Administrative Rule Changes for State Fire Marshal Licensing Programs

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Fire Protection System Licensing Programs
Alarm System Licensing Programs
Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-275
Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-277
Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-276
Commercial Explosive Licensing Program
Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-278
Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-235

Iowa Administrative Rule Changes

Adopted and Filed February 17, 2021

EFFECTIVE:  APRIL 1, 2021

The Iowa State Fire Marshal Division has complete a review of Iowa 661 Administrative Rule Chapters that apply to the certification and licensing programs administered by the division. The rule changes went into effect February 17, 2021; however, to allow time to communicate these changes and update our application forms, the State Fire Marshal Division will implement the changes beginning April 1, 2021. 

Implementation will include new application forms available on the Fire Protection, Alarm System, and Commercial Explosives Licensing Program website pages and in our online ImageTrend License Management System.  Previous application forms will not be accepted after April 1, 2021.

These rule chapters were changed to accomplish the following:

  1. Remove any provisional or expired language that no longer applies to the programs.
  2. Add language for approved qualifications to the programs. 
  3. Expand license endorsements to separate installation from maintenance inspection to allow more licensees access to work in Iowa.
  4. Standardize the use of "license" in places where the prior reference was "certification".
  5. Update and add language to be in line with current industry standards and use for new technology.
  6. Add language for legislation changing the disqualifications allowed for criminal convictions.
  7. Add language for legislation allowing consideration of credit for military training and/or service in place of approved certification program.
  8. Add language for legislation allowing consideration for persons licensed in other jurisdictions establishing Iowa residency.

Click on a heading below for highlights of the changes to each license program.

CHANGES AFFECTING ALL LICENSE PROGRAMS

​Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter Quick Links above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapters that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made, please see Filed ARC 5396C.

  • Removed any provisional language throughout the chapter that has expired.
  • Added language to the endorsements to include third party certification programs that have already been approved by the division (661-275.3, 661-276.3, 661-277.3, 661-277.6).
  • Added language regarding the licensing of persons licensed in other jurisdictions who are establishing residency in Iowa (661-275.5, 661-276.4, 661-277.8, 661-235.7).
  • Added language regarding the disqualifications for criminal convictions (661-275.8, 661-276.7, 661-277.10, 661-235.10).
  • Added language referring to the new Iowa 661 Chapter 278 rule for Veterans, military service members, and certain survivor beneficiaries (661-275.9, 661-276.8, 661-277.11).
FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM CONTRACTOR CHANGES

​Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-275 Quick Link above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapter that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made to 661-275, please see Filed ARC 5396C.

  • Revised the name of the program from "Fire Extinguishing System Contractor Certification" to "Fire Protection System Contractor License" for standardization.
  • Created separate endorsements for installation versus maintenance inspection (661-275.1).  As of April 1, if a licensed contractor does installations and maintenance inspections for a type of system, they will now select TWO (2) endorsements instead of one.  Since a fee of $50 is paid for each endorsement selected, this will alter the total fee for the contractor license when both endorsements are needed.
    • Old endorsement list:
      • Automatic sprinkler system layout (1) (includes 1a and 1b)
        • included installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in 1- & 2-family dwellings (1a only)
        • included installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Testing and inspection of water-based systems (1b only)
      • Special hazards suppression systems (2) (includes 2a)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Preengineered dry chemical and/or wet agent fire suppression systems (2a)
        • included installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
    • New endorsement list:
      • Automatic sprinkler system installation (1)
      • Special hazards systems installation (2)
      • Preengineered dry chemical and/or wet agent fire suppression systems installation (3)
      • Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings installation (4)
      • Automatic sprinkler system maintenance inspection (5)
      • Special hazards systems maintenance inspection (6)
      • Preengineered dry chemical and/or wet agent fire suppression systems maintenance inspection (7)
      • Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings maintenance inspection (8)
  • Removed prorated licensing fees (661-275.6).
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM INSTALLER & MAINTENANCE WORKERS CHANGES

​Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-276 Quick Link above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapter that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made to 661-276, please see Filed ARC 5396C.

  • Revised the name of the program from "Fire Protection System Installers and Maintenance Works" to "Fire Protection System Technicians License" for standardization.
  • Changed expiration date from December 31 to March 31.  
    • Any currently issued license issued with a December expiration date will automatically be extended to the following March without first requiring renewal or additional fees (661-276.1(3) Length of Licensure).
    • A new license card will not be issued; however, the online public portal lookup does reflect the new expiration date.
    • Examples:
      • Issued expiring date December 31, 2021 - new expiring date March 31, 2022
      • Issued expiring date December 31, 2022 - new expiring date March 31, 2023
    • Applications submitted for expired licenses after April 1, 2021 will automatically have March 31, 2023 listed as the expiring date.
  • Created separate endorsements for installation versus maintenance inspection (661-276.1).  As of April 1, if a licensed technician does installations and maintenance inspections for a type of system, they will now select TWO (2) endorsements instead of one.  Since a fee of $25 is paid for each endorsement selected, this will alter the total fee for the technician license when both endorsements are needed.
    • Old endorsement list:
      • Automatic sprinkler system installation and maintenance (1)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Special hazards fire suppression system installation and maintenance (2)
        • included installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Preengineered dry chemical and/or wet agent fire protection systems installation (3a, 3c)
      • Preengineered dry chemical and/or wet agent fire protection systems maintenance (3b, 3d)
      • Preengineered water-based fire protection systems in one- and two-family dwellings (4)
        • included installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
    • New endorsement list:
      • Automatic sprinkler system installation (1)
      • Special hazards systems installation (2)
      • Preengineered dry chemical and/or wet agent fire suppression systems installation (3)
      • Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings installation (4)
      • Automatic sprinkler system maintenance inspection (5)
      • Special hazards systems maintenance inspection (6)
      • Preengineered dry chemical and/or wet agent fire suppression systems maintenance inspection (7)
      • Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings maintenance inspection (8)
  • No longer have to provide certificate of completion for Department of Labor apprenticeship program or two-year work affidavit.
  • No longer have to provide copies of continuing education credits.
  • Removed prorated licensing fees (661-276.5).
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM INSTALLER TRAINEE CHANGES

Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-276 Quick Link above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapter that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made to 661-276, please see Filed ARC 5396C.

  • Changed expiration date from December 31 to March 31.  
    • Any currently issued license issued with a December expiration date will automatically be extended to the following March without first requiring renewal or additional fees (661-276.1(3) Length of Licensure).
    • A new license card will not be issued; however, the online public portal lookup does reflect the new expiration date.
    • Examples:
      • Issued expiring date December 31, 2021 - new expiring date March 31, 2022
      • Issued expiring date December 31, 2022 - new expiring date March 31, 2023
    • Applications submitted for expired licenses after April 1, 2021 will automatically have March 31, 2023 listed as the expiring date.
ALARM SYSTEM CONTRACTOR CHANGES

​Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-277 Quick Link above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapter that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made to 661-277, please see Filed ARC 5396C.

  • Revised the name of the program from "Alarm System Contractors Certification" to "Alarm System Contractors License" for standardization.
  • Created separate endorsements for installation versus maintenance inspection (661-277.1).  As of April 1, if a licensed contractor does installations and maintenance inspections for a type of system, they will now select TWO (2) endorsements instead of one (alarm system maintenance inspection will always need to be selected).  Since a fee of $50 is paid for each endorsement selected, this will alter the total fee for the contractor license when both endorsements are needed.
    • Old endorsement list:
      • Fire alarm systems (1)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Nurse call systems (2)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Security alarm systems (3)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Alarm system maintenance inspection (4)
      • Dwelling unit alarm systems (5)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
    • New endorsement list:
      • Fire alarm system installation (1)
      • Nurse call system installation (2)
      • Security alarm system installation (3)
      • Alarm system maintenance inspection (4)
      • Dwelling unit alarm system installation (5)
ALARM SYSTEM INSTALLER CHANGES

​Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-277 Quick Link above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapter that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made to 661-277, please see Filed ARC 5396C.

  • Revised the name of the program from "Alarm System Installers Certification" to "Alarm System Technicians License" for standardization.
  • Created separate endorsements for installation versus maintenance inspection (661-277.1).  As of April 1, if a licensed technician does installations and maintenance inspections for a type of system, they will now select TWO (2) endorsements instead of one (alarm system maintenance inspection will always need to be selected).  Since a fee of $25 is paid for each endorsement selected, this will alter the total fee for the technician license when both endorsements are needed.
    • Old endorsement list:
      • Fire alarm systems (1)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Nurse call systems (2)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Security alarm systems (3)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Alarm system maintenance inspection (4)
      • Dwelling unit alarm systems (5)
        • included  installation, inspection, testing and maintenance
      • Alarm system components (6)
    • New endorsement list:
      • Fire alarm system installation (1)
      • Nurse call system installation (2)
      • Security alarm system installation (3)
      • Alarm system components installation (4)
      • Alarm system maintenance inspection (5)
      • Dwelling unit alarm system installation (6)
ALARM SYSTEM INSTALLER ASSISTANT CHANGES

Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-277 Quick Link above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapter that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made to 661-277, please see Filed ARC 5396C.

  • Revised the name of the program from "Alarm System Installer Assistant Certification" to "Alarm System Technician Trainee License" for standardization.
  • Revised endorsement name for the installer assistant for consistency (661-277.1).  
    • Old endorsement:
      • Alarm system installer assistant (7)
    • New endorsement:
      • Alarm system technician trainee (7)
COMMERCIAL EXPLOSIVES CONTRACTOR CHANGES

Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-235 Quick Link above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapter that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made to 661-235, please see Filed ARC 5395C.

  • Revised the name of the program from "Commercial Explosive Licensing" to "Licensing for Commercial Explosive Contractors and Blasters" for standardization.
  • Added criminal history background requirement language for all responsible persons and employee possessors listed on the contractor application to include submittal of completed FBI fingerprint card.
  • Revised language under the section for "Inventory and Records" to reference the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Chapter 495 "Explosive Material Code" edition as adopted in 661-231.1 (101A) for consistency.
INDIVIDUAL BLASTER CHANGES

Click on Iowa Administrative Rule Chapter 661-235 Quick Link above to go directly to the full revised Administrative Rule Chapter.

Below is a list of the significant changes made to the rule chapter that will affect applicants going forward.  This list is not all inclusive.  To review all changes made to 661-235, please see Filed ARC 5395C.

  • Revised the name of the program from "Commercial Explosive Licensing" to "Licensing for Commercial Explosive Contractors and Blasters" for standardization.
  • Revised the name of the licensee from "Individual Blaster" to "Commercial Explosive Blaster" license for standardization.
  • Added language requiring submittal of evidence of continuing education for license renewals.