103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2702

 

Introduced 1/10/2024, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
225 ILCS 317/10
225 ILCS 317/17

    Amends the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. Provides that "fire sprinkler inspector" means an individual who is qualified to perform routine inspection or testing of fire sprinkler systems and who is exclusively employed by a single fire sprinkler contractor (instead of employed or contracted by a fire sprinkler contractor). Provides that any individual who performs routine inspection or testing of any fire sprinkler system under the Act shall be exclusively employed by a single licensed fire sprinkler contractor (instead of be employed by a licensed fire sprinkler contractor) and meet certain minimum qualifications.


LRB103 36180 RPS 66272 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2702LRB103 36180 RPS 66272 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act is
5amended by changing Sections 10 and 17 as follows:
 
6    (225 ILCS 317/10)
7    Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the
8context otherwise requires:
9    "Designated certified person" means an individual who has
10met the qualifications set forth under Section 20.
11    "Fire protection system layout documents" means layout
12drawings, catalog information on standard products, and other
13construction data that provide detail on the location of
14risers, cross mains, branch lines, sprinklers, piping per
15applicable standard, and hanger locations. "Fire protection
16system layout documents" serve as a guide for fabrication and
17installation of a fire sprinkler system and shall be based
18upon applicable standards pursuant to Section 30.
19    "Fire sprinkler contractor" means a person who holds
20himself or herself out to be in the business of providing
21service for a fire sprinkler system or contracts with a person
22to provide service for a fire sprinkler system.
23    "Fire sprinkler contractor license" means a license issued

 

 

SB2702- 2 -LRB103 36180 RPS 66272 b

1to a qualified fire sprinkler contractor.
2    "Fire sprinkler inspector" means an individual who is
3qualified to perform routine inspection or testing of fire
4sprinkler systems pursuant to Section 17 and who is
5exclusively employed or contracted by a single fire sprinkler
6contractor.
7    "Fire sprinkler inspector license" means a license issued
8to a qualified fire sprinkler inspector.
9    "Fire sprinkler system" means any water-based automatic
10fire extinguishing system employing fire sprinklers, including
11accessory fire pumps and associated piping, fire standpipes,
12or underground fire main systems starting at the connection to
13the water service after the approved backflow device is
14installed under the requirements of the Illinois Plumbing Code
15and ending at the most remote fire sprinkler. "Fire sprinkler
16system" includes but is not limited to a fire sprinkler system
17in a residential, commercial, institutional, educational,
18public, or private occupancy. "Fire sprinkler system" does not
19include single sprinkler heads that are in a loop of the
20potable water system, as referenced in 77 Ill. Adm. Code
21890.1130 and 890.1200.
22    "Licensee" means a person or business organization
23licensed in accordance with this Act.
24    "NICET" means the National Institute for Certification in
25Engineering Technologies.
26    "Office" means the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

 

 

SB2702- 3 -LRB103 36180 RPS 66272 b

1    "Person" means an individual, group of individuals,
2association, trust, partnership, corporation, limited
3liability company, firm, business, person doing business under
4an assumed name, the State of Illinois, or department thereof,
5any other state-owned and operated institution, or any other
6entity.
7    "Responsible managing employee" means the individual
8designated by the fire sprinkler contractor that is not
9required to have a designated certified person under Section
10120.
11    "Routine inspection or testing" means inspection or
12testing to verify the condition of an existing fire sprinkler
13system at predetermined intervals in accordance with the
14standards of the National Fire Protection Association.
15    "Rules" means the rules adopted pursuant to this Act.
16    "Service" means work on a fire sprinkler system,
17including, but not limited to, installation, repair,
18inspection, testing, and maintenance, within the scope of this
19Act.
20    "Standards" means those standards or codes referenced in
21this Act or its rules.
22    "Supervision" means the direction and management by a
23designated certified person or responsible managing employee
24of the activities of non-certified personnel in the service of
25fire sprinkler systems.
26(Source: P.A. 102-612, eff. 8-27-21.)
 

 

 

SB2702- 4 -LRB103 36180 RPS 66272 b

1    (225 ILCS 317/17)
2    Sec. 17. Fire sprinkler inspector license; application;
3minimum qualifications for routine inspection or testing.
4    (a) Any individual who performs routine inspection or
5testing of any fire sprinkler system under this Act shall: (i)
6be exclusively employed by a single licensed fire sprinkler
7contractor; and (ii) meet the minimum qualifications of this
8Section except where the individual is exempted by subsection
9(c).
10    Beginning January 1, 2024, any individual who performs
11routine inspection or testing of any fire sprinkler system
12under this Act shall be individually licensed and possess on
13his or her person a fire sprinkler inspector license including
14a photo identification issued by the Office.
15    A person applying for an initial fire sprinkler inspector
16license or renewing a fire sprinkler inspector license shall
17demonstrate to the Office proof of minimum qualifications as
18required by subsection (b) of this Section, except where the
19individual is exempted by subsection (c).
20    (b) Any individual who performs routine inspection or
21testing of any fire sprinkler system under this Act shall
22possess proof of:
23        (1) current certification by a nationally recognized
24    certification organization, such as NICET certification in
25    Inspection and Testing of Water Based Systems, at an

 

 

SB2702- 5 -LRB103 36180 RPS 66272 b

1    appropriate level, or the equivalent; on or after the
2    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
3    assembly through December 31, 2022, an appropriate level
4    in NICET certification in Inspection and Testing of Water
5    Based Systems shall be level II; on and after January 1,
6    2023, an appropriate level in NICET certification in
7    Inspection and Testing of Water Based Systems shall be
8    level III;
9        (2) current ASSE 15010 certification in inspection,
10    testing, and maintenance for water-based fire protection
11    systems by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering;
12    or
13        (3) satisfactory completion of a certified sprinkler
14    fitter apprenticeship program approved by the U.S.
15    Department of Labor.
16    (c) The following are exemptions to the licensing
17requirements of this Section:
18        (1) State employees who perform routine inspection or
19    testing on behalf of State institutions and who meet the
20    requirements of subsection (b) need not be licensed under
21    this Section or employed by a fire sprinkler contractor
22    under this Act in order to perform routine inspection or
23    testing duties while engaged in the performance of their
24    official duties.
25        (2) The requirements of this Section do not apply to
26    individuals performing inspection or testing of fire

 

 

SB2702- 6 -LRB103 36180 RPS 66272 b

1    sprinkler systems on behalf of a municipality, a county, a
2    fire department, a fire protection district, or the Office
3    while engaged in the performance of their official duties.
4        (3) The requirements of this Section do not apply to a
5    stationary engineer, operating engineer, or other
6    individual employed on a full-time basis by the facility
7    owner or owner's representative performing weekly and
8    monthly inspections and tests in accordance with
9    applicable standards adopted under the rules.
10    (d) Each fire sprinkler inspector shall be subject to the
11requirements for license renewal and continuing education
12under Section 35.
13(Source: P.A. 102-612, eff. 8-27-21.)