Sep 2015

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 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
Certification of:

Requires for Sprinkler Drawings:

Plan
Reviewers

Inspectors

PE /
Architect
Seal

NICET Level
III

NICET Level
IV

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
Level II

NICET
Level III

No
Requirement

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.