100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2596

 

Introduced 2/7/2018, by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
225 ILCS 317/5
225 ILCS 317/10
225 ILCS 317/12
225 ILCS 317/15
225 ILCS 317/20
225 ILCS 317/30
225 ILCS 317/35
225 ILCS 317/120

    Amends the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. Provides licensure requirements and licensure scope for fire pump testing contractors. Provides that certificates for factory certified pump testing personnel shall be kept on file by all fire pump testing licensees. Provides requirements for a designated certified person. Provides requirements for inspecting and testing fire sprinkler systems or fire pumps. Provides that an inspection report for fire pump testing must include a NICET Level III (rather than Level II) Inspection and Testing of Water Based Systems certification number, a journeymen number of the person performing the inspection, or the name of the person who has received factory certified training for fire pump and jockey pump equipment. Provides renewal and continuing education requirements for fire pump testing contractor licenses. Provides that a person or business that currently has a responsible managing employee is exempt from having a designated certified person for a period not to exceed 5 years from the most recent license renewal. Makes other changes.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2596LRB100 16689 XWW 31827 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act is
5amended by changing Sections 5, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 35, and 120
6as follows:
 
7    (225 ILCS 317/5)
8    Sec. 5. Legislative intent. It is declared that within the
9State of Illinois there are, and may continue to be, locations
10where the improper installation or repair of fire sprinkler
11systems creates conditions that may adversely affect the public
12health and general welfare. Therefore, the purpose of this Act
13is to protect, promote, and preserve the public health and
14general welfare by providing for the establishment of minimum
15standards for licensure of fire sprinkler installation
16contractors and fire pump testing contractors.
17(Source: P.A. 92-871, eff. 1-3-03.)
 
18    (225 ILCS 317/10)
19    Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the
20context otherwise requires:
21    "Designated certified person" means an individual who has
22met the qualifications set forth under Section 20 of this Act.

 

 

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1    "Fire protection system layout documents" means layout
2drawings, catalog information on standard products, and other
3construction data that provide detail on the location of
4risers, cross mains, branch lines, sprinklers, piping per
5applicable standard, and hanger locations. "Fire protection
6system layout documents" serve as a guide for fabrication and
7installation of a fire sprinkler system and shall be based upon
8applicable standards pursuant to Section 30 of this Act.
9    "Fire pump testing contractor" means a person who holds
10himself or herself out to be in the business of testing,
11repair, or service of fire pumps, jockey pumps, and their
12associated specialty equipment unique to the fire pump and
13jockey pump assembly, drivers, and their controllers only.
14    "Fire sprinkler contractor" means a person who holds
15himself or herself out to be in the business of or contracts
16with a person to inspect, test, maintain, evaluate, install, or
17repair all aspects of all a fire sprinkler systems, including
18fire pumps system.
19    "Fire sprinkler system" means any water-based automatic
20fire extinguishing system employing fire sprinklers, including
21accessory fire pumps and associated piping, fire standpipes, or
22underground fire main systems starting at the connection to the
23water service after the approved backflow device is installed
24under the requirements of the Illinois Plumbing Code and ending
25at the most remote fire sprinkler. "Fire sprinkler system"
26includes but is not limited to a fire sprinkler system in a

 

 

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1residential, commercial, institutional, educational, public,
2or private occupancy. "Fire sprinkler system" does not include
3single sprinkler heads that are in a loop of the potable water
4system, as referenced in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890.1130 and
5890.1200.
6    "Licensee" means a person or business organization
7licensed in accordance with this Act.
8    "NICET" means the National Institute for Certification in
9Engineering Technologies.
10    "Person" means an individual, group of individuals,
11association, trust, partnership, corporation, person doing
12business under an assumed name, the State of Illinois, or
13department thereof, any other state-owned and operated
14institution, or any other entity.
15    "Supervision" means the direction and management by a
16designated certified person of the activities of non-certified
17personnel in the preparation of fire protection system layout
18documents and sizing of piping per applicable standards
19installation or repair of fire sprinkler systems.
20    "Factory certified" means trained and certified by a fire
21pump, controller, or specialty component manufacturer.
22(Source: P.A. 94-367, eff. 1-1-06.)
 
23    (225 ILCS 317/12)
24    Sec. 12. License; enforcement; failure to pay tax. No
25person shall act as a fire sprinkler contractor or fire pump

 

 

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1testing contractor, or advertise or assume to act as such, or
2use any title implying that such person is engaged in such
3practice or occupation unless licensed by the State Fire
4Marshal.
5    No firm, association, or corporation shall act as an agency
6licensed under this Act, or advertise or assume to act as such,
7or use any title implying that the firm, association, or
8corporation is engaged in such practice, unless licensed by the
9State Fire Marshal.
10    The State Fire Marshal, in the name of the People and
11through the Attorney General, the State's Attorney of any
12county, any resident of the State, or any legal entity within
13the State may apply for injunctive relief in any court to
14enjoin any person who has not been issued a license or whose
15license has been suspended, revoked, or not renewed from
16practicing a licensed activity, and upon the filing of a
17verified petition, the court, if satisfied by affidavit or
18otherwise, that such person is or has been practicing in
19violation of this Act may enter a temporary restraining order
20or preliminary injunction, without bond, enjoining the
21defendant from such further activity. A copy of the verified
22complaint shall be served upon the defendant and the
23proceedings shall thereafter be conducted as in other civil
24cases. If it is established that the defendant has been or is
25practicing in violation of this Act, the court may enter a
26judgment perpetually enjoining the defendant from such further

 

 

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1activity. In case of violation of any injunctive order or
2judgment entered under the provisions of this Section, the
3court may summarily try and punish the offender for contempt of
4court. Such injunctive proceeding shall be in addition to all
5penalties and other remedies in this Act.
6    The State Fire Marshal may refuse to issue a license to, or
7may suspend the license of, any person who fails to file a
8return, to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed
9return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or
10interest, as required by any tax Act administered by the
11Illinois Department of Revenue, until such time as the
12requirements of any such tax Act are satisfied.
13(Source: P.A. 92-871, eff. 1-3-03.)
 
14    (225 ILCS 317/15)
15    Sec. 15. Licensing requirements.
16    (a) It shall be unlawful for any person or business to
17engage in, advertise, or hold itself out to be in the business
18of installing, or repairing fire sprinkler systems, or testing
19fire pumps in this State upon after 6 months after the
20effective date of this Act, unless such person or business is
21licensed by the State Fire Marshal.
22    (b) In order to obtain a license, a person or business must
23submit an application to the State Fire Marshal, on a form
24provided by the State Fire Marshal containing the information
25prescribed, along with the application fee.

 

 

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1    (c) A business applying for a license must have a
2designated certified person employed at the business location
3and the designated certified person shall be identified on the
4license application.
5    (d) A person or business applying for a license must show
6proof of having liability and property damage insurance in such
7amounts and under such circumstances as may be determined by
8the State Fire Marshal. The amount of liability and property
9damage insurance, however, shall not be less than the amount
10specified in Section 35 of this Act.
11    (e) A person or business applying for a license must show
12proof of having workers' compensation insurance covering its
13employees or be approved as a self-insurer of workers'
14compensation in accordance with the laws of this State.
15    (f) A person or business so licensed shall have a separate
16license for each business location within the State or outside
17the State when the business location is responsible for any
18installation or repair of fire sprinkler systems or fire pump
19testing performed within the State.
20    (g) When an individual proposes to do business in her or
21his own name, a license, when granted, shall be issued only to
22that individual.
23    (h) If the applicant requesting licensure to engage in
24contracting is a business organization, such as a partnership,
25corporation, business trust, or other legal entity, the
26application shall state the name of the partnership and its

 

 

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1partners, the name of the corporation and its officers and
2directors, the name of the business trust and its trustees, or
3the name of such other legal entity and its members and shall
4furnish evidence of statutory compliance if a fictitious name
5is used. Such application shall also show that the business
6entity employs a designated certified person as required under
7Section 20. The license, when issued upon application of a
8business organization, shall be in the name of the business
9organization and the name of the qualifying designated
10certified person shall be noted thereon.
11    (i) The fire pump testing contractor license is strictly
12limited to the repair or service of fire pumps, jockey pumps,
13and the associated specialty equipment unique to the fire pump
14and jockey pump assemblies, both electric and mechanical, but
15limited to the fire pump, jockey pump, its driver, and its
16controller. The repair, replacement, or service of other
17components that are routinely employed in the construction of
18sprinkler systems, but may also be present in the fire pump and
19jockey pump assemblies or the room in which the fire pump and
20jockey pump assemblies are located, are not covered by the pump
21testing license. No license is required for a person or
22business that is engaged in the installation of fire sprinkler
23systems only in single family or multiple family residential
24dwellings up to and including 8 family units that do not exceed
252 1/2 stories in height from the lowest grade level.
26    (j) Certificates for factory certified pump testing

 

 

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1personnel shall be kept on file by all fire pump testing
2contractor licensees.
3    (k) (j) All fire protection system layout documents of fire
4sprinkler systems, as defined in Section 10 of this Act, shall
5be prepared by (i) a professional engineer who is licensed
6under the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, (ii)
7an architect who is licensed under the Illinois Architecture
8Practice Act of 1989, or (iii) a holder of a valid NICET Level
9III or IV level 3 or 4 certification in fire protection
10technology automatic sprinkler system layout who is either
11licensed under this Act or exclusively employed by an
12organization licensed under this Act.
13(Source: P.A. 97-112, eff. 7-14-11.)
 
14    (225 ILCS 317/20)
15    Sec. 20. Designated certified person requirements.
16    (a) A designated certified person must either be a current
17Illinois licensed professional engineer or hold a valid NICET
18Level III level 3 or higher certification in "fire protection
19technology, automatic sprinkler system layout".
20    (b) At least one member of every firm, association, or
21partnership and at least one corporate officer of every
22corporation engaged in the installation and repair of fire
23sprinkler systems must be a designated certified person.
24    (c) A designated certified person must be exclusively
25employed by the licensee at a business location with a valid

 

 

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1license.
2    (d) A designated certified person must perform his or her
3normal duties at a business location with a valid license.
4    (e) A designated certified person may only be the
5designated certified person for one business location and one
6business entity.
7    (f) A designated certified person must be directly involved
8in the supervision and preparation of all fire protection
9system layout documents and sizing of piping per applicable
10standards. The designated certified person does not, however,
11have to be at the site of the installation or repair of the
12fire sprinkler system at all times.
13    (g) A designated certified person can only be the
14designated certified person for one fire sprinkler contractor.
15    (h) Fire pump testing contractors shall not be required to
16have a designated certified person.
17(Source: P.A. 92-871, eff. 1-3-03.)
 
18    (225 ILCS 317/30)
19    Sec. 30. Requirements for the installation, repair,
20inspection, fire pump testing, and testing of fire protection
21systems.
22    (a) Equipment shall be listed by a nationally recognized
23testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. or
24Factory Mutual Laboratories, Inc., or shall comply with
25nationally accepted standards. The State Fire Marshal shall

 

 

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1adopt by rule procedures for determining whether a laboratory
2is nationally recognized, taking into account the laboratory's
3facilities, procedures, use of nationally recognized
4standards, and any other criteria reasonably calculated to
5reach an informed determination.
6    (b) Equipment shall be installed in accordance with the
7applicable standards of the National Fire Protection
8Association and the manufacturer's specifications.
9    (c) The contractor shall furnish the user with operating
10instructions for all equipment installed, together with a
11diagram of the final installation.
12    (d) All fire sprinkler systems shall have a backflow
13prevention device or, in a municipality with a population over
14500,000, a double detector check assembly installed by a
15licensed plumber before the fire sprinkler system connection to
16the water service. Connection to the backflow prevention device
17or, in a municipality with a population over 500,000, a double
18detector assembly shall be done in a manner consistent with the
19Department of Public Health's Plumbing Code.
20    (e) This licensing Act is not intended to require any
21additional fire inspections at State level.
22    (f) Inspections and testing of existing fire sprinkler
23systems and control equipment must be performed by a licensee
24or an individual exclusively employed or contracted by a
25licensee. Any individual who performs inspection and testing
26duties under this subsection (f) must possess proof of (i)

 

 

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1through December 31, 2020, certification by a nationally
2recognized certification organization at an appropriate level,
3such as NICET Level II in Inspection and Testing of Water Based
4Systems or the equivalent and, beginning January 1, 2021,
5certification by a nationally recognized certification
6organization at an appropriate level, such as NICET Level III
7in Inspection and Testing of Water Based Systems or the
8equivalent; , by January 1, 2009 or (ii) satisfactory completion
9of a certified sprinkler fitter apprenticeship program
10approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. State employees who
11perform inspections and testing on behalf of State institutions
12and who meet all other requirements of this subsection (f) need
13not be licensed under this Act or employed by a licensee under
14this Act in order to perform inspection and testing duties
15under this subsection (f). The requirements of this subsection
16(f) do not apply to individuals performing inspections or
17testing of fire sprinkler systems on behalf of a municipality,
18a county, a fire protection district, or the Office of the
19State Fire Marshal. This subsection (f) does not apply to
20cursory weekly and monthly inspections of gauges and control
21valves conducted in accordance with the standards of the
22National Fire Protection Association.
23    (g) Fire pump testing (acceptance or annual testing),
24specialty repairs to fire pumps, jockey pumps, drivers, and
25controllers can be performed by a licensee meeting the
26requirements of subsection (f) or by a factory certified

 

 

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1representative trained in fire pump and jockey pump testing and
2repair.
3    A copy of the inspection report for an inspection performed
4pursuant to this subsection (f) and subsection (g) must be
5forwarded by the entity performing the inspection to the local
6fire department or fire protection district in which the
7sprinkler system is located. The inspection report must
8include: the (1) NICET Level II Inspection and Testing of Water
9Based Systems certification number or NICET Level III
10Inspection and Testing of Water Based Systems certification
11number, whichever is applicable, or (2) journeymen number of
12the person performing the inspection. For fire pump testing
13reports, the inspection report must include the requirements
14described in items (1) or (2) or the name of the person who has
15received factory certified training for fire pump and jockey
16pump equipment.
17(Source: P.A. 96-256, eff. 1-1-10; 97-112, eff. 7-14-11.)
 
18    (225 ILCS 317/35)
19    Sec. 35. Fees, renewals, continuing education, and
20required insurance.
21    (a) The fees for an original license and each renewal and
22for duplicate copies of licenses shall be determined by the
23State Fire Marshal by rule.
24    (b) A fire sprinkler contractor Each license must be
25renewed every 2 years. A Each licensee must complete 16 hours

 

 

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1of continuing education in the 2-year period following his or
2her renewal or initial licensure after the effective date of
3this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly. Current
4licensure as a professional engineer or proof of current NICET
5certification in Level III or IV shall satisfy this requirement
6for designated certified persons.
7    A fire pump testing contractor license must be renewed
8every 2 years. Each licensee must complete 16 hours of
9continuing education in the 2-year period following his or her
10renewal or initial licensure. Certificates of successful
11manufacturer's equipment training equivalent to 16 hours of
12continuing education shall satisfy this requirement.
13    Continuing education offered through nationally recognized
14building and fire code organizations and their affiliates;
15nationally recognized fire sprinkler organizations and their
16affiliates; institutions of higher education; educational
17bodies specializing in automatic fire suppression system
18technology; fire pump manufacturers; as well as other entities
19approved by the State Fire Marshal shall be also acceptable.
20All continuing education entities seeking to be approved
21providers of continuing education shall make application to the
22State Fire Marshal and offer programs that:
23        (1) contribute to the advancement, extension, or
24    enhancement of the professional skills or technical
25    knowledge of the licensee in the practice of fire sprinkler
26    contracting; and

 

 

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1        (2) are developed and presented by persons with
2    education or experience in the subject manner of the
3    program.
4    (c) Any person who fails to file a renewal application by
5the date of expiration of a license shall be assessed a late
6filing charge, which shall be determined by the State Fire
7Marshal by rule.
8    (d) All fees shall be paid by check or money order. Any fee
9required by this Act is not refundable in the event that the
10original application or application for renewal is denied.
11    (e) Every application for an original license shall be
12accompanied by a certificate of insurance issued by an
13insurance company authorized to do business in the State of
14Illinois or by a risk retention or purchasing group formed
15pursuant to the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986,
16which provides primary, first dollar public liability coverage
17of the applicant or licensee for personal injuries for not less
18than $500,000 per person or $1,000,000 per occurrence, and, in
19addition, for not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence for
20property damage. The insurance policy shall be in effect at all
21times during the license year and a new certificate of
22insurance shall be filed with the State Fire Marshal within 30
23days after the renewal of the insurance policy.
24(Source: P.A. 97-112, eff. 7-14-11.)
 
25    (225 ILCS 317/120)

 

 

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1    Sec. 120. Grandfather clause. Any person or business that
2currently has a responsible managing employee and , as of the
3effective date of this Act, is installing or repairing fire
4sprinkler systems in the State of Illinois and has a minimum of
53 years of experience in installing or repairing fire sprinkler
6systems is exempt from having a designated certified person as
7required in Section 20 for a period not to exceed 5 years from
8the most recent license renewal. This exemption is terminated
9and will not be granted if the business is sold or transferred
10to another owner or entity or the business is sold or
11transferred to another owner or entity.
12    No responsible managing employee license will be issued
13after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th
14General Assembly.
15(Source: P.A. 92-871, eff. 1-3-03.)