International Fire Code
Massachusetts uses another model code in place of the IFC
Massachusetts uses another model code in place of the IFC. Its code is the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code (527 CMR 1.00). It has been in force since Dec 9, 2022. Adopted by Board of Fire Prevention Regulations (BFPR), Department of Fire Services. The legal citation is 527 CMR 1.00, ss. 1.04-1.05.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
Another model code
Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code (527 CMR 1.00)
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- 527 CMR 1.00, ss. 1.04-1.05
- Adopted by
- Board of Fire Prevention Regulations (BFPR), Department of Fire Services
- Second reading
- Applies
- Based on another model code
- State amendments
- Major
- Also called
- 527 CMR 1.00, Massachusetts Fire Code, Massachusetts Amendments to NFPA 1
Massachusetts uses NFPA 1 (2021 Edition), not the IFC. 780 CMR may cite specific sections of the 2021 IFC but does not adopt the IFC’s retroactive requirements. First effective Dec 9, 2022; the current published text shows an effective date of May 12, 2023 (Mass. Register #1495). A Notice of Correction effective Dec 23, 2022, fixed a typo in the official text, which cited NFPA 1 (2015 Edition) instead of the 2021 Edition.
Coming next
- 2024 editionPartialNo date yetProposed527 CMR 1.00 (2024 Edition, proposed)
The BFPR voted on Oct 15, 2026, to begin promulgation. The proposed text is not an adopted regulation until it is published in the Massachusetts Register and in effect.
How Massachusetts adopts the IFC
The BFPR promulgates 527 CMR 1.00 by regulation: it votes to begin promulgation, holds a statutory public hearing (M.G.L. c. 148, s. 10, per BFPR agendas), and the final rule is published in the Massachusetts Register and takes effect. No legislative approval step was found. The 2021-based update took effect Dec 9, 2022, and the 2024 Edition entered promulgation on Oct 15, 2026.
Cycle. Irregular: NFPA 1 2015 edition was replaced directly by the 2021 edition (effective Dec 9, 2022); a 2024 Edition is now in promulgation.
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- Other actionBFPR vote to begin promulgation of the 2024 Edition of 527 CMR 1.00
The Board of Fire Prevention Regulations voted to start promulgation of proposed amendments to 527 CMR 1.00 (agenda: 2024 Edition); the 2021-based code stays in force until a final rule is published and takes effect.
How it was checked
Verified
Two separate readings of the state’s own record agree, and the passage is on file word for word.
Read twice: a second, blind reading of the state’s record agreed with the first on .
The state’s record was last read on , from five source pages.
Evidence 6 sources
Sources for the record itself come first, the state’s own records ahead of others. A label marks a source about something else, such as an exception. A source marked secondary is not the state’s own record.
“NFPA 1 Fire Code - 2021 Edition is modified, on a Chapter by Chapter basis, as follows:”
527 CMR 1.00: MASSACHUSETTS COMPREHENSIVE FIRE SAFETY CODE - Massachusetts Amendments to NFPA 1, 2021 (effective May 12, 2023) (unofficial copy)Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Fire Prevention Regulationsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “780 CMR and its adopted standards may reference specific sections of the 2021 International Fire Code”
“except that retroactive requirements of the IFC are not adopted.”
780 CMR: Massachusetts Amendments to the International Building Code 2021, Chapter 1 Scope and Administration (10th Edition)Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Building Regulations and Standardsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “The Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code is based on NFPA 1, Fire Code, with amendments specific to Massachusetts.”
“It is promulgated by the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations.”
Massachusetts Fire CodeCommonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Department of Fire Servicesmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “In updating the Code, the Board has adopted NFPA 1 (2021 Edition) with Massachusetts amendments.”
“The updates to 527 CMR 1.00 were effective as of December 9, 2022.”
Revisions to 527 CMR 1.00: Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code (Effective December 9, 2022) and related training opportunities (Department of Fire Services memorandum, December 13, 2022)Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Department of Fire Servicesmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About the note
“typo in the official edition”
“NFPA 1 Fire Code 2015 edition.”
“Notice of Correction to correct this typo and the correction will take effect on December 23, 2022”
Revisions to 527 CMR 1.00: Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code (Effective December 9, 2022) and related training opportunities (Department of Fire Services memorandum, December 13, 2022)Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Department of Fire Servicesmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About the note
“The tenth edition building code became first effective on October 11, 2024”
“The tenth edition code is based on modified versions of the following 2021 International Codes (I-Codes)”
Tenth edition of the MA State Building Code 780Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Building Regulations and Standardsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved