AS OF JULY 1, 2017, THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BY CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 433, PASSED IN 2013, (SECTION 13110 TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE – CAL FIRE-OSFM)
CSLB – Per CCR Title 16, Division 8, Article 3 § 832.16. Class C-16-Fire Protection Contractors, the State Licensing Board Issues C-16 license to the individuals who have successfully passed their written exam to hire their pipe fitters, supervisors to lay out, fabricate, install, repair and service all types of related fire protection system jobs, including all the equipment associated with these systems, excluding electrical alarm systems in the state of California, but with this new executed law by the STATE FIRE MARSHAL (OSFM), it stops all C-16 contractors who are legally licensed in the state of California to conduct their business that are NOT in compliance with STATE FIRE MARSHAL (OSFM) requirements.
As of July 1, 2017, the State Fire Marshall (OSFM) passed a legislation which has become a law, and has been authorized by California Assembly Bill 433, passed in 2013 (Section 13110 to the Health and Safety code – CAL FIRE-OSFM) to require additional qualifications, certification program and business practices adjustments.
The State Fire Marshall is requiring per Information Bulletin 17-002 beyond CSLB certification that a C-16 license holder MUST, if they install, alter, or repair any water-based protection systems, follow any new regulations as the SFM deems necessary to ensure fire safety OR MY LICENSE IS INVALID.
Further the State Fire Marshal CAL FIRE-OSFM will start requiring separate exams by January 2018 to certify any pipe fitter or a C-16 Fire Protection Contractor who has already passed their exam and has a valid state of California C-16 Fire Protection Contracting License to start or continue their business.
The CSLB “Contractors State Licensing Board” rightly does not need to care about the financial arrangements of the tools, equipment, supplies and parts brought to the construction site. My equipment could be owned, lease-to-own, rented, or may be otherwise encumbered. As long as the equipment can be operated with control and safety per CSLB requirements, CSLB licenses allow me to do the functions commensurate with that license without concern over equipment ownership among other things.
THE NEW REGULATIONS PROVIDED THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL FULL CONTROL OVER THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES. THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL NOW DICTATES HOW THE BUSINESS MUST BE RUN. IT IS NOW REQUIRED FOR THE LICENSEE TO PURCHASE AND OWN ALL TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, OR SUPPLIES AND PARTS AND BE KEPT AS PART OF THE NORMAL INVENTORY WHICH THE LICENSEE INTENDS TO USE IN SERVICING SYSTEMS. THESE NEW REGULATIONS PREVENT THE LICENSEE TO BORROW OR LOAN ANY TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR PARTS. EXPENSIVE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT MAY BE RENTED BUT THE LICENSEE MUST GIVE VERIFICATION THAT THE EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED BY PROVIDING A RENTAL CONTRACT WITH AN EXPLANATION OF WHY IT IS BEING RENTED RATHER THAN PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, ALL EMPLOYEES MUST NOW BE CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED. AND NOTIFICATION TO CAL FIRE – OSFM MUST BE MADE IN WRITING WITHIN 72 HOURS FROM THE DATE OF HIRE OF AN EMPLOYEE’S STATUS AS A TRAINEE, APPRENTICE OR CERTIFIED FIRE SPRINKLER FITTER.