Bill
SB 374
The bill creates statewide licensing and permitting for firms and individuals who install, inspect, repair, service, or test portable extinguishers and fire suppression systems to
Status and timeline
- Introduced: (documented) February–March 2025. Passed first reading March 24, 2025.
- Later legislative records show the bill advanced through committees, passage, enrollment, and was approved and chaptered as law (Chapter 580, October 10, 2025).
- The bill creates a new Article (Article 82C) in Chapter 58 of the General Statutes.
Purpose
- Establish statewide licensing and permitting requirements for firms and individuals who install, inspect, recharge, repair, service, or test portable fire extinguishers and various types of fire suppression systems to improve fire-safety quality, consistency, and public protection.
Key provisions
- New statutory Article: creates definitions and an enforcement framework for fire extinguisher and fire suppression system work (Article 82C, Chapter 58).
- Definitions: the bill defines terms such as “portable fire extinguisher,” “pre‑engineered kitchen/industrial fire suppression systems,” “engineered special hazard fire suppression system,” “firm,” “permit,” “license,” “State Fire Marshal,” and “suppression agent.”
- Licensing and permitting:
- Firms must be licensed by the State Fire Marshal to perform installation, inspection, repair, servicing, or testing of covered portable extinguishers and suppression systems.
- Individuals must hold a permit issued by the State Fire Marshal to perform covered work.
- State Fire Marshal authority:
- Administer and enforce the Article.
- Adopt rules and standards (including adoption by reference of applicable NFPA or other national standards).
- Establish specifications for service tags to be attached to equipment and require examinations for license/permit applicants.
- Accept grants to support administration and program development.
- Service tag and record requirements:
- Work performed must include attaching State Fire Marshal–specified tags completed in detail (including month/day/year).
- Use of noncompliant tags or failure to attach tags is unlawful.
- Exemptions:
- Routine visual inspections by fire chiefs, fire marshals, or insurance inspectors are not subject to the licensing/permit requirement.
- Employees of a firm who work only on portable extinguishers or systems owned by that firm and installed on property under the firm’s control are exempt from individual permitting (though still subject to rules).
- Compliance and prohibitions:
- Prohibits performance of covered work by unlicensed/unpermitted firms or individuals.
- Authorizes rules establishing testing, training, tag format, and other compliance mechanisms.
Who is affected
- Primary: firms, contractors, technicians, and service providers that install, maintain, recharge, or test portable fire extinguishers and pre‑engineered or engineered fire suppression systems (restaurants, industrial facilities, data centers, etc.).
- Secondary: building owners and managers (who hire such services), local fire authorities (inspection interplay), and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (administration and enforcement).
- Exemptions preserve limited in‑house activity and routine visual inspection roles.
Potential impacts
- Public safety: expected to raise workmanship, consistency, and documented maintenance of fire protection equipment.
- Regulatory/compliance: firms and technicians will incur licensing/permit application, training, examination, tagging, and recordkeeping obligations; potential fees and administrative costs.
- State workload: the Office of the State Fire Marshal will need to establish rules, examination and licensing processes, and likely require resources to administer the program (costs depend on rulemaking and fee structure).
Notes
- The bill references adoption of national standards (e.g., NFPA) by rule, so many technical installation/inspection requirements will be developed through rulemaking rather than spelled out entirely in statute.
- Exact license/permit fees, renewal terms, penalties, and detailed implementation timelines are left to rules the State Fire Marshal will adopt.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
