Chapter 18.270 RCW

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Certificate" means a certificate of competency granted by the director under the terms of this chapter, and is valid within the state and all political subdivisions, and meets all of the requirements for license or certification that may be applied by the political subdivisions.

(2) "Contractor" means any person, corporation, or other entity, licensed under chapter 18.160 RCW, which performs any work covered by the provisions of this chapter.

(3) "Director" means the state director of fire protection.

(4) "Fire protection sprinkler fitting" means installing, altering, and repairing sprinkler, standpipe, hose, or other hazard systems for fire protection purposes that are an assembly of piping or conduit beginning at the connection to the primary water supply within a building, sprinkler tank heaters, air lines, and all tanks and pumps attached thereto.

(5) "Journey-level sprinkler fitter" means any person who has been issued a certificate by the director as provided by this chapter.

(6) "NFPA 13-D" means the standard in use by the national fire protection association for the installation of fire protection sprinkler systems in one and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes whenever the provisions of this chapter are applied.

(7) "NFPA 13-R" means the standard in use by the national fire protection association for the installation of fire protection sprinkler systems in residential dwellings up to and including four stories in height whenever the provisions of this chapter are applied.

(8) "Person" means a natural person, including an owner, manager, partner, officer, employee, or occupant.

(9) "Residential sprinkler fitter" means anyone who has been issued a certificate by the director limited to installation, maintenance, and repair of the fire protection sprinkler system of residential occupancies as defined by NFPA 13-D and NFPA 13-R.

(10) "Trainee" means anyone who has been issued a training certificate by the director who is learning the fire protection sprinkler fitting trade under the direct supervision of a journey-level sprinkler fitter or residential sprinkler fitter.

(1) No person may engage in the trade of fire protection sprinkler fitting without having a valid journey-level sprinkler fitter certificate, residential sprinkler fitter certificate, training certificate, or temporary certificate, with the exception of a certified plumber installing a residential fire protection sprinkler system connected to potable water requiring a plumbing certificate.

(2)(a) A person issued a training certificate under this chapter may perform fire protection sprinkler fitting work if that person is under supervision. Supervision must consist of the trainee being on the same jobsite and under the control of either a residential or journey-level fire protection sprinkler fitter certified to perform the type of work the trainee-level sprinkler fitter is performing. The ratio of trainees to certified fire protection sprinkler fitters on a jobsite is:

(i) For trainees performing residential fire protection sprinkler fitter work, not more than two trainees for every certified residential or journey-level fire protection sprinkler fitter; and

(ii) For trainees performing journey-level fire protection sprinkler fitter work, not more than one trainee for every certified journey-level fire protection sprinkler fitter.

(b) It is a violation of this chapter for a contractor to allow a trainee to perform sprinkler fitting work covered under this chapter without supervision or out of compliance with the ratios as prescribed in this subsection (2).

(3) No contractor may employ a person in violation of subsection (1) of this section to perform fire protection sprinkler fitting work.

(4) A person found by the director to have committed an infraction under this chapter shall be assessed a monetary penalty as set by rule.

(5) Each day in which a person engages in the trade of fire protection sprinkler fitting in violation of subsection (1) of this section, allows a trainee to work unsupervised or out of ratio in violation of subsection (2) of this section, or employs a person in violation of subsection (3) of this section is considered a separate infraction.

Effective date—2023 c 329: See note following RCW 18.160.030.

The director shall adopt a written examination to be administered to applicants for certificates.

(1) Every applicant for a certificate shall pay an examination fee and satisfactorily pass an examination as provided by rule.

(2) Every applicant for a certificate shall apply to the director on an application form provided by the director and pay the application fee as provided by rule.

(3)(a) Every applicant for a journey-level sprinkler fitter certificate shall provide evidence to the director on a form provided by the director of at least eight thousand hours of trade-related fire protection sprinkler fitting experience.

(b) Every applicant for a residential sprinkler fitter certificate shall provide evidence to the director on a form provided by the director of at least four thousand hours of trade-related fire protection sprinkler fitting or residential sprinkler fitting experience.

(4) Every applicant for a training certificate shall provide evidence to the director on a form provided by the director of trade-related employment by a contractor.

(5)(a) The director shall grant a journey-level sprinkler fitter certificate without examination to any applicant who, during the ninety days following January 1, 2009, submits an application for such certification and evidence of his or her employment as a journey-level sprinkler fitter for a period of not less than eight thousand hours.

(b) The director shall grant a residential sprinkler fitter certificate without examination to any applicant who, during the ninety days following January 1, 2009, submits an application for such certification and evidence of his or her employment as a journey-level sprinkler fitter or a residential sprinkler fitter for a period of not less than four thousand hours.

(6) The director may grant a certificate without examination to any applicant who is a journey-level sprinkler fitter or residential sprinkler fitter from a state whose requirements for certification are at least substantially equivalent to the requirements of this state, and which extends the same privileges of reciprocity to journey-level sprinkler fitters or residential sprinkler fitters from this state.

(1) A certificate expires on December 31st.

(2) The certificate shall be renewed every other year.

(3) Before the expiration date of the certificate, every applicant shall reapply to the director on an application form provided by the director and pay the application fee as provided by rule.

(4) If a certificate is not renewed before its expiration date, an applicant must:

(a) Apply to the director on an application form provided by the director;

(b) Pay an application fee to the director as provided by rule;

(c) Pay an examination fee as provided by rule; and

(d) Successfully pass the written examination required by this chapter.

All receipts from fees and charges or from the money generated by the rules adopted under this chapter shall be deposited into the fire protection contractor license fund created in RCW 18.160.050 and used for the purposes authorized under this chapter.

(1) An authorized representative of the director must investigate alleged violations of this chapter.

(2) Upon the request of a fire code official, a person performing fire protection sprinkler fitting or residential sprinkler fitting work must produce evidence of a certificate issued by the director in accordance with this chapter. Failure to produce such evidence is an infraction as provided by RCW 18.270.020.

(3) If a person performing fire protection sprinkler fitting work does not have a certificate or if a person or contractor is otherwise acting in violation of this chapter, the fire code official may issue a stop work order on the project. The order remains in effect until the fire code official or director finds that the person or contractor is in compliance or otherwise finds that the work will be conducted in compliance with this chapter.

(4) A fire code official may determine whether public safety warrants the removal and replacement of a fire protection sprinkler system or any component thereto that has been installed, altered, or extended by an uncertified person.

(5) If a fire code official finds that a person working on a fire protection sprinkler system does not have a certificate or finds that a person or contractor is otherwise violating the requirements in this chapter, the fire official shall promptly notify the director or the director's designee to initiate an investigation.

(6) For purposes of this section, "fire code official" means any person authorized by a city, town, county, or local governing body with jurisdiction over fire industry regulation or any other person authorized by the state director of fire protection to conduct enforcement under this chapter.

Effective date—2023 c 329: See note following RCW 18.160.030.

A person wishing to appeal a determination of infraction under this chapter must file an appeal within twenty days of the date of the notice of infraction in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.

The director shall immediately suspend any certificate issued under this chapter if the holder has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order. If the person has continued to meet all other requirements for certification during the suspension, reissuance of the certificate shall be automatic upon the director's receipt of a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the person is in compliance with the order.

(1) This chapter shall be administered by the director.

(2) The director may adopt rules necessary for the administration of this chapter.

This act takes effect January 1, 2009.