NRH's Fire Insurance Rating Improves

Watch presentation about the rating

View & Print Texas Department of Insurance Letter

North Richland Hills' homeowners and business owners should get good economic news next time they renew their insurance policies.

The Insurance Service Office (ISO) has announced that it is changing North Richland Hills' Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating from a "4" to a "2". The new rating takes effect on July 1. Generally, the lower a community's rating, the lower its insurance rates. Homeowners and business owners are encouraged to consult with their insurance agents regarding the new rating, its effective date, and how it may affect their individual premiums.

The ISO is a leading provider of statistical, underwriting and actuarial information for the property and casualty insurance industry. It collects information on more than 44,000 fire departments around the United States and classifies their ability to fight fires on a scale of 1-10. A rating of 1 is considered exemplary, while a 10 indicates that the area's fire suppression program doesn't meet minimum requirements. Less than 4 percent of cities in the State of Texas and less than 4 percent of cities in the United States have a rating of 2 or better.

A community's rating depends on:

• fire alarm and communication systems, including telephone systems, telephone lines, staffing, and dispatching systems;
• the fire department, including equipment, staffing, training, and geographic distribution of fire companies.
• the water-supply system, including the condition and maintenance of hydrants, and a careful evaluation of the amount of available water compared with the amount needed to suppress fires;
• fire prevention and building code activities, which are part of the Texas addendum to the rating system.

North Richland Hills' new rating is the result of improvements in all four areas. Over the past few years the City strategically relocated two fire stations to improve response times and constructed a live fire training burn lab to increase training opportunities for all Fire Department personnel. The department also added a CAFS (compressed air foam system) Pumper and made other upgrades to equipment and technology. Improvements were also made in the areas of pre-fire planning, hydrant inspections and maintenance.