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 centers, foam and water spray systems at fuel and chemical facilities. In Texas, the license 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 licenses:

• 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 license, Type PL.

Prerequisite

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

The tests

The Type A license requires all four of SFMO's extinguisher tests, delivered through PSI:

• TFM-01, Statutes & Rules (Insurance Code Chapter 6001 and Subchapter E).
• TFM-02, Type B portables (NFPA 10).
• TFM-03, Type K kitchen systems (NFPA 10, 17A and 96).
• TFM-04, Type A fixed systems. It is based on NFPA 11, 12, 12A, 15, 16, 18, 25 and 2001.

If you already hold a Type B or Type K license, you have passed some of these already.

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

SFMO lists four ICC/NAFED certifications that "can replace the requirement to take and pass the Extinguisher Type B, Extinguisher Type K, and Extinguisher Type A technical exams for a FEL-A license":

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

TFM-01 (Statutes & Rules) is not on that list. If you hold some of these certifications, confirm with SFMO which technical tests they cover before you book. Our ICC industrial systems practice exams cover one of those certifications.

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.