In their December 2019 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 in all 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 (-) indicates no response.
State | Requires | Requires for Sprinkler Drawings: | |||
Plan | Inspectors | PE / | NICET Level | NICET Level | |
| California | N | – | Y | N | N |
| Colorado | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Connecticut | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Florida* | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Georgia | N | Y | N | N | Y |
| Illinois | N | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Massachusetts | N | N | Depends | Depends | Depends |
| Michigan | N | Y | N | N | N |
| Missouri | N | N | – | – | – |
| New Jersey | Y | Y | Only | NICET II | – |
| New York | N | Y | Y | N | N |
| North Carolina | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Ohio | Y | Y | N | N | Y & cert des. |
| Pennsylvania | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Texas | Y | Y | Y | Y | – |
*In Florida, a contractor can design systems with less than 49 sprinkler heads.
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 | NICET | Other (CSA, Local) | ||
| California | – | N | Y | Y |
| Colorado | – | – | No req. | N |
| Connecticut | N | N | – | N |
| Florida | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Georgia | via waiver | Y | N | N |
| Illinois | Y or | Y or | – | Only as req per NFPA 13 |
| Massachusetts | State | License | – | Y in some areas |
| Michigan | N | N | – | Y |
| Missouri | No req. | No req. | No req. | N |
| New Jersey | Y | N | – | Yes, some |
| New York | No req. | No req. | No req. | Based on IBC req. |
| North Carolina | – | – | – | – |
| Ohio | N | N | Y, state cert | Y |
| Pennsylvania | – | – | – | Y |
| Texas | Y | – | – | N |
State | Code Adoption | NFPA 13 Edition Adopted | Adopted NFPA 25 | Requires PE to do Sprinkler Design Concepts | |
Statewide | Locally | ||||
| California | 2016 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2016 | Yes 2011 | – | Yes or licensed sprinkler contractor |
| Colorado | 2015 IBC & IFC; 2015 IRC; 2012 NFPA 101 | 2013 | Yes | – | NICET III or above |
| Connecticut | 2012 IBC, IFC & NFPA 101 2012 NFPA 1 – amended | 2010 | Yes 2011 | – | No |
| Florida | 2015 IBC, NFPA 1 & NFPA 101 | 2013 | Yes 2014 | – | Yes |
| Georgia | 2012 IBC, IFC, NFPA101 – all amended | 2013 | Yes 2011 | No | No |
| Illinois | SFMO enforces 2000 ed. of NFPA 101 for state fac. And state-licensed fac. Each local juris. can adopt its own codes. State est. 2006 IBC, IEBC, IPMC, & 2008 NFPA 70 min. standards for juris. that have not formally adopted codes (admin. by the IL Capital Dev. Board) | 2002 minimum;Juris. that had adopted codes as of 2011 mat retain older ref. ed of NFPA in their adopted codes | No | Yes, varies by juris. | Yes |
| Massachusetts | 2009 IBC amended; IFC partial amended, 2012 NFPA 1 – amended (1/1/15) | 2010 | Yes 2011 | – | No |
| Michigan | 2012 NFPA 101 & 2006 NFPA 1 – both amended | 2010 | Yes 2011 | No | No |
| Missouri | – | 1999 | No | No | – |
| New Jersey | 2015 NJ IBC New Construction; 2006 IFB NJ as maintenance code both amended | 2013 as ref. by 2015 IBC | No | No | Yes |
| New York | 2018 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2016 | Yes 2017 | – | Yes |
| North Carolina | 2015 IBC & 2012 IFC, both amended | 2013 | Yes | – | No |
| Ohio | 2009 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2010 | Yes, 2008 | Ohio Fire Code | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | 2009 IBC & IFC | 2007 | No | No | No |
| Texas | 2012 NFPA 101 amended | 2013 | Yes | – | No |