Fla. Stat. § 633.102 — Florida Code / Title XXXVII / Chapter 633 / Part I / Section 633.102
633.102 Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) “Board” means the Florida Fire Safety Board.

(2) “Contracting” means engaging in business as a contractor.

(3)(a) “Contractor I” means a contractor whose business includes the execution of contracts requiring the ability to lay out, fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service all types of fire protection systems, excluding preengineered systems. (b) “Contractor II” means a contractor whose business is limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to lay out, fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service water sprinkler systems, water spray systems, foam-water sprinkler systems, foam-water spray systems, standpipes, combination standpipes and sprinkler risers, all piping that is an integral part of the system beginning at the point of service as defined in this section, sprinkler tank heaters, air lines, thermal systems used in connection with sprinklers, and tanks and pumps connected thereto, excluding preengineered systems. (c) “Contractor III” means a contractor whose business is limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service carbon dioxide systems, foam extinguishing systems, dry chemical systems, and Halon and other chemical systems, excluding preengineered systems. (d) “Contractor IV” means a contractor whose business is limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to lay out, fabricate, install, inspect, alter, repair, and service automatic fire sprinkler systems for detached one-family dwellings, detached two-family dwellings, and mobile homes, excluding preengineered systems and excluding single-family homes in cluster units, such as apartments, condominiums, and assisted living facilities or any building that is connected to other dwellings. A Contractor IV is limited to the scope of practice specified in NFPA 13D. (e) “Contractor V” means a contractor whose business is limited to the execution of contracts requiring the ability to fabricate, install, alter, repair, and service the underground piping for a fire protection system using water as the extinguishing agent beginning at the point of service as defined in this act and ending no more than 1 foot above the finished floor. A Contractor V may inspect underground piping for a water-based fire protection system under the direction of a Contractor I or Contractor II. This subsection may not be construed to include engineers or architects within the defined terms and does not limit or prohibit a licensed fire protection engineer or architect with fire protection design experience from designing any type of fire protection system. A distinction is made between system design concepts prepared by the design professional and system layout as defined in this section and typically prepared by the contractor. However, a person certified under this chapter as a Contractor I or Contractor II may design new fire protection systems of 49 or fewer sprinklers; may design the alteration of an existing fire sprinkler system if the alteration consists of the relocation, addition, or deletion of 49 or fewer sprinklers, notwithstanding the size of the existing fire sprinkler system; and may design the alteration of an existing fire sprinkler system if the alteration consists of the relocation or deletion of 249 or fewer sprinklers and the addition of up to 49 sprinklers, as long as the cumulative total number of fire sprinklers being added, relocated, or deleted does not exceed 249, notwithstanding the size of the existing fire sprinkler system, if there is no change of occupancy of the affected areas, as defined in the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and there is no change in the water demand as defined in NFPA 13, “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems,” and if the occupancy hazard classification as defined in NFPA 13 is reduced or remains the same as a result of the alteration. Conflicts between the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code shall be resolved pursuant to s. 553.73(1)(d). A person certified as a Contractor I, Contractor II, or Contractor IV may design a new fire protection system or design the alteration of an existing fire protection system, the scope of which complies with NFPA 13D, “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes,” as adopted by the State Fire Marshal, notwithstanding the number of fire sprinklers. Contractor-developed plans may not be required by any local permitting authority to be sealed by a registered professional engineer.

(4) “Department” means the Department of Financial Services.

(5) “Division” means the Division of State Fire Marshal within the Department of Financial Services.

(6) “Explosives” means any chemical compound or mixture that has the property of yielding readily to combustion or oxidation upon the application of heat, flame, or shock and is capable of producing an explosion and is commonly used for that purpose, including but not limited to dynamite, nitroglycerin, trinitrotoluene, ammonium nitrate when combined with other ingredients to form an explosive mixture, blasting caps, and detonators; but the term does not include cartridges for firearms or fireworks as defined in chapter 791.

(7)(a) “Fire equipment dealer Class A” means a licensed fire equipment dealer whose business is limited to servicing, recharging, repairing, installing, or inspecting all types of fire extinguishers and conducting hydrostatic tests on all types of fire extinguishers. (b) “Fire equipment dealer Class B” means a licensed fire equipment dealer whose business is limited to servicing, recharging, repairing, installing, or inspecting all types of fire extinguishers, including recharging carbon dioxide units and conducting hydrostatic tests on all types of fire extinguishers, except carbon dioxide units. (c) “Fire equipment dealer Class C” means a licensed fire equipment dealer whose business is limited to servicing, recharging, repairing, installing, or inspecting all types of fire extinguishers, except recharging carbon dioxide units, and conducting hydrostatic tests on all types of fire extinguishers, except carbon dioxide units. (d) “Fire equipment dealer Class D” means a licensed fire equipment dealer whose business is limited to servicing, recharging, repairing, installing, hydrotesting, or inspecting of all types of preengineered fire extinguishing systems.

(8) “Fire extinguisher” means a cylinder that: (a) Is portable and can be carried or is on wheels. (b) Is manually operated. (c) May use a variety of extinguishing agents that are expelled under pressure. (d) Is rechargeable or nonrechargeable. (e) Is installed, serviced, repaired, recharged, inspected, and hydrotested according to applicable procedures of the manufacturer, standards of the National Fire Protection Association, and the Code of Federal Regulations. (f) Is listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

(9) “Firefighter” means an individual who holds a current and valid Firefighter Certificate of Compliance or Special Certificate of Compliance issued by the division under s. 633.408.

(10) “Fire hydrant” means a connection to a water main, elevated water tank, or other source of water for the purpose of supplying water to a fire hose or other fire protection apparatus for fire suppression operations. The term does not include a fire protection system.

(11) “Fire protection system” means a system individually designed to protect the interior or exterior of a specific building or buildings, structure, or other special hazard from fire. Such systems include, but are not limited to, water sprinkler systems, water spray systems, foam-water sprinkler systems, foam-water spray systems, carbon dioxide systems, foam extinguishing systems, dry chemical systems, and Halon and other chemical systems used for fire protection use. Such systems also include any overhead and underground fire mains; fire hydrants and hydrant mains; standpipes and hoses connected to sprinkler systems; sprinkler tank heaters; air lines; thermal systems used in connection with fire sprinkler systems; tanks providing water supply or pump fuel, including piping for such tanks; and pumps connected to fire sprinkler systems.

(12) “Firesafety inspector” means an individual who holds a current and valid Fire Safety Inspector Certificate of Compliance issued by the division under s. 633.216 who is officially assigned the duties of conducting firesafety inspections of buildings and facilities on a recurring or regular basis on behalf of the state or any county, municipality, or special district with fire safety responsibilities.

(13) “Fire service provider” means a municipality or county, the state, the division, or any political subdivision of the state, including authorities and special districts, that employs firefighters or uses volunteer firefighters to provide fire extinguishment or fire prevention services for the protection of life and property. The term includes any organization under contract or other agreement with such entity to provide such services.

(14) “Fire service support personnel” means an individual who does not hold a current and valid certificate issued by the division and who may only perform support services.

(15) “Handling” means touching, holding, taking up, moving, controlling, or otherwise affecting with the hand or by any other agency.

(16) “Highway” means every way or place of whatever nature within the state open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular traffic and includes public streets, alleys, roadways, or driveways upon grounds of colleges, universities, and institutions and other ways open to travel by the public, notwithstanding that the same have been temporarily closed for the purpose of construction, reconstruction, maintenance, or repair. The term does not include a roadway or driveway upon grounds owned by a private person.

(17) “Hot zone” means the area immediately around an incident where serious threat of harm exists, which includes the collapse zone for a structure fire.

(18) “Keeping” means possessing, holding, retaining, maintaining, or having habitually in stock for sale.

(19) “Layout” means the layout of risers, cross mains, branch lines, sprinkler heads, sizing of pipe, hanger locations, and hydraulic calculations in accordance with the design concepts established through the Responsibility Rules adopted by the Board of Professional Engineers.

(20) “Manufacture” means the compounding, combining, producing, or making of anything or the working of anything by hand, by machinery, or by any other agency into forms suitable for use.

(21) “Minimum firesafety standard” means a requirement or group of requirements adopted pursuant to s. 633.208 by a county, municipality, or special district with firesafety responsibilities, or by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to s. 394.879, for the protection of life and property from loss by fire which shall be met, as a minimum, by every occupancy, facility, building, structure, premises, device, or activity to which it applies.

(22) “Minimum Standards Course” means training of at least 360 hours as prescribed by rule adopted by the division which is required to obtain a Firefighter Certificate of Compliance under s. 633.408.

(23) “Motor vehicle” means any device propelled by power other than muscular power in, upon, or by which any individual or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except a device moved or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

(24) “Point-of-service” means the point at which the underground piping for a fire protection system as defined in this section using water as the extinguishing agent becomes used exclusively for the fire protection system.

(25)(a) “Preengineered system” means a fire suppression system which: 1. Uses any of a variety of extinguishing agents. 2. Is designed to protect specific hazards. 3. Must be installed according to pretested limitations and configurations specified by the manufacturer and applicable National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Only those chapters within the National Fire Protection Association standards which pertain to servicing, recharging, repairing, installing, hydrotesting, or inspecting any type of preengineered fire extinguishing system may be used. 4. Must be installed using components specified by the manufacturer or components that are listed as equal parts by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., or Factory Mutual Laboratories, Inc. 5. Must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. (b) Preengineered systems consist of and include all of the components and parts providing fire suppression protection, but do not include the equipment being protected, and may incorporate special nozzles, flow rates, methods of application, pressurization levels, and quantities of agents designed by the manufacturer for specific hazards.

(26) “Private carrier” means a motor vehicle, aircraft, or vessel operating intrastate in which there is identity of ownership between freight and carrier.

(27) “Sale” means the act of selling; the act whereby the ownership of property is transferred from one person to another for a sum of money or, loosely, for any consideration. The term includes the delivery of merchandise with or without consideration.

(28) “Sprinkler system” means a type of fire protection system, manual or automatic, using water as an extinguishing agent and installed in accordance with applicable National Fire Protection Association standards.

(29) “Storing” means accumulating, laying away, or depositing for preservation or as a reserve fund in a store, warehouse, or other source from which supplies may be drawn or within which they may be deposited. The term is limited in meaning and application to storage having a direct relationship to transportation.

(30) “Support services” means those activities that a fire service provider has trained an individual to perform safely outside the hot zone of an emergency scene, including pulling hoses, opening and closing fire hydrants, driving and operating apparatus, carrying tools, carrying or moving equipment, directing traffic, manning a resource pool, or similar activities.

(31) “Suspension” means the temporary withdrawal of a license, certificate, or permit issued pursuant to this chapter.

(32) “Transportation” means the conveying or carrying of property from one place to another by motor vehicle (except a motor vehicle subject to s. 316.302), aircraft, or vessel, subject to such limitations as are set forth in s. 552.12, in which only the motor vehicles, aircraft, or vessels of the Armed Forces and other federal agencies are specifically exempted.

(33) “Uniform firesafety standard” means a requirement or group of requirements for the protection of life and property from loss by fire which shall be met by every building and structure specified in s. 633.206, and is not weakened or exceeded by law, rule, or ordinance of any other state agency or political subdivision or county, municipality, or special district with firesafety responsibilities.

(34) “Use” means application, employment; that enjoyment of property which consists of its employment, occupation, exercise, or practice.

(35) “Volunteer firefighter” means an individual who holds a current and valid Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion issued by the division under s. 633.408.

History: s. 2, ch. 65-216; s. 6, ch. 71-271; s. 2, ch. 75-240; s. 1, ch. 80-342; s. 27, ch. 82-186; s. 1, ch. 84-107; s. 1, ch. 84-143; s. 1, ch. 84-243; s. 34, ch. 86-191; s. 4, ch. 87-287; s. 2, ch. 88-209; s. 2, ch. 88-362; s. 14, ch. 89-233; s. 1, ch. 91-189; s. 43, ch. 95-210; s. 6, ch. 95-379; s. 1, ch. 98-170; s. 52, ch. 98-419; s. 44, ch. 2000-372; s. 2, ch. 2001-64; s. 22, ch. 2005-147; s. 8, ch. 2006-65; s. 46, ch. 2010-176; s. 2, ch. 2011-79; s. 2, ch. 2013-183; s. 156, ch. 2014-17; s. 19, ch. 2016-132; s. 23, ch. 2021-113; s. 1, ch. 2021-123; s. 2, ch. 2023-224.