Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS)

ISO has embarked on a project to review and update the content of its Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). We have been engaged in discussions with a variety of stakeholders in organizations that deal with water, fire, and emergency communications. We have developed a list of potential modifications and additions to the current FSRS and will beta test the revisions and additions to assure reliability and consistent application. Following the test process, ISO will confer with stakeholders before finalizing the document and filing it in each state.

Possible revisions to the Fire Department section

  • Increased reference to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards
  • Increase in minimum pump capacity for engines from 50 gpm to 250 gpm in communities with Public Protection Classifications (PPCTM) of 9, in accordance with NFPA 1901
    • A corresponding increase in the minimum amount of water from 300 to 500 gallons delivered by all responding apparatus on the initial alarm
  • Increase in minimum pump capacity for engines from 250 gpm to 750 gpm for Class 1 to Class 8 communities, in accordance with the general criteria of NFPA 1901
  • A requirement that, for a PPC of 8 or better, the fire department must have sufficient membership to assure response by at least six members (including the chief) to fires in structures (Recognized automatic aid may contribute up to two of the responding members.)
  • Evaluation of pumper equipment and hose and ladder/service tools and equipment based on the current edition of NFPA 1901
  • Recognition of Initial Rapid Intervention Crew and Rapid Intervention Crew teams, in accordance with NFPA 1500
  • Reduction of the credit value for reserve pumper and ladder/service apparatus
  • Foam application system:
    • Credit for high-energy compressed air foam systems (CAFS)
    • Credit for low-energy Class A and Class B foam proportioning systems
  • Additional emphasis on firefighter safety and training:
    • Requirement for protective clothing ensemble for all fire-suppression personnel at structure fires, in accordance with NFPA 1001
    • No credit for training without proper documentation, in accordance with NFPA 1401
    • Credit for credentialing of fire officers in accordance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) recommendations and NFPA 1021, in addition to continuing education officer training
    • Increased credit for training of fire apparatus drivers and operators in accordance with NFPA 1002 and NFPA 1451
    • Preincident building familiarization and planning surveys reduced to annual frequency, with up-to-date notes and sketches available to the incident commander, in accordance with NFPA 1620
  • Maximum automatic-aid plan credit expanded from 0.9 to 1.0 if the fire departments have standard operating procedures (SOPs) that outline the expectations and responsibilities for first-alarm response
  • Expanded credit for automatic-aid engine and ladder companies based on proximity coverage
  • Credit for responding automatic-aid personnel not previously included in the grading
  • Operational considerations:
    • Credit for an incident management system according to NFPA 1561
    • Credit for standard operating procedures/guidelines
  • New approach for fire department deployment analysis using a fire department’s demonstrated performance analysis (Credit is based on the extent to which the department meets the time constraints for the initial arriving engine company and deployment of full-alarm assignment as outlined in NFPA 1710.)

OR

  • Revised approach to the existing 1½ mile and 2½ mile standard response evaluation of engine and ladder/service company coverage areas without establishing additional needed company locations, with an increased emphasis on the actual distribution (deployment analysis) coverage by existing companies

Possible revisions to the Water Supply section

  • Increased reference to American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards
  • Credit for a flow-test program when conducted at 5-year intervals on all parts of the distribution system according to AWWA M-17 or NFPA 291
  • Credit for a fire hydrant marking program in accordance with AWWA M-17 or NFPA 291
  • Water flow-test alternative including results of a properly balanced and tested hydraulic water-distribution system model
  • Credit for fire hydrant delivering up to 1500 gpm and meeting the head-loss criteria in AWWA C-502 or AWWA C-503

Revisions to the Emergency Communications section

  • Credit for communications facilities provided for the general public to report structure fires through enhanced 911 telephone service, wireless Phase I and Phase II, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Static and Nomadic
  • Credit for computer-aided dispatch (CAD) facilities with management information systems (MIS), geographic information systems (GIS), and automatic vehicle location (AVL)
  • Credit for measurement of telecommunicator alarm receipt and processing performance at the communication center
  • Credit for emergency dispatch protocols for the fire service
  • Credit for telecommunicator training and certification in accordance with NFPA 1061 and/or APCO Project 33
  • Credit for telecommunicator continuing education and quality assurance
  • Credit for dispatch facilities used to alert fire department company members to report to structure fires, including voice radio (trunked and nontrunked), microwave carrier channel, polling or self-interrogating digital radio, dedicated telephone circuit monitored for integrity, or wired circuit including Internet Protocol (IP) dedicated to public safety or governmental use, in accordance with NFPA 1221

Reference to community risk-reduction programs

  • Credit for adoption and enforcement of a model building code
  • Credit for adoption and enforcement of a model fire-prevention code, including fire-prevention inspector certification and training
  • Credit for public fire-safety education, including:
    • Public fire-safety educator qualifications and training
    • Residential fire-safety education
    • Fire-safety education in schools
    • Juvenile firesetter program
  • Credit for fire cause and origin investigation, including fire investigator certification and training
  • Credit for use of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS)

Additional revisions

  • Credit for current fire-service accreditation
  • Recognition of fire sprinklers in residential and dwelling properties for reduction of needed fire flows (NFF)
  • Reduction of NFF duration to one hour for one- and two-family standard-size dwellings
  • Application of the NFF formula to larger one- and two-family dwellings