Public Act 101-0626
 
SB0659 EnrolledLRB101 04420 JRG 49428 b



    AN ACT concerning regulation.

 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly: 



 
    Section 5. The Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act is 
amended  by changing Section 30 as follows:
 



    (225 ILCS 317/30)


    Sec. 30. Requirements for the installation, repair, 
inspection, and testing of fire protection
systems.

    (a) Equipment shall be listed by a nationally recognized 
testing laboratory,
such as
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. or 
Factory Mutual Laboratories, Inc., or shall
comply with 
nationally
accepted standards. The State Fire Marshal shall 
adopt by rule procedures for
determining
whether a laboratory 
is
nationally recognized, taking into account the laboratory's 
facilities,
procedures, use of nationally
recognized 
standards, and any other criteria reasonably calculated to 
reach an
informed
determination.

    (b) Equipment shall be installed in accordance with the 
applicable standards
of the National
Fire Protection 
Association and the manufacturer's specifications.

    (c) The contractor shall furnish the user with operating 
instructions for
all equipment
installed, together with a 
diagram of the final installation.

    (d) All fire sprinkler systems shall have a backflow 
prevention device or,
in a municipality with a population over 
500,000, a double detector check
assembly installed by a 
licensed plumber before the fire sprinkler system
connection to 
the water service.  Connection to the backflow prevention device

or, in a municipality with a population over 500,000, a double 
detector
assembly shall be done in a manner consistent with the 
Department of Public
Health's Plumbing Code.

    (e) This licensing Act is not intended to require any 
additional fire
inspections at State level.

    (f) Before January 1, 2022, inspection Inspections and 
testing of existing fire sprinkler systems and control 
equipment must be performed by a licensee or an individual 
employed or contracted by a licensee.  Any individual who 
performs inspection and testing duties under this subsection 
(f) must possess proof of (i) certification by a nationally 
recognized certification organization at an appropriate level, 
such as NICET Level II in Inspection and Testing of Water Based 
Systems or the equivalent, (ii) a valid ASSE 15010 
certification in "inspection, testing and maintenance for 
water-based fire protection systems", or (iii) by January 1, 
2009 or (ii) satisfactory completion of a certified sprinkler 
fitter apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department 
of Labor.  State employees who perform inspections and testing 
on behalf of State institutions and who meet all other 
requirements of this subsection (f) need not be licensed under 
this Act or employed by a licensee under this Act in order to 
perform inspection and testing duties under this subsection 
(f). The requirements of this subsection (f) do not apply to 
individuals performing inspections or testing of fire 
sprinkler systems on behalf of a municipality,  a county, a fire 
protection district, or the Office of the State Fire Marshal. 
This subsection (f) does not apply to a stationary engineer, 
operating engineer, or other individual employed on a full-time 
basis by the facility owner or owner's representative 
performing cursory
weekly and monthly inspections and tests of 
gauges and control valves conducted in
accordance with 
applicable the standards of the National Fire Protection 
Association standards.

    Before January 1, 2022, a A copy of the inspection report 
for an inspection performed pursuant to this subsection (f) 
must be forwarded by the entity performing the inspection to 
the local fire department or fire protection district in which 
the sprinkler system is located. The inspection report must 
include the NICET Level II Inspection and Testing of Water 
Based Systems certification number, ASSE 15010 certification 
number for "inspection, testing and maintenance for 
water-based fire protection systems", or journeymen number of 
the person performing the inspection.
    After December 31, 2021, inspection and testing of existing 
fire sprinkler systems and control equipment must be performed 
by a licensee or an individual employed or contracted by a 
licensee. Any individual who performs inspection and testing 
duties under this subsection (f) must possess proof of (i) 
certification by a nationally recognized certification 
organization at an appropriate level, such as NICET Level III 
in Inspection and Testing of Water Based Systems or the 
equivalent, (ii) a valid ASSE 15010 certification in 
"inspection, testing and maintenance for water-based fire 
protection systems", or (iii) satisfactory completion of a 
certified sprinkler fitter apprenticeship program approved by 
the United States Department of Labor. State employees who 
perform inspections and testing on behalf of State institutions 
and who meet all other requirements of this subsection (f) need 
not be licensed under this Act or employed by a licensee under 
this Act in order to perform inspection and testing duties 
under this subsection (f). The requirements of this subsection 
(f) do not apply to individuals performing inspections or 
testing of fire sprinkler systems on behalf of a municipality, 
a county, a fire protection district, or the Office of the 
State Fire Marshal. This subsection (f) does not apply to a 
stationary engineer, operating engineer, or other individual 
employed on a full-time basis by the facility owner or owner's 
representative performing
weekly and monthly inspections and 
tests in
accordance with applicable National Fire Protection 
Association standards. 
    After December 31, 2021, a copy of the inspection report 
for an inspection performed pursuant to this subsection (f) 
must be forwarded by the entity performing the inspection to 
the local fire department or fire protection district in which 
the sprinkler system is located. The inspection report must 
include the NICET Level III Inspection and Testing of Water 
Based Systems certification number, ASSE 15010 certification 
number for "inspection, testing and maintenance for 
water-based fire protection systems", or journeymen number of 
the person performing the inspection. 
(Source: P.A. 96-256, eff. 1-1-10; 97-112, eff. 7-14-11.)


 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect June 1, 
2020.