[F051a]

Fire Protection Class

A 10-category ranking or schedule of public fire protection of cities and towns established in 1916. The grading is currently maintained by the Insurance Services Office for use in making fire insurance rates and to encourage local governments to maintain better fire fighting equipment and personnel. A city or town is ranked in one of the categories by receiving deficiency points for failing to meet established standards under each of these major headings: water supply, fire department, fire service communications, fire safety control, climate, and divergence between fire department and water supply. Fire Protection Class 1 is the best class (a city or town having fewer than 501 points), and Fire Protection Class 10 is the worst (more than 4,500 points). Also known as town class or town grading.