Sec. 29.06.05.02. Scope

A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, a person who inspects, tests, performs maintenance on, installs, repairs, modifies, or lays out fire sprinkler systems in any residential or commercial building in the State shall apply to, and obtain from, the State Fire Marshal, a fire sprinkler contractor license, as provided for in Regulation .04 of this chapter.

B. A license is not required for the following activities:

(1) Inspections and tests by insurance representatives acting in the performance of their assigned duty;

(2) Inspections, tests, and repairs by a full-time maintenance employee of the property owner, knowledgeable about fire sprinkler systems, acting in the performance of the employee's assigned duty for the property owner;

(3) Inspections, tests, plan review, and ensuring the maintenance of, and any emergency maintenance activity on, a fire sprinkler system, or restoration of an operating, or recently operated, fire sprinkler system to active service by an individual acting in the individual's capacity as a member of a State, county, municipal, career, or volunteer fire department, or authority having jurisdiction;

(4) Installation of a limited area fire sprinkler system or emergency temporary repairs performed by a licensed master plumber in accordance with COMAR 29.06.01;

(5) Inspections, tests, preparation of design and specification documents, hydraulic calculations, layout, and plan review of fire sprinkler systems by a Maryland-registered professional engineer knowledgeable about fire sprinkler systems; or

(6) Installation, testing, servicing, and maintenance of specialized equipment that is associated with automatic fire sprinkler systems, but not regulated by the specific provisions of NFPA 13, NFPA 13D, or NFPA 13R, performed by persons under the responsible charge of a licensed fire sprinkler contractor who shall verify that such persons have the appropriate qualifications and certifications to perform these specific functions and who shall be responsible for the installation and continued approved operation of all equipment associated with the fire sprinkler system.

C. These regulations are minimum Statewide requirements which are not intended to prohibit any jurisdiction from adopting a more stringent local law or ordinance which establishes standards or qualifications for fire sprinkler contractors.