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 | Requires for Sprinkler Drawings: | |||
Plan | Inspectors | PE / | NICET Level | NICET Level | |
| 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 | NICET | No | ||
| 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