(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 - Residential structures consistent with the definitions found within NFPA 13D.
(b) Level 2 contractor license - Residential structures consistent with the definitions found within NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R, and NFPA 25. NFPA 24 is applicable only when the water main supplying the fire sprinkler system is equal to or greater than four inches in size.
(c) Level 3 contractor license - Includes work defined by Levels 1 and 2. This license is applicable to structures and fire protection sprinkler systems defined in NFPA 13, NFPA 24, and 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 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
Level of Contractor License | Standard Defining Work to be Performed |
NFPA 13D | NFPA 13R | NFPA 13 | NFPA 24 | NFPA 25 |
Level 1 Contractor One- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Level 2 Contractor Residential Occupancies Up To and Including Four Stories in Height | Yes | Yes | No | No Only if water main supplying the sprinkler system is equal or greater than 4 inches in size. (See WAC 212-80-018 (1)(b)) | Yes (See WAC 212-80-018 (e)(i)) |
Level 3 Contractor All Types of Structures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (See WAC 212-80-018 (e)(i)) |
Level U Contractor Underground | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Level I&T Inspection and Testing Contractor | No | No | No | No | Yes Inspection/testing only (See WAC 212-80-018 (e)(ii)) |
(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.
(ii) Level 2 design certification - NFPA 13D or NFPA 13R, and underground work (NFPA 24) when the designed and installed underground main is four inches or greater in size or inspection, testing, and maintenance (NFPA 25) for 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 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.
(c) Sprinkler fitter certifications - The following levels will apply to specialized certifications issued by the director:
(i) Journey-level sprinkler fitter certification - Installs, dismantles, alters, maintains, repairs, and corrects all types of sprinkler, standpipe, hose, or other hazard systems for fire protection purposes that are an assembly of piping, conduit, tubing, or hose regardless of the material composition beginning at the connection to the primary water supply. Also includes sprinkler tank heater, air lines tanks, pumps, equipment, appurtenances and all other related components attached thereto inside or outside of the building.
(ii) Residential-level sprinkler fitter certification - Limited to installation, maintenance, and repair of the fire protection sprinkler system of residential occupancies as defined by NFPA 13D and NFPA 13R. A residential level sprinkler fitter certification may also perform installation and repair of NFPA 13 fire protection sprinkler systems and components while under the direct supervision of a certified journey-level sprinkler fitter.
(iii) Trainee-level sprinkler fitter certification - Limited to performing sprinkler fitter work under the direct supervision of a journey-level sprinkler fitter or residential sprinkler fitter certified to perform the type of work the trainee-level sprinkler fitter is performing.
Chart 2: Fire Protection Sprinkler Certifications
Level of Certificate Holder – See Note (1) | Standard Defining Work That May Be Performed |
NFPA 13D | NFPA 13R | NFPA 13 | NFPA 24 | NFPA 25 |
Level 1 Design Certification | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Level 2 Design Certification | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (Restricted to only certain NFPA 13R systems) (see WAC 212-80-018 (1)(b)) | Yes (Restricted to only 13R systems) |
Level 3 Design Certification | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Level U Certification | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Level ITT Certification | No | No | No | No | Yes See subsection (1)(e) of this section for exceptions |
Journey-Level Sprinkler Fitter | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Residential-Level Sprinkler Fitter | Yes | Yes | Only if under the direct supervision of a journey-level sprinkler fitter | No | No |
Trainee-Level Sprinkler Fitter | Only if under the direct supervision of a residential/journey-level sprinkler fitter | Only if under the direct supervision of a residential/journey-level sprinkler fitter | Only if under the direct supervision of a journey-level sprinkler fitter | No | No |
Chart 3: Certificate Level Required for Level of License
Contractor Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | U | I&T |
Building Type | One- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes | Dwellings up to and including four stories in height | All dwellings and commercial or high occupancy facilities | Dedicated underground fire service main of a water based fire protection system | Inspection, testing, and maintenance of water based fire protection systems |
Certificate Holder Level Needed to Qualify for License | 1 | 2 | 3 | U | ITT |
(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.