In their November 2015 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 | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Colorado | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | Y | – |
| Florida* | Y | Y | Y | – | – |
| Georgia | – | Y | N | Y | – |
| Illinois | N | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Massachusetts | N | N | Depends | Depends | Depends |
| Michigan | N | Y | N | N | N |
| Missouri | N | N | Y | Y | N |
| New Jersey | Cert. | Y | Y | – | – |
| New York | N | Y | Y | N | N |
| North Carolina | Y | Y | – | Y | – |
| Ohio | Y | Y | N | N | Y & cert des. |
| Pennsylvania | Y | Y | N | N | N |
| Texas | Y | Y | Y | Y | – |
*In Florida, certification for fire inspector includes certification as a plans examiner.
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 | No | ||
| California | N | N | – | Y |
| Colorado | – | – | No req. | Y certain occup. |
| Connecticut | N | N | No req. | Y per code req. |
| Florida | Y | – | – | N |
| Georgia | Y waiver | Y | – | N |
| Illinois | Y | Y | – | Only as per NFPA 13 |
| Massachusetts | State | License | – | Y in some cases |
| Michigan | N | N | – | Y |
| Missouri | N | – | No req. | Y |
| New Jersey | Y | – | N | Y |
| New York | N | N | – | – |
| North Carolina | – | Y | – | Y |
| 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 | 2015 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2016 | 2011 | – | Yes |
| Colorado | 2016 NFPA1, 101, IBC & IFC, 2009 IRC Ð all amended | 2013 | 2014 | – | NICET III or above |
| Connecticut | 2003 IBC, IFC & NFPA 101 Ð all amended; 2012 NFPA 1 & 2009 IRC Ð both amended | 2002 | 2011 | No | No |
| Florida | 2012 IBC, NFPA 1 & NFPA 101 Ð all amended | 2010 | 2011 | – | Yes |
| Georgia | 2012 IBC, IFC, NFPA101 Ð all amended | 2013 | 2011 | No | No |
| Illinois | 2006 or later IBC; 2000 NFPA1 Ð amended | Latest pub. Ed. For new sp. installs | Yes | – | Yes |
| Massachusetts | 2009 IBC amended; IFC partial amended, 2012 NFPA 1 Ð all amended | 2010 | 2011 | – | No |
| Michigan | 2012 NFPA 101 & 2006 NFPA 1 Ð both amended | 2010 | 2011 | No | No |
| Missouri | None | n/a | No | – | No |
| New Jersey | 1996 BOCA amended maintenance, fire prevention; 2000 IBC & IFC amended – new constr. | 1999 for new installs | Yes | – | Yes or Architect |
| New York | 2006 IBC & IFC, both amended | 2007 | Yes, 2008 | – | – |
| North Carolina | 2009 IFC, amended | 2007 | Yes, 2008 Ed. | – | No |
| Ohio | 2009 IBC & IFC, amended | 2010 | 2008 Ed. | Yes, Ohio Fire Code | No |
| Pennsylvania | 2009 IBC & IFC | 2007 | No | No | No |
| Texas | 2012 NFPA 101 amended | 2013 | 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.