20-22-607. Arkansas Fire Protection Licensing Board — Powers and duties.

20-22-607. Arkansas Fire Protection Licensing Board — Powers and duties. The Arkansas Fire Protection Licensing Board shall: (1) Formulate and administer policies as may be determined necessary for the protection and preservation of life and property in regard to: (A) The registration of firms engaging in the business of installing, inspecting, or servicing portable fire extinguishers and of firms engaging or in the business of installing, inspecting, and servicing fixed fire protection systems; (B) The registration of firms engaging in the business of hydrostatic testing of portable fire extinguishers. However, no person or firm shall be granted a Class A hydrostatic testing certificate until the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the board that the test equipment of the applicant has been tested and certified by the United States Department of Transportation; (C) The examination and licensure of persons applying for a license to install, inspect, or service portable fire extinguishers and of a person applying for a license to install, inspect, or service fixed fire protection systems; (D) The registration of firms engaging in the business of selling, system layout, installing, servicing, inspecting, or any aspect of fire protection sprinkler systems, including standpipe, fire pumps, and hose systems; (E) The examination and licensure of a person applying for a license as a responsible managing employee for the purpose of fire protection sprinkler system business, including designing, inspecting, installing, system layout, or servicing fire protection sprinkler systems, including standpipe, fire pumps, and hose systems; (F) The examination and licensure of a person applying for a license as a fire protection sprinkler systems inspector for the purpose of servicing or inspecting fire protection sprinkler systems, including standpipe, fire pumps, and hose systems; and (G) The examination and licensure of a person applying for a license as a fire protection sprinkler system sprinkler fitter or apprentice for the purpose of installing, servicing, or placing fire protection sprinkler systems in service, including without limitation standpipe, fire pumps, and hose systems; (2) Establish reasonable qualifications for firms and individuals for the issuance of a certificate of registration or individual license to engage in any aspect of the business of portable fire extinguishers, fixed fire protection systems, or fire protection sprinkler systems; (3) Conduct examinations to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of individual applicants to install or service portable fire extinguishers, install or service fixed fire protection systems, or install, service, inspect, or design fire protection sprinkler systems; (4) Issue certificates of registration for those firms that qualify and individual licenses and permits to individuals that qualify to engage in the business and activity of installing and servicing portable fire extinguishers, installing and servicing fixed fire protection systems, and designing, installing, inspecting, or servicing fire protection sprinkler systems and issue licenses or permits to those firms and individuals qualifying to perform hydrostatic testing of fire extinguisher cylinders; (5) Evaluate the qualifications of firms seeking approval as testing laboratories for portable fire extinguishers; and (6)(A) Regulate and license as a part of a fire protection sprinkler system the installation, service, and maintenance of a standpipe and hose system as defined under the National Fire Protection Association pamphlet number fourteen (No. 14): Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems. (B)(i) The installation, service, and maintenance of a standpipe and hose system shall be performed by a licensed fire protection sprinkler contractor. A licensed fire protection sprinkler contractor is not required to perform hydrostatic testing of the standpipe hose, repair of the standpipe hose, or maintenance of the standpipe hose. (ii) The standpipe and hose system shall be: (a) Designed, installed, and tested in accordance with the standards adopted in the Rules and Regulations for Sprinkler Systems of the board and in accordance with the applicable National Fire Protection Association pamphlets; and (b) Designed by an Arkansas-licensed responsible managing employee or a registered professional engineer licensed by the State of Arkansas.