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Emblem of the west buncombe fire department, featuring a blue and gold shield with fire-rescue equipment and the text "west buncombe fire dept. fire-rescue" circling the dates 1959 and 19 in the center.
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Understanding Our ISO Class 2 Rating

How the West Buncombe Fire Department’s Excellence Benefits Our Community
West Buncombe Fire Department

Proudly ISO Class 2 Rated

The West Buncombe Fire Department proudly maintains an ISO Class 2 Rating, showcasing our commitment to excellent fire protection services.

Every five years, the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal (NCOSFM) conducts an inspection of our department. This inspection determines our Insurance Rating on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best. To offer fire protection in Buncombe County, all “County” fire departments must maintain a minimum ISO 9 Rating.

A metallic number 2 is encircled by a metal ring, set against a dark grid background. A red banner with white text at the bottom reads "ISO CLASS." The image has a polished, high-tech appearance with reflective surfaces and lighting effects.

How Does the Fire Department ISO Rating Benefit the Community?

The Public Protection Classification (PPC™) program recognizes communities’ efforts to provide fire protection services for citizens and property owners. A community’s investment in fire mitigation is a reliable predictor of future fire losses. Insurance companies use PPC information to help establish fair premiums for fire insurance—generally offering lower premiums in communities with better protection. The program provides economic benefits to communities that invest in firefighting services and helps fire departments plan, budget, and justify improvements.

Benefits of the PPC Program:

  • Lower Insurance Premiums: Insurance companies use PPC information to offer lower premiums in communities with better fire protection.
  • Improved Fire Protection: PPC helps communities prepare to fight fires effectively, resulting in lower fire losses.
  • Enhanced Planning and Budgeting: The program helps fire departments and public officials plan, budget, and justify improvements.

Impact on Insurance:

PPC information is integral to the decisions insurers make affecting the underwriting and pricing of property insurance. Most U.S. insurance companies use PPC information to:

  • Identify opportunities for writing new business
  • Manage the quality of community fire protection across their book of business
  • Review loss experience in various rating territories
  • Offer coverages and establish deductibles for individual homes and businesses

Insurance companies establish the premiums they charge to policyholders based on their fire loss experience, underwriting guidelines, and marketing strategy.

Understanding the Benefits of Improved PPC Ratings:

  • PPC ratings can affect underwriting and pricing for various personal and commercial insurance coverages, including homeowners, mobile homes, fine arts floaters, and commercial property.
  • The price of property insurance in a community with a good PPC rating is generally lower than in a community with a poor PPC rating.

A public protection survey gathers information to determine a Public Protection Classification (PPC™), which insurers use for underwriting and to calculate fire insurance premiums. The Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) recognizes fire-protection features related to suppressing fires in structures.

Beyond Fire Suppression:

In many communities, including West Buncombe, fire suppression is only a part of the fire department’s overall responsibility. We also provide services such as Medical Response, Technical Rescue, Water Rescue, and Car Accident Response, among other disciplines, to offer a comprehensive array of duties to the community. These services are not covered under the PPC evaluation, which focuses solely on features related to reducing property losses from fire.