Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 120-3-23-.04 - Requirements for Portable Fire Extinguisher License

A firm may obtain a license to install, inspect, repair, recharge, service or test portable fire extinguishers upon meeting the following requirements:

(a) The applicant for a license to install, inspect, service and test portable fire extinguishers has completed an application form acceptable to the Commissioner.

(b) The applicant for a license to install, inspect, service and test portable fire extinguishers has paid an annual license fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) and a one time non-refundable filing fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the Commissioner.

(c) The applicant for a license to install, inspect, service and test portable fire extinguishers has submitted evidence of the firm's registration as a current Georgia Corporation.

(d) The applicant for a license to install, inspect, service and test portable fire extinguishers has submitted to the Commissioner a certificate of liability insurance listing the physical address of the business that provides proof of a valid comprehensive liability insurance policy purchased from an insurer or surplus lines broker authorized to do business in Georgia. The certificate of liability insurance shall list the Insurance Commissioner as the certificate holder to the address of the Safety Fire Division, 2 Martin Luther King Drive, 620 West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334. The coverage must include bodily injury and property damage, products liability, completed operations, and contractual liability. The minimum amount of said coverage shall be one million dollars ($1,000,000.00), provided, however, the amount of insurance required may be higher if so specified by the Commissioner. An insurer which provides such coverage shall notify the Commissioner of any change in coverage.

(e) The applicant for a license to install, inspect, service and test portable fire extinguishers has submitted to the State Fire Marshal's Office the following:

1. A letter on company letter head indicating the areas the company intends to provide services.

2. A minimum of three (3) samples of all service tags, maintenance labels, test labels, service collars, non-compliance tags and high pressure cylinder stamps to be used by the company as indicated by the above service letter received, meeting the requirements of Rule 120-3-23-.14. Where stamps are allowed to utilized, ink stamped impressions showing the applicants DOT (RIN) number shall be submitted with a copy of the firm's DOT approvals and renewals. Tags, labels and collars may be printed and established for any period of time. However, after each printing, a minimum of three newly printed sample tags, labels and collars must be forwarded to the State Fire Marshal's office as indicated in this paragraph and under Rule 120-3-23-.14.

(f) The applicant for a license to install, inspect, service or test portable fire extinguishers has submitted to the Commissioner evidence of compliance with one of the following:

1. The applicant has maintained a valid permit issued by the Commissioner to install, inspect, service or test portable fire extinguishers for a minimum of a three year period; or

2. Proof of one full time employee of the firm that has maintained a valid permit issued by the Commissioner to install, inspect, service or test portable fire extinguishers for a minimum of a three year period.

(g) The applicant for a license to install, inspect, service or test portable fire extinguishers has submitted to the Commissioner evidence of compliance with one of the following:

1. Current certification as a Portable Fire Extinguisher Technician by the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED); or

2. Proof of one full time employee of the firm with documentation of current certification as a Portable Fire Extinguisher Technician by the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED); or

3. Current certification or testing by other nationally recognized organizations as deemed appropriate and acceptable by the Commissioner; or

4. Proof of one full time employee of the firm with documentation of current certification or testing by other nationally recognized organizations as deemed appropriate and acceptable by the Commissioner; or

5. Current certification from the manufacturer of the portable fire extinguisher denoting the portable fire extinguisher and areas in which the applicant has been successfully trained and certified.

6. Proof of one full time employee of the firm with current certification from the manufacturer of the portable fire extinguisher denoting the portable fire extinguisher and areas in which the applicant has been successfully trained and certified.

(h) An inspection by means as determined by the Commissioner has determined that the minimum equipment listed below for the activities the applicant requested to be licensed to perform was present at the service location and/or in each mobile service vehicle utilized by the firm.

1. Proper wrenches with non-serrated jaws or strap wrenches.

2. Non-serrated needle nose pliers or valve puller.

3. Inspection light suitable for internal inspection of extinguisher cylinders.

4. Accurate weighing scales in pound increments for extinguisher cylinder inspection and filling.

5. Accurate weighing scales in ounce increments for extinguisher cartridge inspection and/or filling.

6. Fixed vise appropriately sized for its intended use.

7. A supply of extinguishing agent(s) or compatibly listed agent(s) appropriate for the types of extinguishers the firm requests to fill, and facilities for the proper storage of extinguishing agents as set forth by the specifications from the agent manufacturer.

8. Commercial dry nitrogen supply with a dew point of -60°F (-51°C) or lower (CGA nitrogen specification G10.1, grades D through P) and pressure regulator with supply and regulated pressure gages calibrated and suitable for properly pressurizing portable fire extinguishers.

9. Equipment shall be on hand at the stationary facility location and each service vehicle for leak testing pressurized extinguishers. Use of a spray bottle containing a soap solution for leak testing pressurized extinguishers is permitted.

10. A supply of adapters, fittings, tools and equipment required for properly servicing, repairing, maintaining and/or recharging all extinguishers the firm solicits or accepts for service, repair, maintenance or recharge. These needs shall be based on the service or recharge specifications of the extinguisher manufacturer and is not intended to prohibit the use of compatibly listed parts meeting the specifications of the extinguisher manufacturer.

11. Closed recovery system(s) and storage to remove and store dry chemicals and/or clean agent from extinguisher cylinders during servicing.

12. Inventory of manufacturer or compatibly listed spare parts for all extinguishers the firm solicits or accepts for service, repair, maintenance or recharge based on the service or recharge specifications of the extinguisher manufacturer.

13. A copy of the applicable standards of the National Fire Protection Association currently adopted by the Commissioner, and copies of installation, service and maintenance manuals from the manufacturer of each make or brand of extinguisher or system the firm installs, services, recharges, repairs, or maintains.

14. A supply of required service, maintenance and test tags meeting the provisions of Rule 120-3-23-.14 of this Chapter.

15. Appropriate replacement extinguishers for exchange if extinguishers are removed for service.

(i) If the applicant includes in the request for a license the request for hydrostatic testing of low pressure DOT or non-DOT regulated extinguisher cylinders, in addition to the appropriate minimum equipment listed in subparagraphs (h)1.-15., the applicant must possess low pressure hydrostatic testing equipment as follows:

1. Appropriate, hydrostatic test equipment for low-pressure extinguishercylinders and hoses equipped with a shutoff nozzle as well as manuals in accordance with DOT and the applicable NFPA Standards.

2. Approved drying method for low-pressure extinguishercylinders and hoses equipped with a shutoff nozzle after the hydrostatic test in accordance with DOT requirements and NFPA 10.

3. Adequate safety cage for hydrostatic testing of low pressure extinguishercylinders and hoses equipped with a shutoff nozzle in accordance with DOT requirements and NFPA 10.

4. Low-pressure hydrostatic test labels for DOT or non-DOT regulated extinguisher cylinders containing at least the minimum information required by paragraph (5) of Rule 120-3-23-.14.

Exception to (i): The provisions in subparagraph (i) shall not apply to a primary firm that accepts low-pressure extinguisher cylinders for hydrostatic testing by a secondary firm which is licensed and equipped to provide this service. The secondary firm actually hydrostatically testing the cylinder must properly label the cylinder in conformance with paragraph (5) of Rule 120-3-23-.14 of this Chapter. The primary firm must properly tag the fire extinguisher in accordance with Rule 120-3-23-.14.

(j) If the applicant includes in the request for a license for the hydrostatic testing of high-pressure DOT regulated extinguisher cylinders, in addition to the appropriate minimum equipment listed in subparagraphs (h)1.-15., the applicant must submit with the application a copy of its DOT approvals and renewals.

Exception: The provisions in subparagraph (j) shall not apply to a firm that accepts high-pressure cylinders for hydrostatic testing by another firm which is licensed and equipped to provide this service. The firm actually hydrostatically testing the cylinder must properly stamp the cylinder with their current DOT (RIN) number when required by DOT regulations.

(k) If the applicant includes in the request for a license activities that involve the transfer of clean agent fire suppression agents, in addition to the minimum equipment listed in subparagraphs (h)1.-15., the applicant must have the following equipment:

1. Listed clean agent filling equipment/pumping station and/or closed recovery system at the clean agent recharge location only for each type of clean agent being utilized.

2. Chemical supply tank(s) for each type of clean agent extinguisher being serviced.

Exception to (k): The provisions in (k) shall not apply to the primary firm that accepts clean agent extinguishers for recharge by a secondary firm which is licensed and equipped to provide this service. The secondary firm actually recharging and servicing the extinguisher must properly install a service collar onto the clean agent extinguisher cylinder in conformance with paragraph (5) of Rule 120-3-23-.14 of this Chapter. The primary firm must tag the clean agent fire extinguisher after conducting a proper maintenance inspection on the clean agent fire extinguisher.

(l) If the applicant includes in the request for a license the service, maintenance, repair or recharge of CO₂ fire extinguishers the following equipment shall be provided at the service location(s) in addition to the appropriate minimum equipment listed in subparagraphs (h)1.-15., the firm must have the following equipment:

1. A CO₂ cascade system for proper filling of CO₂ portable fire extinguisher cylinders; or

2. An approved electric pump system for proper filling of CO₂ portable fire extinguisher cylinders; or

3. An approved pneumatic pump system for proper filling of CO₂ portable fire extinguishers cylinders; or

4. An alternate system for proper filling of CO₂ portable fire extinguisher cylinders based on new technology may be used provided the level of safety prescribed by the appropriate standard is not lowered and the system is approved by the Commissioner after being evaluated.

5. If the applicant includes in the request for a license to service or recharge CO₂ fire extinguishers, then in addition to one of the four items above, equipment which allows for the complete immersion of the valve assembly shall be on hand at the stationary facility location for leak testing pressurized CO₂ portable fire extinguisher cylinders.

Exception to (l): The provisions in (l) shall not apply to a primary firm that accepts CO₂ extinguishers for recharge by secondary firm which is licensed and equipped to provide this service provided the primary firm tags the CO₂ fire extinguisher after conducting a proper maintenance inspection on the CO₂ fire extinguisher.

(m) Nothing shall preclude the Commissioner from verifying by an announced or unannounced re-inspection of the service location and/or in each mobile service vehicle utilized by the firm that such equipment listed and required in subparagraphs (h) through (l) exists and is readily available. The Commissioner may give the registered agent of the firm up to 30 days as deemed appropriate by him/her to correct any deficiencies discovered by such inspection. Furthermore, nothing shall preclude the Commissioner from verifying such evidence of notification, certification or testing as required in subparagraph (g) and experience as required in subparagraph (f).

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 120-3-23-.04

O.C.G.A. Secs. 25-2-4, 25-12-4, 25-12-7, 25-12-9 to 25-12-11, 25-12-13, 25-12-15, 33-2-9, 50-13-21.

Original Rule entitled "Adopted Codes and Standards"adopted. F. July 23, 1992; eff. August 12, 1992. Repealed: New Rule entitled "Requirements for Portable Fire Extinguisher License"adopted. F. Oct. 11, 2007; eff. Oct. 31, 2007.