FINAL BILL REPORT
SHB 2342
PARTIAL VETO
C 177 L 90
BYHouse Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Vekich, Zellinsky, R. King, Cole, Schmidt, Leonard, Winsley, Prentice, Ferguson, Sayan and Jones)
Licensing fire protection sprinkler system contractors.
House Committe on Commerce & Labor
Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor
SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED
BACKGROUND:
The automatic fire sprinkler industry has grown substantially in the last 15 years. Many local building codes require fire sprinkler systems in new residential structures and in other buildings that are generally open to the public. However, there is no statewide licensing scheme covering fire protection sprinkler system contractors.
It is a misdemeanor to willfully and without cause tamper with or break any public or private fire alarm or fire fighting equipment. It is also a misdemeanor to willfully, and without having reasonable ground to believe that a fire exists, sound a false alarm of fire.
SUMMARY:
Fire protection sprinkler system contractors must be licensed by the state. The state director of fire protection within the Department of Community Development is given the authority to administer the licensing requirements. The director must set reasonable fees for the issuance of licenses and certificates, establish such testing procedures as may be required, and investigate complaints.
The director is authorized to refuse or revoke licenses and certificates for reasons including fraud, dishonest practices, felony convictions, and gross incompetence or negligence. Licensing decisions may be appealed as provided in the state Administrative Procedure Act. The director must implement a program that will require certificate holders to place their numbers on fire sprinkler installations to identify the installer of a specific fire protection sprinkler system.
A technical advisory committee is established. The committee members are appointed by the director of the Department of Community Development. The committee's function is to advise the director of fire protection in developing rules and regulations. The committee is made up of three members from the fire sprinkler industry, one registered fire protection engineer, one member of the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau, one member each representing a city fire department, a county fire marshal, a residential sprinkler company, and the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs.
The director of fire protection and the advisory committee are given the authority to develop criteria for those individuals seeking to obtain a certificate of competency. In addition, an applicant must pass an examination, provide proof that he or she has attained a certain level of certification in engineering technologies, or apply within 90 days of the effective date of this act and establish by affidavit that he or she has at least three years' experience in the field. Provision is made for the issuance of temporary certificates of competency, for those who have less than three years' experience.
To become a licensed fire protection sprinkler system contractor a person or firm must be or employ a holder of a certificate of competency, comply with surety bond requirements, apply for a license, and pay the fee.
The fire protection contractor license fund is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from license and certificate fees must be deposited into the fund. No appropriation is required for expenditures.
A new provision is added making it a class C felony to willfully and without cause tamper with, molest, injure, or break any public or private fire alarm equipment, wire or signal, or any fire fighting equipment with the intent to commit arson.
VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:
House 89 4
Senate 49 0 (Senate amended)
House 94 0 (House concurred)
EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990
May 1, 1991 (Sections 2 - 10)
Partial Veto Summary: The provision establishing an advisory board is vetoed. (See VETO MESSAGE)