In the November 2009, 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 (-) 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 | Y/N | Y/N | Y * | N | N |
| Colorado | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
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 | N | N |
Michigan | Y, bldg. insp. & plan rev. | – | – | – | |
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 | Y | N | N |
Pennsylvania | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
Texas | N | N | – | Y | N |
*Sprinkler drawings only require PE/Architect Seal when done by a non-licensed designer. C-16 licensed contractors may design systems they install without a PE Stamp.
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 | No req. | Test. & Main. – CT sprinkler lic. |
Florida | Y | N | – | N |
Georgia | – | Y | – | Y |
| Illinois | Y | – | – | Y, Per NFPA 13 |
Massachusetts | N | N | – | Y |
Michigan | – | – | – | 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 | 2006 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2002* | 2002 NFPA25 & 2006 CA ed. | – | No |
Colorado | 2006 IBC, IFC, NFPA1, NFPA5000, 2002 NFPA72 | 2002 | Yes, 2002 Ed. | – | No, also accept NICET III/IV |
Connecticut | 2003 NFPA101, IBC & IFC – all amended | 2002 | Yes | – | Yes or NICET |
Florida | 2006 NFPA1 & NFPA101, both amended | 2002 | Yes | – | Yes |
Georgia | 2000 NFPA101 amended, 2006 IBC & IFC, amended; NFPA standards published 2003 | 2002 | 2002 Ed. | – | No |
Illinois | NFPA101 2000 amended | 1999 | Yes, 1998 Ed. as ref. by 2000 LSC | – | Yes |
Massachusetts | 2003 IBC & IFC (portions of) | NFPA13, 13D & 13R, 2007 ed. | Yes | – | Yes |
Michigan | 2007 IBC, 1997/2006 NFPA101 and 2007 NFPA1, all amended | Varies depending on references | – | Yes, varies | No |
Missouri | N/A | 1999 | 1998 | – | – |
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 | Yes, 1998 | – | – |
North Carolina | 2003 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2002 | Yes, 2002 Ed. | – | No |
Ohio | 2006 IBC & IFC, amended | 2002 | 2002 Ed. | – | Yes |
Pennsylvania | 2006 IBC & IFC; NFPA101 used by PA Dept. of Health for health care facilities | 2002 | No | No | Yes |
Texas | 2003 IBC & IRC in cities; 2006 NFPA101 in counties | 2002 | 1998 Ed. For Contractors | Yes | No |
*NFPA-13 2002 ed. is the adopted code in CA until 12/31/10. Beginning 1/1/11, NFPA-13 2010 edition will be enforced. The 2007 edition was skipped. Local jurisdictions have 6 months after CA adopts a code to adopt it. By 7/30/11 all jurisdictions in CA will enforce NFPA-13, 2010 edition.
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.