In their November/December 2016 issue, Sprinkler Age magazine featured its 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 in all 50 states. Listed below are 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 (-) indicates no response.
State | Requires | Requires for Sprinkler Drawings: | |||
Plan | Inspectors | PE / | NICET Level | NICET Level | |
| California | N | N | Y | N | N |
| Colorado | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Connecticut | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Florida* | Y | Y | Y | – | – |
| Georgia | – | Y | N | Y | – |
| Illinois | N | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Massachusetts | N | N | Depends | Depends | Depends |
| Michigan | N | Y | N | N | N |
| Missouri | N | N | Y | Y | N |
| New Jersey | Y | Y | Only | NICET II | – |
| New York | N | Y | Y | N | N |
| North Carolina | – | Y | Y | Y | – |
| Ohio | Y | Y | N | N | Y & cert des. |
| Pennsylvania | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Texas | Y | Y | Y | Y | – |
*In Florida, a contractor can design systems with less than 49 sprinkler heads.
Inspection, Testing & Maintenance and Seismic Protection Requirements | ||||
State | Required for those who perform inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems: | Seismic protection required on fire sprinkler systems: | ||
NICET | NICET | No | ||
| California | – | – | – | Y |
| Colorado | – | – | No req. | N |
| Connecticut | N | N | – | Y |
| Florida | Y | – | – | N |
| Georgia | via waiver | Y | – | N |
| Illinois | Y or | Y or | Or union trained | Only as per NFPA 13 |
| Massachusetts | State | License | – | Y in some areas |
| Michigan | N | N | – | Y |
| Missouri | N | – | No req. | Y |
| New Jersey | Y | N | – | Yes, some |
| New York | N | N | – | – |
| North Carolina | N | N | – | Y |
| Ohio | N | N | Y, state cert | Y |
| Pennsylvania | – | – | – | Y |
| Texas | Y | – | – | N |
State | Code Adoption | NFPA 13 Edition Adopted | Adopted NFPA 25 | Requires PE to do Sprinkler Design Concepts | |
Statewide | Locally | ||||
| California | 2015 IBC & IFC, both amended; numerous others | 2016 | 2013 | – | Yes |
| Colorado | 2015 IBC & IFC; 2015 IRC; NFPA 101 | 2013 | Yes | – | NICET III or above |
| Connecticut | 2015 IBC, IFC & NFPA 101 2012 NFPA – amended | 2010 | 2011 | – | No |
| Florida | 2012 IBC, NFPA 1 & NFPA 101 – all amended | 2010 | 2011 | – | Yes |
| Georgia | 2012 IBC, IFC, NFPA101 – all amended | 2013 | Yes | No | No |
| Illinois | 2006 or later IBC; 2000 NFPA1 – amended | Ed. in effect when sp sys installed | Ed. in effect when sp sys installed | – | Yes |
| Massachusetts | 2009 IBC amended; IFC partial amended, 2012 NFPA 1 – all amended | 2010 | 2011 | – | No |
| Michigan | 2012 NFPA 101 & 2006 NFPA 1 – both amended | 2010 | 2011 | – | No |
| Missouri | None | n/a | No | – | No |
| New Jersey | 2015 NJ IBC New Construction; 2006 IFB NJ as maintenance code both amended | 2013 as ref. by 2015 IBC | No | NO | Yes |
| New York | 2006 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2007 | Yes, 2008 | – | – |
| North Carolina | 2009 IFC, amended | 2013 | Yes, 2014. | – | No |
| Ohio | 2009 IBC & IFC, amended | 2010 | Yes, 2008 | Yes, Ohio Fire Code | No |
| Pennsylvania | 2009 IBC & IFC | 2007 | No | No | No |
| Texas | 2012 NFPA 101 amended | 2013 | Yes | – | No |
Risk Logic, Inc. can be of assistance regarding fire protection Codes and Regulations. We can ensure that the above codes, as well as NFPA and FM Global standards, are being followed to avoid a major property loss.