Texas fire inspection rules

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FireInspectorNear lists companies from the Arkansas and Oklahoma license lists only. Texas's own license records are not loaded yet, so a Texas company appears here only if Arkansas or Oklahoma licensed it too.

Until they are, check any Texas company on the state's own license search linked below, and ask for the license or registration number before work starts.

Sources: SFMO company and licensee search; Search hides companies without insurance

Who licenses fire protection companies in Texas

Fire extinguisher licensing is governed by Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6001 and 28 TAC 34.500 (Subchapter E).

Fire alarm licensing is governed by Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6002 and 28 TAC 34.600.

Fire sprinkler licensing is governed by Texas Insurance Code Chapter 6003 and 28 TAC 34.700.

A 2023 TDI rule adoption updated 28 TAC 34.303 to the 2021 NFPA Fire Code (NFPA 1) and Life Safety Code (NFPA 101).

The same adoption lists NFPA 10 (2018) for extinguishers, NFPA 25 (2020) for water based system inspection and NFPA 72 (2019) for fire alarms.

Sources: State Fire Marshal licenses all three trades; Extinguishers: Insurance Code ch. 6001; Alarms: Insurance Code ch. 6002; Sprinklers: Insurance Code ch. 6003; State fire code is NFPA 1 (2021)

Who may inspect and service

An extinguisher licensee may only do the work while employed by an extinguisher company registered with the State Fire Marshal.

An apprentice permit holder works only under direct visual supervision of a licensee, who certifies the work by signing the tag.

The Responsible Managing Employee General Inspector (RME-I) license allows inspection, testing and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems; it requires the NICET Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems Level II test.

Any company that installs, services, monitors or maintains fire detection devices or systems needs an Alarm Certificate of Registration.

Only an authorized employee of a registered firm who fixed the problem, the State Fire Marshal's Office, or another regulating government agency may remove an extinguisher red tag.

Under 28 TAC 34.716, a visual sprinkler inspection with no service, maintenance, testing or certification does not require a sprinkler registration, but testing and maintenance must be done by a registered firm.

Sources: Licensees must work for a registered company; RME General Inspector; Alarm companies need an ACR; Who may remove an extinguisher red tag

License types

Companies hold registrations (extinguisher ECR, branch office, Type C hydrostatic) and individuals hold licenses (Type PL planning, Type A fixed, Type B portable, Type K kitchen, apprentice permit).

The FEL-B license covers installing, certifying and servicing portable extinguishers.

The FEL-K license covers pre-engineered kitchen hood suppression systems plus portable extinguishers.

Sprinkler companies need a Sprinkler Certificate of Registration (general, underground or dwelling); individuals hold RME general, dwelling, underground or general inspector licenses.

An alarm company registration needs a designated employee holding a Fire Alarm Technician, Fire Alarm Planning Superintendent or Residential Fire Alarm Superintendent license.

Sources: Registrations for companies, licenses for people; Sprinkler Certificate of Registration; Alarm license types

What inspections and tags must show

Round Rock's annual license inspection guide expects extinguishers installed to the 2024 IFC with current inspection tags.

Round Rock asks businesses to make sure fire alarm and sprinkler inspections are current, with repairs done and no yellow or red tags, before an inspection.

Houston Fire Department points to the State Fire Marshal for inspection, test and maintenance tag and label rules for alarm, sprinkler and extinguishing systems.

The Gonzales fire marshal inspection checklist requires every extinguisher to be tagged.

Under 28 TAC 34.521, a firm that finds an extinguisher or fixed system unsafe or inoperable must tell the owner immediately, tell the local fire authority within 24 hours, and send it a copy of the written notice within three business days.

Since January 1, 2008, every existing pre-engineered kitchen hood suppression system in Texas must meet UL 300 or be red tagged.

Replacement fusible links on a kitchen hood system must carry a date stamp within one year of replacement, and their year, temperature and quantity go on the service tag.

After a fire alarm inspection the licensee attaches a blue inspection and test label at the control panel, and those labels stay in place for at least five years.

A fire alarm system that does not meet applicable codes, or is not being tested or maintained to them, gets a yellow label, and the owner and fire authority must be told in writing within five business days.

When a fire alarm system is inoperable the licensee attaches a red label, tells the owner and fire authority right away by phone or in person, and follows up in writing within the next business day.

A sprinkler system that is noncompliant, not being tested or maintained to standard, or has recalled parts gets a yellow tag on its riser, with written notice to the owner and fire authority within five business days.

A sprinkler system with an emergency impairment gets a red tag, an immediate verbal warning to the owner and fire authority, and written notice within 24 hours.

When a sprinkler inspector cannot reach every room, such as occupied hotel rooms, the State Fire Marshal says to attach a white service tag noting the gap rather than the blue inspection tag.

Since December 15, 2024, Fort Worth requires service providers to file all compliant and noncompliant fire protection test reports through The Compliance Engine.

Austin requires inspection companies to file acceptance tests, annual reports, six month kitchen hood reports, deficiencies and repairs through The Compliance Engine.

Houston's Life Safety Bureau Standard 02 (2011) requires commercial kitchen hood suppression systems to be inspected and service tagged at least every six months and after any activation.

The Texas tag and label rules above are quoted from the Texas Department of Insurance order that adopted them in 2016, the latest full text of those sections we could read on tdi.texas.gov. Check the current rule with the State Fire Marshal before relying on a detail.

Sources: Current inspection tags (Round Rock); ITM tags follow state rules (Houston); All extinguishers tagged (Gonzales); Extinguisher red tag notice deadlines; Incomplete sprinkler inspections get a white tag; Fort Worth requires The Compliance Engine; Austin requires The Compliance Engine; Houston kitchen hood systems every 6 months

Getting licensed in Texas: fees and insurance

Company registration applications must include a certificate of liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage.

An extinguisher company registration costs $450 initially and $600 for each two year renewal (main office).

A Type B portable extinguisher license costs $70 initially and $100 for each two year renewal.

A general sprinkler registration (SCR-General) costs $950 initially, including a $50 application fee, and $1,800 for each two year renewal.

An alarm company registration costs $500 initially and $1,000 for each two year renewal (main office).

SFMO sends renewal notices 90 days before expiration, and after the first renewal every two years.

The 2025 state penalty schedule sets $1,000 for attaching a service tag to an impaired extinguisher and $500 for failing to red tag it.

Sources: Liability insurance certificate; Sprinkler company fees; Alarm company fees; Penalty for tagging an impaired extinguisher as serviced

Checking a company's license in Texas

The State Fire Marshal's public search lists registered companies and licensed individuals.

The search shows no result for a company whose liability insurance has expired or is not on file.

Source: SFMO company and licensee search