Dec 2004

Legislative Review – An Overview of Codes, Standards and Regulations

In the November 2004, Sprinkler Age magazine featured its 17th annual legislative review for the United States and Canada. This summary of legislation and codes offers an overview of regulations affecting the fire sprinkler industry in individual states. The information was obtained from a survey mailed to the fire marshals of the 50 states. We have listed below the responses and findings for California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. A dash (-) means there was no response.

State Licensing & Certification Requirements
StateRequires Certification of:Requires for Sprinkler Drawings:
Plan ReviewersInspectorsPE / Architect SealNICET Level IINICET Level IV
CaliforniaYYYNN
ColoradoYYYYY
ConnecticutYYYYN
FloridaNYN
GeorgiaNYY
IllinoisNNEitherEither
MassachusettsNN
MichiganYYNNN
MissouriNNYNN
New JerseyCert.YY
New YorkNYYNN
North CarolinaYYYYN
OhioYYYNN
PennsylvaniaYYY
TexasNNY
Inspection, Testing & Maintenance and Seismic Protection Requirements
State
Requirements for those who perform inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems:
Seismic protection required on fire sprinkler systems:
Inspection
Testing
Maintenance
California
N
N
Y
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
N
N
N
Georgia
Y
N
Illinois
N
N
N
Per LSC & NFPA 13
Massachusetts
State license
State license
State license
Y
Michigan
N
N
Y
Missouri
N
N
N
New Jersey
Y
N
N
Y
New York
N
N
North Carolina
Y
Ohio
N
N
State certification
Y
Pennsylvania
Y
Texas
N
N
StateState Code AdoptionNFPA 13 Edition AdoptedAdopted NFPA 25State Requires PE to do Sprinkler Design Concepts
StatewideLocally
California1997 UBC, 1997 UFC, both amended1999NoNoYes
ColoradoUBS, EFC and NFPA1 – all 19981997 current, in process of adopting 1999YesYesNo
ConnecticutBOCA 1996, NFPA 101 1997, both amended1999YesYesYes or NICET
Florida2000 NFPA 1 & NFPA 101, both amended19991998 ed.No
Georgia2000 NFPA 101 amended, 2000 IBC & 2003 IFC, both amended20022002 ed.YesYes
IllinoisNFPA 101 2000 amendedAs ref by 2000 LSCNoNo
MassachusettsState Building Codes Mass. Modified 1993 Boca amended20021995 ed.NoNo
Michigan1999 NFPA 101, 2003 IBC amended19991998 ed.No
MissouriNFPA 101NoNoNo
New Jersey1996 BOCA amended-maintenance, fire prevention; 2000 IBC & 2000 IFC amended- new construction1999 for new installsYesNo
New York2000 IBC & IFC1999 w/in IFCYes, as contained in IFCYes
North Carolina2000 IBC & IFC, both amended1999 as ref. in codeNo, 98 by ref. in codeYes
Ohio1996/1999 BOCA-Fire amended19961998 ed.Yes
Pennsylvania2003 IBC & IFC; NFPA 101 used by PA Dept. of Health for health care facilities1999 as per IBC 2003NoNoYes
Texas2003 NFPA 1011994No

If you would like ny information regarding additional states or an explanation of any of the above, please contact us.