Feb 2015

Legislative Review An Overview of Codes, Standards and Regulations in CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, MA, MI, MS, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA and TX

In their November 2014 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
Certification of:

Requires for Sprinkler Drawings:

Plan
Reviewers

Inspectors

PE /
Architect
Seal

NICET Level
III

NICET Level
IV

California

Y

Y

N

N

N

Colorado

Y

Y

Y

Connecticut

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y per IBC

Florida*

Y

Y

Y

Georgia

N

Y

N

Y

Y

Illinois

N

N

Y

Layout

Massachusetts

N

N

Depends

Depends

Depends

Michigan

N

Y

N

N

N

Missouri

N

N

Y

N

N

New Jersey

Cert.

Y

Y

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

N

*In Florida, certification for fire inspector includes certification as a plans examiner.

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
Level II

NICET
Level III

No
Requirement

California

N

N

Y

Colorado

N

Connecticut

N

N

No req.

Y per code req.

Florida

Y

Georgia

Y waiver

Y

N

Illinois

Y

Y

Y, Per NFPA 13

Massachusetts

State

License

Michigan

N

N

Y

Missouri

No req.

Local AHJ governs

New Jersey

Y

N

Y

New York

N

N

North Carolina

Y

Y

Ohio

N

N

Y, state cert

Y

Pennsylvania

Y

Texas

Y

N

N

State

Code Adoption

NFPA 13 Edition Adopted

Adopted NFPA 25

Requires PE to do Sprinkler Design Concepts

Statewide

Locally

California

2012 IBC & IFC, both amended

2013

2011

Yes

Colorado

2012 IBC & IFC, NFPA1 & NFPA101

No

Connecticut

2003 NFPA1, 101, IBC & IFC – all amended

2007

Yes

Yes or NICET

Florida

2009 IBC, NFPA 1 & 101 – all amended

2007

2008

Yes

Georgia

2012 IBC, IFC, NFPA101 – all amended

2012

2011

No

Illinois

2000 NFPA 101 amended

Latest pub. Ed. For new sp. installs

Yes

Yes

Massachusetts

2009 IBC amended; IFC partly amended, 2012 NFPA1 – both amended

2010

2011

No

Michigan

2006 NFPA 101 & NFPA 1 – both amended

2002

Yes, 2002

No

No

Missouri

None

No

Yes

New Jersey

1996 BOCA amended maintenance, fire prevention; 2000 IBC & IFC amended – new constr.

1999 for new installs

Yes

Yes or Architect

New York

2006 IBC & IFC, both amended

2007

Yes, 2008

North Carolina

2009 IFC, amended

2007

Yes, 2008 Ed.

No

Ohio

2009 IBC & IFC, amended

2010

2008 Ed.

Yes, Ohio Fire Code

No

Pennsylvania

2009 IBC & IFC

2007

No

No

No

Texas

2003 IBC & IRC in cities; 2006 NFPA101 in counties

2002 for contractors

1998 Ed. for Contractors

Varies

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