Are Inspections in NFPA 25 a Legal Requirement?

2/5/2019

Inspections requirements are often based on NFPA standards, such as NFPA 25 for Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.

Although NFPA establishes many well-accepted engineering practices and has the standards available to be incorporated or adopted into law, this may not always necessarily be true.

My question is if any inspection and tests, such as stated within NFPA 25, are legally required? Perhaps by OSHA's General Clause? Are there existing legal provisions that can make NFPA 25 enforceable?

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9 Comments

Wayne Ammons

2/5/2019 07:28:08 am

The model building codes themselves, and the standards they reference, are not legally binding. It is up to state and local governments to adopt and enforce the model codes. Chapter 1 - Part 2 of the IBC discusses administration and enforcement.

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2018/chapter-1-scope-and-administration

You should contact the local building department to find out what codes and standards have been adopted and/or amended and how they are enforced.

Randy Day

2/5/2019 10:13:46 am

To add, if IBC is in legal effect, then yes, NFPA 25 inspections should be legally required.

IBC-2015 901.4 requires fire protection systems be maintained in accordance with the original installation standard for the system. NFPA 13 will require maintenance per 25. Also note Section 901.4.5 which prohibits nonfunctional equipment.

2/5/2019 10:12:44 am

I agree with Wayne. It all comes down to whatever the AHJ wants.

Also

2/5/2019 10:44:34 am

Laws aside, many facilities are on top of their inspections and testing for insurance purposes. A system that hasn't been inspected and maintained may result in a loss of insurance claim if the system doesn't work.

Mike Patti link

2/5/2019 11:58:15 am

The NFPA National Fire Codes are adopted by reference by the IBC/IFC. As such you may require the annual, semi annual and quarterly testing per NFPA 25

Robert Jacobson link

2/6/2019 03:07:40 pm

The intention of NFPA 25 regular inspections is to ensure that the fire protection are ready for use even it is not legally required.

Franck Orset

2/19/2019 11:21:29 am

NFPA 25 is not a legal requirement
But the local AHJ can make it a mandatory requirement.
Most Insurance companies will recommend anyway to follow NFPA 25 frequencies. Except if they have their own recommended practices (such as Factory Mutual...)

Jeff Hugo link

12/3/2020 07:27:39 am

It is impossible to say NFPA 25 is not required (in the US). All model building and fire codes (IBC, IFC, IPMC, NFPA 1, NFPA 5000) either directly reference NFPA 25, or indirectly through the installation standards such as NFPA 13, NFPA 13R, NFPA 14, NFPA 20, etc.

As stated above a model code has to be adopted to become law. Nearly every municipality in the US has adopted a building code and a fire code. Enforced or not, the minimum codes and standards are required to be met by contractors, designers, architects, and owners. In context of this thread, adoption of a any model code makes the ITM of NFPA 25 mandatory in the jurisdiction.

Some communities adopt ordinances specifically adopting NFPA 25, but that is not necessary (anymore) if they've adopted a model code.

Michael

9/28/2020 07:38:42 pm

The NFPA Codes are referenced in the IBC/IFC.
If a jurisdiction adopts the International Fire and Building Codes, the NFPA codes that are referenced are also adopted, unless documented otherwise.

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