Feb 2006

18th Annual Legislative Review

In the November 2006, Sprinkler Age magazine featured its 18th 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
CaliforniaNNY
ColoradoYYYYY
ConnecticutYYYYN
FloridaYYYYY
GeorgiaNYNYN
IllinoisNNEitherEither
MassachusettsNYY
MichiganYYNNN
MissouriNNNNN
New JerseyCert.YY
New YorkNYYNN
North CarolinaYY
Ohio
PennsylvaniaNNNNN
TexasNNYN
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:
NICET Level II
NICET Level III
No Requirement
California
*
*
Y
Colorado
Connecticut
N
N
Y per Bldg. Code
Florida
Y
N
Georgia
N
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
Ohio
State certification
Pennsylvania
Y
Texas
**
**
**
N

Key:

* = State contractor/State Fire Marshal Licenese required

LSC = Life Safety Code

** = Work for licensed contractor

StateState Code AdoptionNFPA 13 Edition AdoptedAdopted NFPA 25State Requires PE to do Sprinkler Design Concepts
StatewideLocally
California1997 UBC, 2000 UFC, both amended1999NoNoYes
Colorado2000 IBC, IFC, NFPA 1; 1997 UBC & UFC, NFPA 11,11A, 12, 13, 13D, 13R, 20, 22, 24, 25, 72, 72A, 231D, 409, 423, 705, 200119972002No
ConnecticutBOCA 1996, NFPA 101 1997, both amended, NFPA 13, 13D, 13R, 251999YesYes or NICET
Florida2003 NFPA 1 & NFPA 101, both amended20022002Yes, 50 heads
Georgia2000 NFPA 101 amended, 2000 IBC & 2003 IFC, both amended20022002YesNo, NICET
IllinoisNFPA 101 2000 amendedAs ref by 2000 LSCNoNo
MassachusettsState Building Code Mass. Modified 1993 BOCA amended20021995No
Michigan2000 IBC & IFC amended19991998No
MissouriNo State CodeNoNoNo
New Jersey1996 BOCA amended-maintenance, fire prevention; 2000 IBC & IFC amended- new construction1999 for new installsYesYes or architect
New York2000 IBC & IFC1999 w/in IFCYes, as contained in IFCYes
North Carolina2000 IBC & IFC, both amended1999 as ref. in codeNo, by ref. in codeYes
Ohio2003 IBC & IFC, both amended20021998
Pennsylvania2003 IBC & IFC; NFPA 101 used by PA Dept. of Health for health care facilities1999 as per IBC 2003NoNoYes
TexasIBC & IRC in cities; 2003 NFPA 1012002 – pending98 for contractorsYesNo

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