Iowa Members Doing Alarm
System Work

CALL TO ACTION:  Provide Feedback on Draft Alarm System Certification Rules

Background on Iowa House File 897:
During the 2007 legislative session, CEDIA was active with Iowa House File 897, legislation which established statewide licensure of electricians and installers.  CEDIA worked to get an exemption so electronic systems contractors would not be licensed as electricians.  House File 897 was enacted at the conclusion of the 2007 Iowa legislative session.

In addition to the statewide electrical licensing requirement, House File 897 amended Iowa Code Chapter 100C to provide certification of alarm system contractors and installers.This means if you do alarm system work, you will need to be licensed in any of the following areas: fire, security, and medical once the rules have been completed.

CEDIA is active in the rules making for the Iowa House File 897.  Tuesday, August 28, 2007 CEDIA representatives attended the first Iowa State Fire Extinguishing and Alarm System Certification Advisory Board Meeting. 

Highlights of August 28, 2007 Advisory Board Meeting:

  • The role of the Advisory Board is to make recommendations only to the State Fire Marshal as to how the administrative rules should be drafted.
  • The Advisory Board was advised that it will be impossible to have the rules adopted by January 1, 2008. It was suggested that the Advisory Board try to adhere to a timeline that would allow for final adoption of the rules by April 1, 2008, prior to the adjournment of the 2008 Iowa legislative session.
  • A review of the provisions of House File 897 that relate to alarm system certification was done.  The provisions of House File 897 relate to three different uses of alarm systems: fire, security and medical.
  • The difficultly was discussed for those who install all three types of systems to get certification in all three areas. 
  • The existing rules on fire extinguishing contractors are only concerned with contractor certification, but the new legislation requires installer certification, as well as contractor certification.   
  • A DRAFT copy of the proposed rules creating a new Administrative Code Chapter for “Certification of Alarm System Contractors” and “Certification of Alarm System Installers” was provided to the Advisory Board. This draft should be used simply as a STARTING POINT for the Advisory Board’s consideration. 

Click here for Iowa Code section 100C.7 of Iowa House File 897.

2007 Iowa Acts, House File 897, amended Iowa Code Chapter 100C to provide certification of alarm system contractors and installers.

Click here for the DRAFT of the rules for requirements and procedures which will apply to these additional categories of alarm system certification.

CALL TO ACTION: 
The Iowa State Fire Extinguishing and Alarm System Certification Advisory Board would welcome industry input, and is asking for any comments, questions, or feedback concerning either the new statutory provisions or the draft of the administrative rule. 

Please provide feedback on the draft alarm system certification rules to Darren Reaman at dreaman@cedia.org by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 11, 2007. 

CEDIA will then communicate any concerns CEDIA Members have on the draft rules before the next meeting.  The Council will meet again on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 from
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
 
Questions?  Contact Darren Reaman at (800) 669-5329
ext. 144 or dreaman@cedia.org.