ISO Rating & Accreditation
The Greensboro Fire Department is a Class I, Internationally Accredited fire department. The Department has maintained its Class I rating with the most recent evaluation effective on April 1, 2007. The department was reaccredited on August 22, 2007.

ISO CLASS I - The National Insurance Services Office (ISO) collects information on municipal fire protection efforts in more than 44,000 fire response jurisdictions throughout the United States. In each community, ISO analyzes the relevant data using its Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). It then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary public protection and Class 10 indicates the area's fire suppression program doesn't meet ISO's minimum criteria.

By classifying a community's ability to suppress fires, ISO helps the community evaluate its public fire protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their fire fighting services.

Fire Accreditation International - The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) accreditation process provides a well-defined, internationally recognized benchmark system used to measure the delivery of fire and emergency services to a community. This process of accreditation:

• Improves the ability of fire agencies and community members to readily recognize and understand potential fire risks and hazards and other emergency protection needs
• Determines local fire agencies’ needs for updated resources and emergency service delivery systems
• Improves the quality of life in communities around the world served by fire and emergency service organizations
• Rewards those who actively participate in the accreditation program by helping them achieve excellence in service and establish a plan for continuous improvement.

The CFAI program is a comprehensive self-assessment and evaluation model for fire and emergency service organizations. Using this program, fire and EMS sectors can improve their level of professionalism, while enhancing service delivery. The program helps:

• Determine risks and fire safety needs
• Evaluate the performance of the department
• Provide a method for continuous improvement.

The Greensboro Fire Department has adopted the self-assessment process as its primary evaluation, planning and management tool since 1994, including all the categories, criterion, and performance indicators. Only six agencies were considered ready for an on-site review during the summer of 1997. Five of these agencies, including Greensboro, were determined to be credible and were granted accredited status on August 25, 1997.