FUEL GAS FITTER

Description

Fuel Gas Fitters install, repair, alter, service, demolish, or remove pipes, fixtures, fittings, appliances or apparatus necessary for supplying natural gas or propane for residential or non-residential use from the point of delivery. This includes all gas piping before connection to the combustion zone, the applicable venting of flue gases to the outside atmosphere, and the provisions for air for combustion and ventilation. Fuel gas fitters may be known as hearth system installation and service technicians, liquefied propane installation technicians, natural gas installation technicians, natural gas service technicians, or piping installers.

NOTE: This regulation became effective January 1, 2007

Statute/Rules

NH RSA 153:27; Administrative Rules Chapter Saf-C 8000

Regulatory Agency	BUREAU OF BUILDING SAFETY AND CONSTRUCTION Division of Fire Safety NH Department of Safety 33 Hazen Drive Concord, New Hampshire 03301
phone	(603) 223-4289
fax	(603) 223-4294
web	www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/firesafety/building/mechanical/gasfitters
contact person	Robert Farley, Deputy Fire Marshal
e-mail	fmo@safety.state.nh.us

Licensure Requirements

• Applicants for all specialty licenses must be at least 18 years of age
• Technicians working in gas fitting prior to January 1, 2007, and applying for a license prior to January 1, 2009, may apply for a license by providing the following:
  1. An affidavit, signed by the technician and notarized, that the technician has a minimum of 8,000 hours of field experience relevant to the installation and service of gas appliances and equipment, and has received educational training for installation and service of gas appliances and equipment
  2. At the first renewal of the technician's license, the technician shall:
     1. Provide proof of completion of an eight hour NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, class, or successfully pass a test on the content of NFPA 54; and
     2. Provide proof of completion of at least eight hours of continuing education on gas fitting
• Applicants in Training
  1. Individuals who are in the process of meeting requirements for a specialty license shall be issued a restricted specialty license for the applicable specialty
  2. The restricted specialty license shall be clearly marked "IN TRAINING"
  3. Restricted license holders are required to be supervised by a specialty license holder in the same specialty, or a higher qualification, with no more than two trainee licensees under the supervision of a single specialty licensee
• As of August 15, 2007, there are five approved training and testing programs that meet the educational component of the rules. The approved entities are: Certified Employee Training Program (CETP), North American Technician Excellence (NATE), Granite State Trade School (GSTS), Bay State/Northern Utilities (BSNU), and the National Fireplace Institute (NFI). A specific list of approved program training modules for each specialty license is available on the Bureau's web site at www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/firesafety/building/mechanical/gasfitters
  
  
• Piping Installer Specialty License
  • Installs propane and natural gas piping from the point of delivery to gas appliance(s) or other gas utilization equipment
  • Educational and experience requirements:
    1. A minimum of 48 hours of educational training, covering basic gas theory, piping installation, and NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, as related to those items
    2. A minimum of 1,000 working hours of of on-the-job experience in the trade relevant to the installation of gas piping within 60 consecutive months
    3. A New Hampshire licensed plumber who demonstrates that he or she is licensed in good standing shall be qualified for a gas piping installer license upon demonstration of (1) above
       
       
• Liquefied Propane Gas Installation Technician Specialty License
  • Installs propane gas piping from the point of delivery to the appliance(s) and/or installs gas appliances and any other gas utilization equipment using liquefied petroleum gas
  • Educational and experience requirements:
    1. A minimum of 72 hours of educational training, covering basic gas theory, liquefied propane gas piping installation, placement of propane utilization equipment into service, liquefied propane gas equipment installation and venting, and NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, as related to those items
    2. A minimum of 2,000 hours of field experience relevant to the installation of liquefied propane gas piping, liquefied propane gas appliances, or liquefied propane gas utilization equipment within 60 consecutive months
    3. Holders of a gas piping installer license may qualify for a liquefied propane gas installation technician license upon successful completion of a formal education program of at least 24 hours in the subject matter in (1) above, and a minimum of 1,000 hours of field experience relevant to the installation of liquefied propane gas appliances or liquefied propane gas utilization equipment within 60 consecutive months
    4. Applicants who have met experience requirements for a natural gas installation specialty license will be considered as having met experience requirements for this specialty license
       
       
• Natural Gas Installation Technician Specialty License
  • Installs natural gas piping from the point of delivery to the appliance(s) and/or installs residential or non-residential gas appliances or other gas utilization equipment using natural gas
  • Educational and experience requirements:
    1. A minimum of 72 hours of educational training, covering basic gas theory, natural gas piping installation, placing natural gas utilization equipment into service, natural gas equipment installation and venting, and NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, as related to those items
    2. A minimum of 2,000 hours of field experience relevant to the installation of natural gas piping, natural gas appliances, or natural gas utilization equipment within 24 consecutive months
    3. Holders of a gas piping installer license may qualify for a natural gas installation technician license upon successful completion of a formal education program of at least 24 hours in the subject matter in (1) above, and a minimum of 1,000 hours of field experience relevant to the installation of natural gas appliances or natural gas utilization equipment within 60 consecutive months
    4. Applicants who have met experience requirements for a liquefied propane gas installation specialty license will be considered as having met experience requirements for this specialty license
       
       
• Liquefied Propane Gas Service Technician Specialty License
  • Services and repairs liquefied propane gas piping from the point of delivery to the appliance(s) and/or services and repairs residential or non-residential gas appliances and any other gas utilization equipment using liquefied propane gas
  • Educational and experience requirements:
    1. A minimum of 96 hours of educational training, covering basic gas theory, liquefied propane gas piping installation, placement of propane utilization equipment into service, liquefied propane gas equipment installation and venting, troubleshooting electrical circuits and control devices, identifying operating characteristics and components of common sensing devices, gas pressure measurements, ignition safety systems, flue gas analysis and carbon monoxide detection, and NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, as related to those items
    2. A minimum of 5,000 hours of field experience relevant to the installation or servicing of liquefied propane gas piping, liquefied propane gas appliances, or liquefied propane gas utilization equipment within 60 consecutive months
    3. Holders of a liquefied propane gas installation technician license may qualify for a liquefied propane gas service technician license upon successful completion of a formal education program of at least 24 hours in the subject matter in (1) above, and documenting a minimum of 3,000 hours of field experience relevant to the service of liquefied propane gas appliances or liquefied propane gas utilization equipment within 60 consecutive months
    4. Applicants who have met experience requirements for a natural gas service technician specialty license will be considered as having met experience requirements for this specialty license
       
       
• Natural Gas Service Technician Specialty License
  • Services and repairs natural gas piping form the point of delivery to the appliance(s) and/or services and repairs residential or non-residential gas appliances and any other gas utilization equipment using natural gas
  • Educational and experience requirements:
    1. A minimum of 96 hours of educational training, covering basic gas theory, natural gas piping installation, placing natural gas utilization equipment into service, natural gas equipment installation and venting, troubleshooting electrical circuits and control devices, identifying operating characteristics and components of common sensing devices, gas pressure measurements, ignition safety systems, flue gas analysis and carbon monoxide detection, and NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, as related to those items
    2. A minimum of 5,000 hours of field experience relevant to the installation or servicing of natural gas piping, natural gas appliances, or natural gas utilization equipment within 60 consecutive months
    3. Holders of a natural gas installation technician license may qualify for a natural gas service technician license upon successful completion of a formal education program of at least 24 hours in the subject matter in (1) above, and documenting a minimum of 3,000 hours of field experience relevant to the service of natural gas appliances or natural gas utilization equipment
    4. Applicants who have met experience requirements for a liquefied propane gas service technician specialty license will be considered as having met experience requirements for this specialty license
       
       
• Hearth System Installation and Service Technician Specialty License
  • Installs, services, and repairs liquefied propane gas or natural gas hearth appliances and venting systems
  • Educational and experience requirements:
    1. A minimum of 48 hours of educational training, covering basic gas theory, liquefied propane gas and natural gas piping installation, placing propane and natural gas utilization equipment into service, liquefied propane gas and natural gas equipment installation and venting, diagnostics and troubleshooting of hearth system appliances, gas pressure measurements and detection, flue gas analysis and leak detection, ignition control systems, and NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, as related to those items
    2. A minimum of 2,000 hours of field experience relevant to the installation and service of hearth appliances and hearth appliance venting systems within 60 consecutive months

Examination

• Required—all new applicants must pas a written examination with a score of 75 percent or higher relevant to the educational requirements, including NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, as outlined for each specialty license

Continuing Education

• A minimum of eight hours of technical instruction relevant to the gas industry in the last 24 months. Those renewing more than one specialty license are not required to obtain eight continuing education hours for each specialty license.

Fees

Application, original specialty license	$225.00
Biennial renewal, any specialty license	$200.00
Late fee for renewal of any specialty license	$75.00
Reinstatement fee for any specialty license	$125.00
Replacement fee, lost or damaged license	$50.00
Application for original license, non-New Hampshire license holder	$250.00
Fee for multiple specialties on an original license	$50.00

Reciprocity:

• A license may be issued to an applicant who presents evidence of being authorized to perform these duties by another state, jurisdiction, or country that maintains professional standards equivalent to or higher than those of this state, provided that the other state, jurisdiction, or country provides a reciprocal privilege for New Hampshire licensees. Applicants must submit an application form, evidence of required field experience, copies of the license issued by another state, jurisdiction, or country and documentation of professional standards required by the other state, jurisdiction, or country, and pay the applicable licensing fee

Residence/Citizenship:  Neither New Hampshire residency nor US citizenship is required

Number of Active Licenses:  not provided

Standard Occupational Code (O*Net):  47-2152.01 Pipefitters and Steamfitters; 49-9031.00 Home Appliance Repairers

Related Training:  Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter; Appliance Installation and Repair Technology/Technician

Further Information*
National Fire Protection Association
1 Batterymarch Park
Quincy MA 02169-7471
phone: (617) 770-3000
web: <www.nfpa.org>

Certified Employee Training Program (CETP)
Propane Gas Association of New England
PO Box 859
Moultonborough NH 03254-0859
phone: (603) 544-2226
web: <www.pgane.org>

North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
4100 North Fairfax Drive #210
Arlington VA 22203-1657
phone: (703) 276-7247
web: <www.natex.org>

Granite State Trade School
PO Box 374
Auburn NH 03032
phone: (603) 396-5577
web: <www.granitestatetradeschool.com>

Bay State Gas/Northern Utilities
web: <www.northernutilities.com>

National Fireplace Institute (NFI)
1901 North Moore Street, Suite 600
Arlington VA 22209-1708
phone: (703) 524-8030
web: <www.nficertified.org>

last revision: August 2007

*For reference only. This listing does not constitute an endorsement of any organization, and is subject to change.