is the Public Protection Classification (PPC) program from ISO. The PPC program provides important, up-to-date information about municipal fire protection services throughout the country. By offering economic benefits for communities that invest in their firefighting services, the PPC program provides a real incentive for improving and maintaining public fire protection. And that incentive produces results. The program also provides help for fire department and other public officials as they plan for budget, and justify improvements. But the most significant benefit of the PPC program is its effect on losses. Statistical data on insurance losses bears out the relationship between excellent fire protection – as measured by the PPC program – and low fire losses. ISO is an independent organization that serves insurance companies, fire departments, insurance regulators, and others by providing information about risk. ISO’s expert staff collects information about municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data and assigns a Public Protection Classification – a number from 1-10. 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. In general, the price of fire insurance in a community with a good PPC is substantially lower than in a community with a poor PPC, assuming all other factors are equal. A community's PPC depends on: Fire alarm and communications systems, including telephone systems, telephone line, staffing, and dispatching systems. The fire department, including equipment, staffing, training, and geographic distribution of fire companies. The water supply system, including condition and maintenance of hydrants, and a careful evaluation of the amount of available water compared with the amount needed to suppress fires. For more information on the PPC program – and on ISO’s community outreach efforts- fire officials and others can visit ISO’s special public protection website, ISO Mitigation Online, at www.isomitigation.com. The City of Rockwall was graded in 1988 and received a class 6 PPC. In 1992 we filed the Texas addendum and we were lowered to a class 5 PPC. In March 2003 we were re-graded and the city public protection classification rating was lowered to a Class 3. The PPC Class 3 went into effect July 1, 2005. Of the PPC rating, 10 is the worst and 1 is the best PPC rating. For More Information view our ISO Information PDF