Article 3. Certificates Of Registration of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 12. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1.5. >> Article 3.

No natural person shall service, charge, or test any portable fire extinguisher without a certificate of registration issued by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to this chapter expressly authorizing such person to perform such acts. The provisions of this article apply to the state, the Regents of University of California, a county, city, district, public authority, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in this state.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any person servicing, charging, or testing any portable fire extinguisher owned by such person when the portable fire extinguisher is not required by any statute, regulation, or ordinance, to be provided or installed. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the servicing, charging, or testing of portable fire extinguishers by new employees of a licensed person for a period not to exceed 90 days provided such servicing, charging or testing is conducted in the presence of and under the direct supervision of a natural person holding a valid certificate of registration.

Application for a certificate of registration to service, charge, or test portable fire extinguishers shall be made in writing to the State Fire Marshal on forms provided by him and shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in this chapter. The application shall be signed by the applicant.

The State Fire Marshal shall require all applicants for a certificate of registration to take and pass a written examination which may be supplemented by practical tests when deemed necessary, to determine the applicants knowledge of servicing, charging and testing of portable fire extinguishers.

Following receipt of the properly completed application and prescribed fee, and the completion of the required examination, the State Fire Marshal shall issue a certificate of registration.

Original certificates of registration shall be valid from the date of issuance through December 31st of the year in which issued. Thereafter, each certificate of registration shall be renewed annually and renewals thereof shall be valid from January 1st through December 31st.

Application for renewal shall be made on or before November 1st of the year in which the current certificate of registration expires. Application for renewal shall be made in writing on forms provided by the State Fire Marshal and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

The State Fire Marshal may refuse to renew any certificate of registration in the same manner and for any reason that he is authorized pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 13185) of this chapter to deny an original certificate of registration. The applicant shall, upon such refusal, have the same rights as are granted by Article 4 of this chapter to an applicant for an original certificate of registration which has been denied by the State Fire Marshal.

Every certificate of registration holder shall notify the State Fire Marshal at his Sacramento office in writing within 15 days of any change of his address.

Every natural person who services, charges, or tests any portable fire extinguisher shall affix a tag to the serviced unit. Such tag shall indicate the date upon which the service work was performed and it shall bear the signature of such natural person, and other information specified by the State Fire Marshal.

The holder of a certificate of registration shall submit such certificate for inspection upon request of the State Fire Marshal, any of his properly authorized employees, or any local fire official.