The certificate and the permit serve two distinct purposes. The certificate is a person-level credential, it authorizes an individual to access above-ceiling spaces and is obtained once per year through a training course. The permit is a project-level authorization, it is specific to a single job or location, required when the scope of work has the potential to impact life safety systems or rated barriers, and must be approved by Facilities Compliance before work begins. Every worker needs a certificate. Not every job requires a permit, but every permitted job requires workers who hold a valid certificate.
The Above Ceiling Work Certificate is required for every individual who will remove a ceiling tile or access above-ceiling space in any UK HealthCare facility - no exceptions, regardless of how brief or minor the access may be. The certificate is obtained by completing the Above Ceiling Safety Training, a web-based training module that covers fire and smoke barrier identification, firestopping requirements, sprinkler system protection, electrical safety, infection control considerations, how to use eFacTS life safety drawings, and the Soleran permit process. To pass, you must score 80% or higher on the assessment at the end of the course. UK HealthCare employees complete the training through the UK Learning Center, where it will be assigned by your supervisor or department manager. Contractors, vendors, and non-UK personnel access an equivalent external training platform available 24/7. Upon successful completion, you will be added to the Facilities Compliance Certified Personnel List and issued a physical certification identifier badge sticker that must be visible during any above-ceiling work. Certificates are valid for one year and must be renewed annually before expiration. An expired certificate is invalid, and work must stop until renewal is completed.
The Above Ceiling Work Permit is a project-specific authorization managed through the Soleran permit system. You must hold a valid Above Ceiling Work Certificate before applying; proof of training completion is required as part of the application. Permit applications must be submitted at least 48 hours before scheduled work begins and must include the responsible individual's contact information, project location (campus, building, floor, and room), a description of the work, start and end dates, confirmation that eFacTS life safety drawings have been reviewed, firestopping product specifications, and identification of all systems to be installed, modified, or removed. Once submitted, Facilities Compliance will review the application, conduct a pre-work site survey if needed, and issue an approval or return the application for corrections. Work may not begin until the permit status shows "Approved" in Soleran, and a printed copy of the approved permit must remain on site for the duration of the project. Each job or project requires its own permit. Permits are not transferable to a different location, date, or scope of work. When work is complete, the permit holder must request a closeout through Soleran, after which Facilities Compliance will conduct a post-work inspection to verify that all firestopping, ceiling tile replacement, debris removal, and life safety requirements have been properly addressed before the permit is closed.
Apply for an Above Ceiling Work Permit