Lynbrook Awarded Outstanding Public Protection Rating

Lynbrook, NY – The Village of Lynbrook has been awarded a Public Protection

Classification (PPC) rating of “2” from the Insurance Services Office, Inc.  The ISO objectively reviews the fire suppression capabilities of communities and assigns a PPC ranging from 1 to 10, with the lower the number, the better.

The PPC is used to determine the level of fire protection in communities and impacts every individual in a community that buys fire insurance.  “The rating is a phenomenal accomplishment by our Fire Department and it will result in a significant savings on fire insurance for our residents and businesses as they will be able to file for lower fire insurance premiums,” said Mayor Brian Curran.

The ISO is a for-profit corporation that works for insurance companies to evaluate the capability of a community to suppress fires. Through an extensive rating schedule, ISO sets the PPC for the area that it is evaluating. The schedule provides a national standard that fire departments and government agencies can use to plan and budget for facilities, equipment, and training activities.

According to the ISO, insurers use the PPC rating for underwriting and calculating premiums for residential, commercial and industrial properties.  So, assuming all other factors are equal, the price of property insurance in a community with a good PPC is lower than in a community with a poor PPC.

“ It is the continued dedication of the men and women of the Lynbrook Fire Department, their constant training and use of the latest fire fighting equipment that gives the Village this rating,” said Deputy Mayor and Fire Department Liaison Bill Hendrick

“Residents and businesses in Lynbrook who have to purchase fire insurance should call their insurance companies to inform that our PPC rating has lowered to a 2 and request  to have their homeowners insurance re-evaluated," said Trustee Hilary Becker.

According to Fire Department Chief Kevin Bien, the PPC is based on reviews of the Village’s fire department (50 percent), water supply system (40 percent) and fire alarm and communication system (10 percent).

“The excellent rating is a result of intensive training and a steadfast commitment to the call of duty of each member of the fire department as well as the assistance and cooperation of the entire village throughout the process," said Chief Bien.

The following information provides a detailed explanation of the PPC rating and the benefits to  Lynbrook that come with low the rating.

Rating Classes

The ISO rates an area on a scale of 1 through 10.  An ISO rating of 1 is the best (there are fewer than 45 communities in the country with the rating). An ISO rating of 10 is equivalent to not having any fire protection.  If a fire department has not been rated by ISO, they have the equivalent of a 10 rating.

Economic Impact

According to the ISO, it is in the best interest of the taxpayers for communities to begin to address insurance ratings if they are not already doing so.  Insurance premiums are rising dramatically throughout the U.S.  Several factors have contributed to this rise in rates, including increased natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and a prolonged slow economy that effects investments.  These premium increases are more pronounced with the

higher ratings, i.e. 7 through 10.

In the following example, if a homeowner paid $1 per year for insurance in a Class 10

rating, then

§ Class 9 pays .93, a savings of 7 percent over a Class 10.

§ Class 8 pays .72, a savings of 28 percent over a Class 10.

§ Class 7 pays .68, a savings of 32 percent over a Class 10.

§ Class 6 pays .65, a savings of 35 percent over a Class 10.

§ Class 5 pays .63, a savings of 37 percent over a Class 10.

§ Class 4 pays .60, a savings of 40 percent over a Class 10.

§ Class 3 pays .58, a savings of 42 percent over a Class 10.

§ Class 2 pays .55, a savings of 45 percent over a Class 10.

§ Class 1 pays .53, a savings of 47 percent over a Class 10.

These rates must be multiplied by 10 years to understand the true impact of improvement or lack of improvement in fire protection that the fire insurance rates have on property owners. Most insurance companies offer only small discounts on residential policies in Class 6 or better communities, but commercial premiums offer substantially more discounts.

Another important factor of a low ISO rating is the Village’s enhanced ability to recruit commercial businesses.  With most other factors remaining nearly constant, (labor market, availability of land, construction factors, taxes, etc.) a corporation will most

likely locate in a jurisdiction that has a avorable fire insurance rating.  A reasonable investment to ensure that the ISO rating in an area is improved can produce enormous benefits in tax base expansion, more disposable income for taxpayers, and the ability to obtain insurance that many could not previously afford.

Improved Fire Protection

There is a proven strong relationship between improved ISO ratings and improved fire

protection capability.  A community that has a quality water supply system, has adequately trained and equipped its fire department, and ensured that the appropriate dispatching capabilities are in place will reduce its fire dollar loss.

The Lynbrook Fire Department is an all volunteer department with over 220 members. It sreves the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook in Nassau County, Long Island, New York.  Its mission is to provide fire protection services through a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property of the inhabitants from the adverse effects of fires, sudden medical emergencies, or exposure to dangerous conditions created by man or nature.