Fire Sprinkler Systems

To work as a fire sprinkler systems contractor in Texas you must get a certificate of registration for your business. To get an application, contact:

The Fire Marshall issues three types of certificates -- general, dwelling, and underground water supply piping. Here are the general requirements you must have to get a certificate:

• $100,000 insurance per occurrence with $300,000 total coverage
• authority to do business in Texas from the Texas Secretary of State or the County Clerk
• letter of good standing with the Texas Comptroller (franchise tax)

You must also employ at least one full-time person you designate as a Responsible Managing Employee (RME) who is licensed by the Fire Marshall. To get a RME license, you must pass an exam on the statutes and rules in the Texas Insurance Code Article 5.43-3 -- Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems. The Fire Marshall's Office gives this exam.

Unless you're registered as a professional engineer in Texas you must also pass a course given by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) which includes an exam. For a RME general license you must pass the NICET III course. For the RME dwelling license you need to pass a NICET II course and a Fire Marshall's Office exam on the NFPA 13D -- Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One and Two Family Dwellings and Mobile Homes. For a RME underground piping license you don't need any NICET course but you'll have to pass a Fire Marshall's Office exam on NFPA 24 -- Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances.

Exams given by the Fire Marshall's Office are closed book with 25 to 50 true/false or multiple choice questions. All exams last three hours.

To get information on NICET courses and exams, you can contact them at:

Fire sprinkler systems contractor's license fees: You'll have to pay $50 nonrefundable to take any exam given by the Fire Marshall's Office. It costs $50 to apply for a certificate for your company or a RME license. A general certificate costs $900 and a dwelling or underground piping certificate costs $300. A RME general license costs $175 and a dwelling or underground license is $100. A certificate or license is good for two years.

If you have a valid license from another state with requirements generally the same as those in Texas, the Fire Marshall's Office may waive any of its license requirements.