Fire Protection System Licensing Programs | Iowa Department of Public Safety

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The state of Iowa requires licensing for all fire extinguishing systems as defined in Iowa Code 100C and Iowa Code 100D and Administrative Rules Chapter 275 and Administrative Rules Chapter 276. A company installing and/or testing such systems and their employees must be licensed as fire protection system contractors and technicians.

Licensing program requirement highlights:

All contractors who intend to work in Iowa are required to obtain a contractor license.
Contractors must list at least one responsible managing employee (RME) and provide a copy of their current qualifying certification as specified in the matrix below.
Contractors shall obtain and maintain current registration (or obtain a written exemption) as a "construction contractor" with the Labor Services Division in compliance with Iowa Code chapter 91C and Iowa Administrative Code 875-Chapter 150. Information regarding this program may be found by clicking on the Iowa Division of Labor - Contractor Registration Quick Link above.
Contractors must provide a copy of the most current certificate of liability insurance on the ACORD form. The ACORD form must show coverage amounts of $1M per occurrence, $1M property damage, and $500K per person.
All technicians who intend to work in Iowa are required to obtain a technician license under a licensed contractor. They must provide a copy of their current qualifying certifications as specified in the matrix below.
All technician trainees who intend to work in Iowa are required to obtain a technician trainee license under a licensed contractor and be supervised 100% of the time on the job site by a licensed responsible managing employee or licensed technician licensed under the scope of work authorized by the license. There must be one licensed RME or technician for every 3 technician trainees or apprentices.

Home Base Iowa Act - Connecting Veterans to Careers and Resources

The state of Iowa does not regulate portable fire extinguisher inspections or testing. Please check with the local jurisdictions regarding any requirements.

Fire protection licensing is not required for a company or technicians doing hood cleaning only (no maintenance or repairs).

Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Registration is the responsibility of the Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Environmental Health Services. Information on their program may be found online at http://idph.iowa.gov/Environmental-Health-Services/Backflow-Prevention-Assembly-Tester-Registration

Fee Structure for Contractor License

$400 license fee
$50 for each endorsement
$50 for each responsible managing employee (RME)

Fee Structure for Technician License

$175 license fee
$25 for each endorsement

Fee Structure for Technician Trainee License

$100 license fee

Application Forms

Application Packets:

Fire Protection System Contractor License Application Packet (includes application and RME criminal history screening question forms)
Fire Protection System Technician Application Packet (includes application and criminal history screening question forms)
Fire Protection System Installer Trainee Application Packet (includes application and criminal history screening question forms)

Individual Forms:

Responsible Managing Employee Qualifying Certification Matrix

A company that does installation and maintenance inspection must select the both endorsements for installation and maintenance inspection on the application.

Responsible Managing Employee Endorsement	Qualifying Certification Option(s)
Automatic sprinkler system installation	Professional Engineer Licensed in Iowa [or] NICET level III or higher in Water-Based Layout [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been by the state fire marshal prior to application
Special hazards systems installation	Professional Engineer Licensed in Iowa [or] NICET level III or higher in Special Hazard Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Preengineered dry chemical or wet agent fire suppression systems installation	NICET level II or higher in Special Hazard Systems [or] ICC/NAFED Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems, Industrial Fire Suppression Systems, or both [or] Certificate of Completion of Training from System Manufacturer for each system worked on [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings installation	NICET level II or higher in Special Hazard Systems [or] Certificate of Completion of Training from System Manufacturer for each system worked on [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Automatic sprinkler system maintenance inspection	NICET level II or higher in Water-Based Layout [or] NICET level II or higher in Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Special hazards system maintenance inspection	NICET level II or higher in Special Hazard Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Preengineered dry chemical or wet agent fire suppression systems maintenance inspection	NICET level I or higher in Special Hazard Systems [or] ICC/NAFED Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems, Industrial Fire Suppression Systems, or both [or] Certificate of Completion of Training from System Manufacturer for each system worked on [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been by the state fire marshal prior to application
Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings maintenance inspection	NICET level I or higher in Special Hazard Systems [or] Certificate of Completion of Training System Manufacturer for each system worked on [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application

Technician Qualifying Certification Matrix

A technician who does installation and maintenance inspection must select the both endorsements for installation and maintenance inspection on the application.

Installer Endorsement	Qualifying Certification Option(s)
Automatic sprinkler system installation	STAR Fire Sprinklerfitting Mastery [or] NICET level I or higher in Water-Based Layout [or] NICET level I or higher in Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Special hazards systems installation	NICET level I or higher in Special Hazards Suppression Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Preengineered dry chemical or wet agent fire suppression systems installation	Certificate of Completion of Training from System Manufacturer for each system worked on [or] NICET level I or higher in Special Hazards Suppression Systems [or] ICC/NAFED Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems, Industrial Fire Suppression Systems, or both [or] FPC Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings installation	NICET level I or higher in Special Hazards Suppression Systems [or] Certificate of Completion of Training from System Manufacturer for each system worked on [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Automatic sprinkler system maintenance inspection	STAR Fire Sprinklerfitting Mastery [or] NICET level I or higher in Water-Based Layout [or] NICET level I or higher in Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Special hazards system maintenance inspection	NICET level I or higher in Special Hazards Suppression Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Preengineered dry chemical or wet agent fire suppression systems maintenance inspection	Certificate of Completion of Training from System Manufacturer for each system worked on [or] NICET level I or higher in Special Hazards Suppression Systems [or] ICC/NAFED Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems, Industrial Fire Suppression Systems, or both [or] FPC Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Preengineered water-based fire suppression systems in one- and two-family dwellings maintenance inspection	NICET level I or higher in Special Hazards Suppression Systems [or] Certificate of Completion of Training from System Manufacturer for each system worked on [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the state fire marshal prior to application
Installer Trainee 100% supervised by licensed technician or RME while working (1 licensed tech/RME to 3 licensed trainees)	Trainee in the process of obtaining one of the required certifications to become a licensed technician for installation and/or maintenance inspection. May only be renewed once.

Payments can be made online by debit/credit card or eCheck/ACH or by mailing a check or money order payable to the Iowa State Fire Marshal Division and mailed to Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Attention: SFM Licensing Administration, 215 E 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319.

Certification Program Links: