661—275.1 (100C) Establishment of program. There is established within the fire marshal division a fire extinguishing system contractors certification program. The program is established pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 100C.
	 275.1(1) Certification required. No person shall act as a fire extinguishing system contractor without being currently certified as a fire extinguishing system contractor by the fire marshal, except as provided in subrule 275.1(3).
	 275.1(2) Endorsement. The certification of each contractor shall carry an endorsement for one or more of the following:
	  a.   	 Automatic sprinkler system layout;
	  b.   	 Special hazards suppression systems;
	  c.   	 Installation of preengineered dry chemical or wet agent fire suppression systems;
	  d.   	 Installation of preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings;
	  e.   	 Testing and inspection of water-based systems; or
	  f.   	 Any combination thereof.
Any person acting as a fire extinguishing system contractor shall do so only in relation to systems covered by the endorsements on the contractor’s certification.
	 275.1(3) Length of certification. Certification shall normally be for one year and shall expire on March 31 each year. A certification which is effective on a date other than April 1 shall be effective on the date on which the certification is issued and shall expire on the following March 31.
	  a.   	 Certification between July 1, 2006, and October 1, 2006. A contractor may operate without certification between July 1, 2006, and September 30, 2006, as follows:
	 (1) 	 Prior to August 15, 2006, the contractor may operate as a contractor only if the contractor intends to apply for certification by August 15, 2006; a contractor operating under this subparagraph may perform contracting work only within the scope of certification for which the contractor intends to apply.
	 (2) 	 On or after August 15, 2006, and before October 1, 2006, the contractor may operate as a contractor subject to this chapter only if the contractor has applied for certification under this chapter. A contractor operating under this subparagraph may perform contracting work only within the scope of certification for which the contractor has applied.
	  b.   	 Any certification for which application is made by August 15, 2006, and accepted, shall be effective retroactive to July 1, 2006, and appropriate fees shall be collected pursuant to rule 661—275.5(100C).
	 275.1(4) Inquiries. Inquires regarding the fire extinguishing system contractors certification program may be addressed to:
Fire Extinguishing System Contractors Certification Program
Fire Marshal Division
Iowa Department of Public Safety
401 S.W. 7th Street, Suite N
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Inquiries may be addressed by electronic mail to fesccp@dps.state.ia.us, by telephone to (515)281-5821, or by facsimile to (515)242-6299.