(1) What are the requirements of the fire protection sprinkler system contractor regarding the employed certificate holder(s)? A Level 1, 2, or 3 fire protection sprinkler system contractor must have at least one full-time certificate holder, consistent with the license level as provided by WAC 212-80-018, employed to conduct business.

(2) What happens if the licensed contractor no longer employs a certificate holder?

(a) From the date of separation of the certificate holder, the contractor will have six months or until the expiration of the current license, whichever occurs last, to submit a new application. In order to be issued a new license, the contractor must employ a new person (either as owner or full-time employee) with the appropriate certificate level consistent with the contractor's license level as provided by WAC 212-80-018.

(b) The licensed contractor must notify the director of the loss of the primary design certificate holder within thirty calendar days. For the purposes of this subsection, thirty calendar days commence on the certificate holder's last day of employment for compensation. The licensed contractor's failure to notify the director:

(i) Within thirty calendar days is a level 1 violation.

(ii) Within sixty calendar days is a level 2 violation.

(iii) After one hundred eighty calendar days is a level 3 violation.

(c) A fire protection sprinkler system contractor may renew a license without employing a design certificate holder if the six-month period crosses into a new license year and all appropriate fees are paid at the time of renewal. During the period in which the licensed contractor does not have a certificate holder, the licensed contractor must limit work on fire protection sprinkler systems to:

(i) Completing the active phase of existing work in progress which has been approved by the authority having jurisdiction, and may not receive new approvals from the authority having jurisdiction without a design certificate holder's number on the documents; or

(ii) Continuing installation on approved design plans, however, the contractor's material and test certificate for the system must be stamped by a certificate holder in the full-time employ of the installing contractor.

(d) If a contractor fails to employ a design certificate holder as required in this chapter, and the director has renewed the license, the director will suspend the contractor's license pursuant to WAC 212-80-205. The suspension will remain in effect until the contractor has a full-time design certificate holder or a hearings officer denies the director's petition to suspend the license.

(e) When a licensed contractor no longer employs a design certificate holder, and the contractor has not hired another design certificate holder, the contractor may not bid on the design, installation, or repair of a fire protection sprinkler system, or any part of such system, that requires work inconsistent with the previously employed design certificate holder's level.

(f) Any contractor that uses a current or former employee's certification stamp on any technical drawings not prepared by the certificate holder is in violation of this chapter.

(g) Failure to comply with (c) through (f) of this subsection constitutes a level 3 violation.

(3) What happens when a Level U or I&T licensed contractor no longer employs a Level U or ITT certificate holder?

(a) The licensed contractor is prohibited from continuing the supervision of underground fire sprinkler pipe installation and inspection, testing, and maintenance, of fire protection sprinkler systems. Failure to comply with this subsection constitutes a level 3 violation and the director may summarily revoke the contractor's license.

(b) The contractor must immediately cease bidding on or starting any sprinkler work without the appropriate specialty certificate holder.

(c) The contractor must notify the director within thirty days after the specialty certificate holder's last day of employment for compensation. Failure to comply with this subsection constitutes a level 2 violation and the director may suspend the contractor's license pursuant to WAC 212-80-205.

(4) What are the responsibilities of the fire protection sprinkler system contractor regarding the employed certificate holders? The contractor is responsible for the work and actions of its employees regardless of the contractor's knowledge of any wrongdoing. The director may refuse to issue or renew a license to engage in the fire protection sprinkler system business for any of the reasons listed in WAC 212-80-205. The director may suspend or revoke the license or the certificate holder's certificate to engage in the fire protection sprinkler system business for any of the reasons listed in WAC 212-80-205.

PDFWAC 212-80-063

Contractor responsibilities, certificate holder employment.