INDIANA

HB 1236: Fire Prevention and Suppression Equipment

This bill establishes a licensing system for fire suppression equipment professionals in Indiana, creating both business licenses and technician licenses for individuals and companies involved in the service, repair, recharging, inspection, installation, maintenance, and hydrostatic testing of various fire suppression systems and extinguishers. The Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education (referred to as "the board") will be responsible for administering these licenses, setting standards for competent practice, issuing and revoking licenses, and establishing fees. The bill also outlines different classes of business and technician licenses based on the types of equipment handled, including standard fire extinguishers, pre-engineered systems, engineered systems, and systems using carbon dioxide. To obtain a license, applicants must meet age requirements, demonstrate experience and insurance (for businesses), complete training, pass an exam, and undergo a criminal background check. The board will also have the authority to take disciplinary action against licensees for violations, and engaging in unlicensed activities or misrepresenting credentials will be considered a Class B misdemeanor. Learn more here.

MARYLAND

HB0149: Fire Prevention - Assistant Fire Marshals, Residential Rental High-Rise Property Fire Safety Equipment, and Fire Alarm System Technicians

This bill modifies existing Maryland law concerning fire prevention by updating the qualifications and designation process for assistant state fire marshals, requiring the state fire marshal to adopt regulations for their training and certification and allowing for the designation of special assistant fire marshals for specific roles like arson investigations. It also redefines "high-rise building" for fire safety purposes to be based on the height above fire department vehicle access and mandates the installation of smoke detectors in public corridors of residential rental high-rise buildings by July 31, 2025, with automatic fire sprinklers and additional fire protection features required in such buildings undergoing substantial renovations (defined as permanent alterations costing 40% of the building's assessed value) starting October 1, 2026. Furthermore, the bill establishes a licensing and regulatory program for fire alarm system technicians and companies, defining their roles and outlining requirements for licensure, similar to the existing program for fire sprinkler contractors. Learn more here.

FSSA Family,

As we wrap up another incredible year, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your engagement and participation in 2025. I also want to take a moment to thank the veterans in our FSSA family for their service to our country.

Released January 21, 2025

Wet collections are natural history specimens immersed in liquid preservative solutions and typically stored or displayed in glass or plastic containers. The preservative solutions are predominantly ethanol, formalin or isopropanol.

The primary purpose of wet collections is for scientific research. In some instances, wet collections may be of species that are rare or extinct. These collections are not only irreplaceable, but they are also inherently hazardous to store and handle without proper precautions.

The following is a summary of new regulations published October 11, 2024 affecting companies that fill, recharge, recycle, and/or service fire suppression equipment containing HFCs.  Note that these reporting and recordkeeping requirements are in addition to agent test and recordkeeping requirements which became effective September 18, 2023 and the reporting requirements for recyclers of fire suppression HFCs which became effective in 2022.