1. (a) All fire protection sprinkler systems installed under the Insurance Code, Article 5.43-3, must be installed under the supervision of the appropriate licensed responsible managing employee.

   1. (1) An "RME-General" may supervise the installation of any fire protection sprinkler system including one- and two-family dwellings.
   2. (2) An "RME-Dwelling" may only supervise the installation of a fire protection sprinkler system in one- and two-family dwellings.
   3. (3) An "RME-Underground Fire Main" may only supervise the installation of an assembly of underground piping or conduits, that conveys water with or without other agents, used as an integral part of any type of fire protection sprinkler system.

2. (b) Upon completion of the installation, the licensed responsible managing employee shall have affixed a contractor's material and test certificate for aboveground and/or underground piping on or near the system riser. If the adopted installation standard does not require testing, all other sections except the testing portion of the contractor's material and test certificate must still be completed. The contractor's material and test certificate shall be obtained from the state fire marshal's office. The certificate shall be distributed as follows:

   1. (1) original copy kept at the site after completion of the installation;
   2. (2) second copy retained by the installing company at its place of business in a separate file used exclusively by that firm to retain all "Contractor's Material and Test Certificates." The certificates shall be available for examination by the state fire marshal or the state fire marshal's representative upon request. The certificates shall be retained for the life of the system; and
   3. (3) third copy to be sent to the local authority having jurisdiction within 10 days after completion of the installation.
3. (c) Service, maintenance, or testing, when conducted by someone other than an owner, must be conducted by a registered firm and in compliance with the appropriate adopted standards. After January 1, 2009, the inspection, test and maintenance service of a fire protection sprinkler system, except a one- and two-family dwelling or an underground fire main, must be performed by an individual holding a current RME-General Inspector or RME-General license. A visual inspection not accompanied by service, maintenance, testing, or certification does not require a certificate of registration.
4. (d) Complete records shall be kept of all service, maintenance, testing, and certification operations of the firm. The records shall be available for examination by the state fire marshal or his representative.
5. (e) All vehicles used in service, maintenance, testing, or certification activities shall prominently display the company name, telephone number, and certificate of registration number. The numbers and letters must be at least two inches in height and must be permanently affixed or magnetically attached to a side panel and/or front door panel in a color contrasting with the background color of the vehicle. The certificate of registration number shall be designated as: Texas Fire Sprinkler Registration (number) or it may be abbreviated to Tex: SCR (number).

6. (f) A premium reduction certification inspection for one- and two-family dwellings must meet the following requirements:

   1. (1) Only a dwelling type responsible managing employee is authorized to conduct a premium reduction certification inspection of a fire protection sprinkler system in a one- or two-family dwelling.
   2. (2) The inspection will be conducted in accordance with the laws regulating the Texas Department of Insurance and this chapter.
   3. (3) The system will be inspected to meet the minimum standards of the latest edition of NFPA 13D or the edition indicated in the adopted standards section of this chapter.
7. (g) Each registered firm must employ at least one full-time RME-General or RME-Dwelling licensee at each business office where fire protection sprinkler system planning is performed, who is appropriately licensed to conduct the business performed therein.
8. (h) The planning of an automatic fire protection sprinkler system shall be performed under the direct supervision of the appropriately licensed RME.
9. (i) The planning, installation or service of a fire protection sprinkler system must be in accordance with the minimum requirements of the applicable adopted standards in §34.707 of this subchapter (relating to Adopted Standards) except when the plan, installation or service complies with a more recent edition of the standard that has been adopted by the political subdivision in which the system is installed.

Source Note:The provisions of this §34.716 adopted to be effective May 10, 1984, 9 TexReg 2380; amended to be effective October 17, 1986, 11 TexReg 4161; amended to be effective April 14, 1989, 14 TexReg 1644; transferred effective September 1, 1991, as published in the Texas Register March 6, 1992, 17 TexReg 1745; amended to be effective August 26, 1996, 21 TexReg 7663; transferred effective September 1, 1997, as published in the Texas Register November 14, 1997, 22 TexReg 11091; amended to be effective April 1, 2006, 31 TexReg 1716; amended to be effective March 23, 2008, 33 TexReg 2312.