Washington Administrative Code
Title 212 - State Patrol (Fire Protection) (See also Titles 204, 446 and 448)
Chapter 212-80 - Fire protection sprinkler system contractors
ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE
Section 212-80-215 - Citations and penalties

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 212-80-215

Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024

(1) The director may at his or her discretion issue either a monetary penalty and/or take an action against a license or certificate depending on the severity of the violation(s) evidenced in the investigation. Each violation is classified and penalties assessed according to the violation type as provided by the chart below:

Violation Level

Action Against the License

Monetary Penalty

Action Against the Certification

Penalty

1

No Action

$300 to $7,500

No Action

Warning

2

Suspended immediately for 30 calendar days.

$400 to $10,000

Suspended immediately for 30 calendar days.

Warning

3

Suspended immediately for 90 calendar days.

$1,500 to $15,000

Suspended immediately for 90 calendar days.

Warning

(2) If a licensed contractor or certificate of competency holder has incurred multiple findings of the same violation over a period of time, the director may classify the licensed contractor or certificate of competency holder as a habitual offender and issue either an increased monetary penalty or the action against the license or certificate depending on the severity of the violation(s) evidenced in multiple investigations as provided by the chart below:

Violation Level

Violation Threshold

Monetary Penalty

Action Against the License

Action Against the Certification

1

Evidence of three or more Level 1 violations without compliance over a period of 24 months constitutes an increase to a Level 2 violation.

$1,000

Warning

Warning

2

Evidence of three or more Level 2 violations without compliance over a period of 24 months constitutes an increase to a Level 3 violation.

$7,500 per violation

Suspended immediately for 60 calendar days.

Suspended immediately for 60 calendar days.

3

Evidence of two or more Level 3 violations without compliance over a period of 36 months.

$15,000 per violation

Suspended immediately for 180 calendar days.

Suspended immediately for 180 calendar days.

(3) Any fire protection sprinkler system contractor found to engage in the sprinkler trade using individuals not certified as a certificate of competency holder consistent with RCW 18.160.040 or this rule shall be assessed additional penalties based upon severity as follows:

Instance Using an Uncertified Certificate of Competency Holder

Penalty Range

First time

$1,500 - $7,500

Second time

$2,500 - $10,000

Third time and any instance subsequent

$5,000 - $25,000

(4) Level 1 violations include, but are not limited to:

(a) Failing to inform the director of the loss of their primary certificate of competency holder, as required by RCW 18.160.040.

(b) Failing to have the certificate of competency holder stamp plans, calculations, and/or test certificates.

(c) Allowing an employee to certify, install, inspect, maintain, and/or service water-based fire sprinkler systems or equipment contrary to NFPA codes, standards, or manufacturers' specifications without specific written permission from the location authority having jurisdiction.

(d) Working without a permit, or permission to do so, by the local authority having jurisdiction.

(5) Level 2 violations include, but are not limited to:

(a) Performing work on a sprinkler system where the employee's certificate of competency holder under RCW 18.160.040 does not have a current or valid license.

(b) Working without the appropriate level of license or certificate of competency.

(c) Permitting his or her license to be used in connection with the preparation of any technical drawings that have not been prepared by him or her personally, or under their direct supervision.

(d) Working with an expired license or permit (more than 90 days).

(6) Level 3 violations include, but are not limited to:

(a) Demonstrating gross incompetency or gross negligence in the preparation of technical drawings, the installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, alteration, service, and/or addition to a fire sprinkler system.

(b) Allowing an employee to demonstrate gross incompetency or gross negligence in the installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, alteration, service and/or addition to a fire sprinkler system.

(c) Charging a customer for fire sprinkler work not performed.

(d) Offering to contract for fire sprinkler work without a certificate of competency holder, as described in RCW 18.160.040.

(e) Allowing an employee to falsify any fire sprinkler tags, labels, or inspection reports.

(f) Working without a certified full-time certificate of competency holder on staff, or, in the case of an inspection and testing contractor, allowing any employee not certified by the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, as an inspection and testing technician.

(g) Falsifying an application or document submitted to the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, to obtain a sprinkler contractor license or certificate of competency.

(h) Committing three or more level II offenses within a three year period either as a company, through an employee of the company, through an employee acting as a certificate of competency holder for the company, and/or any combination thereof.

(i) Permitting his or her license to be used in connection with the stamping of any test certificates for work performed by someone other than his or her full-time employees.

(7) Civil penalties shall be resolved through the following:

(a) Pay the penalty by returning the notice and payment to the director at State Fire Marshal's Office, P.O. Box 42642, Olympia, WA 98504-2642 within 30 days from the date the penalty was issued. Payments must be made by check or money order payable to the Washington state patrol.

(b) Request an informal conference as outlined in WAC 212-80-235.

(c) Request a formal hearing as outlined in WAC 212-80-205 or 212-80-240.

Statutory Authority: RCW 18.270.900. 09-01-114, § 212-80-215, filed 12/19/08, effective 1/19/09. Statutory Authority: Chapters 43.43 and 18.160 RCW. 05-05-006, § 212-80-215, filed 2/4/05, effective 3/7/05.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington 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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