Important Notice About Fire Compliance

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON FIRE INSPECTION

AND FIRE ALARM SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

By Larry Huff, President, Long Island Alarm Association

 

COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT

There is a looming situation in the downstate areas of Long island and New York City that could impact on ALL OF US  that do fire alarm installations and service.  From April 2012 through Late August, 2012 the New York City Fire Department developed a  licensing requirement for the Inspection, Testing & Service of Fire Alarms. The major requirement is that all Technicians performing that task must have a NICET II certification or take a Department test.NYC gave those involved 18 months to be compliant. 

About the same time on Long Island the fire marshal of the Village of Lake Grove implemented a local policy that requires all technicians servicing fire alarm systems to be NICET II certified in fire alarm systems. Then a couple months ago the same fire marshal implemented the NICET requirement in the Village of Mastic Beach.  When both policies were enacted companies were given six (6) months to get their technicians certified.  ( not very much time for three days of training and sitting for a NICET Exam)

 

LEGALITY

The Long Island Alarm Association inquired with both NYS and legal counsel if this policy violates Article 6D. It doesn’t.  An AHJ can establish local policy that does not affect NYS alarm licensing or NYS Code Enforcement guidelines.    Please refer to Article 6D, General business Law, §69-z,2, Applicability, which states :  “The provisions of this article shall govern notwithstanding any other law to the contrary; provided, however, that local law shall govern with respect to inspection of fire alarms by a fire marshal or any other person designated under such local law;”

 

What is NICET ?

For those of you who don’t know NICET is a nationally recognized, non-profit division of the National Society of Professional Engineers. They provide certifications for individuals in engineering, engineering technology and related disciplines. For more information visit their site at www.nicet.org. Nicet certification can prove to be costly and time consuming.

Typically the technician should attend a prep course prior to taking the test. This course typically runs 2-4 days, costing between $500 and $800.   Once they have completed the course the Level I test is taken and must be passed before proceeding to the Level II test.

On average this can take six (6) to eighteen (18) months to achieve Level II certification.  

 

The general consensus is that the Nicet II requirement by local AHJ’s will expand and eventually be a NYS requirement. I would encourage every member to investigate NICET and seriously think about getting your tech’s certified.

 

Reference Links

 

NICET Website:   www.nicet.org   

Testing Centers:  http://www.nicet.org/certificants/schedule-exam.cfm

Forms and Publications: http://www.nicet.org/candidates/forms.cfm

 

AHJ’s Requiring NICET Certification:

http://www.lakegroveny.gov/documents/LGFireAlarmPlanSubmittalRequirements.pdf

http://www.masticbeachvillageny.gov/?page_id=10

http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/cof_study_material/s_98_study_material.pdf