La. Admin. Code tit. 55 § V-3053

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section V-3053 - Equipment and Facilities

A. Each certified firm location shall be required to possess the equipment, tools, NFPA codes, standards and manufacturer's UL listed installation and service manuals necessary to properly certify, hydrostatic test, inspect, install, integrate, maintain or service the systems or equipment for which it is certified. If such work is performed from a vehicle, then the vehicle shall be required to possess the necessary equipment, tools, NFPA codes, standards and manuals. Required codes, standards and manuals may be either in print or in an electronic format.

B. The following equipment and code books shall be required depending upon the firm's certification endorsement.

1. Portable Fire Extinguisher/Fire Hose:

a. service and impairment tags;

b. six year maintenance and hydrostatic test labels;

c. external verification collars;

d. stenciling tools and supplies;

e. tamper seals (14 lbs. maximum breakage). the tamper seal shall reflect the current or previous calendar year date when installed;

f. test apparatus including appropriate adapters, fittings and tools;

g. facilities for leak testing of pressurized extinguishers;

h. approved equipment for drying cylinders;

i. approved closed recovery unit;

j. department of agriculture approved scales for unit measure (for shop or vehicle). Scales shall be certified annually by the Department of Agriculture or its designated agent;

k. field and cartridge scales;

l. appropriate recharge agents and fill funnels;

m. cylinder inspection light;

n. dry nitrogen cylinders, regulator and calibrated gauges for pressurizing cylinders;

o. supply of spare parts for respective manufacturers and type of fire extinguishers serviced;

p. proper wrenches with non-serrated jaws or valve puller (hydraulic or electric);

q. continuity tester and labels;

r. calibrated gauges and gauge tester;

s. working hydrostatic test pump for testing cylinders and fire hose, with flexible connection, check valves and fittings;

t. adequate safety cage for hydrostatic testing of low pressure cylinders.

2. Fixed, Pre-Engineered or Kitchen Fire Suppression:

a. service, partial impairment (optional) and impairment tags;

b. installation tags;

c. six year maintenance and hydrostatic test labels;

d. external verification collars;

e. tamper seals (14 lbs. maximum breakage). The tamper seal shall reflect the current or previous calendar year date when installed;

f. test apparatus including appropriate adapters, fittings and tools;

g. facilities for leak testing of pressurized cylinders;

h. approved equipment for drying cylinders;

i. approved closed recovery unit;

j. Department of Agriculture approved scales for unit measure. Scales shall be certified annually by the Department of Agriculture or its designated agent;

k. appropriate recharge agents and fill funnels;

l. cylinder inspection light;

m. dry nitrogen cylinders, regulator and calibrated gauges for pressurizing cylinders;

n. supply of spare parts for respective manufacturers and type of systems serviced;

o. proper wrenches with non-serrated jaws or valve puller (hydraulic or electric);

p. wire cutters;

q. pipe threader;

r. pipe reamer;

s. flaring tools;

t. pipe wrenches;

u. calibrated gauges and gauge tester;

v. working hydrostatic test pump, with flexible connection, check valves and fittings;

w. adequate safety cage for hydrostatic testing of low pressure cylinders;

x. manometer (for engineered systems only);

y. fan test equipment or have access to such equipment through contract to another firm (for engineered systems only);

z. halon recovery equipment or have access to such equipment through contract to another firm (for Engineered Systems only).

3. Fire Alarms:

a. service, partial impairment (optional) and impairment tags;

b. installation tags;

c. manufacturer approved smoke detector sensitivity or calibration testing equipment or have access to such equipment through contract to another firm;

d. multimeter;

e. sound level meter.

4. DOT Hydrostatic Testing:

a. adequate hydrostatic test equipment for high pressure testing and calibrated cylinder including but not limited to appropriate adapters, fittings and tools;

b. adequate equipment for test dating high pressure cylinders (over 900 PSI). Die stamps must be a minimum of l/4 inch;

c. clock with sweep second hand on or close to hydrostatic test apparatus;

d. equipment for drying cylinders;

e. cylinder inspection light;

f. proper wrenches with non-serrated jaws or valve puller (hydraulic or electric).

5. Code Books (latest edition as enumerated in LAC 55:V.103 and these rules)

a. Portable Fire Extinguisher/Fire Hose-NFPA 10, 101, 1961 and 1962.

b. Fixed Fire Suppression-NFPA 11, 11A, 12, 12A, 17, 17A, 96, 101 and 2001.

c. Pre-Engineered-NFPA 11, 11A, 12, 12A, 17, 17A, 96, 101 and 2001.

d. Kitchen Suppression-NFPA 17, 17A, 96 and 101.

e. Fire Alarm-NFPA 70 (only those articles that address fire alarm wiring), 72, 90A, 90B and 101.

f. Fire Alarm (non-required)-NFPA 70 (only those articles that address fire alarm wiring), 72, 90A, 90B and 101.

g. Fire Alarm Owner-NFPA 70 (only those articles that address fire alarm wiring), 72, 90A, 90B and 101.

h. DOT Hydrostatic Testing-CFR 49, NFPA 1961 and 1962.

C. The State Fire Marshal or his representative may inspect a firm's physical location(s) or vehicle(s) to ensure the proper equipment, tools, NFPA codes, NFPA standards, manufacturer's UL listed installation and service manuals and business records and insurances are possessed by the firm. Firms must possess all applicable manufacturers' installation and service manuals for the systems and/or equipment it services.

D. Business records shall include, but not be limited to, invoices, work orders, service reports, payroll records, federal and state tax information for employees, occupational licenses, income tax filings, property tax notifications and filings, utility records, certificates of insurance for general liability and workmen compensation coverage and workers compensation reports and/or filings.

E. The State Fire Marshal or his representative may require that a firm or its employee(s) demonstrate a proficiency to use the necessary equipment to properly certify, hydrostatically test, inspect, install, integrate, maintain or service portable fire extinguishers, fixed fire suppression systems/equipment and fire detection and alarm systems/equipment. Proficiency shall be deemed to be achieved if the system or equipment complies with the applicable NFPA code or standard and/or manufacturer's specifications.

F. For those firms or their employee(s) which do not possess the proper equipment, tools and manuals or who fail to demonstrate the ability to properly perform the required work, then an order of correction shall be made to the contractor or his employee to obtain the required equipment, tools, NFPA codes, standards or manual or to obtain additional training within a 30-day period. Another inspection shall be conducted by the State Fire Marshal or his representative to verify compliance with the order of correction. Good cause must be shown if proficiency is not shown or the required equipment, tools, NFPA codes, standards or manuals are not obtained by the time of the second inspection. Additional time may be granted for good cause. If good cause is not shown, then administrative action may be pursued.

G. The office may specifically enumerate additional required equipment or business records at a later date should it be deemed necessary.

La. Admin. Code tit. 55, § V-3053

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Fire Marshal, LR 17:273 (March 1991), amended LR 26:1339 (June 2000), LR 33:1680 (August 2007).

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