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Permalink Reply by Oldman on February 3, 2010 at 2:24pm

That's good news. I wish we could have stopped the legislation in Texas.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on February 3, 2010 at 4:32pm

When one of the Mississippi Chief's responsible for this legislation not passing has a family member, loved one, friend or even someone they don't know perish in a residential structure fire, I hope they remember that they are an embarassment to the fire service.

With minimal research, you can see that compared to other states, Mississippi is a prime example of a good ol' boy state. Why? Here's the requirements for someone to install residential sprinklers:

MISSISSIPPI
Contractor qualifications: No licensing requirements for contractors building 1-family homes or
multi-family homes under three stories or with less than 50 occupants.
Permit holder qualifications: None required.
Designer qualifications: No information.
Installer qualifications: No information.
Reciprocity: No information.
Regulating Authority: State Board of Contractors.

Compare this to other states:

ALASKA
Contractor qualifications: Must have a State Fire Marshal Permit, Class II-B or II-C, or employ
a person who holds a permit.
Permit holder qualifications: Two years experience in fire sprinkler installation and a NICET
Level II certificate in sprinkler layout.
Designer qualifications: Two years experience in fire sprinkler installation and a NICET Level III
certificate in sprinkler layout.
Installer qualifications: Must be supervised by permit holder.
Reciprocity: No information.
Regulating Authority: State fire marshal.
Discussion: Local jurisdictions that have home rule authority may adopt regulations that are
more restrictive than the state fire marshal regulations.

CALIFORNIA
Contractor qualifications: The contractor must have a C-16 license. To get a C-16 license, the
contractor must be or employ a Qualifying Individual.
Qualifying Individual qualifications: Journeyman sprinkler fitter or four year experience and
pass an exam that covers the trade, state law and business law.
Designer qualifications: Must be a Qualifying Individual.
Installer qualifications: Journeyman or apprentice sprinkler fitter.
Reciprocity: No information.
Regulating Authority: Contractors State License Board.
Discussion: There are approximately 1,200 contractors in the state who have both a C-16 and
C-36 license.

FLORIDA
Contractor qualifications: The contractor must have a Florida Occupational License and either
be or employ a Certificate Holder with a Level IV certificate from the State Fire Marshal. If the
contractor has more than one business location, then there must be a Certificate Holder at each
location.
Certificate Holder qualifications: Must have a Level IV certificate. For sprinkler contractors, this
requires passing a 13D exam and two years experience with a Level I, II, III or IV contractor. For
plumbers, the state fire marshal will accept four years work experience with a licensed plumbing
contractor, attendance at a residential fire sprinkler workshop that has been approved by the
state, and passing the Level IV exam.
Designer qualifications: Must have a Level IV certificate.
Installer qualifications: No information.
Reciprocity: No information.
Regulating Authority: State fire marshal.
Discussion: The state fire marshal will accept a NICET Level III certificate in fire sprinkler layout
as an alternate to the experience requirements. The exam for the Level IV certificate is multiple
choice and open-book. In addition to NFPA 13D, the exam covers state and federal laws,
workplace safety standards, administrative procedures and pertinent technical data.

GEORGIA
Contractor qualifications: The contractor must either be or employ a Certificate Holder. If the
contractor has more than one business location, a Certificate Holder is required at each location.
Certificate Holder qualifications: Must pass a competency exam.
Designer qualifications: Must be a registered professional engineer.
Installer qualifications: Must be directly supervised by the Certificate Holder
Reciprocity: Yes, if the other state has comparable rules.
Regulating Authority: State fire marshal.
Discussion: None.

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CBz

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Permalink Reply by Jason Hoevelmann on February 3, 2010 at 4:45pm

Thanks for the comparisons, but the MS Chiefs helped to stop the legislation. Maybe you know something I don't, but the anti-sprinkler legislation died in committee. If there were chiefs that were proponents of the legislation; that I do not know.

I have received word today that efforts to stop those legislative actions have been successful.

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