Design of Fire Protection Systems

License required

Minnesota Statutes, section 299M.03, subdivision 1 requires that contractors be licensed to perform design work in Minnesota. Included below is the language from the statute (emphasis added):

• 299M.03 LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE REQUIRED. Subdivision 1. Contractor license. Except for residential installations by the owner of an occupied one- or two-family dwelling, a person may not sell, design, install, modify, or inspect a fire protection system, its parts, or related equipment or offer to do so unless annually licensed to perform these duties as a fire protection contractor. No license is required under this section for a person licensed as a professional engineer under section 326.03 who is competent in fire protection system design or a person licensed as an alarm and communication contractor under section 326B.34 for performing activities authorized by that license.

Exceptions to licensure

There are two exceptions:

• Minnesota-licensed professional engineers can do sprinkler design work.
• Minnesota-licensed alarm and communication contractors can work on fire alarm portions of sprinkler systems.

Contractor options

Minnesota Rules, part 7512.0500, subpart 3 allows for a “designer contractor license.” There are licensed design contractors in Minnesota. Here are the options for fire protection contractors and the design of fire protection systems:

• Contractors can employ designers and do the design in-house.
• Contractors can hire another Minnesota-licensed fire protection contractor to design the system.
• Contractors can hire a Minnesota-licensed design contractor to design the system.
• Contractors can hire a Minnesota-licensed professional engineer to design the system.

Design contractor identified on plans

The name, contractor license number, and designer contact information must be displayed on all installation drawings (Minnesota Rules, part 7512.0900, subpart 1).