Illinois fire inspection rules
Illinois makes it unlawful to be in the business of servicing fire sprinkler systems without a license from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Who licenses fire protection companies in Illinois
Under the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act, regulated service includes installation, repair, inspection, testing and maintenance.
Companies and workers who service fire extinguishers and other fire equipment need a separate fire equipment distributor or employee license from the State Fire Marshal.
Sources: License required for any sprinkler service; Extinguisher companies are licensed separately
Who may inspect and service
Since January 1, 2024, anyone who does routine inspection or testing of a sprinkler system in Illinois must hold an individual fire sprinkler inspector license with a State Fire Marshal photo ID on their person.
An inspector must show NICET Level III in Inspection and Testing of Water Based Systems (or an equivalent), ASSE 15010 certification, or completion of a U.S. Department of Labor approved sprinkler fitter apprenticeship.
The inspector license rule does not apply to a full time facility employee, such as a stationary or operating engineer, doing weekly and monthly inspections and tests under the adopted standards.
License types
A fire sprinkler contractor license requires a designated certified person or responsible managing employee employed at the business location.
A fire sprinkler inspector is an individual qualified to do routine inspection or testing of sprinkler systems who works for one fire sprinkler contractor at a time.
What the state requires
The company that does a routine sprinkler inspection or test must send a copy of the report to the local fire jurisdiction within 20 business days, or sooner if the local jurisdiction requires.
Each routine inspection or testing report must give the name and license number of each person who did the work and of the fire sprinkler contractor that employs them.
Checking a company's license
The State Fire Marshal publishes a List of Licensed Fire Sprinkler Contractors and Fire Sprinkler Inspectors on its sprinkler contractor page.
Source: State Fire Marshal list
Common questions
Who may inspect fire sprinklers in Illinois?
Since January 1, 2024, anyone who does routine inspection or testing of a sprinkler system in Illinois must hold an individual fire sprinkler inspector license with a State Fire Marshal photo ID on their person.