The standardization of existing fire protection equipment in this state shall be arranged for and carried out by or under the direction of the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection. He or she shall provide the appliances necessary for carrying on this work, shall proceed with such standardization as rapidly as possible, and shall require the completion of such work within a period of five years from June 8, 1967: PROVIDED, That the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, may exempt special purpose fire equipment and existing fire protection equipment from standardization when it is established that such equipment is not essential to the coordination of public fire protection operations.