WASHINGTON SURVEYING AND RATING BUREAU

WASHINGTON SURVEYING AND
RATING BUREAU
AGENDA
• Who we are
• What we do
• Why we do it
• How PC gradings are developed
• Grading topics
• How PC gradings are published
WHO WE ARE
Rating Bureau
• Starting our 102th Year
– Independent
– Not-for-Profit
– Public Service Institution
– Managed and domiciled in WA
• Licensed and Regulated by OIC
• Primarily funded through Insurance Companies
– Assessments
WHAT WE DO
File Rules, Rates, and Forms:
•
•
•
•
•
Farm
Commercial Fire and Allied Lines
Business owners
HPR
Dwelling and Homeowners Insurance
Conduct Inspections:
• Evaluate commercial buildings to develop and publish loss costs
• Database of buildings contains underwriting information and is
available to all underwriters to help evaluate risk
• Evaluate sprinkler systems and other fire protection systems
• Produce reports on inspected properties
Evaluate Fire Defenses and Building Codes:
• Develop and publish comparative Protection Class (PC) ratings
• Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS)
• Administration of Codes
• Their staffing training, expertise and experience
• How effective they are in enforcing building codes
WHAT WE DO
History
• Became the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau in 1911,
but operated under other names since 1906
• In 1911 became involved in Protection Class Grading
– 1909 NBFU
WHAT WE DO
WSRB Services – PC Evaluations
• Protection Class Evaluations
– A grading of the fire protection/suppression
capabilities of a community
– Used to determine the Protection Class (PC)
Rating of properties in the community
– The PC Rating of the property is then used by
insurance companies to help set fire
insurance premiums
WHY WE DO IT
Protection Class – What is it?
• Community Grading - A numerical classification
of 1 through 10 representing the fire protection
capabilities in the community
• Sets upper limit on PC Rating
• PC Rating of buildings determined by taking
community grading and applying hydrant and
fire station distance relationship rules
• Allows fair and consistent insurance pricing
• Used by most insurance carriers
WHY WE DO IT
Fire Burning Cost by PC
0.120%
Fire Burning Cost
0.100%
0.080%
0.060%
0.040%
0.020%
0.000%
2
3
4
5
6
7
Protection Class
8
9
10
WHY WE DO IT
Homeowner's Policy Change by Protection Class
Change from Base
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
2
3
4
5
6
7
Protection Class
8
9
10
WHY WE DO IT
Change in Commercial Loss Costs by Protection Class
Differential by Protection Class
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
2
3
4
5
6
7
Protection Class
8
9
10
How PC GRADINGS ARE DEVELOPED
Protection Class Schedule
• Community Grading - determined by applying
the grading schedule
• Schedule updated many times over the years
• Grading schedule uses:
• Point system
• Minimum criteria for communities w/o water
supply
How PC GRADINGS ARE DEVELOPED
Community Protection Class – What We Evaluate
Old
New
1. Water Supplies:
39%
35%
2. Fire Department:
39%
40%
3. Emergency Communications: 9%
9%
4. Fire Safety Control:
16%
13%
GRADING TOPICS
Water Supplies
•
Adequacy of Water Supply
• Required fire flow vs. Available fire flow
•
Distribution of Hydrants
•
Hydrants – Size, Type and Installation
•
Hydrants – Inspection and Condition
•
Arrangement, Operation, and Maintenance of
Water System
GRADING TOPICS
Fire Department
• Apparatus – pumpers & ladder trucks
• Equipment – hose, ground ladders, SCBA,
nozzles, pump, radios, etc.
• Maintenance, Inspection & testing
• Distribution of Apparatus & Personnel
• Response to alarms
GRADING TOPICS
Fire Department
• Department Staffing
• Firefighters
• Officers
• Certifications
• Training
• Fire Operations
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Incident Command
GRADING TOPICS
Emergency Communications
• Communication Center
• Building infrastructure
• Communication Center Equipment
• CAD system
• Dispatch Circuits
• Emergency Power
GRADING TOPICS
Emergency Communications
•
Telecommunicators
• Training
• Certification & continuing ed.
• Number on duty
• NFPA answering & dispatching times
GRADING TOPICS
Fire Safety Control
• Fire Code Enforcement
a. Fire Marshal
b. Fire Plan Review
c.
Permit Inspections
d.
Inspection of Existing Buildings
e.
Confidence testing of fire protection
systems
GRADING TOPICS
Fire Safety Control - New
•
Public Fire Education
•
Schools & Adult Education
• Fire Investigations
• Building Code Enforcement
GRADING TOPICS
Protection Class – What is it?
• Community Grading - A numerical classification
of 1 through 10 representing the fire protection
capabilities in the community
• Sets upper limit on PC Rating
• PC Rating of buildings determined by taking
community grading and applying hydrant and
fire station distance relationship rules
HOW PC GRADINGS ARE PUBLISHED
PROTECTION
•
Protection Classes for dwellings
and class-rated commercial
properties available through
PROTECTION on WSRB website:
•
–
GIS maintained by WSRB
–
Located at www.wsrb.com
PC’s for specifically rated buildings
available through WSRB’s Loss
Cost Search Tool at www.wsrb.com
•
Customer Service available at
(206) 217-0101
HOW PC GRADINGS ARE PUBLISHED
PROTECTION on WSRB Website
HOW PC GRADINGS ARE PUBLISHED
WHAT CAN WE HELP YOU WITH?
Contact Information
Name: Robert Ferrell
Phone: 206-217-WSRB (9772)
Fax: 206-217-WFAX (9329)
Customer Service: 206-217-0101
Direct Phone: 509-228-8062
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web access: www.wsrb.com