Under Louisiana law, any person or firm that engages in the business of installing, servicing, selling, or maintaining life safety or property protection systems must be licensed by the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM). This requirement is established under Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 40 §1664 and related provisions, which govern the licensing of firms and individuals working in the life safety and property protection industry. The law requires that firms performing regulated work hold the appropriate license and endorsement for the specific type of system involved, and that the individuals performing the work also hold the required technician licenses.

Because of this structure, subcontracting does not eliminate the licensing requirement. If a company advertises, sells, or signs a contract for regulated work—such as installing a fire alarm system—it is considered to be engaging in that regulated activity and must hold the appropriate license and endorsement issued by the State Fire Marshal. In practical terms, this means a company cannot sell or contract for work in a category for which it is not licensed and then simply subcontract the work to another company that is licensed. For example, a company licensed only for security systems cannot sell a fire alarm installation project and subcontract the work to a licensed fire alarm contractor unless the company itself also holds the fire alarm endorsement.

Subcontracting is permitted when both firms involved hold the appropriate licenses and endorsements for the work being performed. For example, a licensed fire alarm company may subcontract installation work to another licensed fire alarm company, or a licensed security company may subcontract certain work to another properly licensed security firm. In these cases, the technicians performing the work must be properly licensed and must be working under the licensed firm that employs them. Louisiana Administrative Code provisions governing life safety licensing also prohibit license holders from allowing others to use or “borrow” their license, reinforcing that each company must maintain its own compliance.

These requirements exist to ensure that companies offering life safety and property protection services meet the standards established by the State Fire Marshal, including maintaining proper insurance, employing qualified personnel, and being accountable for the work performed. The licensing structure is designed to protect the public and ensure that systems intended to protect life and property are installed and serviced by qualified professionals.

In short: subcontracting is allowed in Louisiana’s life safety and property protection industry, but only when the companies involved are properly licensed for the specific type of work being performed. A company cannot bypass licensing requirements by subcontracting regulated work to another firm.

For LLSSA members, the best practice when subcontracting is to verify that the subcontracting company holds a valid OSFM firm license, the correct endorsement for the work being performed, and properly licensed technicians. This helps ensure compliance with Louisiana law and protects both companies involved in the project.