This section exempts several fire-extinguisher-related activities from the chapter’s licensing rules, and says only license or apprentice-permit holders may do the covered installation and servicing outside those exemptions.
Sec. 6001.156. ACTIVITIES NOT REGULATED BY CHAPTER. (a) The licensing provisions of this chapter do not apply to: (1) the filling or charging of a portable fire extinguisher by the manufacturer before initial sale of the fire extinguisher; (2) the servicing by a firm of the firm's portable fire extinguishers or fixed systems by the firm's personnel who are specially trained for that servicing; (2-a) the inspection of a firm's portable fire extinguisher by a person who is: (A) specially trained to perform portable fire extinguisher inspections; and (B) under contract with the firm for that purpose; (3) the installation of portable fire extinguishers in a building by the building owner, the owner's managing agent, or an employee of the building owner or the owner's managing agent; (4) the installation or servicing of water sprinkler systems installed in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association's Standards for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems; (5) a firm that is engaged in the retail or wholesale sale of portable fire extinguishers that carry the listing of a testing laboratory approved by the department, but that is not engaged in the installation or servicing of those extinguishers; (6) a fire department that services portable fire extinguishers as a public service without charge, if the members of the fire department are trained in the proper servicing of the fire extinguishers; (7) a firm that is a party to a contract under which: (A) the installation of portable fire extinguishers or a fixed fire extinguisher system is performed under the direct supervision of and certified by a firm appropriately registered to install and certify portable extinguishers or fixed systems; and (B) the registered firm assumes full responsibility for the installation; or (8) an engineer licensed under Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, while acting solely in the engineer's professional capacity. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (a), only the holder of a license or an apprentice permit issued under this chapter may: (1) install or service portable fire extinguishers; or (2) install and maintain fixed fire extinguisher systems. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 1J.001, eff. April 1, 2009. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 450 (S.B. 1598), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1004 (H.B. 2447), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.