Wheaton, Ill., Feb. 6, 2008—A national insurance advisory organization is updating the classifications it provides insurers for assigning fire protection rating factors.

The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) develops policy forms and rating information used by more than 600 property/casualty insurers throughout the U.S. AAIS is now expanding the number of classifications it provides under its "simplified" fire protection classifications.

Since its introduction in the late 1970s, the AAIS method has allowed insurers to place a risk in one of three fire protection classifications:

·        Protected, which refers to buildings located within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant and within five road miles of a responding fire department;

·        Partially Protected, which refers to buildings located more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant but within five road miles of a responding fire department; and

·        Unprotected, which refers to buildings that are not classified as protected or partially protected.

With the revision now being filed countrywide under the AAIS Commercial Properties Program, the "Protected" classification is being replaced with five separate tiers (Protected 1, Protected 2, and so on) that correspond to the distance of a risk from a responding fire department (but all still within five miles).

The Commercial Properties filings have a proposed effective date of Sept. 1, 2008. Revised fire protection classifications will be filed over coming months under other AAIS insurance line programs that provide property coverage.

"The AAIS simplified fire protection classification system was developed to help users assign fire protection classifications using readily available information," says Haoying Ewing, AAIS senior product development specialist for commercial lines.

"The latest revision continues to rely on information that is readily available, either through the use of geographical information systems or through standard application entries."

For example, AAIS provides access to Risk Meter, an online geographical information system, through the AAISdirect Internet service. Risk Meter can indicate how far a specific location is from a fire department.

For information on affiliating with AAIS for use of its commercial lines programs, contact Rick Maka at rick@AAISonline.com or by calling 800-564-AAIS.