Effective December 1, 2018, the City of Elmhurst Insurance Services Office (ISO) Classification will improve from Class 2 to Class 1, the best classification possible. The upgrade in classification is due to the efforts by the City of Elmhurst to provide premier fire protection services, including fire prevention and building standards for citizens and property owners. 

The City of Elmhurst proactively sought the classification improvement and, working with a team of City staff, was able to demonstrate how the City meets or exceeds the criteria for a Class 1 certification. ISO’s Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS), evaluates four primary categories of fire suppression capabilities: Fire Department, Emergency Communications, Water Supply and Community Risk Reduction. 

 “The ISO Class 1 rating is truly indicative of how well our team of City staff members work together to provide the very best to residents and property owners. Between the Community Development Department, Public Works, Communications and Fire Department, we were able to show evaluators the standard of excellence that is known in the City of Elmhurst,” said Tom Freeman, Fire Chief of the Elmhurst Fire Department.   

ISO collects and evaluates information from communities in the United States on their structure fire suppression capabilities. ISO has evaluated and classified over 46,000 fire protection areas across the United States. Being rated Class 1 puts the City of Elmhurst among the top 1% of all communities rated in the U.S.

Insurance companies use the ISO information to help establish premiums for fire insurance; generally offering lower premiums in communities with better protection.  The City encourages residents to contact their property insurance companies to inquire about a lower rate due to the ISO Class 1 rating.