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Texas commercial inspection requirements

The State Fire Marshal's Office at the Texas Department of Insurance licenses extinguisher, sprinkler, alarm and kitchen system companies. TCEQ licenses backflow testers and grease haulers, and TDLR runs the boiler program. Grease and backflow filing is set by each city's utility.

The rules in force across Texas

Inspection rules in Texas
InspectionHow oftenWho may do itPaperwork
Fire extinguisher inspectionEvery yearA Type B (portable extinguisher), Type A or Type PL licensee working for a company with a Texas State Fire Marshal's Office Extinguisher Certificate of Registration. DOT cylinder hydrostatic tests need a Type C registered company.The licensee attaches a signed service tag after any service. For a red tag the licensee must tell the owner in writing, and tell the local fire marshal within 24 hours and send a copy of the owner notice within three business days.
Fire sprinkler inspectionEvery yearA company holding a Texas Sprinkler Certificate of Registration with a Responsible Managing Employee licence (General, or General Inspector for inspections), from the State Fire Marshal's Office.A yellow tag needs written notice to the owner and the local fire marshal within five business days. A red tag needs written notice within 24 hours. Routine reports may also go to a city portal (not confirmed per city).
Fire alarm inspectionEvery 6 monthsA company with a Texas Alarm Certificate of Registration whose licensed employee holds a Fire Alarm Technician or Planning Superintendent licence, from the State Fire Marshal's Office.The licensee signs the inspection/test label and attaches it to the panel. If the system fails or is impaired, the licensee notifies the owner and the local fire marshal, and again when it is fixed.
Kitchen fire suppression inspectionEvery 6 monthsA Type K (kitchen cooking systems) or Type A (fixed system) licensee, working for a company with an Extinguisher Certificate of Registration, from the State Fire Marshal's Office.The licensee attaches a signed service tag after every service. A red tag requires owner notice at once and fire marshal notice within 24 hours.
Kitchen hood cleaningNational baseline, no local rule on fileEvery month to every year, by typeNFPA 96 calls for trained, qualified, certified cleaners acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction. Most states have no hood cleaner licence.The cleaner documents each cleaning and gives the owner a report. NFPA 96 expects records kept for the fire inspector.
Grease trap cleaningNational baseline, no local rule on fileEvery 3 monthsA waste hauler registered or permitted by the state and often the city.No national interval exists. Local pretreatment rules set it, commonly every 90 days or sooner when grease and solids reach 25 percent of the wetted depth (Austin uses 50 percent in the final compartment). Keep manifests on site (3 to 5 years in the Texas cities listed here).
Backflow testingEvery yearA TCEQ-licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester (BPAT). Testers may work on fire lines only if employed by an Approved Fireline Contractor. Many cities also require the tester to register with the utility.State rule: the tester gives the signed, dated original report to the water supplier. How depends on the utility. Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio have online portals (see city entries).
Boiler inspectionEvery year to every 3 years, by typeA boiler inspector commissioned by TDLR. Insured boilers are inspected by the insurer's inspector (an Authorized Inspection Agency). Uninsured boilers by a TDLR deputy inspector.TDLR online services (boiler invoices and certificates). The inspector reports to TDLR. The owner pays the invoice and prints the certificate from TDLR online services, and posts it. A late inspection fee of $25 per day (first 30 days), then $50, then $100 applies to owner and inspection agency.

Cities with their own programs

These cities run their own grease or backflow programs, with their own registration and filing.

Check a building in Texas

Tick what's on site and see each date, worked out from the rules above.

Optional. Used to find pros nearby.

Some cities set their own grease or backflow rules.

What kind of place is it?
What's on site?
Free. No account needed.

Sources