Florida Senate - 2021                              CS for SB 286
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Regulated Industries; and Senator Perry
       
       
       
       
       
       580-02308-21                                           2021286c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to fire sprinklers; amending s.
    3         633.102, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
    4         “Contractor V”; authorizing certain fire protection
    5         system contractors to design certain systems; revising
    6         the definition of the term “fire protection system”;
    7         providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Subsections (3) and (11) of section 633.102,
   12  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   13         633.102 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
   14         (3)(a) “Contractor I” means a contractor whose business
   15  includes the execution of contracts requiring the ability to lay
   16  out, fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service all
   17  types of fire protection systems, excluding preengineered
   18  systems.
   19         (b) “Contractor II” means a contractor whose business is
   20  limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to
   21  lay out, fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service
   22  water sprinkler systems, water spray systems, foam-water
   23  sprinkler systems, foam-water spray systems, standpipes,
   24  combination standpipes and sprinkler risers, all piping that is
   25  an integral part of the system beginning at the point of service
   26  as defined in this section, sprinkler tank heaters, air lines,
   27  thermal systems used in connection with sprinklers, and tanks
   28  and pumps connected thereto, excluding preengineered systems.
   29         (c) “Contractor III” means a contractor whose business is
   30  limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to
   31  fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service carbon
   32  dioxide systems, foam extinguishing systems, dry chemical
   33  systems, and Halon and other chemical systems, excluding
   34  preengineered systems.
   35         (d) “Contractor IV” means a contractor whose business is
   36  limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to
   37  lay out, fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service
   38  automatic fire sprinkler systems for detached one-family
   39  dwellings, detached two-family dwellings, and mobile homes,
   40  excluding preengineered systems and excluding single-family
   41  homes in cluster units, such as apartments, condominiums, and
   42  assisted living facilities or any building that is connected to
   43  other dwellings. A Contractor IV is limited to the scope of
   44  practice specified in NFPA 13D.
   45         (e) “Contractor V” means a contractor whose business is
   46  limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to
   47  fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service the
   48  underground piping for a fire protection system using water as
   49  the extinguishing agent beginning at the point of service as
   50  defined in this act and ending no more than 1 foot above the
   51  finished floor. A Contractor V may inspect underground piping
   52  for a water-based fire protection system under the direction of
   53  a Contractor I or Contractor II.
   54  
   55  The definitions in This subsection may not be construed to
   56  include engineers or architects within the defined terms and
   57  does do not limit or prohibit a licensed fire protection
   58  engineer or architect with fire protection design experience
   59  from designing any type of fire protection system. A distinction
   60  is made between system design concepts prepared by the design
   61  professional and system layout as defined in this section and
   62  typically prepared by the contractor. However, a person
   63  certified under this chapter as a Contractor I or, Contractor
   64  II, or Contractor IV under this chapter may design new fire
   65  protection systems of 49 or fewer sprinklers;, and may design
   66  the alteration of an existing fire sprinkler system if the
   67  alteration consists of the relocation, addition, or deletion of
   68  not more than 49 or fewer sprinklers, notwithstanding the size
   69  of the existing fire sprinkler system; or may design the
   70  alteration of an existing fire sprinkler system if the
   71  alteration consists of the relocation or deletion of 249 or
   72  fewer sprinklers, notwithstanding the size of the existing fire
   73  sprinkler system, if there is no change of occupancy of the
   74  affected areas, as defined in the Florida Building Code and the
   75  Florida Fire Prevention Code, and there is no change in the
   76  water demand as defined in NFPA 13, “Standard for the
   77  Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and if the occupancy hazard
   78  classification as defined in NFPA 13 is reduced or remains the
   79  same as a result of the alteration. A person certified as a
   80  Contractor I, Contractor II, or Contractor IV may design a new
   81  fire protection system or design the alteration of an existing
   82  fire protection system, the scope of which complies with NFPA
   83  13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One-
   84  and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, as adopted by
   85  the State Fire Marshal, notwithstanding the number of fire
   86  sprinklers. Contractor-developed plans may not be required by
   87  any local permitting authority to be sealed by a registered
   88  professional engineer.
   89         (11) “Fire protection system” means a system individually
   90  designed to protect the interior or exterior of a specific
   91  building or buildings, structure, or other special hazard from
   92  fire. Such systems include, but are not limited to, water
   93  sprinkler systems, water spray systems, foam-water sprinkler
   94  systems, foam-water spray systems, carbon dioxide systems, foam
   95  extinguishing systems, dry chemical systems, and Halon and other
   96  chemical systems used for fire protection use. Such systems also
   97  include any overhead and underground fire mains, fire hydrants
   98  and hydrant mains, standpipes and hoses connected to sprinkler
   99  systems, sprinkler tank heaters, air lines, thermal systems used
  100  in connection with fire sprinkler systems, and tanks providing
  101  water supply or pump fuel, including piping for such tanks, and
  102  pumps connected to fire sprinkler systems.
  103         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.