Fire Protection Technician Stamp
Practice Guideline

As of July 1, 2001, all Registered Fire Protection Technicians in the Lower Mainland area and all Interim Certified Technicians, in other areas of BC are required to use the new stamp that was issued. The new stamp will identify the disciplines for which the technician has full certification.

At the bottom of the stamp there will be the following designations:

Verification of Fire Alarm Systems VI Fire Alarm Systems AL Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning CO Unit Emergency Lighting EM Fire Extinguishers EX Generator Systems GS Smoke Control Systems SM Special Fire Suppression Systems SP Water-Based Fire Protection Systems WA

As of June 30, 2001, the previously issued ASTTBC Fire Protection Technician stamps became null and void. This stamp should not be accepted for new work.

1 Ownership of Stamp

1. The charge for a member stamp is a lease fee for an indefinite period, provided the Registered Fire Protection Technician (RFPT) or Interim Fire Protection Technician remains in good standing with ASTTBC.  This stamp remains the property of ASTTBC and must be returned promptly at the request of the Registrar of ASTTBC.

1. The RFPT and Interim Fire Protection Technician are responsible for the use of their stamp at all times including whether it is lost, stolen or misplaced.  The onus is always on the Technician to ensure that their application of the stamp is done in a legal, ethical and professional manner.  It is also the responsibility of the Technician to be aware of any legal limitations or requirements on the use of the stamp, particularly any limitations imposed by the employer.
2. The possession of stamped tags is restricted to the RFPT and Interim Fire Protection Technician whose name appears on the stamp and their registered trainee(s) and only while under supervision.  Tags may only be stamped at the actual jobsite for which they are required.

1. Use of the stamp is protected under the ASTT Regulations pursuant to the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians Act.
2. Only a RFPT or Interim Fire Protection Technician registered and in good standing may use their Stamp.
3. The right to use the stamp is a privilege granted by ASTTBC.
4. Pre-stamping of tags and documents other than at the applicable job site is unacceptable.  Tags and documents shall not be reproduced with a stamp imprint on them.
5. The privilege of possessing a stamp may be revoked if not used in an ethical or professional manner.

1. The RFPT or Interim Fire Protection Technician shall stamp all applicable documents regardless of whether the Municipality has enacted a bylaw that requires certified technicians.
2. The stamp shall be applied in a clear and legible manner.
3. The stamp shall be used on any preliminary, draft or final documents, which have been prepared by the RFPT/Interim Fire Protection Technician or prepared under their supervision.
4. The number of tags or documents stamped shall be only sufficient for the applicable job site and for that time of service.
5. The use of either, the normal usual signature, legal signature or initials of the RFPT/Interim Fire Protection Technician shall be clearly shown in the space provided.  Whatever the choice for form of signature, it should be used consistently and a copy of the stamp signature should reside on file with ASTTBC.
6. The date the stamp is used, when required, shall be noted.
7. Interim Fire Protection Technician stamps may only be used in those areas of the province so approved by the Board.

5.0 Document Requiring Stamp

1. Transfer technician information, or
2. Have a technical impact on a third party, or
3. Have been specifically requested by a client or an authority with jurisdiction.

1. As a guideline, the stamp will be used for tags and reports.  The RFPT/Interim Fire Protection Technician shall only apply the stamp in those disciplines in which certification has been granted by ASTTBC.  Letters would not come under this category unless used as an inspection notification.
2. Any unauthorized reproduction or production of an ASTTBC RFPT/Interim Fire Protection Technician stamp is a matter for both civil and criminal proceedings, as well as action by the Practice Review Board.
3. Upon request, stamps shall be returned.  Stamps not returned within 30 days will result in the technicians’ certification being suspended, a notice posted on the web site and notification to the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

6.0 Stamps – Stolen, Lost or Misplaced

1. An RFPT/Interim Fire Protection Technician shall submit to ASTTBC a signed affidavit indicating the disposition of the stamp.  Police reports may be requested.  Costs for the new stamp and administration fees shall apply.
2. An RFPT/Interim Fire Protection Technician who loses or misplaces a stamp shall not sign or use a facsimile on tags or reports in place of their lost stamp.  Tags or reports are valid only when stamped by an RFPT/Interim Fire Protection Technician in good standing.

In reviewing the usage of the stamp, there are two major areas of civil liability, Contractual Liability and Tort Liability, which are given consideration.

Only parties to a contract may be held to be liable for breach of that contract.  Therefore, an employee member cannot be held contractually liable for breach of contract between their employer and a third party.  However, if an employee in the performance of their duties fails to sign or stamp work that they have prepared and such failure results in their employer being held liable for breach of contract, such failure might be regarded as breach by the employee of their employment contract.  In those circumstances, the employer might seek to recover from the employee the amount of damages they have paid to the third party.

An employer is vicariously liable for the negligence of an employee if such negligence was committed by the employee in the course of their employment.  The employee may also be liable.  Damages awarded may be recovered from either or both.

The signing or stamping of documents is only evidence of the identification of parties responsible for the work.  The stamping itself may be irrelevant to the question of liability.  A member may be civilly liable because they were negligent in preparing drawings and reports or in the supervision of their preparation or because they negligently approved the drawing, not because they signed or stamped them.  A member who knowingly accepts responsibility for and signs or stamps documents that have not been prepared by them or under their supervision is in breach of the ASTTBC code of ethics.  They may also be civilly liable for fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation if such misrepresentation results in some party suffering damages.

The important point to remember is that in all cases, liability or negligence is a question or fact.  The requirement of signing or stamping simply identifies the parties responsible which is one less item the plaintiff would have to prove in a lawsuit.