Section 661.277.3. Responsible managing employee.

Each alarm system contractor shall designate a responsible managing employee and may designate one or more alternate responsible managing employees. A contractor may designate more than one responsible managing employee in order to satisfy the requirements for more than one endorsement as provided in subrule 277.1(2). If more than one responsible managing employee is designated, the contractor shall indicate for which responsible managing employee each designated alternate managing employee serves as an alternate.

       277.3(1) The responsible managing employee or employees shall be designated in the application for certification; and, if a responsible managing employee is no longer acting in that role, the contractor shall so notify the fire marshal, in writing, within 30 calendar days, on a form designated by the fire marshal.

       277.3(2) If a responsible managing employee is no longer acting in the role of responsible managing employee and the contractor has designated an alternate responsible managing employee, the alternate responsible managing employee shall become the responsible managing employee and the contractor shall so notify the fire marshal, in writing, within 30 calendar days of the date on which the preceding responsible managing employee ceased to act in that role. If the contractor has designated more than one alternate responsible managing employee, the notice to the fire marshal shall indicate which alternate responsible managing employee has assumed the position of responsible managing employee.

       277.3(3) If a responsible managing employee designated by an alarm system contractor is no longer acting in the role of responsible managing employee and the contractor has not designated an alternate responsible managing employee, the contractor shall designate a new responsible managing employee and shall notify the fire marshal, in writing, of the designation within six months of the date on which the former responsible managing employee ceased to act in that capacity, on a form designated by the fire marshal. If the fire marshal has not been notified of the appointment of a new responsible managing employee within six months of the date on which a responsible managing employee ceased serving in that capacity, the fire marshal shall suspend the certification of the alarm system contractor.

       277.3(4) A responsible managing employee or an alternate responsible managing employee shall meet one of the following requirements:

        a.           Current licensure as a professional engineer by the Iowa engineering and land surveying examining board, with competence in alarm system design.

        b.           For fire alarm system endorsement, current certification by NICET at level III or higher as a fire alarm systems technician.

        c.           For nurse call system endorsement, current certification by a nurse call system manufacturer or current NICET level II certification or higher in fire alarm systems or audio systems.

        d.           For security alarm system endorsement, current certification by NBFAA as an advanced alarm system technician (level II) or higher, or NICET level II certification or higher in fire alarm systems.

        e.           For alarm system maintenance inspection endorsement, current certification by NBFAA as an advanced alarm technician (level II), or NICET level II certification or higher in fire alarm systems.

        f.            For dwelling unit alarm system endorsement, current certification by NBFAA as an alarm technician (level I) or higher, or NICET level I certification or higher in fire alarm systems.

        g.           For any endorsement, completion of any third-party training or certification approved by the fire marshal, as provided in subrule 277.3(5), for that endorsement.

        h.           Prior to October 1, 2010, an alarm system contractor may receive provisional certification if the person designated as the contractor’s responsible managing employee provides documentation that procedures have been initiated for obtaining required qualifications for the endorsement requested. Provisional certification shall not be recognized on or after October 1, 2011. Documentation may include an affidavit completed by the applicant if documentation is not available from the testing organization.

Exception: Provisional certification for fire alarm endorsement shall be recognized until October 1, 2013, provided that by no later than October 1, 2011, the responsible managing employee for a contractor with this provisional endorsement shall have achieved NICET level II certification in fire alarm systems.

       277.3(5) In any case in which training or testing that is offered to satisfy the requirements of this rule is required to be approved by the fire marshal, such approval is required prior to acceptance of the training or testing to meet certification requirements. Approval by the fire marshal of any training or testing to meet these requirements may be sought by the individual, firm, or organization providing the testing or training or initiated by the fire marshal. Any individual, firm or organization seeking to obtain such approval may apply to the fire marshal. An application form for approval of a testing or training program may be obtained by contacting the alarm system contractor and installer certification program as specified in subrule 277.1(4).

       277.3(6) Work performed by a contractor subject to these rules shall be limited to areas of competence indicated by the specific certification or certifications or other training requirements met by the responsible managing employee.

       277.3(7) Nothing in this rule shall be interpreted to conflict with or diminish any requirement for training or certification for anyone installing or servicing an alarm system set forth in any rule of the fire marshal or local fire ordinance or standard adopted by reference therein.