1. A. All fire sprinkler systems/equipment shall be tagged or stenciled in the following manner.

   1. 1. Service Tags

      1. a. A service tag shall be completed and attached to a fire sprinkler system, fire pump and fire hoses after it has been certified, hydrostatically tested, inspected, installed, maintained or serviced indicating all work that has been done. Fire hoses shall be stenciled in ink after being hydrostatically tested.
      2. b. Service tags shall be green in color. Fire hoses shall be stenciled in a contrasting color to that of the hose.

      3. c. The service tag shall be attached at the following locations.

         1. i. For fire sprinkler systems, the tag shall be attached at the riser.
         2. ii. For fire pumps, the tag shall be attached at pump housing cover.
         3. iii. For fire hoses, the tag shall be located at the female coupling.
         4. iv. For standpipes, the tag shall be attached at the main control valve.
         5. v. For fire hoses, the stencil shall be located at both couplings.
      4. d. The service tag shall be attached in such a way as to not hamper the actuation and operation of the equipment or system.
      5. e. A service tag shall be attached on all equipment/systems found to be in proper working condition and which are found to be in an operational condition per the inspection, testing and maintenance chapters of the applicable NFPA codes and standards. This tag shall be used for new installations and shall be in addition to the installation placard provided for in these rules. This tag shall also be used for all service and maintenance where the system is found to meet the above conditions.

      6. f. Service tags must contain all of the information listed below:

         1. i. "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL" (all capital letters in bold face type);
         2. ii. servicing firm's name, physical address and telephone number;
         3. iii. servicing firm's State Fire Marshal certificate number;
         4. iv. employee's name and State Fire Marshal license number (if applicable) to be printed on tag either at the time of service or preprinted;
         5. v. employee's signature to be signed at time of installation, certification or service (no preprinted signatures nor initials are permitted);
         6. vi. day, month and year in which the installation, certification or service was performed (must be punched through service tag at designated marks for month and year; designated marks for month and year shall only be punched once per tag);

         7. vii. type of work performed. Only "Installation", "Certification", and "Service" shall be noted on tag for type of work performed (must be punched through the service tag):

            1. (a). "Installation" shall be punched on the tag when the fire protection system or equipment is initially placed into service or after an addition or extension to the system has been made. Punching "Installation" indicates the initial certification of the system or equipment has been completed;
            2. (b). "Certification" shall be punched on the tag when the fire sprinkler system or equipment has its annual inspection. Punching "Certification" indicates that any required service performed to the system or equipment at the time has been completed;
            3. (c). "Service" shall be punched on the tag when the fire sprinkler system or equipment is repaired or replaced to ensure proper operation in between required certification periods;
            4. (d). specifics as to the type of work performed shall be noted on rear of tag, (i.e., new installation, annual certification, service, etc);
         8. viii. model number and manufacturer of the sprinkler valve(s);
         9. ix. business owner or tenant and physical address of where the sprinkler system is located (to be noted on rear of tag).
      7. g. Other information may be permitted on the tag after a review and approval by the fire marshal. A request for additional information shall be made to the fire marshal in writing with a sample tag indicating the requested additions.
      8. h. Stenciled information on fire hoses shall include the test pressure, date of test and firm license number.

   2. 2. Partial Impairment Tags (Yellow Tags)

      1. a. All firms engaged in the activity of certifying, hydrostatic testing, inspecting, installing, maintaining, planning or servicing of fire sprinkler system/equipment and fire hoses shall be allowed to have a partial impairment tag, to be yellow in color, which is to be used when minor deficiencies are found on the equipment or system. The partial impairment tag is in addition to the requirement of having a service tag and impairment tag.
      2. b. A partial impairment tag may be placed on all equipment or systems in which there is a deficiency with the equipment or system but where the equipment or system is still functional. This would include situations where routine service is needed but has not been approved by the owner of the equipment or system as well as systems which are required to be off-sited monitored but monitoring is not provided.
      3. c. A partial impairment tag shall not remain on equipment or a system for more than 60 days. If the problem is not corrected after 60 days the certified firm shall be required to notify, in writing, the Office of State Fire Marshal Inspection Section. The sprinkler firm does not have to physically return to the building for re-inspection. The mailing of the impairment notice is sufficient.

      4. d. Partial impairment tags must contain all of the information listed below:

         1. i. "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL" (all capital letters in bold face type);
         2. ii. servicing firm's name, physical address and telephone number;
         3. iii. fire sprinkler firm's State Fire Marshal certificate number;
         4. iv. employee's name and State Fire Marshal license number (if applicable) to be printed on tag either at the time of service or preprinted;
         5. v. employee's signature to be signed at time of installation, certification or service (no preprinted signatures nor initials are permitted);
         6. vi. day, month and year in which the impairment was found (to be punched through service tag at designated marks for month and year; designated marks for month and year shall only be punched once per tag);
         7. vii. type of impairment found (to be hand written on rear of tag);If additional space is needed to note the impairments, then multiple tags shall be used noting 1 of 2, 2 of 2, etc.;
         8. viii model number and manufacturer of the sprinkler valve;
         9. ix. business owner or tenant and physical address of where the sprinkler system is located (to be noted on rear of tag).

   3. 3. Impairment Tags (Red Tags)

      1. a. All firms engaged in the activity of certifying, hydrostatic testing, inspecting, installing, maintaining, planning or servicing of fire sprinkler systems/equipment shall have an impairment tag, to be red in color, which is to be used when major deficiencies are found on these systems or equipment.
      2. b. An impairment tag shall be placed on all fire sprinkler systems/equipment upon discovery that the system or equipment is impaired to the point that life safety is at risk or to the point that the automatic or manual discharge system will be prevented from functioning as intended.
      3. c. Impairment tags shall also be placed on any equipment or system where life safety is in imminent danger.
      4. d. A red tag is not required to be placed on a fire hose which fails hydrostatic testing, but rather, the fire hose shall be removed from service at the owner's direction.
      5. e. Written notice shall be made to the owner and to the Office of State Fire Marshal Inspection Section by the certified firm as soon as is practically possible but shall not exceed two working days after the system or equipment is red tagged. Notification to the Office of State Fire Marshal is not needed for fire hoses removed from service. Written notification can be by electronic mail or facsimile. The Office of State Fire Marshal shall provide a form for notification. Additional notification (written or verbally) should be made to the local fire department when a system is red tagged.

      6. f. Impairment tags must contain all of the information listed below:

         1. i. "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL" (all capital letters in bold face type);
         2. ii. fire sprinkler firm's name, physical address and telephone number;
         3. iii. fire sprinkler firm's State Fire Marshal certificate number;
         4. iv. employee's name and State Fire Marshal license number (if applicable) to be printed on tag either at the time of service or preprinted;
         5. v. employee's signature to be signed at time of installation, certification or service (no preprinted signatures nor initials are permitted);
         6. vi. day, month and year in which the inspection was performed (to be punched through service tag at designated marks for month and year; designated marks for month and year shall only be punched once per tag);
         7. vii. type of impairment found (to be hand written on rear of tag);If additional space is needed to note the impairments, then multiple tags shall be used noting 1 of 2, 2 of 2, etc.;
         8. viii. model number and manufacturer of the sprinkler valve(s);
         9. ix. business owner or tenant and physical address of where the sprinkler system is located (to be noted on rear of tag).
      7. g. Notification of fire protection equipment/systems inspections where no deficiencies are found need not be sent to the Office of State Fire Marshal unless specifically requested.

   4. 4. Written Notification. The following information is required to be sent when written notification is made to the Office of State Fire Marshal Inspection Section:

      1. a. name, address, and telephone number of the business owner or tenant of where the sprinkler system is located;
      2. b. name, address, telephone number, and certificate number of the firm noting the impairment;
      3. c. name and license number (if applicable) of the employee who performed the certification, inspection, maintenance, or service;
      4. d. type of system (manufacturer and model number should also be included);
      5. e. code, inspection chapter and year edition firm used for inspection;
      6. f. reason for the impairment. Note: A copy of the inspection or service report shall be included; and
      7. g. date system or equipment was red or yellow tagged.

   5. 5. Non-Required and/or Non-Conforming Systems. Where a fire protection system is non-required or permitted to be installed in a non-conforming state by this office or is both non-required and non-conforming then the following additions shall be made to the guidelines set forth in this Section.

      1. a. Each firm shall stamp or write on the installation tag and/or service tag one of the following statement as applicable:

         1. i. NON-REQUIRED SYSTEM; or
         2. ii. NON-CONFORMING SYSTEM; or
         3. iii. NON-REQUIRED/NON-CONFORMING SYSTEM.
      2. b. Such print or stamp shall be in all capital letting and be written or stamped so as to not obscure other information provided on the tag.
      3. c. This does not supersede the requirements to place a yellow or red tag on a system that is impaired in any way.

   6. 6. Miscellaneous Provisions

      1. a. On all fire sprinkler systems, a plastic pocket pouch/sleeve shall also be attached to the riser where all tags and inspection reports shall be maintained for a period of one year after the system's annual certification. Upon a new annual certification, all previous service tags and inspection reports may be removed and given to the owner to keep on file. This requirement does not apply to fire hoses.
      2. b. All tags must be card stock, plastic, vinyl, tyevak or metal in order to maintain the running record for the system. One sided or self adhesive service tags are not permitted except for fire protection equipment or systems in areas subject to adverse conditions. Self adhesive tags shall contain all of the information required on hanging tags.
      3. c. All tags shall be 5 1/4 inches in height and
         2 5/8 inches in width.
      4. d. Firms shall have their tags printed and one forwarded to the State Fire Marshal's Licensing Section for approval and incorporation in the firm's file.
      5. e. All tags remain the property of the certified firm and may be removed only by licensed employees of a certified firm or employees of the State Fire Marshal's Office and certified fire prevention bureaus.

      6. f. The following table outlines which individual may place a tag on a fire sprinkler system.

         	Installation	Annual Certification	Service	Acceptance Testing	Impairment
         Qualifier	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
         Inspector	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
         Foreman	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:1664.2 et seq.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Fire Marshal, LR 35:682 (April 2009).