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Maryland fire sprinkler inspection requirements: State Fire Prevention Code and NFPA 25

Updated · General information, not legal advice

Maryland's State Fire Prevention Code, COMAR 29.06.01, adopts NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (2024 editions) with state amendments. NFPA 1 in turn requires water-based fire protection systems to be inspected, tested, and maintained under NFPA 25.

Who enforces it

The Office of the State Fire Marshal enforces the code statewide. Several counties and cities have their own fire marshal offices that enforce it locally, sometimes with stricter local amendments. Your local fire marshal is the authority having jurisdiction for inspection records.

Contractor licensing

Maryland licenses fire sprinkler contractors through the State Fire Marshal. Ask for the company's Maryland license number before work begins. Fire Sprinkler Index lists Maryland companies from the State Fire Marshal's public licensee list, but we do not verify current status.

NFPA 25 intervals to plan for

  • Quarterly alarm-device and gauge inspections.
  • Annual main drain test, valve inspections, and full system inspection.
  • Five-year internal assessment of piping and check-valve inspection.
  • Fire pumps: weekly or monthly churn tests depending on driver type, plus an annual flow test.

Backflow testing depends on your water utility

Fire-line backflow assemblies are regulated by the water utility. In Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, WSSC Water requires testable backflow preventers to be tested at least annually by a WSSC-registered technician who submits the report. Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, and other utilities run their own programs, so check your bill or the utility's cross-connection page.

Note

Frequencies below summarize recent editions of NFPA 25. Your jurisdiction may enforce an older or newer edition, and your insurer or the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) can require more. Treat this as a checklist to discuss with your contractor, not as legal advice.

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Sources

  1. COMAR 29.06.01, Maryland State Fire Prevention Code
  2. Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal
  3. WSSC Water Code of Regulations § 14.10.100, Testing and maintenance of backflow preventers
  4. NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems (NFPA)

NFPA standards are available to read free online from NFPA. Requirements depend on the edition your jurisdiction adopts; confirm with your authority having jurisdiction.

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