January 2007: 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 2006, Sprinkler Age magazine featured its 19th 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. We have listed below 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

N

N

Y

-

-

Colorado

Y

Y

Any of these three

Connecticut

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Florida

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Georgia

N

Y

N

Y

N

Illinois

N

N

Either

-

Massachusetts

N

Y

-

-

Y

Michigan

Y

Y

N

N

N

Missouri

N

N

N

N

N

New Jersey

Cert.

Y

Y

-

-

New York

N

Y

Y

N

N

North Carolina

Y

Y

-

-

-

Ohio

-

-

-

-

-

Pennsylvania

N

N

N

N

N

Texas

N

N

-

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:

California

-

-

No req.

Y

Colorado

N

N

-

-

Connecticut

N

N

-

Y (per bldg. code)

Florida

Y

N

-

N

Georgia

N

Y

-

N

Illinois

N

N

N

Per LSC & NFPA 13

Massachusetts

State lic.

State lic.

State lic.

Y

Michigan

N

N

-

Y

Missouri

-

-

No req.

N

New Jersey

Y

N

N

Y

New York

N

N

-

-

North Carolina

N

N

Tech cert.

Y

Ohio

-

-

-

-

Pennsylvania

-

-

-

Y

Texas

Work for licensed contractor

N

 

 

 

State

State Code Adoption

NFPA 13 Edition Adopted

Adopted NFPA 25

State Requires PE to do Sprinkler Design Concepts

Statewide

Locally

California

1997 UBC & UFC, both amended

2002

2002

-

No

Colorado

2000 IBC; 2006 NFPA 1; 1997 UFC; Current standards relative to sprinklers

2002

2002 Ed.

-

No

Connecticut

2003 NFPA 101, IBC & IFC – all amended

2002

Yes

-

Yes or NICET

Florida

2003 NFPA 1 & NFPA 101, both amended

2002

2002 Ed.

-

Yes, 50+ heads

Georgia

2000 NFPA 101 amended, 2000 IBC & 2003 IFC, amended; see Ch. 120 3-3 Rules & Regulations

2002

2002 Ed.

2002 Ed.

No, NICET

Illinois

NFPA 101 2000 amended

As ref by 2000 LSC

No

No

-

Massachusetts

State Building Codes Mass. Modified 1993 Boca amended

2002

1995 Ed.

-

No

Michigan

2003 IBC amended; 2003 IFC; 1997 NFPA 101

1996

1995 Ed.

No

No

Missouri

2000 IBC state owned/ leased, amended

-

No

No

Yes

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

2000 IBC & IFC

1999 w/in IFC

Yes, as contained in IFC

-

Yes

North Carolina

2003 IBC & IFC, both amended

2002

1998 Ed.

-

No

Ohio

2003 IBC & IFC

2002

1998 Ed.

-

-

Pennsylvania

2003 IBC & IFC; NFPA 101 used by PA Dept. of Health for health care facilities

1999 as per IBC 2003

No

No

Yes

Texas

2003 IBC & IRC in cities with city revisions; 2006 NFPA 101 in counties

2002

1998 Ed. For Contractors

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 in an effort to avoid a major property loss.