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Fire protection managing employee

State Fire Marshal

Fire protection managing employee

Minnesota rules require all fire protection contractors to have a managing employee (ME). The ME is responsible for overseeing all fire protection-related work the contractor performs. Below is the language from the rules:

  • Employment of managing employees
    A fire protection contractor must employ a person who meets the requirements for a managing employee. The managing employee shall supervise the contractor's performance of all fire protection-related work. 

Qualifications for managing employee

The ME must be certified. To be certified, the candidate must take and pass the ME exam. In order to be qualified to take the ME exam, the candidate must have one of the following:

  • A minimum of 10,000 hours of experience  designing, installing, modifying or inspecting fire protection systems.

  • A National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) at level III or IV certification in the field of fire protection and subfield of automatic sprinkler system layout (currently called fire protection water-based systems layout).

  • Licensure as a professional engineer under Minnesota Statutes, section 326.03, with fire protection system design competency.

Operational requirements, roles, and responsibilities for the managing employee

  • The ME must be an employee of the fire protection contractor.
  • The ME shall be engaged in all the work of the fire protection contractor.
  • The ME must supervise the fire protection-related work of the contractor, including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Ensure that the work complies with the legally adopted codes, standards, manufacturer’s installation criteria, and fire protection laws and rules.
  • Ensure that sprinkler fitters and apprentices receive proper training.
  • Serve as the point of contact for authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) when addressing plan review or inspection issues.
  • Ensure that identified deficiencies are corrected.
  • The ME must document and sign off on training and experience for journeyman sprinkler fitter candidates.
  • To accomplish the above, it is expected that the ME will:
    • Be present at the contractor’s primary place of business regularly and consistently.
    • Have a company email address for ease of contact. 

Managing employee vacancy

  • If a vacancy occurs with a contractor’s ME, the contractor needs to contact the State Fire Marshal division of the vacancy within three days.
  • If the contractor notifies the State Fire Marshal division as outlined above, the contractor has 14 days to hire a new ME.
  • An additional period of time can be granted until the next ME exam under certain conditions. Contact the State Fire Marshal division for more information on this time extension.