NFSA respond to Maryland State amendments

The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) has responded to recent amendments to the Maryland State Fire Prevention Code which have eliminated the requirement to retrofit existing high-rise residential buildings with automatic fire sprinkler systems.

President, National Fire Sprinkler Association, Shane Ray’s statement

National Fire Sprinkler Association President Shane Ray shared: “This decision puts lives at risk – both occupants of the buildings and firefighters.

“We cannot afford to wait for another tragedy. Fire does not discriminate, but fire sprinkler systems save lives—every single time. Maryland must prioritize people over policy and reinstate this critical requirement before more lives are lost.” 

Maryland amendments

These amendments, which incorporate the 2024 editions of NFPA 1 and NFPA 101, stand in direct opposition to the findings of the Final Report of the Workgroup to Develop Fire Safety Best Practices for Pre-1974 High-Rise Apartment Buildings, released on June 30, 2025.

This Workgroup, established under HB823/CH0744, conducted a thorough assessment of fire risks in Maryland’s older high-rise buildings, many of which still lack modern fire protection systems. 

Key findings

• Between 2001 and 2022, Maryland reported 248 high-rise fires—87% occurred in residential occupancies. 
• Automatic fire sprinklers were found to reduce injury risk by 60% and property loss by 55%. 
• Older buildings often have chronic deficiencies in fire protection systems due to lax enforcement of inspection, testing and maintenance standards. 
• Human factors—such as delayed evacuation and mobility challenges—further elevate fire risk, especially among elderly and vulnerable residents. 

The Workgroup’s top recommendation was unambiguous: retrofit all existing high-rise residential buildings with automatic fire sprinkler systems by 2033, in alignment with NFPA 101.

Acknowledging the complexities of full retrofitting, the report also emphasized interim fire safety upgrades, including modernizing fire alarm and detection systems as well as enhancing compartmentation of exit routes.

Strengthening inspection and maintenance protocols and finally, delivering multilingual fire safety education to residents.

“Life-saving benefits”

High-profile tragedies—including those at Twin Parks (Bronx, NY), Marco Polo (Honolulu, HI), and Midtown Towers (Pittsburgh, PA)—have shown the fatal consequences of lacking sprinkler systems and compromised compartmentation. These incidents underscore the urgent need for robust fire protection in high-rise dwellings. 

The NFSA has highlighted how despite national code mandates, Maryland’s updated code exempts buildings from sprinkler retrofits unless formally designated as an “inimical hazard,” leaving thousands of residents without the “life-saving benefits” of automatic fire sprinklers. 

Removal of high-rise fire sprinkler retrofits in Maryland discussed by NFSA: Summary

The NFSA has discussed the removal of high-rise fire sprinkler retrofits in Maryland, spotlighting this decision and saying that it puts lives at risk.