Ef qualifier needed!!!!!! - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Garza_Fire_Pro. · 09-08-2009, 09:09 PM

I have just recently started my company, Garza Fire Protection LLC., with the intentions to sub-contract fire alarm installs. I now have a fire sprinkler company that is offering to contract me to do all their test and inspections on their systems, which will also lock me into all the repairs. I am looking for someone with a Florida EF license that is willing to qualify my company for the sprinkler inspection portion for a percentage of profits, so that I will be legally able to sticker and tag all necessary items with a valid EF number on the stickers and paperwork. If you are interested in becoming a qualifier please contact me through e-mail at Garza_Fire_Protection@yahoo.com.

Celtic · 09-08-2009, 09:10 PM

Is that legal in Florida?

bwalley · 09-08-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

Is that legal in Florida?

It depends on how it is done, but in this case it sounds like he wants to rent a license, which is illegal.

Garza_Fire_Pro. · 09-09-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwalley

It depends on how it is done, but in this case it sounds like he wants to rent a license, which is illegal.

I am not trying to rent a license i am trying to get someone to qualify my company and take a percentage of profits which is not illegal i know of two different companies doing the same thing right now.

westernexplorer · 09-09-2009, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garza_Fire_Pro.

I am not trying to rent a license i am trying to get someone to qualify my company and take a percentage of profits which is not illegal i know of two different companies doing the same thing right now.

Sir, the situation you are asking for is illegal in the State of Florida, this person would have to either be a partner in the business or an employee/ with supervising authority over you. The ECLB will require this. These other companies you are speaking about are set up in this manner, you are just not privy to all the details. Most license holders I know will not just qualify your company for a salary without a legal employment contract to ensure they are properly compensated. Unless you give this person a share of the company.

Florida (EC) License Holder

bwalley · 09-09-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garza_Fire_Pro.

I am not trying to rent a license i am trying to get someone to qualify my company and take a percentage of profits which is not illegal i know of two different companies doing the same thing right now.

Just because 2 other companies are renting licenses does not mean what they are doing is legal.

Why not rent a license from one of those guys or better yet, get your own license?

Garza_Fire_Pro. · 09-11-2009, 04:53 PM

I understand that the qualifier of my company does have to be involved in the business either partner or employee. I may not have worded my first post the correct way but what i am looking for is someone that is interested in qualifing my company. likI am not exactly sure of all the legal procedures exactly but have every intention on having contracts in place and doing everything that needs to be done to make this process 100 percent legal. If anyone can help or is interested more please e mail me. Thanks to everyone for the insights of information that has been givin i appreciate all and am open to more information if possible thank you. S. Garza

sprinklertech · 09-15-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garza_Fire_Pro.

I have just recently started my company, Garza Fire Protection LLC., with the intentions to sub-contract fire alarm installs. I now have a fire sprinkler company that is offering to contract me to do all their test and inspections on their systems, which will also lock me into all the repairs. I am looking for someone with a Florida EF license that is willing to qualify my company for the sprinkler inspection portion for a percentage of profits, so that I will be legally able to sticker and tag all necessary items with a valid EF number on the stickers and paperwork. If you are interested in becoming a qualifier please contact me through e-mail at Garza_Fire_Protection@yahoo.com.

I don't think you fully understand what you are getting into.

You can not perform fire sprinkler inspections unless you have NICET II certification in the sub-field of Inspection and Testing of Water Based Fire Protection Systems.

CHAPTER 69A-46 FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM CONTRACTORS AND SYSTEMS

Quote:

69A-46.041 Inspection, Testing and Maintenance Requirements for Fire Protection Systems.

The contractor I or II shall submit in writing to the Regulatory Licensing Section the names, addresses, and evidence of NFPA 25 training of all individuals in his or her employ that are performing inspections of fire protection systems. In addition, the licensed contractor I or II shall submit a full face current color passport photograph of each inspector along with a copy of the inspector’s current driver’s license or identification card issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The contractor shall not allow any individual to perform inspections under his or her certificate until that individual has been listed with the Regulatory Licensing Section. The Regulatory Licensing Section shall issue a identification card to each inspector. The identification card is not a license. The contractor shall be responsible for each listed individual’s inspections until he or she has requested in writing that the Regulatory Licensing Section delete the individual from his or her list of inspectors. The licensed fire protection system contractor shall notify the Regulatory Licensing Section, in writing, of an inspector leaving his or her employ within fifteen days of the termination. An inspector photo identification card of an individual leaving the employ of a contractor becomes void and inoperative on the date of departure.
(1) A Fire Protection Contractor, contracting to

Others can correct me if I am wrong but I believe the only way to obtain an inspectors permit for fire sprinklers is by having NICET II certification.

and then there is
Chapter 633 FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Quote:

(8) An individual employed by a Contractor I or Contractor II certificateholder, as established in this section, who will be inspecting water-based fire protection systems as required under s. 633.082, must be issued a permit by the State Fire Marshal to conduct such work. The permit is valid solely for use by the holder thereof in his or her employment by the certificateholder named in the permit. A permittee must have a valid and subsisting permit upon his or her person at all times while engaging in inspecting fire protection systems, and a permitholder must be able to produce such a permit upon demand. In addition, a permittee shall, at all times while performing inspections, carry an identification card containing his or her photograph and other identifying information as prescribed by the State Fire Marshal, and the permittee must produce the identification card and information upon demand. The permit and the identification may be one and the same. A permittee is limited as to the specific type of work performed, depending upon the class of certificate held by the certificateholder under whom the permittee is working. The permit class shall be known as a Water-Based Fire Protection Inspector whose permit allows the holder to inspect water sprinkler systems, water spray systems, foam-water sprinkler systems, foam-water spray systems, standpipes, combination standpipes and sprinkler systems, all piping that is an integral part of the system beginning at the point where the piping is used exclusively for fire protection, sprinkler tank heaters, air lines, thermal systems used in connection with sprinklers, and tanks and pumps connected thereto, excluding preengineered systems.

(10) Effective July 1, 2008, the State Fire Marshal shall require the National Institute of Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), Sub-field of Inspection and Testing of Fire Protection Systems Level II or equivalent training and education as determined by the division as proof that the permitholders are knowledgeable about nationally accepted standards for the inspection of fire protection systems. It is the intent of this act, from July 1, 2005, until July 1, 2008, to accept continuing education of all certificateholders' employees who perform inspection functions which specifically prepares the permitholder to qualify for NICET II certification.

Garza_Fire_Pro. · 09-19-2009, 05:41 PM

I have been in the field for 15 years and am already nicett and Fasa Basa certified. I am just looking for someone that is willing to qualifiy my company and go into business with me further details will be discussed if you are interested in qualifiing me. Thanks for all the information tho.

nicet 4 · 11-09-2009, 09:13 AM

Looks like you need to do more homework. You can't do sprinkler inspections with an EF license! Are you Nicet in alarms or sprinkler field?

sprink52 · 11-15-2009, 12:12 PM

Garza,

As long as you are a Florida Fire Contractor I or II you can perform "inspections" on Fire Sprinkler and Standpipe Systems.

In order for you to perform the Fire Alarm inspections, you are required to have an EF License holder as a partner in your business and have him register the "Joint" owned corporation with DPR as an EF Contractor.

Another way you might be able to do this is to sub-contract the fire alarm inspections to a Licensed EF contractor and have his certified inspector perform the Fire Alarm inspections, invoice you and you invoice the customer for both. Consult an attorney on this before you try it but I think it will work.

The simple way to do this, as was mentioned earlier, is to get your own EF License and then you are covered.