Texas Type A Fire Extinguisher License: Requirements for Fixed Systems

Texas Type A Fire Extinguisher License: Requirements for Fixed Systems

CO₂ systems in electrical rooms, clean agent systems in data centres, foam and water spray systems at fuel and chemical facilities. In Texas, the licence for that work is Type A (FEL-A), issued by the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) under Insurance Code Chapter 6001 and 28 TAC Chapter 34, Subchapter E.

What Type A covers

28 TAC §34.511 defines Type A as covering:

• certifying or servicing the installation of all fixed fire extinguisher systems, other than pre-engineered systems;
• installing, certifying or servicing all pre-engineered fixed fire extinguisher systems;
• certifying and servicing portable extinguishers.

SFMO's own summary: an FEL-A holder may "install, certify, or service all pre-engineered fixed fire extinguishing systems and portable extinguishers."

It is the widest of the extinguisher licences:

• Type B covers portables only.
• Type K covers kitchen systems and portables.
• Type A covers every fixed system type plus portables.

Planning engineered systems is a separate licence, Type PL.

Prerequisite

To test for Type A you must hold a Type B licence (FEL-B), or an apprentice permit held for at least 6 months.

The tests

SFMO delivers the Type A tests through PSI:

• TFM-01, Statutes & Rules (Insurance Code Chapter 6001 and Subchapter E).
• TFM-02, Type B portables (NFPA 10).
• TFM-04, Type A fixed systems. It is based on NFPA 11, 12, 12A, 15, 16, 18, 25 and 2001.

Each test is 50 questions, true/false or multiple choice, with 70% to pass. You can retake a test once a week, and no more than three times in 12 months.

The ICC route

For FEL-A, SFMO accepts any one of four ICC/NAFED exams in place of the technical tests (TFM-02, TFM-03 and TFM-04 together):

• Certified Portable Fire Extinguisher Technician;
• Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Extinguishing Systems Technician;
• Pre-Engineered Industrial Fire Extinguishing System Technician;
• Engineered Fire Suppression Systems Technician.

If you already hold one, check with SFMO before booking TFM-04. Our ICC industrial systems practice exams cover one of those routes.

Fees

From 28 TAC §34.515:

PSI charges its own test fee on top, and your employer needs a firm certificate of registration.

Next step

TFM-04 spans eight standards. Read what the TFM-04 test covers, try our free Texas fire extinguisher practice test, or see the full question bank. It has separate TFM-01 to TFM-04 exams.