The Insurers' Advisory Organization is the successor of the various boards of fire underwriters across Canada. Established in ... the 19th century, the fire underwriters conducted inspections, engineering, and ratings for the insurance industry so that each company did not have to maintain these services. The organization brought consistency to the setting of rates, the basis of policy coverage. I.A.O. was established in 1974 as an amalgamation of boards of underwriters. Their rates became advisory, rather than compulsory as they had been previously. read more