PPC Program

To help establish appropriate fire insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties, insurance companies need reliable, up-to-date information about a community’s fire-protection services. ISO provides that information through the Public Protection Classification (PPC^®) program.

What is the PPC program?

We collect information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, we analyze the relevant data using our Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). We then assign a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program doesn't meet our minimum criteria.

By classifying communities' ability to suppress fires, we help the communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.

We have extensive information on more than 40,000 fire-response jurisdictions.

How this website can help you

This website contains a wealth of information about the PPC program and the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). The website can also lead you to specific information about your community’s PPC code and what you can do to get a better code. Some of the technical information in the site is available to registered customers and fire officials only. Find out how to register.

For more information on any topic related to the Public Protection Classification (PPC^®) program or the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule, Contact us, or call our mitigation specialists at 1-800-444-4554.