Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 55 - PUBLIC SAFETY
Part V - Fire Protection
Chapter 30 - Portable Fire Extinguishers, Fire Hoses, Hydrostatic Testing, Fixed Fire Suppression Equipment and/or Systems and Fire Detection and Alarm Equipment and/or Systems Rules
Section V-3039 - Service Tags, Yellow Tags, Red Tags, and Stenciling

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code V-3039

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. All portable fire extinguishers, fire hoses, fixed fire suppression equipment and/or systems, and fire detection and alarm equipment and/or systems shall be tagged or stenciled in the following manner.

B. Service Tags

1. A service tag shall be completed and attached to a portable fire extinguisher, fire hoses, a fixed fire suppression system, and a fire detection and alarm system, 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. Service tags shall be green in color for fixed fire suppression systems, and fire detection and alarm systems. Service tags may be of any color but yellow or red for portable fire extinguishers and fire hoses. Fire hoses shall be stenciled in a contrasting color to that of the hose.

3. The service tag shall be attached at the following locations.
a. For portable fire extinguishers, the tag shall be attached at the valve/neck assembly or gauge. It shall not be attached on the hose.

b. For fixed fire suppression systems, the tag shall be attached at each cylinder and each control panel.

c. For kitchen fixed fire suppression systems, the tag shall be attached at each cylinder and each manual pull station.

d. For fire detection and alarm systems, the tag shall be attached at each control panel, (Booster panels that are part of a fire detection and alarm system need not be tagged.).

e. For fire hoses, the tag shall be located at the female coupling.

f. For fire hoses, the stencil shall be located at both couplings.

4. The service tag shall be attached in such a way as to not hamper the actuation and operation of the equipment or system.

5. A service tag shall be attached on all systems or equipment 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 tag 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. Service tags must contain all of the information listed below:
a. "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL " (all capital letters in bold face type);

b. servicing firm's name, address and telephone number;

c. servicing firm's State Fire Marshal certificate number;

d. servicing technician's name and State Fire Marshal license number to be printed on tag either at the time of service or preprinted;

e. servicing technician's signature to be signed at time of service (no preprinted signatures nor initials are permitted, except that tags attached to portable fire extinguishers may use preprinted signatures; apprentices are not permitted to sign tags);

f. day, month and year in which service was performed (must be punched through service tag at designated marks for day, month and year; designated marks for day, month and year shall only be punched once per tag);

g. 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):
i. "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;

ii. "Certification" shall be punched on the tag when the fire protection system or equipment has its six month or annual inspection or maintenance. Punching "Certification" indicates that any required service performed to the system or equipment at the time has been completed;

iii. "Service" shall be punched on the tag when the fire protection system or equipment is repaired or replaced to ensure proper operation in between required certification periods;

iv. specifics as to the type of work performed shall be noted on rear of tag, (i.e., new installation, annual certification, annual maintenance, recharged cylinder, changed smoke detector, repaired pull station, etc);

h. serial number of portable fire extinguisher, fixed fire suppression system cylinder and/or panel and fire detection and alarm system control panel;

i. owner of system and address of owner (to be noted on rear of tag).

7. 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. Stenciled information on fire hoses shall include the test pressure, date of test and firm license number.

B. Partial Impairment Tags (Yellow Tags)

1. All firms engaged in the activity of certifying, hydrostatic testing, inspecting, installing, integrating, maintaining or servicing of portable fire extinguishers, fixed fire suppression systems, and/or fire detection and alarm systems 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. 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 monitored off-site but monitoring is not provided.

3. 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 the State Fire Marshal Inspection Section.

4. Partial impairment tags must contain all of the information listed below:
a. "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL " (all capital letters in bold face type);

b. servicing firm's name, address and telephone number;

c. servicing firm's State Fire Marshal certificate number;

d. servicing technician's name and State Fire Marshal license number to be printed on tag either at the time of service or preprinted;

e. servicing technician's signature to be signed at time of inspection (no preprinted signatures nor initials are permitted; (apprentices are not permitted to sign tags);

f. day, month and year in which the impairment was found (to be punched through service tag at designated marks for day, month and year; designated marks for day, month and year shall only be punched once per tag);

g. 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.;

h. serial number of portable fire extinguisher or fixed fire suppression system cylinder and/or panel, fire detection and alarm system control panel;

i. owner of system and address of owner (to be noted on rear of tag).

C. Impairment Tags (Red Tags)

1. All firms engaged in the activity of certifying, hydrostatic testing, inspecting, installing, integrating, maintaining or servicing of portable fire extinguishers, fixed fire suppression systems, and/or fire detection and alarm systems 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. An impairment tag shall be placed on all fixed fire suppression or fire detection and alarm systems 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. Portable fire extinguishers shall be red tagged when the equipment is inoperable for any reason.

4. Impairment tags shall also be placed on any equipment or system where life safety is in imminent danger.

5. 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.

6. Written notice shall be made to the owner and to the Office of the 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 the 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.

7. Impairment tags must contain all of the information listed below:
a. "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL " (all capital letters in bold face type);

b. servicing firm's name, address and telephone number;

c. servicing firm's State Fire Marshal certificate number;

d. servicing technician's name and State Fire Marshal license number to be printed on tag either at the time of service or preprinted;

e. servicing technician's signature to be signed at time of inspection (no preprinted signatures nor initials are permitted; apprentices are not permitted to sign tags);

f. day, month and year in which the inspection was performed (to be punched through service tag at designated marks for day, month and year; designated marks for day, month and year shall only be punched once per tag);

g. 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.;

h. serial number of portable fire extinguisher, fixed fire suppression system cylinder and/or panel, or fire detection and alarm system control panel;

i. owner of system and address of owner (to be noted on rear of tag.

8. Notification of fire protection equipment/systems inspections where no deficiencies are found need not be sent to the Office of the State Fire Marshal unless specifically requested.

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

1. name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the system;

2. name, address, telephone number, and certificate number of the firm noting the impairment;

3. name and license number of the technician who did the inspection;

4. type of system (manufacturer and model number should also be included);

5. code, inspection chapter and year edition firm used for inspection;

6. reason for the impairment (Note: a copy of the inspection or service report shall be included); and

7. date system or equipment was red or yellow tagged.

E. 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. Each firm shall stamp or write on the installation tag and/or service tag one of the following statements as applicable:
a. "NON-REQUIRED SYSTEM "; or

b. "NON-CONFORMING SYSTEM "; or

c. "NON-REQUIRED/NON-CONFORMING SYSTEM ".

2. Such print or stamp shall be in all capital lettering and be written or stamped so as to not obscure other information provided on the tag.

3. This does not supersede the requirements to place a yellow or red tag on a system that is impaired in any way.

F. Miscellaneous Provisions

1. On all fixed fire suppression and fire detection and alarm systems, a plastic pocket pouch/sleeve shall also be attached to the panel, or tank, as appropriate, where all tags shall be maintained for a period of one year after the system's annual inspection. For kitchen fixed fire suppression systems, the pocket pouch/sleeve shall be attached at or near a manual pull station. Upon a new annual or six month certification, all previous service tags may be removed and given to the owner to keep on file. This requirement does not apply to portable fire extinguishers or fire hoses.

2. 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. All tags shall be 5 1/4 inches in height and 2 5/8 inches in width.

4. 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. Tags 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.

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

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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