Maine fire code
Maine enforces NFPA 1, the 2018 edition, as its statewide fire prevention code. It pairs with NFPA 101, the 2018 Life Safety Code. The sections that follow explain what the rules mean for you as a building owner or manager, plus where to begin. Maine mixes code editions from 2009 to 2021, so it's easy to miss one, and we can help you sort out which rules your building has to meet.
Code in force: NFPA 1, 2018 edition. Enforced by: Office of State Fire Marshal. Your local fire marshal can add rules, so check with that office too.
- state fire prevention code NFPA 1, 2018 edition
- state life safety code NFPA 101, 2018 edition
- enforcing agency in Augusta State Fire Marshal's Office
- smaller towns must opt in for enforcement 4,000 population threshold
Asking about a house? For a house or duplex, smoke alarm and sprinkler rules usually come from the residential building code (the IRC) instead, so ask your local building department.
The State Fire Marshal's Office
The State Fire Marshal's Office sits within the Department of Public Safety in Augusta. Shawn Esler currently serves as State Fire Marshal. Maine's codes and amendments, including the 2021 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) stretch code, are posted on the office's building codes page.
The Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code also applies across the state. All communities have to enforce it, though towns with fewer than 4,000 residents need to take official action to opt in. Small towns can be tricky, because enforcement depends on whether your town has opted in.
Codes are adopted and updated by the Technical Building Codes and Standards Board, which also has to offer training on them.
Which NFPA editions has Maine adopted?
The National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, writes the standards Maine puts into force. Maine doesn't use one edition year for everything, so a building can follow a 2016 sprinkler rule and a 2019 alarm rule at the same time. These years come from the state's standards list.
| Building system | NFPA standard | Maine edition |
|---|---|---|
| Fire prevention code | NFPA 1 | 2018 |
| Life safety code | NFPA 101 | 2018 |
| Handheld fire extinguishers | NFPA 10 | 2018 |
| Installing sprinklers | NFPA 13 | 2016 |
| Home sprinklers (one- and two-family) | NFPA 13D | 2016 |
| Water-based system inspection and testing | NFPA 25 | 2014 |
| Fire alarm systems | NFPA 72 | 2019 |
| Cooking equipment ventilation | NFPA 96 | 2021 |
| Wet-chemical fire suppression systems | NFPA 17A | 2009 |
Getting a Maine fire sprinkler permit
Every sprinkler installation job needs a permit from the State Fire Marshal's office, and so does any addition of more than 20 new heads. Swapping out sprinkler heads is treated as maintenance, so no permit is needed for that.
The state's permit page lists these charges:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Each new sprinkler head | $1 per head |
| Minimum charge for a permit | $100 |
| Single- and two-family homes (NFPA 13D) | $25 each |
| Installing a fire pump | $100 per pump |
| Preliminary permission to begin installation before full submittal | $50 |
Work has to begin within 6 months of the permit issue date. Big commercial or industrial projects costing more than $1,000,000 need a fire protection engineer's review, and the contractor pays for that review. Roughly 98 percent of submittals come in online.
Private homes, non-profits, and municipal or state buildings get no exceptions under the sprinkler law.
Inspection reports and repair follow-up
In public buildings, licensed inspectors examine sprinkler systems under NFPA 25. Each inspection report has to include the inspector's license number. Look for it when your report arrives.
If an owner isn't scheduling corrections after an inspection finds problems, the inspector must send the report to the State Fire Marshal.
Sprinkler licenses and fees
Maine lists endorsements for fire sprinkler contractors, responsible managing supervisors and inspectors. Each endorsement lasts 2 years, there's no late fee to reinstate one, and full details are on the state's license page.
| Endorsement | Fee | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Sprinkler Contractor license | $300 | System installation |
| Responsible Managing Supervisor | $300 | Signing off on design and installation |
| Fire Sprinkler Inspector | $100 | Inspecting, testing, and maintaining systems; the Contractor endorsement is included |
Both the Contractor and Inspector endorsements include the supervisor endorsement at no extra cost. A Maine-licensed P.E. (professional engineer) has the supervisor fee waived. Inspectors must hold NICET II certification, a national technician credential, or show equivalent proof of training.
First steps for your building
- If your town has fewer than 4,000 people, find out whether it has opted in to enforcing the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code.
- Make sure your sprinkler inspector's license number is printed on your report.
- Before installing sprinklers or adding more than 20 new heads, confirm your contractor has a state permit.
- Arrange repairs for any issues the inspection turns up, since an inspector must report unscheduled corrections to the state.
Planning sprinkler work? Call us now so you can understand the permit requirements before installation begins.