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.