Hendersonville Fire Department’s New ISO Class 1 Rating Could Lead to Improved Insurance Premiums in the City
Hendersonville businesses and residents may see lower insurance premiums thanks to Hendersonville Fire Department’s new ISO Class 1 rating. The Public Protection Classification (PPC) Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) is the best rating possible and represents Hendersonville’s superior level of preparedness and defense against fire risk and property loss.
“This accomplishment not only reflects the dedication and professionalism of the men and women serving at the Hendersonville Fire Department,” said Hendersonville Fire Chief D. James Miller, “but it also shows years of commitment to improving public safety by Hendersonville City Council.” He explained that by City Council prioritizing investments in the water system and fire department stations, equipment, and personnel, the community is seeing a return on their investment in the rating improvement and level of fire protection provided in Hendersonville.
Residents and business owners are encouraged to contact their insurance providers directly and share Hendersonville’s significant rating improvement from a Class 3 to a Class 1. Insurers create risk model formulas and use the PPC rating to determine their risk and what the subsequent insurance premiums are within fire districts. Depending on the insurer, City of Hendersonville community members may see a reduction in insurance premiums, though the greatest decrease is expected in the commercial property industry.
Last week, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey visited Hendersonville and announced Hendersonville Fire Department’s achievement of earning the status of an ISO Class 1 designation. This designation places the fire department in the top 2% of fire departments in North Carolina and in the top 1% nationwide. During their meeting on April 12, the Hendersonville City Council formally recognized the fire department on the achievement.
“Out of approximately 45,000 fire departments in the U.S. only 411 have achieved a Class 1 ISO,” said Fire Chief Miller. “The fantastic water system provided by Hendersonville Water & Sewer, combined with the 911 services provided by the Henderson County 911 Center and the support of our automatic aid partners all played important roles in this accomplishment.” Chief Miller added the fire department is responsible for leading the evaluation process and is responsible for fifty percent of the overall score, with the water system accounting for forty percent and emergency communications accounting for ten percent respectively.
Additional points were garnered through the accomplishments of the Hendersonville Fire Department’s Life Safety Division. This team is responsible for annual inspections, fire prevention and educational outreach, juvenile fire setter programs, and providing certified arson investigators to determine the cause of fires.
City of Hendersonville businesses and residents can be proactive by contacting their insurance providers to make them aware of the Hendersonville Fire Department’s rating change from a Class 3 to a Class 1.
The ISO rating change officially takes place on July 1, 2023.