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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/2022 09. Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) Report 1 sirF` 4'+ A 'icil'io4 k(,)' y yes BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 9. For Meeting of: December 13, 2022 ITEM TITLE: Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) Report SUBMITTED BY: Aaron Markham, Fire Chief SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Washington Survey and Rating Bureau (WSRB) conducted an evaluation on the fire protection capabilities of the City of Yakima as it relates to fire insurance rating. This report is for city council information and the public covering the results of the survey and to answer any questions councilmembers may have.Attached in the documents are answers to common questions the public and council may have in regard to WSRB and the complete report. The great news is the City of Yakima maintained its Protection Classification of a three (3). Currently, there is one jurisdiction with a Protection Class #1 and only 16 jurisdictions with a Protection Class rating of two (2). ITEM BUDGETED: NA STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Safety APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type 0 Lettei 11/30/20a Corer Memo ❑ Report 11/30/2022 Corer Memo 0 WSRB FAQs 11/30/2022 Corer Memo 2 Po- WSRB November 14,2022 Fire Chief Markham Yakima Fire Department Fire Chief Markham, Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau(WSRB)has completed its evaluation of the fire protection capabilities of your community as they relate to fire insurance rating.We're pleased to inform you that the Protection Classification(PC)for City of Yakima has remained a Protection Class 3. A PC 3 rating will apply to dwelling and commercial properties located in the community within five road miles of a responding fire station and having standard fire hydrant distribution and water supply. Properties in the community not meeting the above requirements will receive a different PC rating. Protection Class ratings for individual dwelling and commercial properties are available by calling WSRB Customer Service at 206-217-0101 or emailing customerserviceCthwsrb.corrl. Yakima Fire Department was also evaluated for WSRB Tender Credit,and it was determined that the community will retain this PC rating credit. We wish to thank you, Deputy Chief Rodriguez, Deputy Chief Goldsmith and your staff for the cooperation during the evaluation. Accompanying this letter,you will find a copy of the new Protection Class Report.This report shows the various items evaluated and the credit attained for each item. Please note that the WSRB survey was not conducted for property loss prevention or for life safety purposes.Rather,the purpose was to gather information needed to determine a fire insurance relevant Protection Class that may be used to develop fire insurance rates or Loss Costs. Our evaluation criteria incorporate many nationally recognized standards,such as those developed by NFPA, ICC and AWWA, and have been filed with and approved by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. If you have any questions,please let us know. Sincerely, Eric Cunningham Fire Protection Analyst 206-273-7183 eric.cunnin.ghan wsrb.com 0 P.O.Box 1188 T:206-217-9772 www.wsrb.com Renton,WA 98057-1188 3 CA WS R B Protection Classification Report for: Yakima Report Date: December 1 , 2022 Copyright© 2022 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 4 WSRB: Who we are and what we do Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB)is an independent, non-profit public service organization that has been serving Washington state since 1911. We produce data that helps insurance companies accurately evaluate risk and insurance consumers feel confident their fire premiums are set using objective data. One of the services WSRB provides is determining the Protection Class of communities and the Protection Class of individual properties in those communities. Insurance companies use Protection Class as one input when determining fire insurance premiums for properties. How we determine Protection Classes for communities and individual properties WSRB determines the Protection Class of cities and fire protection districts by evaluating their fire protection/suppression capabilities using a schedule approved by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, called the WSRB Community Protection Class Grading Schedule. As a result of this evaluation the communities are assigned a Protection Class of 1 through 10, where 1 indicates exemplary fire protection capabilities, and 10 indicates the capabilities, if any, are insufficient for insurance rating credit. Additional criteria are then applied to determine the Protection Class for the individual properties in the community. We explain this process in more detail later. WSRB evaluates communities in four major areas: Water Supply: WSRB evaluates the capacity, distribution and maintenance of water systems and fire hydrants. Fire Department: WSRB evaluates the fire department, including fire stations, apparatus, equipment, personnel and their training. Emergency Communications: WSRB evaluates the emergency communication system used to dispatch the fire department. Fire Safety Control: WSRB evaluates the fire code enforcement and fire safety education activities in the community. 1 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 5 The Protection Class evaluation process recognizes the efforts of communities to provide fire- protection services for citizens and property owners. Insurance companies generally offer lower premiums in communities with better protection, creating an incentive for communities to improve and maintain fire protection. The WSRB Community Protection Class Grading Schedule measures the fire protection capabilities of a community by means of a point system or, for communities without a recognized water supply, by comparison to minimum criteria. Under the point system, pertinent items are evaluated against the standards set forth in the schedule and items are scored, depending on the importance of the item and the degree of deviation from the standard. The four major areas considered under the point system, as well as the relative value allocated to each, are shown below. Water Supply 35% Relative Values Fire Safety Control 16% • 1 Fire Department 40% Emergency Communications 9% �— These four areas are evaluated and scored independently of each other. The scores are then combined in a final calculation to determine the Protection Class for the community. The following pages provide a summary of all the items evaluated, the percentage of credit attained for each item and the final calculation to determine the Protection Class for the community. 2 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 6 The chart below shows the number of communities in each Protection Class across Washington state. Washington State Communities by Protection Class 150 130 129 111 100 89 79 70 50 126 14 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The Protection Class produced by WSRB's evaluation is the overall Protection Class for the community, not the Protection Class for all the properties located in the community Buildings and property located within the community are eligible for the Protection Class of the community, but no better, if they meet the distance-to-fire-station and applicable fire hydrant requirements. If these requirements are not met, the building will receive a different Protection Class than the Protection Class of the community. QUESTIONS? For questions about how the Protection Class for the community was developed or for recommendations on how to improve the Protection Class for the community, please contact the WSRB Fire Protection Analyst that conducted the evaluation. Their contact information is located on the results letter that accompanied this report or contact WSRB at 206-217-9772 or email us at publicrrotection@wsrb.carn For questions on the Protection Class for individual properties in your community, please contact WSRB Customer Service at 206-217-0101. If the fire department or community officials are receiving Protection Class inquiries from insurance professionals or citizens of the community, feel free to refer these inquiries to WSRB Customer Service. 3 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 7 FINAL CALCULATION VVSRB Community Protection Class (PC) Evaluation Areas Water Supply Fire Department Emergency Fire Safety Communication Control Percent of Credit 82% 69% 62% 76% Relative Value of Area in Evaluation 35% 40% 9% 16% Relative Class of Evaluation Area 2 4 4 3 Total Credit(sum of each area credit X relative value) 7.40 Divergence Score 0 Community PC = (10-Total Credit)+Divergence Score 2.60 (Unrounded Score) Community Protection Class = 3 Protection Class Unrounded Protection Class Unrounded Score Score 1 0.0 to 1.00 6 5.01 to 6.00 2 1.01 to 2.00 7 6.01 to 7.00 3 2.01 to 3.00 8 7.01 to 8.00 3.01 to 4.00 9 8.01 to 9.00 4.01 to 5.00 10 9.01 to 10.00 Percent of Credit for each Evaluation Area F Percent Credit Possible Remaining Credit 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Water Supply — - _ --•- - _ `— _ Fire Department Emergency Communications 44 Fire Safety Control - ■ 4 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 8 FINAL CALCULATION 111, \A/5 RB Evaluation Area Scores: Percent of Credit Water Supply 82% The water supplies in the community providing fire hydrants are evaluated in this section. In communities with multiple water supplies, the water supplies are prorated by their size (number of fire hydrants). Water Supply Items 1 through 4 make up the total score for this section. Fire Department •_ •- -_ ^^•� _ • •' _ '69 0 The fire department servicing the community is evaluated in this section.The total service area of the fire department including incorporated and unincorporated area is considered. Fire Department Items 1 through 17 make up the total score for this section. Emergency Communications . ' - _ _ _ - _ .. ,62%. J The Emergency Communication Center responsible for dispatching the fire department servicing the community is evaluated. This evaluation applies to all communities the communication center dispatches fire services to. Emergency Communication Items 1 through 3 make up the total score for this section. Fire Safety Control 76% Fire Safety Control or fire prevention activities provided in the community are evaluated in this section. These activities may be provided by local, county or state authorities, all of which will be included in the evaluation. Fire Safety Control Items 1 through 4 make up the total score for this section. Divergence Score - _ ;, _ -_ •', ` Excessive difference between the class of the Water Supply and the class of the Fire Department prevents the more effective feature from being utilized to its full relative value. Divergence between Water Supply and Fire Department of two classes or more shall be applied to the final score of the community. Community Protection Class (PC) = '';' - - ' - _ - • The Protection Class produced by this schedule is the overall class of the community, not the classification of all properties located in the community. Distance to fire station and fire hydrant criteria along with the other rules of the applicable Protection Class manual must be applied to the community Protection Class to determine the Protection Class of an individual property located within the community. 5 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 9 WATER SUPPLY 4111°-- \NSRB Water Supply Items Percent of Credit ■Percent Credit Possible Remaining Credit 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 1.Adequacy of Water Supply 2. Hydrants Size,Type and Installation 3. Hydrants Inspection and Condition - 4a.Arrangement and Operation 4b. Maintenance 1. Adequacy of Water Supply Percent of Credit — - _- - I 98% This item evaluates the water system's ability to deliver the required fire flow for properties in the community. The score for this item is determined by comparing the required fire flow for a building to the available fire flow. A building's required fire flow is calculated as indicated in the WSRB Community Protection Class Schedule using type of construction, square footage, occupancy, external exposure and whether the building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system. Available fire flow is measured using hydrant flow tests and the capacity of the water system storage, pumps, filters and mains. 2. Hydrants - Size, Type and Installation . - 98% Hydrants shall conform to American Water Works Association (AWWA)Standards for dry-barrel hydrants. Standard hydrants must have a minimum of one pumper outlet and two 2.5-inch outlets and be connected to at least a 6-inch water main. Hydrants should also have a quick-connect fitting on the pumper port. 3. Hydrants - Inspection and Condition Hydrants must be inspected annually, including operating the hydrant with a flow or pressure check. Flow tests of hydrants must be conducted at least every five years. Fire hydrants shall be marked for available water flow, free of obstructions and kept in good condition. 4. Arrangement, Operation and Maintenance of Water System Components 4a. Arrangement and Operation _ _ 82%• Arrangement of the water system components evaluates the location and number of water sources and water storage units. Multiple water sources and water storage locations provide redundancy in order to reduce the impact of failure of one part of the system. Operation considers how the system is monitored and controlled (telemetry), how water is delivered (pumps or gravity)and if backup power is provided for pumps. The water system shall be managed by a state-certified operator. '4b:Nla'iriteiriance - - ° This item evaluates the frequency of visits to and inspections of water system components other than hydrants. Regular visits and inspections allow for timely maintenance and repair of components. Water system components including wells, pumps, water tanks and reservoirs, pressure-regulating, altitude, float control and isolation valves shall be regularly inspected. 6 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 10 Fire Department VVSRB Fire Department Items Percent of Credit ■Percent Credit Possible Remaining Credit 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90°/a 100% 1a.Pumpers in Service lb.Reserve Pumpers 2a.Ladder Trucks in Service - 2b.Reserve Ladder Trucks 2c.Ground Ladder Service 3.Distribution of Companies 4a.Pumper Capacity 4b.Reserve Pumper Capacity 5a.Preventative Maintenance 5b.Age of Apparatus 6a.Chief Officers 6b.Company Officers 7. Department Staffing 8.Engine and Ladder Company Unit Staffing 9.Stream Devices 10.Equipment for Pumpers and Ladder Trucks 11a.Total Amount of Supply Hose 11 b.Total Amount of Attack Hose 11 c.Total Amount of Pre-Connected Hose 12a.Hose Testing 12b.Hose Washing,Drying and Storage Facilities 13a.Supervision 13b.Company Training 13c.Training Center Training 13d.Officer Training 13e.Driver Training 13f.Recruit Training 13g.Pre-Fire Planning • 14a.Commercial Districts 14b.Residential Districts 14c.Multiple Alarms 14d.Cover Plan 15.Fire Operations 16a.Fireboats in Service 16b.Other Needed Special Protection 17a.Fire Stations 17b.Fuel 17c.Delays in Response 7 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 11 Fire Department 1. Pumpers Percent of Credit 1a. Pumpers in Service - _ - 93% The number of pumpers in service and regularly responding to incidents must be sufficient to properly protect the community. The number of pumpers required is determined by evaluating the number currently in service, the fire flow requirements for the community, response of engines outside the community and frequency of incidents. The required number of pumpers is compared to the number of pumpers in service. Pumper-ladder trucks will be credited under this item. Automatic aid will be considered in this item. _ 1b. Reserve Pumpers _ �, 90% To maintain the required number of pumpers in service, one reserve pumper is required for every eight pumpers required to be in service, but no fewer than one. Reserve pumpers shall be fully equipped,tested and maintained for service. 2. Ladder Trucks/Ladder Service 2a. Ladder Trucks in Service 55% The number of ladder trucks in service and regularly responding to incidents must be sufficient to properly protect the community.A ladder truck is required when a community has at least five buildings with a required fire flow of 4,000 gallons per minute (gpm)or greater and/or three stories (35 feet) in height. The required number of ladders is compared to the number of ladders in service. Pumper-ladder trucks will be credited under this item. Automatic aid will be considered in this item.The height and type of ladder truck will also be evaluated in this item. _ _jb:'Reserve=,Lad_der'Trucks' _ ., 55%i To maintain the required number of ladder trucks in service, one reserve ladder truck is required for every five ladder trucks required to be in service, but no fewer than one. Reserve ladders shall be fully equipped, tested and maintained for service. 2c. Ground Ladder Service J- _ • _ • •- .:9$%0 , .71 Sufficient ground ladders to reach the roofs of buildings must be carried on apparatus. The number, type, height and testing of ground ladders will be evaluated in this item. 3. Distribution of Companies Engine and ladder companies must be distributed to provide effective protection to the community. Structures should be within 1.5 road miles of a first-alarm engine company and 2.5 miles of a ladder company. As an alternative to using the above road-mile analysis, the results of a performance evaluation may be used. This type of evaluation would analyze computer-aided dispatch records of fire incidents to determine the percentage of time an initial engine company arrives within 320 seconds and an initial ladder company arrives within 480 seconds. Pumper-ladders and automatic aid will be considered in this item. 4. Pumper Capacity 4a. Pumper Capacity Adequate pumper capacity must be provided on the first alarm to meet or exceed the basic fire flow of the community. All fire pumps must be tested annually to receive full credit. Automatic aid will be considered in this item. 4b. Reserve Pumper Capacity - - _ _ ' - The total pumper capacity, including reserve pumpers,with one for each eight required pumpers(but no fewer than one)and including the largest out of service, must be sufficient to maintain the total pumper capacity required. 8 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 12 Fire Department (Cont.) 5. Maintenance and Condition of Apparatus Percent of Credit 5a. Preventative Maintenance .. . - 81% A suitable preventive maintenance program must be in effect. This item evaluates how often apparatus are checked, inspected and who conducts the inspection.The testing frequency of pumps, aerial ladders,foam systems, Compressed Air Foam Systems(CAFS), breathing air systems, apparatus road test and weight verification are also evaluated. A•e•of A:aratus.• -- 970I The number of pumpers, ladders and support vehicles older than 15 years, older than 25 years and the number of reserve apparatus will be considered in determining condition of apparatus. 6. Number of Officers _ 6a. Chief Officers '. _ ` _ _ 100%0 r A chief officer in charge of the department must be on duty at all times but need not sleep at a fire station to be considered on duty, provided there are adequate means for notification and response to incidents. Departments with more than eight companies, in addition to the chief and assistant chief, must have sufficient battalion or district chiefs to provide one on duty in a fire station at all times for each eight companies required. Two active volunteer officers may be considered equivalent to one full on-duty officer, up to half the number of officers required. 6b. Company Officers . •. _ I •;I r --_ - •• 192% 7 There must be sufficient company officers to provide one on duty at all times with each required engine or ladder company.Two active volunteer officers may be considered equivalent to one full on-duty officer, up to half the number of officers required. 7. Department Staffing 52% There must be six firefighters on duty for each of the required engine and ladder companies. Only personnel who participate in actual structural firefighting operations will be credited. Personnel staffing ambulances or other units serving the general public may be credited depending on the extent to which they are available for firefighting duties. Three call and/or volunteer firefighters will be considered equivalent to one on-duty firefighter. Call or volunteer firefighters may not exceed half the required staffing of required companies. If adequate records of response are not kept, credit may be limited to one on-duty for each six call or volunteer firefighters. Call or volunteer firefighters working defined shifts at fire stations may be considered equivalent to on-duty firefighters. Response of firefighters on automatic aid apparatus will also be considered in this item. 8. Engine and Ladder Company Unit Staffing 92% Unit staffing for engine and ladder companies only considers companies with apparatus in service credited in Items 1 and 2. The amount by which the required six on-duty firefighters per company exceeds the on- duty strength (as determined in Item 7), divided by the number of in-service companies, equals the average member deficiency per company. 9. Stream Devices L ' •. -r. =�, r 90% Turrets, nozzles, foam equipment and,where required, elevated stream devices must be provided. This item evaluates the required stream devices to the devices provided. Credit will be limited if annual testing is not conducted and maintenance records are not provided. 9 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 13 Fire Department (Cont.) 10. Equipment for Pumpers and Ladder Trucks Percent of Credit 93% This item will consider equipment for existing pumpers and ladder trucks, except for such equipment considered in Items 2c(ground ladders), 9 (stream devices)and 11 (hose). Credit for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus(SCBA)will be limited if inspection and testing is not conducted and maintenance records are not provided. 11. Hose Total Amount of Supply Hose 94% This Item considers whether adequate hose is carried on each pumper and whether adequate reserve hose is provided. The requirement for large-diameter hose (3.5 inches or larger)for each pumping apparatus is 800 feet on the apparatus and 400 feet in reserve for every three pumpers in service. 1,b..Tota"mount bf AttackiHose_ r _ _ __ ___ _ ;95%0 The requirement for 2.5-inch+ hose is 600 feet on the apparatus and 300 feet in reserve for every three pumpers in service. The requirement for 1.5-inch+ hose on each pumping apparatus is 400 feet with 300 feet in reserve for every three pumpers in service. 11c. Total Amount of Pre-Connected Hose _ '100% The requirement for pre-connected, 1.5-inch+ hose on each pumping apparatus is 300 feet. 12. Condition of Hose • 12a. Hose Testing '_ - • 'f00°lo All hose, in service and reserve, must be maintained in good condition and tested annually in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)Standard 1962: Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles and Fire Hose Appliances. _ -12bJH.ose.Wash'ji7.�,�p"'.�tl'�:and$ts O acilities _ _ _ _100%�• II Suitable facilities and procedures must be provided for washing, drying and storing hose. This is to prevent mildew in the hose jackets and rust/corrosion in apparatus hose compartments. 13. Training 13a:Sol rvis_ion' t T_ _ . �100"/0 Training must be under the guidance of a qualified training officer. Maximum credit is achieved when the training officer has at least 10 years of direct incident command experience and certification as a Fire Instructor II. Personnel in charge of training sessions must be certified as fire instructors. 13b. Company Training _ — -_ _ _23.670 1 Firefighters are required to have a minimum of 20 hours of structural firefighting training per firefighter per month. This amount can be reduced by 25%, to 15 hours, for firefighters that are certified Firefighter I and by 50%, to 10 hours, for firefighters that are certified Firefighter II. Training should include topics outlined in NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications. 13c. Training Center Training _ - - 93%- This item evaluates the quantity of training at a training center and the features of the training center. A minimum of six half-day(three hour)drills per year, including two drills at night and two multiple-company drills, shall be provided for all firefighters. Training centers shall be provided with a drill tower that is three stories in height, a structure to support live fire simulation, including a smoke room, training aids and props and an area of at least two acres and equipped with fire hydrants. A minimum of two days per year(16 hours)is required for all officers. This amount can be reduced by 25%, to 12 hours,for officers that are certified Fire Officer I and by 50%,to 8 hours,for officers that are certified Fire Officer II. Officer training should include topics outlined in NFPA 1021: Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications that focus on leadership, fire tactics and incident command. 10 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 14 Fire Department (Cont.) Percent of Credit 13e. Driver Training 100% Personnel shall participate in a minimum of one day(eight hours)of driver training per year. Training should include topics outlined in NFPA 1002: Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications. Current state-approved Emergency Vehicle Incident Prevention (EVIP)certification can serve in lieu of annual training. L_ 13f. Recruit Training • _ T_ '100"/Q New fire department members shall receive a minimum of 240 hours of recruit training before becoming active firefighters. Training should include topics outlined in NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications. 13g. Pre-Fire Planning 50% An annual update is required of pre-fire plans for all commercial or similar buildings. Pre-fire information shall be readily available on responding apparatus. Pre-fire plans should be in accordance with NFPA 1620: Recommended Practice for Pre-Incident Planning. 14. Response to Alarms 14a. Commercial Districts • .90% Adequate response to commercial fires must be established.At least one chief officer and the required number of engines and ladder trucks or ladder service companies based on the community basic fire flow are required to respond. 14b. Residential Districts 100% Adequate response to residential fires must be established. At least one chief officer, two engine companies and adequate ladder equipment are required to respond to residential districts. 14c. Multiple Alarms _ _ _ _ 90% • Engine and ladder company response to each additional alarm for the same fire should be the same as the number of engine and ladder companies required for the first alarm. 14d. Cover Plan 30% Response areas in the community must have a cover plan for when the first-due companies are out of service. 15. Fire Operations 68,V Consideration will be given to the ability of the department to operate effectively at fires. Effectiveness is primarily depends on staffing and training; however, others factors can also affect fire operations. Percentage for this item will be determined by taking the average of the percentages from Items 3, 7, 8 and 13 and adjusting as conditions warrant.As an alternative to using the above analysis, the results for a performance evaluation may be used. A performance evaluation would analyze computer-aided dispatch records of fire incidents to determine the percentage of time an initial full alarm assignment arrives at a fire incident within 560 seconds (690 seconds for a high-rise building). 11 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 15 Fire Department (Cont.) 16. Special Protection Percent of Credit 16a. Fireboats in Service " _ = 100% - A suitably staffed, equipped and maintained fireboat will be required where at least one mile of wharf frontage necessitates firefighting operations from the water side. Such frontage must be within 1.5 miles of a fireboat. 16b. Other Needed Special Protection - '100°/a•1 I Conditions in the community that require special fire department protection in addition to that covered elsewhere in this schedule will be considered in this item. Conditions considered include but are not limited to:waterfront properties needing some special protection but not requiring a conventional fireboat,wildland urban interface areas, extensive bulk oil and other hazardous storage. 17. Fire Stations and Community Conditions 17a Fire Stations ; �'•f '! „I 7 • .182 o . This item considers the suitability of fire stations, including construction, communication equipment and the presence of a secondary power source. Communication equipment should be provided at fire stations and include two-way radios, spare portable radios and means for public reporting to the dispatch center. Firefighters must have two separate means for receiving alarms from the communication center that are under the control of the communications center.At least one means must be supervised. If fire stations are not staffed with on-duty personnel, firefighters must be equipped with the means to receive dispatching calls. 17�i'_-Full - - • 00%_ Fuel must be available at all times and in sufficient quantities. Suitable arrangements must be made for delivery of fuel to apparatus at fires of long duration. 17c. Delays in Response 79% The possibility of delays due to poor condition of roads, including snow and ice, steep grades, vehicle parking, traffic, railroad crossings and similar features are considered in this item. 12 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 16 Emergency Communications \/'v'SRB 1 Emergency Communications Items Percent of Credit w Percent Credit Possible Remaining Credit 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 1a.Building Construction 1b.Fire Protection 1c.Security ld.Emergency Lighting 2a.CAD&Telephone Equipment 2b.Recording 2c.Telephone Service 2d.Supervision 2e.Dispatch Circuits 2f.Emergency Power 3a.Training 3b.Number of Telecommunicators on Duty 1. Communication Center Percent of Credit 1a. Building Construction ^—_ — ___ _ - — 64% This item evaluates the building where the communication center is located. Communication centers should be in fire-resistive, separate buildings without internal or external exposures. lb. Fire Protection 80% !1 This item evaluates the adequacy of fire protection provided for the communication center, including portable fire extinguishers,fire alarms, automatic sprinkler systems and suppression systems in computer and data-processing equipment rooms. 1c. Security 40% _ _ Communication center security is meant to protect against vandalism, terrorism and civil disturbances. Access controls, door and window security and any vulnerabilities of the area surrounding the center are considered. 1d. Emergency Lighting _ __ '. - =_ - 1'0014 Communication centers must be provided with emergency lighting that will be placed in service immediately after a power loss so operations can continue uninterrupted. 2. Communications Center Equipment 2a. Computer-Aided Dispatch CAD)and Telephone Equipment 96% Features and capabilities of the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)system and telephone equipment are evaluated. Maximum credit is achieved when the following features are provided: enhanced 911,wireless and VoIP capabilities, redundant backup system with automatic switchover to backup, ability to transmit caller information to fire departments and other communication centers, ability to select and recommend units to be dispatched, automatic vehicle locating, geographic information system (GIS)capabilities and management information system. 13 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 17 Emergency Communications (Cont.) Percent of Credit 2b. Recording 100% All incoming and outgoing voice transmissions shall be recorded, including the date and time.All telecommunicators should have access to immediate playback of recordings. 2c. Telephone Service . . _ 83% The number of required telephone lines for emergency and business calls is determined by the population served by the communication center.Additional lines may be required if emergency calls other than fire are received or if central station alarms are received. One outgoing-only line must also be provided. 2d. Supervision 0% All components of the primary dispatch circuit shall be monitored for integrity, including transmitters, repeaters and primary and secondary power. Fault conditions detected shall actuate an audible and visual trouble signal to the telecommunicators on duty. 2e. Dispatch Circuits _ 4_.p%o. . The communication center must have separate primary and secondary circuits for dispatching. Maximum credit is obtained when dual circuits are provided, primary circuit is supervised,there is automatic switchover to a secondary circuit and all components of the system are owned by the communication center. 2f. Emergency Power 100% _ The Communication Center shall be provided with an emergency power source. An uninterruptible power supply(UPS)shall be provided along with an automatically starting generator. The generator shall have a 72- hour fuel supply and be tested on a weekly basis. 3. Telecommunicators _ 3a. Training _ 64% A minimum of 480 hours of initial training is required for telecommunicators. General dispatch training and fire dispatch training should be a minimum of 240 hours each. Non-certified telecommunicators should receive 40 hours of continuing education per year. Certified Telecommunicator I personnel and certified Telecommunicator II personnel shall receive 30 hours and 24 hours of continuing education, respectively. 3b. Number of Telecommunicators on Duty - 100% The number of required telecommunicators on duty is based on the total number of calls received per year at the communication center. If the communication center is meeting the call-answering and dispatching times set forth by NFPA 1221: Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems, then full credit will be applied in this item. 14 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 18 FIIRE SAFETY CONTROL : WSRB Fire Safety Control Items Percent Credit •Percent Credit Possible Remaining Credit 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% la.Fire Marshal timmzlilmmimil lb.Fire Plan Review lc.Fire Code Inspections 1d.Fire Code Inspections of Existing Occupancies - le.Confidence Testing of Fire Protection Systems 2a.Children's Programs 2b.Adult Programs 3.Fire Investigations 4.Building Code Enforcement 1. Fire Code Enforcement Percent of Credit 1a. Fire Marshal 30% The fire marshal shall oversee fire code enforcement. The fire marshal shall have 10 or more years of code enforcement experience, be certified as a fire marshal and receive at least 16 hours of fire-code-related continuing education per year. __ 1 b. Fire Plan Review _ _ _ w __ 66%° Review of plans for fire code compliance must be done by experienced, certified personnel. The plan reviewer shall have five or more years of plan review experience, be a registered design professional and receive at least 16 hours of plan-review-related continuing education per year. The plan review department needs to have adequate staffing to ensure comprehensive plan reviews. 1c. Fire Code Inspections z. l. _ i, __ , ___ — _ Z6°la. New and renovated occupancies must be inspected prior to issuing a Certificate of Occupancy. Fire inspectors shall be certified with five or more years of experience in inspections and receive at least 16 hours of fire-inspection-related continuing education per year. Adequate department staffing levels must be maintained to ensure comprehensive inspections. Id. Fire Code Inspections of Existing Occupancies ' - 9, Fire Code Inspections of existing occupancies shall be conducted.The frequency of inspections will be evaluated using Table 7 in the WSRB Community Protection Class Grading Schedule. Fire code inspectors should be certified with five or more years of experience and receive at least 16 hours of fire-inspection- related continuing education per year. Staffing levels must be sufficient to ensure comprehensive ins•ections. le. Confidence Testing of Fire Protection Systems 100% Fire protection systems must be inspected and tested in accordance with the applicable NFPA standards. A program shall be in place to ensure these inspections are done, monitor the inspections' results and ensure deficiencies found with the systems are corrected. 15 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 19 FIRE SAFETY CONTROL (Cont.) 2. Public Fire Education Percent of Credit _ _.. Fire safety education must be provided to the general public. Fire educators should be Certified Public Educator, have five or more years of experience, and receive at least 16 hours of public-education-related continuing education per year. All education programs and events should be documented and should include date, instructor, topics taught, length of class and number of attendees. 2a. Children's Programs - E, - -!' - 7. . .� • 10blo 7 Children's programs should include age-appropriate subjects for all students, preschool to 12th grade. 2b. Adult Programs - - - - - " - Y iOJo.a -=i Adult education should include programs for all segments of the adult population in the community. 3. Fire Investigations 50% Fire investigations must be done to determine the cause and origin of all fires. Fire investigator shall have five or more years of experience, be a commissioned law officer, be certified as a fire investigator and receive at least 16 hours of fire-investigation-related continuing education per year. In addition, sufficient staff levels are required to ensure adequate response to fires, and all fires should be reported to National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). 4. Building Code Enforcement Commercial Class: 4 Dwelling Class: 4 70% Current building codes must be adopted and effectively enforced. The community is evaluated on the administration of codes, plan review and field inspection activities in relation to building code enforcement. The score for this item is based on the Building Code Classifications developed by WSRB for the community. The classifications for commercial and dwelling properties in the community are shown above. 16 Copyright©2021 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau-All Rights Reserved 20 21 WSRB WSRB and Protection Classes: Answers to Your Residents' Questions Here, we answer common questions about WSRB and how our work affects your residents. Feel free to copy this content and post it on your website or share it with residents. What is WSRB? WSRB, the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau, is an independent, not-for- profit organization operating in the public interest. We produce data that insurance companies covering property in Washington state can use to better understand,assess and price fire risk. Accurate data from an independent source helps insurance companies evaluate risk and helps insurance consumers feel confident their fire premiums are fair. Learn more about WSRB by visiting our website: https://wwwl.wsrb.com The criteria we use to produce data are evaluated and approved by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner(OIC). Learn more about the OIC at its website: https://www.insurance.wa.gov/ What is a Protection Class (PC)? A WSRB Protection Class (PC) is a score from 1 to 10 that represents the community-provided fire protection capabilities available at a specific property. A PC of 1 indicates exemplary fire protection capabilities are available; a PC of 10 indicates the fire protection capabilities, if any, are not sufficient to receive credit for insurance. Each community in Washington state also has a PC, which is used as a starting point to determine a property's PC. WSRB assigns a PC to each property in Washington state based on: • The PC of the community the property is in. • The distance to a recognized responding fire station. • The distance to a standard fire hydrant. • Fire-department-supplied water, if the property is not near a standard fire hydrant (known as water tender operations). Q Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau `L T:206 217 9772 www.wsrb.com P.O. Box 1188, Renton,WA 98057-1188 F: 206-217-9329 22 WSRB In other states, other organizations determine PCs,so you may hear names such as Public Protection Classification or ISO rating. One organization that determines PCs for several states is called ISO,which stands for Insurance Services Office. That's why you might hear a PC referred to as an ISO rating.Some agents or insurance companies may even get PC data for Washington state through ISO; that PC data still originates from WSRB. Get an overview of Protection Classes on our website:https://wwwl.wsrb.com/fire-professionals Get an in-depth description in our guide: https://wwwl.wsrb.com/resources/public-protection How do PCs get used? Most, but not all, insurance companies covering property in Washington state use WSRB data as one input to setting fire insurance premiums. If an insurance company uses WSRB PC data, that company also uses other factors to determine fire insurance premiums; WSRB PC data isn't the only input. Fire coverage is also just one part of a standard property insurance policy. In other words, many factors affect the total premium you, as a homeowner or commercial property owner, pay. Insurance companies that choose to use WSRB PC data use the PC of the individual property, not the community PC, to help set premiums. You may have insurance through a company that doesn't use WSRB PC data. If so, WSRB PC data won't affect your insurance premium. To find out whether your insurance company uses our data, contact your agent or insurance company. How do PCs get determined? First, WSRB evaluates the fire protection capabilities of a community based on: • Fire department. • Water supply. • Emergency communications system. • Fire safety control. Q Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau % T:206 217 9772 :. ) www.wsrb.com P.O. Box 1188, Renton,WA 98057-1188 F:206-217-9329 WSRB �=' SRB As part of the evaluation, a WSRB Fire Protection Analyst visits the community. Next, WSRB calculates the PC for each individual property in the community based on the factors listed above (community PC, distance to recognized responding fire station, distance to standard fire hydrant and water tender operations, if applicable). See an overview of Protection Classes on our website:httpsa/.www1.wsrb.corn/fire-professionals Get an in-depth description in our guide: https://wwwl.wsrb.com/resources/public-protection Does every property in a community have the same PC? No.The community's PC is the starting point for determining the PC of each property within that community. The distance to a recognized responding fire station, distance to a standard fire hydrant and where applicable, water tender operations, are also used to determine the property's PC. A community's PC is the best PC any property in that community can have. For example, if a community has a PC of 5, all the properties within that community will have a PC of 5 or higher. No property within that community will have a PC of 4 or lower. Learn more in our blog post: How WSRB Determines the Protection Class for Each Property: https://wwwl.wsrb.comlblog/how-wsrb-determines-add ress-protection-class What is a recognized responding fire station? Recognized For a station to be recognized, it must meet minimum staffing and equipment criteria. A fire station needs to have enough firefighters and sufficient firefighting equipment to provide effective structural fire protection. Responding Fire stations serve specific areas. You may live near a fire station that doesn't respond to your property, most likely because it serves another fire protection district. If so, that fire station won't count as a responding station when WSRB determines the PC for your property. 0 Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau T:206-217-9772 )) www.wsrb.com P.O. Box 1188, Renton,WA 98057-1188 F: 206-217-9329 24 1 WSRB What is a standard fire hydrant? A standard fire hydrant is properly installed and supplies adequate water for firefighting purposes. Fire hydrants that don't meet minimum criteria aren't considered standard and won't be considered in the PC determination process. What are water tender operations? Not every property is near a standard fire hydrant. To help protect those properties, fire departments can transport water to them in a water-hauling apparatus known as a "tender." If your community has adequate water tender operations, WSRB will account for those when determining your property's PC. Our community's PC changed. What happens next? After WSRB finalizes the PC for your community and each property within it, there is a three- month notification period before that PC becomes effective. During that interval, WSRB notifies insurance companies that the PC will change so they can update their policy management systems. Contact your agent or insurance company to ask about how and when the PC change could affect you, bearing in mind the three-month notification period. Please note that not all insurance companies covering property in Washington state use WSRB PC data. If you have insurance through a company that doesn't use our data, the PC change will not affect you. To find out if your insurance company uses WSRB PC data, contact your agent or insurance company. I have another question about PCs. What do I do? Please call our Customer Service team during our business hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. The number is 206-217-0101. We're happy to answer your questions, and there's never a fee to contact us or speak with us. Q° Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau `L T:206-217-9772 www.wsrb.com P.O. Box 1188, Renton,WA 98057-1188 F:206-217-9329