NAC477.465. Evidence of capability to provide service; agreement for maintenance; plans and specifications; calculations; underground systems; letter of certification.

     1. The distributor, installer or agency to provide service to customers must submit evidence of its capability to repair and restore an automatic sprinkler system within 24 hours after notification of a fire or fault in the system and must repair a system within 24 hours after being notified by the owner that a system requires service. The evidence of that capability is subject to approval by the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction. The evidence must demonstrate that the licensee has:

     (a) The necessary equipment and personnel appropriately certified by the State Fire Marshal;

     (b) The necessary stock of parts and devices;

     (c) A valid license issued by the State Contractors’ Board; and

     (d) A certification and approval by the manufacturer from whom the equipment is purchased.

     2. Where automatic sprinkler systems are installed for any reason, a satisfactory written agreement for the maintenance of the system must be provided. All systems must be under the supervision of qualified persons. No work may be performed on an automatic sprinkler system unless a holder of a certificate of registration is present to supervise the work. Proper tests and inspections must be made at prescribed intervals, and qualified persons must have general charge of all alterations and additions to the systems under their supervision. A copy of the agreement for maintenance, along with proof that the firm or company which will provide the maintenance is adequately covered by liability insurance, must be submitted by the firm or company to the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction.

     3. Detailed plans, with the appropriate fees, must be submitted to the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction for approval. The specifications must state that the installation will conform to the applicable standards and be approved by the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction before the sprinkler system is installed. The specifications must include the specific tests required by the N.F.P.A.’s standards and the standards required for the approval of the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction. Plans must be drawn to an indicated scale or be suitably dimensioned and must be made so that they can be easily reproduced. Plans must contain sufficient detail to enable the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. Plans must be submitted to the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction before work starts. Where field conditions necessitate any substantial change from the approved plan, the corrected plan showing the system as installed, with the appropriate fees, must be submitted to the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction for approval. The State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction must inspect and approve any substantial changes before the job is completed. Plans must be on the job site when work is being done pursuant to the plan at that site.

     4. Calculations must be established from the applicable design curve for sprinkler systems as shown in N.F.P.A. Standards 13 and 13R, 2010 editions. There must be not less than 10 psi additional water pressure above the system demand.

     5. All hydrostatic tests of systems and flushing of underground systems must be witnessed by a representative of the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction. All portions of the automatic fire sprinkler system, including the underground service from the gate valve, road box or check valve to the riser, must be installed, tested and flushed by a company licensed by the State Fire Marshal to perform this work. A company which holds a current Type G-U license for:

     (a) Underground fire sprinkler systems may provide only the underground private fire service mains and their appurtenances from the gate valve, road box or check valve to the base of the riser or stubbed 5 feet from the base of a building. The company shall provide certification of the contractors’ materials and testing to the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction upon the completion of the work. The underground services provided and the certification to be provided to the State Fire Marshal or the authority having jurisdiction must meet the requirements of NAC 477.340 to 477.350, inclusive, and the standards of the N.F.P.A. for automatic fire sprinkler systems.

     (b) Fire hydrants may provide only the installation, maintenance, repair and servicing of fire hydrants.

     (c) Backflow may provide only the testing on backflow assemblies. The licensee must also hold a certification from the American Water Works Association or another nationally recognized certificate recognized by the State Fire Marshal.

     6. Upon completing the installation of an automatic sprinkler system, the licensee shall issue a letter of certification to the authority having jurisdiction. The letter must certify that the system has been installed in accordance with the approved plans and all applicable national, state and local codes. The installer shall properly identify all hydraulically designed automatic sprinkler systems with a permanently attached placard. The placard must show the location and number of sprinkler heads and the density of discharge over the designed area.

     [St. Fire Marshal, §§ 4.301-4.303 & part § 4.304, eff. 11-27-78]—(NAC A 1-19-84; 3-9-89; 8-24-90; 2-17-94; R220-99, 9-25-2000; R062-04, 9-3-2004; R090-10, 12-30-2011)