OR Fire Sprinkler cheat sheet

Contractor license scope: a licensed sprinkler contractor may contract for layout, installation, alteration, repair, and testing of water-based automatic fire extinguishing systems; separate certification is required for the individual fitter performing the work.

Oregon requires a business-level Certificate of Competency (fire sprinkler contractor) issued by the State Fire Marshal, plus a designated Responsible Managing Employee (RME) who holds the individual certificate; the license is not transferable to another business entity.

Contractor certificate renewal is annual; renewal requires the RME to maintain a valid individual certificate, so loss of the RME suspends the contractor certificate until a qualified replacement is designated.

Bonding: Oregon sprinkler contractors must file a surety bond with the State Fire Marshal as a condition of certification; bond amount and form are set by statute, and the bond must remain in force for the certificate to stay valid.

Insurance: general liability coverage is required and proof must be on file; the certificate can be suspended for lapse, so coverage dates must be tracked against the renewal date.

Permits: sprinkler work requires a permit from the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ); where the local jurisdiction has no program, the State Fire Marshal or delegated authority issues the permit.

Plan review: working plans and calculations are submitted to the AHJ before installation; approval must precede installation, and field changes to approved plans require re-approval.

Contractor vs. fitter distinction: the contractor holds the business certificate and contract authority; individual installers hold fitter certificates and may not contract independently or supervise beyond their certification level.

Licensing enforcement: unlicensed contracting, working outside the scope of the certificate, or using another person's certificate are grounds for suspension, revocation, and civil penalties.

Oregon issues fire sprinkler fitter certificates through the State Fire Marshal in two levels: a Journeyman Fire Sprinkler Fitter and a Master (supervising) level; each level has its own scope of work and supervision rules.

Journeyman fitter scope: install, alter, repair, and test sprinkler systems under the supervision of a master fitter or licensed contractor; journeymen may not independently contract or serve as RME.

Master fitter scope: supervise installation work, serve as the designated RME for a contractor, and oversee journeymen and apprentices; the master certificate is the qualifying credential for contractor certification.

Apprentices must be registered in an approved apprenticeship program and work under direct supervision; apprentice hours count toward journeyman eligibility only when properly documented.

Qualification pathway: documented field experience hours plus passage of the state examination; experience must be verified by employers and meet the minimum hour threshold for the level sought.

Continuing education: certificate renewal requires completion of approved CE hours each cycle; CE must be in code, installation, or safety topics and records must be retained for audit.

Code basis: installation work follows NFPA 13 (and NFPA 13R/13D for residential occupancies) as adopted by the Oregon Fire Code; the fitter is responsible for installing to the approved plans and applicable standard.

Testing and inspection: fitters perform hydrostatic tests at the pressure and duration required by the standard, and the AHJ witnesses or accepts results; test records are part of the permit file.

Discipline: working without a certificate, falsifying experience hours, or performing work outside the certified scope is subject to suspension, revocation, and civil penalty by the State Fire Marshal.