Jan 2012

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 their November 2011 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 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

Y

Connecticut

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y per IBC

Florida

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Georgia

Y

Y

GA Cert of Completion

Illinois

N

N

Design

Layout

Massachusetts

N

N

Y

Some exceptions

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

N

N

N

Texas

Y

Y

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

No req.

Y per code req.

Florida

Y

N

N

Georgia

Y

Y

N

Illinois

Y

Y, Per NFPA 13

Massachusetts

No req.

Y, some exceptions

Michigan

Y

Missouri

N

N

N

New Jersey

Y

N

N

Y

New York

N

N

N

North Carolina

Y

Y

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

2009 IBC & IFC, both amended

2010

2002 NFPA, 2006 CA ed.

No

Colorado

2006 IBC, IFC, NFPA1, NFPA5000, 2002-03 NFPA20, 22, 24, 72

2002

Yes, 2002 Ed.

No, also accept NICET III/IV

Connecticut

2003 NFPA1, 101, IBC & IFC – all amended

2007

Yes

Yes or NICET

Florida

2006 2006 NFPA1, amended

2002

Yes

Yes

Georgia

2006 IBC & IFC, 2000 NFPA101 – all amended

2002

2002 Ed.

No

Illinois

2001 NFPA101 amended; 2005 ICC; 2006 IBC amended not statewide, only appl. if a local juris. did not adopt bldg. code of its own

1999

Yes, 1998 Ed. as ref. by NFPA101

Yes

Massachusetts

2009 IBC amended; portions of 2009 IFC

2007

No

No

Michigan

2008 IBC, 1997/2006 NFPA101 and 1997 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 & IFC amended – new constr.

1999 for new installs

Yes

Yes or Architect

New York

2003 IBC & IFC, both amended

2002

Yes, 1998

North Carolina

2006 IBC & IFC, both amended

2002

Yes, 2002 Ed.

No

Ohio

2006 IBC & IFC, amended

2002

2002 Ed.

Yes

Yes

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.