Jan 2010

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 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.