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State Licensure for Master Irrigators
In 1999 one of our owners, Anthony Cardarelli, was appointed as chairman of the irrigation association for RINLA (Rhode Island Nursery and Landscaper Association Inc.) One of his main objectives as chairman was to raise the level of quality for irrigation installations and services in the state of Rhode Island. Anthony’s main focus was to construct, and implement a bill in the RI General Assembly that would force all irrigation contractors to become licensed as “Master Irrigators” under the “Master Plumbers” current codes. With the help of a few select irrigation companies, elected officials, and the state of Rhode Island’s Department of Labor and Training, we were able to draft a bill that suited our profession’s needs for quality control.
The RINLA Irrigation Committee was created and invitations were opened up to all irrigation contractors in RI. Monthly meetings were held to gather information in a cooperative effort from all companies that wished to attend. Roughly 40% of RI’s irrigation contractors attended these monthly meetings with Ocean State Lawn Sprinkler maintaining 100% attendance at these meetings. We contributed large amounts of information and ideas from our own personal experiences. In addition to these monthly meetings, Anthony Cardarelli met continuously with the Department of Labor and Training’s chief plumbing inspectors to personally represent all irrigation contractors’ views and opinions. After months of hard work, bill number S0805 was created and was presented to the Rhode Island General Assembly.
On June 30, 2001, bill number S0805 passed both the house and senate and became law. This new law created provisions that all irrigation companies operating in the state of Rhode must be licensed as a “Master Irrigator” in similarity to a “Master Plumber” or “Master Electrician”. All irrigation companies that met the requirements of the new irrigation bill were grand- fathered a license within a 1 year period. This prevented noncertified and uneducated companies from installing faulty sprinkler systems.
The new laws states:
5-20-14.1. Grandfathering License of Irrigation Masters and Irrigation Journeypersons without examination. After enactment of this chapter and at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months following enactment of this section, the authority shall without examination, upon the payment of fees herein require issue through the Department of Labor & Training, Division of Professional Regulation, a Master Irrigation License or a Journeyperson Irrigation License to any applicant who shall present satisfactory evidence that he or she has the qualifications for the type of license applied for. Thereafter, in order to qualify for a Master Irrigation License after the initial "grandfather" window, the eligible contractor shall be required to pass a written examination and show the aforementioned proof of their eligibility.
5-20-3.1. "Master Irrigator" defined. The term "Master Irrigator" means a person who has performed in the capacity of a Journeyperson Irrigator as defined in section 5-20-5.1 for not less than two (2) years.
5-20-5.1. "Journeyperson Irrigator" defined. The term "Journeyperson Irrigator" means a person who has performed all phases of a project under the supervision of a Master Irrigation Licensee for a period of not less than one (1) year. Journeypersons shall not be permitted to apply for an irrigation permit.
5-20-4.1. "Apprentice Irrigator” defined. "Apprentice Irrigator" means a person hired to perform all phases of an irrigation project under the supervision of a Master Irrigation licensee or a licensed journeyperson Irrigator for a period of one (1) year.
With the needs for expansion and individual representation, the RINLA Irrigation Division was terminated and a separate and unique corporation was created. IARA (Irrigation Association of Rhode Island) on February 5, 2002. Once again Anthony Cardarelli from Ocean State Lawn Sprinkler, Inc was selected as head chairperson and president of the organization.
All new companies coming into existence after June 30, 2002 will now have to take a RI State Certification Test to become an irrigation contractor in RI. Lawn irrigation contractors must be licensed “Master Irrigators” to install lawn irrigation systems in this state, so please make sure you check for proper identification
It is important that Rhode Island consumers be aware of these new laws meant to protect them. We assure you that Ocean State Lawn Sprinkler, Inc is fully certified and has posted bond to become licensed. We not only abide by this law… We created it!
Master Irrigation License Number 000003, 000027, 000031, and 000035
