How Florida licenses companies that install, service and hydrotest fire extinguishers: Class A to D licenses, individual permits, experience, exam, insurance and renewal under section 633.304.
A Florida business that services, recharges, inspects, installs or hydrotests fire extinguishers cannot do it on a general business license. The State Fire Marshal licenses the company, and every technician who actually does the work needs an individual permit. Section 633.304 of the Florida Statutes sets the rules, and they are more specific than most owners expect.
This guide covers the fire equipment dealer license and technician permit. Sprinkler and standpipe work is a separate certificate, explained in the Florida fire sprinkler contractor guide. For the broader state picture, see the Florida contractor license page.
At a glance Regulator: the Division of State Fire Marshal, Florida Department of Financial Services. Law: section 633.304, Florida Statutes. License classes: A, B, C and D. Permits: portable and preengineered. Experience: 4 years as a fire equipment permittee for a license, and age 18 or older. Renewal: two year terms that expire December 31 of each odd numbered year.
Who needs a license and who needs a permit
Any organization or individual that services, repairs, recharges, tests, marks, inspects, installs or hydrotests fire extinguishers or preengineered systems must hold a license from the Division. Each individual who actually performs that work must hold a permit. Permit holders may work only within the scope of the licensee they work under.
Each licensee must keep a specific business location. A licensee with more than one work location needs a separate license for each, and one licensed individual may qualify no more than five locations. The licensee supervises all business activity and is legally responsible for the business's work.
The four license classes
The class tells you which equipment you may touch. Class D is the only one that covers preengineered extinguishing systems.
| Class | What the license covers |
|---|---|
| Class A | Service, recharge, repair, install or inspect all fire extinguishers, and hydrotest all types |
| Class B | Same as Class A, but excluding hydrotesting and recharging of carbon dioxide units |
| Class C | All fire extinguisher work except carbon dioxide recharging, and hydrotesting of all types except carbon dioxide units |
| Class D | Service, repair, recharge, hydrotest, install or inspect all preengineered fire extinguishing systems |
A dealer who wants to move up a class needs 2 years of experience as a licensed dealer and must meet any education requirements set by rule.
Permits for technicians
There are two permit types. A portable permit covers work on all types of portable fire extinguishers, limited to the scope of the employing or contracted licensee. A preengineered permit covers work on preengineered fire extinguishing systems.
A permit is valid only for the holder's work with the licensee named on it. Holders carry the permit and a photo ID card and must produce them on demand. Trainees may work only while a permit holder is physically present, must be at least 18 and carry a valid Florida driver license or state ID. A trainer may not supervise more than two trainees.
What it takes to qualify
| Requirement | License | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 | 16 |
| Experience | 4 years of proven experience as a fire equipment permittee at the level sought or higher | None beyond the approved training course |
| Training | State Fire Marshal approved course with written and practical parts | Same approved course |
| Exam | Written, 70 percent to pass | Written, 70 percent to pass |
The State Fire Marshal may accept an equivalent combination of education and experience for the license. A felony or qualifying crime conviction excludes an applicant for 4 years after the sentence is complete, unless the person has a full pardon or has had civil rights restored. Businesses and government entities that service only their own extinguishers on their own premises are exempt from the experience and conviction requirements.
Business requirements for the license
The company must prove it is a registered Florida corporation, or that it complies with section 865.09. The State Fire Marshal or a designee inspects the business to confirm it has the equipment required for the class. Out of state applicants provide a notarized statement from a licensed professional engineer in their home state, or allow an inspection, and the applicant pays the inspection costs.
The business must also show a current retester identification number listed with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
It must carry general liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage, products liability, completed operations and contractual liability. The required minimum is $300,000 for Class A or D and $200,000 for Class B, and Class C carries the lowest minimum. Coverage for any class held alongside a Class D license must total at least $300,000.
Exam rules and fees
The State Fire Marshal develops and administers the written exam, which covers the rules and statutes governing the license. The exam fee is $50 per scheduled exam and is nonrefundable. A retake cannot be scheduled sooner than 30 days after an administration, and no one may sit for it more than four times in one year.
After a failed exam, an applicant may retake it up to three more times within one year of the original application. Later attempts need a new application, new fees and a new training course. Fees are set by the board or testing vendor and can change. Verify the current amount with the provider before you pay.
Mistakes that slow an application
Most delays come from the same few gaps. Applicants count general shop work as permittee experience, when the statute asks for proven experience as a fire equipment permittee at the level sought or higher. Others apply for a Class D license without the preengineered permit history behind it.
Out of state companies often assume their home state license carries over. Florida requires its own business registration, equipment inspection and approved training course. Starting the corporation filing, the insurance quote and the training course in parallel keeps the timeline shorter than doing them one after another.
Renewal, lapses and inactive status
Licenses and permits last two years and expire December 31 of each odd numbered year. Renewal requires at least 16 hours of continuing education for each renewal period, and a person who holds both a license and a permit completes 16 hours in each. A lapsed license or permit can be restored by paying the fee plus a penalty if the renewal is filed by March 31. After that, reexamination is required.
A licensee may place a license on inactive status but may not perform licensed work while it is inactive. Inactive licenses become void 4 years after the inactive status approval date. Suspension of a firm's license can follow if an officer, qualifier, director, stockholder or owner has had a license or permit suspended or revoked.
Penalties
Violating Chapter 633 or a Division order is a second degree misdemeanor. Section 633.124 goes further for license misuse. It makes it a first degree misdemeanor to use another person's license, certificate or permit, or to hold one and allow another person to use it. Selling a prohibited extinguisher type, including carbon tetrachloride or inverting water units, is also a second degree misdemeanor.
How a company stays covered
The licensee is the person who supervises the business and answers for its work, and a license is tied to a specific location. A company that wants to add extinguisher services needs a licensed individual with the right class on its team before it takes the first job. Plan for that person leaving, because the company cannot keep working without a licensee in place.
A qualifying agent qualifies a company as a full time W-2 employee. To see how the role works, read what a qualifying agent is, then look at the Florida qualifying agent guide and the page on fire suppression contractor qualifying agents. If you want to talk through your own situation, see consultation options or learn how to hire a qualifying agent.
Related Florida licenses
Fire alarm work is licensed through a different board. Compare it in the Florida alarm system contractor guide. The Florida specialty contractor categories page shows what the construction board handles.
Frequently asked questions
Can one person hold a license for several locations? One licensed individual may qualify no more than five locations, and each location needs its own license.
How old do you have to be? A technician permit applicant must be at least 16. A license applicant must be at least 18.
What does it cost to have a qualifying agent for a fire equipment company? It depends on the class, the number of locations and how much of the role the company needs covered. Use the consultation page to discuss it.
Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, the founders of The Licensing Company, help contractors sort out Florida licensing every week. Source: the Florida Legislature statutes site.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.