Texas Type K Fire Extinguisher License: Requirements for Kitchen Systems

Restaurant hood suppression systems are among the most common fire protection work in Texas. The licence for it is Type K, issued by the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) under Insurance Code Chapter 6001 and 28 TAC Chapter 34, Subchapter E.

What Type K covers

28 TAC §34.511 defines Type K as covering two kinds of work:

installing, certifying or servicing pre-engineered fixed fire extinguisher systems for the protection of cooking areas;
certifying and servicing portable extinguishers.

It sits between Type B (portables only) and Type A (fixed systems).

Prerequisite

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

The tests

Under 28 TAC §34.516, the Type K licence test covers:

Subchapter E and Insurance Code Chapter 6001;
installing and servicing portables;
installing and servicing pre-engineered kitchen systems.

SFMO delivers that through PSI:

TFM-01 Statutes & Rules;
TFM-02 Type B (NFPA 10);
TFM-03 Type K, based on NFPA 10, NFPA 17A and NFPA 96.

All three are closed book, 50 questions each, with 70% to pass.

The ICC shortcut for TFM-03

SFMO accepts the ICC Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Extinguishing Systems Technician (FK) exam in place of TFM-03. If you already hold FK, or work in more than one state, it is the portable credential. Our ICC FK practice exams cover that route.

Fees

From 28 TAC §34.515:

	Fee
Licence (Type A, B or K), initial	$70
Renewal (two years)	$100
Late renewal, 1–90 days	$35
Late renewal, 91 days to two years	$70

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

Next step

TFM-03 is closed book and kitchen-specific. Try our free Texas fire extinguisher practice test, or see the full question bank, with separate TFM-01, TFM-02 and TFM-03 exams.

Texas Type K Fire Extinguisher License: Requirements for Kitchen Systems