In the November 2008, 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 of the 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 (-0 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 | N | N |
Colorado | Y | Y | Y | C-16 contractor allowed | |
Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
Florida | Y | Y | Y | N | – |
Georgia | N | Y | N | Y | N |
Illinois | N | N | Design Layout | – | |
Massachusetts | N | N | Y – some exceptions to law | ||
Michigan | N | Y | N | N | N |
Missouri | N | N | Y | N | N |
New Jersey | Cert. | Y | Y | – | – |
New York | Y | N | Y | N | N |
North Carolina | Y | Y | Y | Y | – |
Ohio | – | Y | Y | N | – |
Pennsylvania | Y | Y | Y | 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: | ||
NICET Level II | NICET Level III | No Requirement | ||
California | N | N | – | Y |
Colorado | N | N | – | N |
Connecticut | N | N | – | N |
Florida | Y | N | – | N |
Georgia | – | Y | – | Y |
| Illinois | Y | – | – | Y, Per NFPA 13 |
Massachusetts | – | – | No req. | Y |
Michigan | N | N | N | Y |
Missouri | N | N | – | N |
New Jersey | Y | N | N | Y |
New York | N | N | – | N |
North Carolina | – | – | No req. | Y |
Ohio | N | N | – | N |
Pennsylvania | – | – | No req. | 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 | IBC & IFC, both amended | 2007 as of 9/11/08 effective 7/1/09 | 2006 Ed. | – | Yes |
Colorado | 2006 IBC, IFC, NFPA 1, NFPA 5000, IRC | 2002 | 2002 Ed. | – | Yes |
Connecticut | 2003 NFPA 101, IBC & IFC – all amended | 2002 | Yes | – | Yes or NICET |
Florida | 2006 NFPA 1 & NFPA 101, both amended | 2002 | Yes | – | Yes |
Georgia | 2000 NFPA 101 amended, 2006 IBC & IFC, amended; NFPA standards published 2003 | 2002 | 2002 Ed. | – | No |
Illinois | NFPA 101 2000 amended | 1999 | 1998 Ed. as ref. by 2000 LSC | – | Yes |
Massachusetts | 2003 IBC & IFC (partial); State Fire Code, all amended | 2002 | In process | – | – |
Michigan | 2003 IBC & IFC, both amended; 1997 NFPA 101 | 1996 | 1995 Ed. | – | No |
Missouri | N/A | 1999 | 1998 Ed. | – | – |
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 | 2003 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2002 | 1998 Ed. | No | Yes |
North Carolina | 2003 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2002 | 1998 Ed. | – | No |
Ohio | 2006 IBC & IFC, amended | 2002 | 2002 Ed. | – | No |
Pennsylvania | 2006 IBC & IFC; NFPA 101 used by PA Dept. of Health for health care facilities | 2002 | No | No | Yes |
Texas | 2003 IBC & IRC in cities; 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 to avoid a major property loss.