Section 212-80-018. License and certification requirements.

(1) Fire protection sprinkler contractors, only a licensed contractor, who has at least one certificate holder on staff certified to license level consistent with the contractor's license, by the director, can bid, offer to bid, contract, or perform the designing, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, or repair of a NFPA fire protection sprinkler system or any part of such a system based on the level of the contractor license. The following levels will apply to contractor licenses issued by the director:

(a) Level 1 contractor license - NFPA 13D, and underground work (NFPA 24) or inspection, testing and maintenance (NFPA 25) for NFPA 13D.

(b) Level 2 contractor license - NFPA 13D or NFPA 13R and underground work (NFPA 24) or inspection, testing and maintenance (NFPA 25) for NFPA 13D or NFPA 13R.

(c) Level 3 contractor license - NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R, NFPA 13 systems, or underground work (NFPA 24) or inspection, testing and maintenance (NFPA 25).

(d) Level U contractor license – Specialized license for underground work (NFPA 24) only.

(e) Level I&T (inspection and testing) contractor license - Specialized license for inspection and testing work (NFPA 25). This license level allows for inspection or testing of a NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R, or NFPA 13, wet and dry pipe fire protection sprinkler system, provided that the:

(i) Inspection and testing technician must limit his or her work on the fire protection sprinkler system to the contractor's license level; and

(ii) Testing and maintenance of fire protection sprinkler systems such as preaction, deluge, foam or fire pumps, will be performed only by contractors who are also qualified and licensed to design and install that type of system or fire pump.

Chart 1: Fire Protection Sprinkler Contractors

(2) Fire protection sprinkler system certification – Only a certificate holder may prepare layout drawings or install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair a fire protection sprinkler system or any part of such a system based on his or her design certification level.

(a) Design certification - The following levels will apply to design certifications issued by the director:

(i) Level 1 design certification - NFPA 13D, and underground work (NFPA 24) or inspection, testing, and maintenance (NFPA 25) for NFPA 13D.

(ii) Level 2 design certification - NFPA 13D or NFPA 13R, and underground work (NFPA 24) or inspection, testing, and maintenance (NFPA 25) for NFPA 13D or NFPA 13R.

(iii) Level 3 design certification - NFPA 13, NFPA 13R, or NFPA 13D, underground work (NFPA 24), and inspection, testing, and maintenance (NFPA 25) for NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R, and NFPA 13.

(b) Specialized certifications - The following level will apply to specialized certifications issued by the director:

(i) Level U certification - NFPA 24; supervise the installation, inspection, and testing of the underground fire protection sprinkler underground piping.

(ii) Level ITT - Inspection and testing technician – NFPA 25 for inspection or testing of a NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R, or NFPA 13, wet and dry pipe fire protection sprinkler. The inspection and testing technician must limit his or her work to the inspection and testing contractor's license level under subsection (1)(e) of this section.

Chart 2: Fire Protection Sprinkler Certifications

Chart 3: Certificate Level Required for Level of License

(3) May a person who has two levels of certification as provided by subsection (2) of this section work for two different licensed contractors if the person only uses one type of certification for each licensed contractor? No. RCW 18.160.040(10) prohibits a certificate holder from working for more than one licensed contractor.

(4) May a contractor obtain a fire protection sprinkler system license if the contractor employs only sprinkler fitters? No. A sprinkler fitter may only install piping from approved plans with a design certification.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.270.900 and 18.160.030. WSR 14-03-019, § 212-80-018, filed 1/7/14, effective 2/7/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.270.900. WSR 09-01-114, § 212-80-018, filed 12/19/08, effective 1/19/09. Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.43 and 18.160 RCW. WSR 05-17-099, § 212-80-018, filed 8/16/05, effective 9/16/05; WSR 05-05-006, § 212-80-018, filed 2/4/05, effective 3/7/05.]

RCW 18.270.900 and 18.160.030. WSR 14-03-019, § 212-80-018, filed 1/7/14, effective 2/7/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.270.900. WSR 09-01-114, § 212-80-018, filed 12/19/08, effective 1/19/09. Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.43 and 18.160 RCW. WSR 05-17-099, § 212-80-018, filed 8/16/05, effective 9/16/05; WSR 05-05-006, § 212-80-018, filed 2/4/05, effective 3/7/05.