Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) is the leading fire insurance data and analytics
company and provides risk analysis and classification services to the property insurance
industry. Insurers and their agents may use the ratings produced by ISO during Public
Protection Classification surveys for underwriting and evaluating insurance premiums. In 2004, ISO completed a Public Protection Classification survey for the City of Orlando.
During the survey ISO rated the City of Orlando based on the Orlando Fire Department,
the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) water supply, and communications. The water
component accounted for forty percent of the classification and fire hydrant flow tests
were included in the water score. This paper focuses on a unique aspect of this survey, OUC's use of a
computer hydraulic model in lieu of actual field flow tests. Includes table, figures.