Florida Senate - 2023                                     SB 408
       
       
        
       By Senator Perry
       
       
       
       
       
       9-00412-23                                             2023408__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to fire sprinkler system project
    3         permitting; creating s. 553.7953, F.S.; defining
    4         terms; requiring replacement fire sprinkler system
    5         components to meet certain criteria; authorizing local
    6         enforcement agencies to require contractors to submit
    7         certain documentation and payment for obtaining a
    8         permit for a fire sprinkler system project;
    9         prohibiting local enforcement agencies from requiring
   10         contractors to submit certain documentation and
   11         payment for obtaining a permit for a fire sprinkler
   12         system project; requiring local enforcement agencies
   13         to issue certain permits in person or electronically;
   14         requiring local enforcement agencies to perform at
   15         least one inspection for a fire sprinkler system
   16         project; requiring contractors to keep certain
   17         documentation available at a worksite for a fire
   18         sprinkler system project and make such documentation
   19         available for inspection; requiring contractors to
   20         retain instructions for components; providing an
   21         effective date.
   22          
   23  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   24  
   25         Section 1. Section 553.7953, Florida Statutes, is created
   26  to read:
   27         553.7953 Simplified permitting process for fire sprinkler
   28  system projects.—
   29         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   30         (a) “Component” means valves, backflow preventers,
   31  switches, fire sprinklers, escutcheons, hangers, pumps, pump
   32  motors and engines, compressors, hydrants, or any other item
   33  deemed acceptable by the local enforcement agency.
   34         (b) “Contractor” means a person qualified to engage in the
   35  business of fire sprinkler systems contracting pursuant to a
   36  certificate or registration issued by the department under s.
   37  633.318.
   38         (c) “Fire sprinkler system project” means a fire protection
   39  system alteration of a total of 20 or fewer fire sprinklers, or
   40  the installation or replacement of an equal or equivalent fire
   41  sprinkler system component, in an existing commercial,
   42  residential, apartment, cooperative, or condominium building.
   43         (2) A contractor replacing a fire sprinkler system
   44  component must use a component with the same or better
   45  characteristics as the component being replaced, including
   46  electrical, hydraulic, pressure losses, required listings, and
   47  spacings.
   48         (3)(a) A local enforcement agency may require a contractor,
   49  as a condition of obtaining a permit for a fire sprinkler system
   50  project, to submit a completed application and make a payment.
   51         (b) A local enforcement agency may not require a contractor
   52  to submit plans or specifications as a condition of obtaining a
   53  permit for a fire sprinkler system project as defined in this
   54  section.
   55         (4) A local enforcement agency shall issue a permit for a
   56  fire sprinkler system project in person or electronically.
   57         (5) A local enforcement agency shall require a fire
   58  sprinkler system project to have at least one inspection to
   59  ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards. If a fire
   60  sprinkler system project fails an inspection, the contractor
   61  must take corrective action as necessary to pass inspection.
   62         (6) If the fire sprinkler system project is to alter a fire
   63  sprinkler system, the contractor must keep a copy of the plans
   64  or as-built plans at the fire sprinkler system project worksite
   65  and make such plans available to the inspector at each
   66  inspection.
   67         (7) If the project is to replace a component of the fire
   68  system, the contractor must keep a copy of the manufacturer’s
   69  installation instructions and any related testing instructions
   70  needed to certify or accept the component at a fire sprinkler
   71  system project and must make such documents available to the
   72  inspector at each inspection.
   73         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.