105.8. Fire Equipment Service Endorsements

Except as provided in IFC Section 105.10, no person may design, inspect, install, alter, repair, maintain or test fire protection systems without first obtaining the appropriate fire protection system endorsement (endorsement), as required in this section. An endorsement shall also be required for the design, inspection, installation, alteration, repair, maintenance or testing of combination type systems which employ the use of fire protection equipment and other non-fire protection equipment such as security/burglar alarm systems (combination systems) and combination fire alarm and carbon monoxide for occupancies other than R-3 occupancy types.

105.8.1. Unless an applicant is ineligible to obtain an endorsement under the provisions of IFC Section 105.12, the fire code official shall issue an endorsement after receiving a complete endorsement application. As part of the endorsement application, an applicant must prove that he or she has obtained the necessary certification(s) as described in “Administrative Rule 9.01 – Qualification Requirements for Fire Protection System Contractors & Employees” from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), or the State of Washington, as required in this section. In the event NICET certification or certification from the State of Washington is not available, the applicant must prove that he or she has obtained certification from a nationally recognized organization or association in accordance with Administrative Rule 9.01, relevant to the specific fire protection system or combination system that he or she intends to design, inspect, install, alter, repair, maintain or test.

105.8.2. Endorsements are required for the following fire protection systems or combinations systems:

105.8.2.1. Commercial Cooking Exhaust Cleaner (CCEC) Endorsement.

105.8.2.2. Fire Alarm System Designer of Record (FASDR) Endorsement.

105.8.2.3. Fire Alarm System Installation or Repair (FASIR) Endorsement.

105.8.2.4. Fire Alarm System Testing (FAST) Endorsement.

105.8.2.5. Fixed Suppression System Designer of Record (FSSDR) Endorsement.

105.8.2.6. Fixed Suppression System Install, Repair, Testing (FSSIRT) Endorsement.

105.8.2.7. Pre-Engineered Kitchen & Spray Booth Suppression System (PEKSBS) Endorsement.

105.8.2.8. Sprinkler System Designer of Record – Level 1 (SSDR1) Endorsement.

105.8.2.9. Sprinkler System Designer of Record – Level 2 (SSDR2) Endorsement.

105.8.2.10. Sprinkler System Designer of Record – Level 3 (SSDR3) Endorsement.

105.8.2.11. Sprinkler System Designer of Record – Level U (SSDRU) Endorsement.

105.8.2.12. Sprinkler System Installation or Repair – Level 1 (SSIR1) Endorsement.

105.8.2.13. Sprinkler System Installation or Repair – Level 2 (SSIR2) Endorsement.

105.8.2.14. Sprinkler System Installation or Repair – Level 3 (SSIR3) Endorsement.

105.8.2.15. Sprinkler System Installation or Repair – Level U (SSIRU) Endorsement.

105.8.2.16 Sprinkler System Testing Technician – Level 1 (SSTT1) Endorsement.

105.8.2.17 Sprinkler System Testing Technician – Level 2 (SSTT2) Endorsement.

105.9. Endorsement Expiration

Fire sprinkler system contractors and individuals regulated by the State of Washington Fire Marshal’s Office will automatically be issued an endorsement to do the same work in the City of Vancouver. Those endorsements will remain valid unless the State licensure is not maintained or unless revoked for cause by the fire code official in accordance with IFC Section 105.12. Other fire protection contractors who apply for and receive City of Vancouver endorsements are required to maintain their applicable qualifications, certifications and licenses. The fire code official may periodically conduct random audits for compliance. Those endorsements will remain valid unless the endorsement holder fails to maintain their qualifications or unless revoked for cause by the fire code official in accordance with IFC Section 105.12.

105.10 Exceptions to the Requirement for a Fire Protection System Service Endorsement

The following individuals shall not be required to obtain a fire equipment service endorsement:

105.10.1. Federal, state, and local government employees, or insurance inspectors when acting in their official capacities.

105.10.2. A person or organization acting under court order.

105.10.3. A registered professional engineer acting solely in a professional capacity.

105.10.4. When doing work regulated under chapter 19.28 RCW, certified master electricians, journeyman electricians, specialty electricians or properly supervised trainees allowed to perform electrical installation work under Chapter 19.28 RCW.

105.10.5. When work is being done that involves electrical work regulated under chapter 19.28 RCW and programming or acceptance testing, reacceptance testing, or inspection, testing and maintenance of fire alarm systems as required by the fire code official, the individual shall:

1. Be an appropriately certified electrician being supervised by an individual possessing the appropriate endorsement; or

2. Must possess an endorsement and be an appropriately certified electrician.

105.10.6. Be a manufacturer’s technician working on their unique proprietary equipment.

105.11. Contractor Endorsement

No contractor may engage in the design, inspection, installation, alteration, repair, maintenance or testing of fire protection systems or combination systems, unless the contractor has obtained an applicable contractor endorsement, as required in this section. For the purposes of this subsection, “contractor” means any form or type of business that engages in the design, inspection, installation, alteration, repair, maintenance or testing of fire protection systems or combination systems.

105.11.1. Unless an applicant for a contractor endorsement is ineligible to obtain an endorsement under the provisions of IFC Section 105.12, the fire code official shall issue an endorsement after receiving a complete endorsement application. An application requires a contractor to demonstrate that at least one currently employed individual has obtained any necessary individual endorsements, as required under IFC Section 105.8.

105.11.2. All contractor endorsements shall be posted in a conspicuous area within the place of business and be made available to any person upon request.

105.11.3. The fire code official requires businesses or contractors to obtain the following endorsements:

105.11.3.1. Commercial Cooking Exhaust Contractor (CCEC) Endorsement.

105.11.3.2. Fire Alarm System Contractor (FASC) Endorsement.

105.11.3.3. Fixed Suppression System Contractor (FSSC) Endorsement.

105.11.3.4. Kitchen & Spray Booth Suppression System Contractor (KSBSSC)Endorsement.

105.11.3.5. Sprinkler System Contractor – Level 1 (SSC1) Endorsement.

105.11.3.6. Sprinkler System Contractor – Level 2 (SSC2) Endorsement.

105.11.3.7. Sprinkler System Contractor – Level 3 (SSC3) Endorsement.

105.11.3.8. Sprinkler System Contractor – Level U (SSCU) Endorsement.

105.11.3.9. Sprinkler System Testing Contractor (SSTC) Endorsement.

105.12. Enforcement of Endorsement Requirements

The endorsement requirements of IFC Sections 105.8 and 105.11 shall be enforced under the provisions of VMC Title 22, Uniform Enforcement Code, except that the penalty for violation(s) of this code shall be determined by the provisions of this code. For the purposes of IFC Section 105, both an individual endorsement holder and the contractor endorsement holder may be subject to the enforcement penalties contained in this subsection. The city official and the city attorney or the city attorney’s designee may negotiate settlement, compromise or otherwise dispose of an action when to do so would be in the best interest of the city.

105.12.1. Working Without Required Endorsements. Any person or contractor that engages in work without an endorsement, as required in IFC Section 105, shall be subject to a $1,000.00 penalty for a first violation; $2,500.00 for a second violation; and $5,000.00 for each subsequent violation.

105.12.1.2. Working without a required endorsement, may result in ineligibility to obtain an endorsement for one month for a first violation; six months for a second violation; and twelve months for subsequent violations.

105.12.1.3. It is a criminal misdemeanor for an individual or contractor to knowingly violate the endorsement requirements contained in IFC Section 105.

105.12.2. Inadequate Supervision of Regulated Work. The holder of any endorsement shall exercise reasonable supervisory control over the design, inspection, installation, alteration, repair, maintenance and testing of fire protection systems. “Reasonable supervisory control” means that the holder of any endorsement shall ensure that a qualified person is on the site for the duration of any inspection, installation, alteration, repair, maintenance or testing of fire protection systems, as required in IFC Section 904.

105.12.2.1. Any person or contractor that fails to exercise reasonable supervisory control shall be subject to a $1,000.00 penalty for a first violation; $2,500.00 for a second violation; and $5,000.00 for each subsequent violation.

105.12.2.2. The fire code official may revoke the endorsement of any individual or contractor who fails to exercise reasonable supervisory control. A first violation may result in a one month revocation; six month revocation for a second violation; and a twelve month revocation for subsequent violations.

105.12.2.3. It is a criminal misdemeanor for an individual or contractor to knowingly fail to exercise reasonable supervisory control.

105.12.3. Gross Negligence or Fraud. The holder of any endorsement shall be subject to the most severe penalties for engaging in or allowing instances of gross negligence or fraud. “Gross negligence” means the holder of an endorsement fails to meet the most basic levels of competency, as determined by a reasonably prudent and competent industry practitioner. “Gross negligence” means the same thing as “gross incompetency,” and denotes an act or omission that is more than a mere oversight or mistake. “Fraud” means that the holder of an endorsement knowingly falsifies documents submitted to either the customer or fire code official; or knowingly allows another person to hold falsely him or herself out as the holder of the endorsement.

105.12.3.1. Any person or contractor that commits an act of gross negligence or fraud shall be subject to a $2,500.00 penalty for a first violation; $5,000.00 for a second violation; and $7,500.00 for each subsequent violation.

105.12.3.2. The fire code official may revoke the endorsement of any individual or contractor who commits an act of gross negligence or fraud.

105.12.3.3. It is a criminal gross misdemeanor for an individual or contractor to knowingly commit an act of fraud or gross negligence.