No. 27326 (Amendment): R710-5. Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Inspecting and Testing

DAR File No.: 27326
Filed: 08/02/2004, 03:11
Received by: NL

 

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The Utah Fire Prevention Board met and proposed that Rule R710-5 be amended. The purpose of the amendment was to correct a mistake in the last filing and remove newly installed systems from the requirement to be inspected.

 

Summary of the rule or change:

The Fire Prevention Board met on July 13, 2004, and proposed by motion that the following amendments to Rule R710-5 be made as follows: 1) in Subsection R710-5-3(3.5), the Board proposes to remove the designation of NICET II from this section because it was mistakenly placed there; and 2) Subsection R710-5-6(6.4) is a new subsection that allows newly installed systems to be exempt from the inspection requirement for a one-year period of time.

 

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Section 53-7-204

 

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no aggregate anticipated cost or savings to the state budget because these proposed amendments do not effect the state budget.

 

local governments:

There is no aggregate anticipated cost or savings to local government because these proposed amendments do not effect local government.

 

other persons:

There is no aggregate anticipated cost to other persons because these amendments do not initiate a cost to complete. There is an aggregate anticipated savings to other persons because the proposed allowance to exempt the inspection requirement for the first year will save several hundred dollars inspection cost to each system. The total aggregate anticipated savings is impossible to calculate due to the fact that the number of newly installed systems is unknown.

 

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There is no compliance cost for affected persons to complete these proposed amendments.

 

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There is no fiscal impact to businesses for the enactment of these proposed rule amendments.

 

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Public Safety
Fire Marshal
5272 S COLLEGE DR
MURRAY UT 84123-2611

 

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Brent Halladay at the above address, by phone at 801-284-6352, by FAX at 801-284-6351, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

 

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

09/14/2004

 

This rule may become effective on:

09/15/2004

 

Authorized by:

Gary A. Wise, State Fire Marshal

 

 

RULE TEXT

R710. Public Safety, Fire Marshal.

R710-5. Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Inspecting and Testing.

R710-5-3. Certificates of Registration.

3.1 Required Certificates of Registration.

No person shall engage in the inspecting and testing of automatic fire sprinkler systems without first receiving a certificate of registration issued by the SFM. The following groups are exempted from the requirements of this part:

3.1.1 The AHJ that is performing the initial installation acceptance testing of the automatic fire sprinkler system or ongoing inspections to verify compliance with the adopted NFPA standards and these rules.

3.1.2 The building owner or designee that performs additional periodic inspections beyond the annual inspection required in Section 6.2 of these rules, to satisfy requirements set by company policy, insurance, or risk management.

3.2 Application.

3.2.1 Application for a certificate of registration to inspect and test automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be made in writing to the SFM on forms provided the SFM. The applicant shall sign the application. The SFM or his deputies may request picture identification of the applicant for a certificate of registration.

3.2.2 The applicant shall indicate on the application which of the four technician levels the applicant will apply for:

3.2.2.1 Technician I

3.2.2.2 Technician II

3.2.2.3 Technician III

3.2.2.4 Master Technician

3.2.3 The application for a certificate of registration shall be accompanied with proof of public liability insurance from the certificate holder or employing concern. A public liability insurance carrier showing coverage of at least $100,000 for each incident, and $300,000 in total coverage shall issue the public liability insurance. The certificate of registration holder shall notify the SFM within 30 days after the public liability insurance coverage required is not longer in effect for any reason.

3.3 Technician Examination.

The SFM shall require all applicants for a certificate of registration as a technician to complete the following:

3.3.1 Technician I shall pass a written examination on wet pipe sprinkler systems, antifreeze sprinkler systems, and standpipes, and complete the manipulative skills task book.

3.3.2 Technician II shall pass all the requirements listed for Technician I; pass a written examination on dry pipe sprinkler systems, deluge sprinkler systems, preaction sprinkler systems, combined dry pipe-preaction systems, fire pumps, and water storage tanks, and complete the manipulative skills task book.

3.3.3 Technician III shall pass all the requirements listed for Technician I and II; pass a written examination on water spray fixed systems, foam-water sprinkler systems, and foam-water spray systems, and complete the manipulative skills task book.

3.3.4 Master Technician shall have successfully completed and be certified as NICET III in Inspection and Testing of Water-based Systems, and complete the manipulative skills task book.

3.4 To successfully complete the written examination the applicant must obtain a minimum of seventy percent (70%) in each examination taken. To successfully complete the manipulative skills task book, all required skill tasks shall be signed as completed by a person duly qualified or certified in that skill.

3.5 As required in 3.3.4, those applicants that have successfully completed the requirements of [NICET II or ]NICET III, in Inspection and Testing of Water-based Systems, and that corresponds to the work to be performed by the applicant, shall have the requirement for initial written examination waived, after appropriate documentation is provided to the SFM by the applicant.

3.6 Issuance.

Following receipt of the properly completed application, compliance with Section 3.3 of these rules, the SFM shall issue a certificate of registration.

3.7 Original and Renewal Valid Date.

Original certificates of registration shall be valid for one year from the date of application. Thereafter, each certificate of registration shall be renewed annually and renewals shall be valid for one year from issuance.

3.8 Renewal Date.

Application for renewal shall be made as directed by the SFM.

3.9 Re-examination.

Every holder of a valid certificate of registration shall take a re-examination every three years, from date of original certificate, to comply with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these rules as follows:

3.9.1 The re-examination to comply with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these rules shall consist of an open book examination for each level of certification, to be mailed to the certificate holder at least 60 days before the renewal date.

3.9.2 The re-examination will consist of questions that focus on changes in the last three years to the adopted NFPA standards, the statute, and the adopted administrative rules. The re-examination may also consist of questions that focus on practices of concern as noted by the Board or the SFM.

3.9.3 The certificate holder is responsible to complete the re-examination and return it to the SFM in sufficient time to renew.

3.9.4 The certificate holder is responsible to return to the SFM the correct renewal fees to complete that certificate renewal.

3.10 Refusal to Renew.

The SFM may refuse to renew any certificate of registration in the same manner and for any reason that he is authorized, pursuant to Section 7, to deny an original certificate of registration. The applicant shall, upon such refusal, have the same rights as are granted by Section 7 of these rules to an applicant for an original certificate of registration, which has been denied by the SFM.

3.11 Inspection.

The holder of a certificate of registration shall submit such certificate for inspection, upon request of the AHJ.

3.12 Type.

Every certificate of registration shall indicate the type of act or acts to be performed and for which the applicant has qualified as follows:

3.12.1 Technician I: A person who is engaged in the inspection and testing of wet pipe sprinkler systems, antifreeze sprinkler systems, and standpipes.

3.12.2 Technician II: A person who is engaged in the inspection and testing of dry pipe sprinkler systems, deluge sprinkler systems, preaction sprinkler systems, combined dry pipe-preaction systems, fire pumps and water storage tanks.

3.12.3 Technician III: A person who is engaged in the inspection and testing of foam-water sprinkler systems, foam-water spray systems, and water spray fixed systems.

3.12.4 Master Technician: A person who has obtained NICET III certification in Inspection and Testing of Water-based Systems.

3.13 Change of Address.

Any change in home address of any holder of a valid certificate of registration shall be reported in writing, by the registered person to the SFM within 30 days of such change.

3.14 Duplicate.

A duplicate certificate of registration may be issued by the SFM to replace any previously issued certificate, which has been lost or destroyed.

3.15 Minimum Age.

No certificate of registration shall be issued to any person who is under 18 years of age.

3.16 Restrictive Use.

3.16.1 A certificate of registration may be used for identification purposes only as long as such certificate remains valid.

3.16.2 Regardless of the acts authorized to be performed by a licensed concern, only those acts for which the applicant for a certificate of registration has qualified shall be permissible by such applicant.

3.17 Right to Contest.

3.17.1 Every person who takes an examination for a certificate of registration shall have the right to contest the validity of individual questions of such examination.

3.17.2 Every contention as to the validity of individual questions of an examination shall be made within 48 hours after taking said examination.

3.17.3 The decision as to the action to be taken on the submitted contention shall be made by the SFM, and such decision shall be final.

3.17.4 The decision made by the SFM, and the action taken, shall be reflected in all future examinations, but shall not affect the grades established in any past examination.

3.18 Non-Transferable.

Certificates of Registration shall not be transferable. The person to whom issued shall carry individual certificates of registration.

3.19 Certificate of Registration Identification.

Every certificate shall be identified by a number, delineated as AFS-(number). Such number shall not be transferred from one person to another.

3.20 New Employees

New or existing employees desiring to attain a Certificate of Registration may perform the various acts required while under the constant direct supervision of a person holding a valid certificate of registration for a period not to exceed 60 days from the initial date of employment or beginning service in the field.

 

R710-5-6. Amendments and Additions.

6.1 Service.

At the time of service, all servicing shall be done in accordance with the adopted NFPA standard, adopted statutes, and these rules.

6.2 Frequency

Automatic fire sprinkler systems, standpipes, and fire pumps shall be inspected annually by a person holding a certificate of registration as required in Section 3.1 of these rules.

6.3 Accepted Forms

One of the two forms listed in NFPA, Standard 25, Annex B, B.1, or a similar equivalent approved by the SFM shall be used as the accepted forms for testing and inspecting fire sprinkler systems.

6.4 New Systems

Newly installed automatic fire sprinkler systems, standpipes, and fire pumps are exempt from the annual testing requirement required in Section 6.2 of these rules, for one year from the approval date of the initial installation acceptance testing.

 

KEY: automatic fire sprinklers

[March 3, 2004]September 15, 2004

53-7-204