FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

100D.1

Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “Apprentice fire protection system installer and maintenance worker” means a person who is registered in an apprenticeship program approved by the United States department of labor who is engaged in learning the fire protection system industry trade under the direct supervision of a responsible managing employee of a certified fire extinguishing system contractor or licensed fire protection system installer and maintenance worker other than a trainee.

2. “Department” means the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing.

3. “Director” means the director of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing or the director’s designee.

4. “Fire extinguishing system contractor” means a person or persons who are engaging in or representing themselves to the public as engaging in the activity or business of layout, installation, repair, service, alteration, addition, testing, maintenance, or maintenance inspection of automatic fire extinguishing systems in this state, as defined in section 100C.1, and who is certified pursuant to chapter 100C.

5. “Fire protection system” means a sprinkler system, standpipe system, hose system, special hazard system, dry system, foam system, or any water-based fire protection system, whether engineered or preengineered and whether manual or automatically activated, used for fire protection purposes which may include an integrated system of underground and overhead piping and which may be connected to a water source.

6. “Fire protection system installation” means to set up or establish for use in an indicated space a fire protection system.

7. “Fire protection system maintenance” means to provide repairs, including all inspections and tests, required to keep a fire protection system and its component parts in an operative condition at all times, and the replacement of the system or its component parts when they become undependable or inoperable.

8. “Fire protection system installer and maintenance worker” means a person who, having the necessary qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge, conducts fire protection system installation and maintenance, and who is licensed by the department to install or maintain the types of fire protection systems endorsed on the license.

9. “Preengineered fire protection system” means a fire protection system that has a predetermined flow rate, nozzle pressure, and quantity of extinguishing agent.

10. “Responsible managing employee” means an owner, partner, officer, or manager employed full-time by a fire extinguishing system contractor who is certified by the national institute for certification in engineering technologies at a level three in fire protection technology, automatic sprinkler system layout, or another certification in automatic sprinkler system layout recognized by rules adopted by the director pursuant to section 100C.7 or who meets any other criteria established by rule.

11. “Routine maintenance” means the repair or replacement of existing fire protection system components of the same size and type for which no changes in configuration are made, including the replacement of sprinkler heads or nozzles and the temporary disabling and subsequent restarting of a system as necessary to perform such routine maintenance. “Routine maintenance” does not include any new installation or the expansion or extension of any existing fire protection system.

12. “Trainee” means a person who is engaged in learning the fire protection system industry trade under the direct supervision of a responsible managing employee of a certified fire extinguishing system contractor or licensed fire protection system installer and maintenance worker and who is not registered with the United States department of labor.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §2, 18; 2009 Acts, ch 91, §1 – 3; 2010 Acts, ch 1037, §2, 3; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §18; 2011 Acts, ch 65, §1, 3; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1516, 1517

Referred to in §100C.6

100D.2

License required.

1. On or after January 1, 2010, a person shall not perform fire protection system installations or fire protection system maintenance without holding a current, valid fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license issued pursuant to this chapter, with appropriate endorsements for that type of system, with the following exceptions:

a. An employee of a fire extinguishing system contractor working as an apprentice fire protection system installer and maintenance worker performing fire protection system installation or maintenance under the direct supervision of an on-site responsible managing employee or licensed fire protection system installer and maintenance worker is not required to hold a current, valid fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license.

b. A person who demolishes fire protection system components is not subject to the provisions of this chapter when the work involves a complete sprinkler system. A person is not required to be licensed in order to demolish part of a system or a partial system, provided that the system is taken out of service. If a system is restored to service after having been taken out of service, the restoration work must be performed by a person licensed pursuant to this chapter or a responsible managing employee.

c. A person who is a responsible managing employee of a fire extinguishing system contractor is not required to hold a current, valid fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license in order to perform fire protection system installations or maintenance.

d. A trainee who works at all times under the direct supervision of a licensed fire protection system installer and maintenance worker, other than an unclassified person, may be licensed to work on special hazard fire protection systems but shall not be licensed to perform installation or maintenance on a preengineered fire protection system or on an engineered water-based fire protection system. A trainee license may be renewed once and a person may work as a trainee for a maximum of four years.

2. A licensed fire protection system installer and maintenance worker must be present at all locations and at all times when fire protection system installation work is being performed. At least one licensed fire protection system installer and maintenance worker must be present for every three apprentice fire protection system installers and maintenance workers or trainees performing work related to fire protection system installation.

3. Licenses are not transferable. The lending, selling, giving, or assigning of any license or the obtaining of a license for any other person shall be grounds for revocation.

4. Licenses shall be issued for a two-year period, and may be renewed as established by the director by rule.

5. On and after January 1, 2010, a governmental subdivision shall not issue a license to a person installing a fire protection system and shall not prohibit a person installing fire protection systems and licensed pursuant to this chapter from performing services for which that person is licensed pursuant to this chapter or enforce any licensing provisions promulgated by the governmental subdivision against a person licensed pursuant to this chapter.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §3, 18; 2009 Acts, ch 91, §4 – 7; 2010 Acts, ch 1037, §4, 5; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1518

100D.3

Fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license.

1. The director shall issue a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:

a. Has completed a fire protection apprenticeship program approved by the United States department of labor, or has completed two years of full-time employment or the equivalent thereof as a trainee.

b. Is employed by a fire extinguishing system contractor. However, an applicant whose work on extinguishing systems will be restricted to systems on property owned or controlled by the applicant’s employer may obtain a license if the employer is not a certified contractor.

c. Has received a passing score on the national inspection, testing, and certification star fire sprinkler mastery exam or on an equivalent exam from a nationally recognized third-party testing agency that is approved by the director, or is certified at level one by the national institute for certification in engineering technologies and as specified by rule by the director, or is certified by another entity approved by the director.

2. The director shall issue a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license with endorsements restricted to preengineered fire protection systems to an applicant who does not meet the requirements of subsection 1 but does meet the following requirements:

a. To be endorsed as a preengineered kitchen fire extinguishing system installer, has successfully completed training and an examination verified by a preengineered system manufacturer, an agent of a preengineered system manufacturer, or an organization that is approved by the director.

b. To be endorsed as a preengineered kitchen fire extinguishing system maintenance worker, has successfully completed training by the worker’s employer or the system’s manufacturer and has passed a written or online examination for preengineered kitchen fire extinguishing system maintenance that is approved by the director.

c. To be endorsed as a preengineered industrial fire extinguishing system installer, possesses a training and examination certification from a preengineered system manufacturer, an agent of a preengineered system manufacturer, or an organization that is approved by the director.

d. To be endorsed as a preengineered industrial fire extinguishing system maintenance worker, has been trained by the worker’s employer and has passed a written or online examination for preengineered industrial fire extinguishing system maintenance that is approved by the director.

3. The holder of a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license shall be responsible for license fees, renewal fees, and continuing education hours.

4. The license of a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker licensee who ceases to be employed by a fire extinguishing system contractor shall continue to be valid until it would otherwise expire, but the licensee shall not perform work requiring licensure under this chapter until the licensee is again employed by a fire extinguishing system contractor. If the licensee becomes employed by a fire extinguishing system contractor other than the contractor which employed the licensee at the time the license was issued, the licensee shall notify the director and shall apply for an amendment to the license. The director may establish by rule a fee for amending a license. This subsection shall not extend the time period during which a license is valid. This subsection does not apply to a licensee whose work on extinguishing systems is restricted to systems on property owned or controlled by the licensee’s employer.

5. The director, by rule, may restrict the scope of work authorized by a license with appropriate endorsements.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §4, 18; 2009 Acts, ch 91, §8; 2010 Acts, ch 1037, §6; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1519; 2023 Acts, ch 119, §13

100D.4

Insurance and surety bond requirements.

1. An applicant for a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license or renewal of an active license shall provide evidence of a public liability insurance policy and surety bond in an amount determined sufficient by the director by rule.

2. If the applicant is engaged in fire protection system installer and maintenance worker work individually through a business conducted as a sole proprietorship, the applicant shall personally obtain the insurance and surety bond required by this section. If the applicant is engaged in the fire protection system installer and maintenance worker business as an employee or owner of a legal entity, then the insurance and surety bond required by this section shall be obtained by the entity and shall cover all fire protection system installer and maintenance worker work performed by the entity.

3. The insurance and surety bond shall be written by an entity licensed to do business in this state and each licensee shall maintain on file with the department a certificate evidencing the insurance providing that the insurance or surety bond shall not be canceled without the entity first giving fifteen days’ written notice to the director.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §5, 18; 2009 Acts, ch 91, §9; 2010 Acts, ch 1037, §7; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1520

100D.5

Administration — rules — suspension and revocation.

The director shall do all of the following:

1. Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A necessary for the administration and enforcement of this chapter.

2. Revoke, suspend, or refuse any license granted pursuant to this chapter when the licensee fails or refuses to pay an examination, license, or renewal fee required by law or when the licensee is guilty of any of the following acts or omissions:

a. Fraud in procuring a license.

b. Professional incompetence.

c. Knowingly making misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the practice of the licensee’s profession or engaging in unethical conduct or practice harmful or detrimental to the public. Proof of actual injury need not be established.

d. Habitual intoxication or addiction to the use of drugs.

e. Conviction of a felony related to the profession or occupation of the licensee. A copy or the record of conviction or plea of guilty shall be conclusive evidence.

f. Fraud in representation as to skill or ability.

g. Use of untruthful or improbable statements in advertisements.

h. Willful or repeated violations of the provisions of this chapter.

3. Adopt rules for continuing education requirements, which shall include, at a minimum, completion of sixteen credit hours of instruction per licensure period relating to updates in fire protection system installation and maintenance.

4. Adopt rules regarding license application forms, examination procedures, and license application and renewal fees.

5. Adopt rules specifying a violation reporting procedure.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §6, 18; 2009 Acts, ch 91, §10; 2010 Acts, ch 1037, §8; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1521; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §192

Referred to in §272C.3, 272C.4, 272C.5

100D.6

Penalties.

The director may impose a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars on any person who violates any provision of this chapter for each day a violation continues. The director may adopt rules necessary to enforce and collect any penalties imposed pursuant to this chapter.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §7, 18; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1522

100D.7

Deposit and use of moneys collected.

1. The director shall set the license fees and renewal fees for all licenses issued pursuant to this chapter, by rule, based upon the actual costs of licensing.

2. All fees assessed pursuant to this chapter shall be retained as appropriated receipts, as defined in section 8.2, by the department and such fees received shall be used exclusively to offset the costs of administering this chapter.

3. Notwithstanding section 8.33, fees collected by the department that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §8, 18; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1523; 2024 Acts, ch 1185, §134

100D.8

Provisional licensure.

Repealed by 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1709.

100D.9

Transition provisions.

Repealed by 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1709.

100D.10

Reciprocal licenses.

To the extent that another state provides for the licensing of fire protection system installers and maintenance workers or similar action, the director may issue a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license, without examination, to a nonresident fire protection system installer and maintenance worker who has been licensed by such other state for at least three years provided such other state grants the same reciprocal licensing privileges to residents of Iowa who have obtained a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license upon payment by the applicant of the required fee and upon furnishing proof that the qualifications of the applicant are equal to the qualifications of holders of similar licenses in this state.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §11, 18; 2010 Acts, ch 1037, §11; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1524

100D.11

Applicability.

1. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to apply to a person licensed as an engineer pursuant to chapter 542B who provides consultation or develops plans or other work concerning the installation or design of fire protection systems.

2. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to apply to a person only performing routine maintenance.

3. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to apply to a person licensed as a plumber pursuant to chapter 105 who is working within the scope of the person’s license.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §12, 18; 2009 Acts, ch 91, §14; 2010 Acts, ch 1037, §12

100D.12

Local licensing provisions.

On and after August 1, 2009, a governmental subdivision shall not prohibit a person licensed pursuant to this chapter from performing services for which that person is licensed pursuant to this chapter or enforce any additional licensing provisions promulgated by the governmental subdivision against a person licensed pursuant to this chapter.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §13, 18

100D.13

Temporary licenses.

1. The director may issue a temporary fire protection system installer and maintenance worker license to a person, providing that all of the following conditions are met:

a. The person is currently licensed or certified to perform work as a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker in another state.

b. The person meets any additional criteria for a temporary license established by the director by rule.

c. The person provides all information required by the director.

d. The person has paid the fee for a temporary license, which fee shall be established by the director by rule.

e. The person intends to perform work as a fire protection system installer and maintenance worker only in areas of this state which are covered by a disaster emergency declaration issued by the governor pursuant to section 29C.6.

2. A temporary license issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for ninety days. The director may establish criteria and procedures for the extension of such licenses for additional periods, which in no event shall exceed ninety days.

3. A temporary license shall be valid only in areas of the state which are subject to a disaster emergency declaration issued by the governor pursuant to section 29C.6 at the time at which the license is issued, which become subject to such a declaration during the time the license is valid, or which were subject to such a declaration issued within the six months preceding the issuance of the license.

2008 Acts, ch 1094, §18; 2009 Acts, ch 91, §15; 2010 Acts, ch 1037, §13, 14; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1525