3.4 Oklahoma Commercial Fire Alarm Tagging (OAC 380:75-5-1)

3.4 Oklahoma Commercial Fire Alarm Tagging (OAC 380:75-5-1)

Most states leave inspection tagging to the local fire code official. Oklahoma does not. Subchapter 5 of the Department of Labor's rules prescribes the exact colors, dimensions, data fields, notification deadlines, and removal authority for every tag that appears on a commercial fire alarm system in the state. This is the most Oklahoma-specific technical rule set on the entire licensing exam, and it is enforced against the technician's individual license number, not just the company's.

The Four-Tag System

Every one of the four tags is five inches (5") in height by four inches (4") in width and every one must bear the legend "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE FIRE CODE OFFICIAL."

The White Tag — Installation Record

The White Tag is the permanent visual record of the original installation. It is permanently affixed to the main control panel for as long as the system is in service, is water durable, and has a self-adhesive backing. It must show:

1. "DO NOT REMOVE BY ORDER OF THE FIRE CODE OFFICIAL"
2. The certifying company's name, address, and local telephone number
3. The certifying company's commercial fire alarm license number
4. The signature and license number of the commercial fire alarm technician certifying the system
5. The fire alarm permit number
6. The model of the control panel
7. The date of certification
8. The code, edition, and year under which the system was installed

[!WARNING] Only the fire code official may remove an installation (White) tag. A technician who peels a White Tag off a panel during a retrofit — even to make room for a new one — has committed a rule violation. Contrast this with the annual inspection tags, which a commercial fire alarm technician employed by a fire alarm company may remove.

Green, Yellow, Red — The Annual Inspection Tags

All three inspection tags require that the annual inspection be conducted in accordance with NFPA testing standards and the manufacturer's specifications, and all three may be removed only by a commercial fire alarm technician employed by a (commercial) fire alarm company, or by the fire code official.

Green Tag — operable, no impairments. Also used for deficiency repair testing, in which case the tag is marked "Deficiency Repair Tag" rather than "Annual Inspection Tag." Beyond the standard company and technician identifiers, it carries the date the inspection or repair was performed and the inspection company's name, ODOL company license number, and inspection date. Within five (5) days of inspection deficiency repairs, a copy of the repair document must be provided to the authority having jurisdiction.

Yellow Tag — operable, but with minor impairments that do not severely compromise functional operation. In addition to the company/technician identifiers and inspection date, the Yellow Tag must carry a list of the impairments. The company shall notify the building owner or agent and the fire code official in writing of all impairments immediately or as soon as practicable, but no later than seventy-two (72) hours.

Red Tag — the system is inoperable. It carries a list of the deficiencies that render the system inoperable and a list of any deficiencies present that do not render it inoperable — two separate lists on the same tag. The company shall notify the building owner or agent and the fire code official in writing... no later than twenty-four (24) hours.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           OKLAHOMA WRITTEN-NOTIFICATION CLOCKS (OAC 380:75-5-1)      │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  RED TAG    (system inoperable) ........ 24 HOURS  → owner + AHJ     │
│  YELLOW TAG (minor impairments) ........ 72 HOURS  → owner + AHJ     │
│  GREEN TAG  (repair documentation) ..... 5 DAYS    → AHJ             │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Field Application: A Tulsa Retail Center Annual

A technician performs the annual inspection on a 1998-vintage panel serving a strip retail center. Two of eleven horn/strobes fail to activate, and the dialer's second telephone line has been disconnected by the tenant's phone vendor. The panel still detects, annunciates, and notifies on the remaining appliances.

Correct handling: the system is operable with impairments, not inoperable — this is a Yellow Tag. The technician lists both impairments on the tag, and the company sends written notice to the building owner and the fire code official immediately or as soon as practicable, and in no case later than 72 hours. The original White Tag stays on the panel; only the previous inspection tag is replaced. When the appliances and the second line are repaired and retested, a Green Tag marked "Deficiency Repair Tag" is applied and a copy of the repair document goes to the AHJ within five days.

Exam Watchouts

[!IMPORTANT] Memorize the notification pairs: Red = 24 hours, Yellow = 72 hours, Green repair documentation = 5 days. Exam distractors routinely swap the 24 and 72.

[!WARNING] Removal authority is the classic trick question. White Tag: fire code official only. Green/Yellow/Red: commercial fire alarm technician employed by a fire alarm company or the fire code official. Building owners, general contractors, and property managers may never remove any of them.