In the November 2006, Sprinkler Age magazine featured its 19th 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 | Requires Certification of: | Requires for Sprinkler Drawings: | |||
Plan Reviewers | Inspectors | PE / Architect Seal | NICET Level III | NICET Level IV | |
California | N | N | Y | – | – |
Colorado | Y | Y | Any of these three | ||
Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
Florida | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Georgia | N | Y | N | Y | N |
Illinois | N | N | Either | – | |
Massachusetts | N | Y | – | – | Y |
Michigan | Y | Y | N | N | N |
Missouri | N | N | N | N | N |
New Jersey | Cert. | Y | Y | – | – |
New York | N | Y | Y | N | N |
North Carolina | Y | Y | – | – | – |
Ohio | – | – | – | – | – |
Pennsylvania | N | N | N | N | N |
Texas | N | N | – | Y | N |
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: | ||
California | – | – | No req. | Y |
Colorado | N | N | – | – |
Connecticut | N | N | – | Y (per bldg. code) |
Florida | Y | N | – | N |
Georgia | N | Y | – | N |
Illinois | N | N | N | Per LSC & NFPA 13 |
Massachusetts | State lic. | State lic. | State lic. | Y |
Michigan | N | N | – | Y |
Missouri | – | – | No req. | N |
New Jersey | Y | N | N | Y |
New York | N | N | – | – |
North Carolina | N | N | Tech cert. | Y |
Ohio | – | – | – | – |
Pennsylvania | – | – | – | Y |
Texas | Work for licensed contractor | N | ||
State | State Code Adoption | NFPA 13 Edition Adopted | Adopted NFPA 25 | State Requires PE to do Sprinkler Design Concepts | |
Statewide | Locally | ||||
California | 1997 UBC & UFC, both amended | 2002 | 2002 | – | No |
Colorado | 2000 IBC; 2006 NFPA 1; 1997 UFC; Current standards relative to sprinklers | 2002 | 2002 Ed. | – | No |
Connecticut | 2003 NFPA 101, IBC & IFC – all amended | 2002 | Yes | – | Yes or NICET |
Florida | 2003 NFPA 1 & NFPA 101, both amended | 2002 | 2002 Ed. | – | Yes, 50+ heads |
Georgia | 2000 NFPA 101 amended, 2000 IBC & 2003 IFC, amended; see Ch. 120 3-3 Rules & Regulations | 2002 | 2002 Ed. | 2002 Ed. | No, NICET |
Illinois | NFPA 101 2000 amended | As ref by 2000 LSC | No | No | – |
Massachusetts | State Building Codes Mass. Modified 1993 Boca amended | 2002 | 1995 Ed. | – | No |
Michigan | 2003 IBC amended; 2003 IFC; 1997 NFPA 101 | 1996 | 1995 Ed. | No | No |
Missouri | 2000 IBC state owned/ leased, amended | – | No | No | Yes |
New Jersey | 1996 BOCA amended maintenance, fire prevention; 2000 IBC & 2000 IFC amended- new construction | 1999 for new installs | Yes | – | Yes or Architect |
New York | 2000 IBC & IFC | 1999 w/in IFC | Yes, as contained in IFC | – | Yes |
North Carolina | 2003 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2002 | 1998 Ed. | – | No |
Ohio | 2003 IBC & IFC | 2002 | 1998 Ed. | – | – |
Pennsylvania | 2003 IBC & IFC; NFPA 101 used by PA Dept. of Health for health care facilities | 1999 as per IBC 2003 | No | No | Yes |
Texas | 2003 IBC & IRC in cities with city revisions; 2006 NFPA 101 in counties | 2002 | 1998 Ed. For Contractors | 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 in an effort to avoid a major property loss.