Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
Certificate of competency holders for Level 1, Level 2, Level
3, and Level U will obtain a stamp each certification year to affix on all
sprinkler related documents as provided by this chapter.
(1)
Will the stamp come with my
certification? When the director issues a certificate, the director will
provide a Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level U certificate of competency
holder the information necessary to order a stamp. The cost of the stamp and
obtaining a stamp will be the responsibility of the certificate of competency
holder.
(2)
What is required
on the stamp? The stamp will conform to the following appearance
specifications:
(a) The name and certification
number of the certificate of competency holder;
(b) The name and license number of the
certificate of competency holder's employer;
(c) The expiration date of the current
certificate; and
(d) A place for
the signature of the design certificate of competency holder and the date of
the signature.
(3)
When is the stamp required to be used? An original stamp and
signature must appear in an easily recognizable manner on:
(a) Sprinkler system plans, calculations, and
contractors' materials and test certificates submitted to the authority having
jurisdiction.
(b) At least one set
of approved plans and calculations, containing information as specified in
subsection (1) of this section, must be maintained on the job site while the
work is being performed.
(c) The
cover sheet of hydraulic calculations.
(d) On all test certificates for fire
protection sprinkler systems submitted to the authority having
jurisdiction.
(4) Plans
and calculations for "underground only" portions of fire protection sprinkler
systems submitted to the authority having jurisdiction by a Level U licensed
fire protection sprinkler contractor must be stamped by both the system
designer and the certificate of competency holder for the licensed installing
contractor seeking the permit. The Level U certification seal will only address
matters of installation while the stamp for design must be either:
(a) A licensed professional engineer
registered in the state of Washington; or
(b) A government employee acting in their
official capacity; or
(c) The
appropriate level certificate of competency holder and the Level U certificate
of competency holder employed by the submitting contractor.
(5)
What are the
documentation requirements for inspection and testing technicians?
Inspection and testing technicians must affix the certificate number and
signature on all bids or documents related to the inspection and testing of a
fire protection sprinkler system. The inspection and testing technician may
affix the certificate number by handwriting or digital signature.
(6)
Can documentation be provided using
an electronic record?
(a) Yes.
Electronic records may be submitted provided that:
(i) The electronic record must meet the
applicable requirements of chapter 18.160 RCW and this chapter; and
(ii) The signature is an original "wet"
signature, written by hand and applied by the identified registrant or a
digital signature.
(b)
The following guidelines will be used when submitting electronic records:
(i) An electronic stamp may be embedded in an
electronic document as part of a template, drawing border, or cover
sheet.
(ii) The certificate of
competency holder is responsible for ensuring that the stamp is only affixed to
documents personally prepared by or under his or her direct
supervision.
(iii) If the stamp is
combined with a digital signature into a single graphic entity, then it must:
(A) Be affixed by the certificate of
competency holder in conjunction with the certificate of competency holder
applying his or her digital signature to the document;
(B) Include a scanned image of a "wet"
signature; and
(C) Be affixed only
to the final documents.
(iv) A digital signature must be affixed by
the certificate of competency holder to final documents that are distributed as
an electronic record to meet the requirements of this section. The certificate
of competency holder must maintain exclusive control to his or her digital
signature.
(7)
Violations of this section includes:
(a) A
certificate of competency holder altering, forging, or falsifying a
certification stamp in order to submit bids or documents related to fire
protection sprinkler system plans, calculations, permits, or any other
documents that show the stamp being valid, constitutes a Level 3
violation.
(b) A certificate of
competency holder using a stamp from previous employment with a licensed
contractor while employed by another licensed contractor will constitute a
Level 2 violation.
(c) A
certificate of competency holder using an issued stamp from previous employment
with a licensed contractor while not currently employed by a licensed
contractor will constitute a Level 3 violation.
(d) A certificate of competency holder using
an expired stamp will constitute a Level 3 violation.
(e)
(i) A
certificate of competency holder stamping documents that have been forwarded to
the authority having jurisdiction for approval that were not prepared by the
certificate of competency holder or an individual under his or her direct
supervision constitutes a Level 3 violation.
(ii) Stamped documents submitted to the
authority having jurisdiction for work other than design that does not clearly
bear the seal of the designer shall constitute a Level 2 violation.
(f) A certificate of competency
holder failing to affix the certificate stamp or inspection testing
technician's number and signature on inspection forms constitutes a Level 1
violation.
(g) A certificate of
competency holder obtaining a certification stamp while not holding a current
and valid certificate of competency holder constitutes a Level 3
violation.
(h) Anyone who uses a
certification seal and/or number that was not issued to them by the direction
on any fire protection sprinkler system work for any reason constitutes a Level
3 violation.
(8) A
licensed contractor hired by a person who has obtained a building, structure,
or property through a foreclosure process may not use a previous licensed fire
protection sprinkler system contractor's design, uncompleted installation, or
permit. The licensed contractor must submit new plans with the certificate of
competency stamp affixed and obtain a new permit from the authority having
jurisdiction for work that will be done under the licensed contractor's
supervision. The decision to remove piping must be made in consultation with
the authority having jurisdiction. The licensed contractor must obtain approval
from the authority having jurisdiction for any portion of the fire protection
sprinkler system that was not previously inspected and approved by the
authority having jurisdiction.
Statutory Authority:
RCW
18.270.900. 09-01-114, § 212-80-083, filed
12/19/08, effective 1/19/09. Statutory Authority:
Chapters
43.43 and
18.160 RCW. 05-17-099, §
212-80-083, filed 8/16/05, effective 9/16/05; 05-05-006, amended and recodified
as § 212-80-083, filed 2/4/05, effective 3/7/05. Statutory Authority:
Chapters
43.63A and
18.160 RCW. 94-24-032, §
212-80-035, filed 12/1/94, effective 1/1/95; 92-20-070 (Order 92-08), §
212-80-035, filed 10/5/92, effective 11/5/92; 91-14-086 (Order 91-06), §
212-80-035, filed 7/1/91, effective
8/1/91.
