Terry E. Branstad Governor Kim Reynolds Lt. Governor Department of Public Safety Roxann M. Ryan Commissioner MEETING NOTICE & AGENDA Iowa Fire Extinguishing & Alarm System Certification Advisory Board Wednesday, March 25, 2015 10:00-12:00 pm Department of Public Safety Oran Pape Building Main Floor ICN Conference Room / Conference Call-In 215 East Seventh Street, Des Moines, IA 50319 Chairperson Hoover Call to Order Board Members Review and change or approve February 18, 2015 meeting minutes Discussion Topic Emerging Technologies & common questions of Administrative Rules Public Comments Other Business Confirm schedules for next board meeting April 15, 2015 @ 10am Chairperson Hoover Adjourn Conference Call-In Instructions: Dial (866) 685-1580 When prompted, enter conference code 5157256170 followed by # Press 1 to join conference Helpful Reservationless Plus Keypad Commands: 00 for operator assistance *6/#6 mute/unmute line STATE FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION 215 EAST 7TH STREET DES MOINES, IOWA 50319-0047 515-725-6145 Integrity, Fairness, Respect, Honesty, Courage, Compassion, Service
Statue and Code Questions for the Fire Protection and Alarm System Licensing Programs 1) Chapter 100C a) 100C.1 Definitions i) "1. Alarm system-annunciate the status" (1) What does annunciate mean? (a) Encarta Dictionary: annunciate (i) : to announce or proclaim something (2) My response: any contact with a monitoring service, first responders, or (with emerging technologies) an individual or "front desk" security station/nurse station. ii) "1. Alarm system-appropriate response" (1) What is an appropriate response? (a) Encarta Dictionary: appropriate (i) suitable for the occasions or circumstances (2) My response: police, fire, homeowner, security guard, nurse or other healthcare provider, on-call individual, etc. (a) Encarta Dictionary: response (i) something said or written in reply to a statement or question from somebody else (ii) something done in reaction to something else (3) My response: any reaction by an individual, monitoring service, first responders, "security station", or nurse station. b) 100C.2 Certification-employees i) 100C.2(4)b: "and who is not licensed pursuant to chapter 103" (1) What license is required? (a) Applicant works for an electrical contractor, is a licensed electrician, and is only pulling cable, installing devices, etc. (b) Applicant works for an electrical contractor, is a licensed electrician, and also does the alarm panel wiring, programming and testing, and puts the system into use. (c) Applicant works for an alarm contractor, is a licensed electrician, and only pulls cable, installs devices, etc. (d) Applicant works for an alarm contractor, is a licensed electrician, and also does the alarm panel wiring, programming and testing, and puts the system into use. (2) My response: (a) Alarm license not required. Last updated 26 February 2015 Page 1 of 5
(b) Alarm license required for company and technician. (c) Alarm license required for technician. (i) Why if they are licensed under chapter 103? (d) Alarm license required for technician. (i) Why if they are licensed under chapter 103? 2) Chapter 100D a) 100D.1 Definitions i) "direct supervision" (1) Is direct supervision having a licensed RME or installer onsite at all times or can they come and go from the site as long as they make sure the work done by the trainee is done correctly? (2) My response: Direct supervision is 100% of the time onsite supervising the trainee; they cannot leave the jobsite and leave the trainee on site doing any work. b) 100D.10 Reciprocal licenses i) "licensed by such other state provided such other state grants the same reciprocal licensing" and "qualifications of the applicant are equal to the qualifications of holders of similar licenses in this state" (1) Why doesn't Iowa have reciprocal licensing with other states? (2) My response: My training from Cindy was that Iowa doesn't have reciprocal licensing, but no reason why we don't. (a) According to this section it would appear reciprocal licensing should be an option. c) 100D.12 Local licensing provisions i) "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." (1) Why does the city require me to obtain specific pre-engineered system manufacturer training in order to service kitchen and industrial systems when I am already licensed by the state? (2) My response: 3) Chapter 661-275 a) 661-275.3(100D) Responsible managing employee i) 275.3(3): If a responsible managing employee designated by a fire extinguishing system contractor is no longer acting in the role the contractor shall designate a new responsible managing employee and shall notify the fire marshal, in writing, of the designation within six months" Last updated 26 February 2015 Page 2 of 5
(1) Can the contractor continue to work on existing jobs and new business without an RME? (a) My response: they can continue working on projects already in progress, but cannot bid any new jobs. (i) What should they actually be able to do or not do until a new RME is named? ii) 275.3(4): "with competence in fire extinguishing system design" (1) How can this competence be verified? (a) The LicensedInIowa.gov website allows me to look up the named PE, but doesn't always have "fire extinguishing" listed. For example, it may just say "professional engineer-civil". Should that PE not be accepted as a listed RME? iii) 275.3(7): "Nothing in this rule shall be interpreted to conflict with or diminish any requirement for training or certification for anyone installing or servicing a fire extinguishing system or portable fire extinguisher set forth in any rule of the fire marshal or local fire ordinance or standard adopted by reference therein." (1) Doesn't this contradict statute 100D.12 where a governmental subdivision shall not prohibit a person licensed pursuant to this chapter by requiring additional training, testing, or certification in order to work in their city? (a) My response: The State Fire Marshal sets the bar for the "minimum" requirements in training and education and each municipality and/or county can increase the requirements in order to obtain tags or permits in their jurisdiction(s) as long as they are not requiring another form of license. (i) This has become a very heated debate, as was previously discussed in another board meeting, and (that I am currently aware of) the city of Des Moines now requires specific system manufacturer training for any company and their technicians to install, maintain, test, clean, etc. and they must show proof of their training when they go to apply for their city tags. Businesses are not always able to get direct system manufacturer training for some systems unless they are also a dealer for those systems, but the company may not want to do installations, just cleaning or general maintenance. (ii) 100D.12 and 275.3(7) appear to contradict each other, so the statute overrules. It would be very helpful to have specific statute, rules, industry standards, etc. to cite when this argument comes up. (iii) 100C.6 Applicability also seems to contradict 100D.12 as it states it "shall not limit the power of the state or a political subdivision of the Last updated 26 February 2015 Page 3 of 5
state to regulate the quality and character of work performed by contractors or installers through a system of permits, and inspections designed to ensure compliance with, and aid in the administration of, state and local building codes or to enforce other local laws for the protection of the public health and safety." 4) Chapter 661-276 a) 276.1(1) Licensing required i) 276.1(1)d " who is on site while the work is being performed " (1) Can the licensed RME or installer directly supervising leave the job site and then return while the apprentice or trainee is still working? (2) My response: Direct supervision is 100% of the time onsite supervising the trainee; they cannot leave the jobsite and leave the trainee on site doing any work. 5) Chapter 661-277 a) 277.1(1) Certification required i) no person shall act as an alarm system contractor or installer without being currently certified by the fire marshal" unless the person is engaged in the installation of alarm system components, is currently licensed pursuant to Iowa Code Supplement chapter 103, and is exempt from requirements for certification by the fire marshal as an alarm system installer pursuant to Iowa Code Supplement chapter 103. Exception: a person may pull cable for an alarm system under the direct supervision of a certified contractor, certified installer, or person licensed pursuant to Iowa Code Supplement chapter 103." (1) If the technician is an employee of a licensed alarm contractor, is exempt from requirements of chapter 103, and under the direct supervision of a licensed alarm contractor, alarm installer, or licensed electrician, are they required to be licensed as an alarm installer trainee? b) 277.2(100D) Definitions (Alarm system, Dwelling alarm system, fire alarm system, Nurse call system, Security alarm system) i) "annunciate the status" (1) What does annunciate mean? (a) Encarta Dictionary: annunciate (i) : to announce or proclaim something (2) My response: any contact with a monitoring service, first responders, or (with emerging technologies) an individual or "front desk" security station/nurse station. ii) "appropriate response" (1) What is an appropriate response? (a) Encarta Dictionary: appropriate (i) suitable for the occasions or circumstances Last updated 26 February 2015 Page 4 of 5
(2) My response: police, fire, homeowner, security guard, nurse or other healthcare provider, on-call individual, etc. (a) Encarta Dictionary: response (i) something said or written in reply to a statement or question from somebody else (ii) something done in reaction to something else (3) My response: any reaction by an individual, monitoring service, first responders, "security station", or nurse station. iii) 277.3(4): "with competence in alarm system design" (1) How can this competence be verified? (a) The LicensedInIowa.gov website allows me to look up the named PE, but doesn't always have "alarm systems" listed. For example, it may just say "professional engineer-civil". Should that PE not be accepted as a listed RME? Last updated 26 February 2015 Page 5 of 5