The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has elected its 2015-2016 Board of Directors. Newly elected directors include Rod DiBona of Rapid Fire Protection in Rapid City, S.D. (Region 3) and Lyle Hall of Western Fire Protection in Poway, Calif. (At Large). DiBona will take over the Region 3 director position …
Read More »
The Impact of Group A Plastics One of the most critical variables necessary to define the right design basis for the protection of storage is the commodity classification. In evaluating an individual pallet load, Class III and IV commodities have pretty much always been allowed to have some Group A …
Read More »
Lessons Learned with Full-Scale Fire Tests on Mattresses There were many quips I heard my parents rattle off in response to the trouble I got myself into, but one of them recently came back to haunt me. And, now having kids of my own, I find myself saying it as …
Read More »
Virtual Instruction Path Offers All Levels of Learning The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) was founded in 1981 on the bedrock of education and training. For 2026, AFSA is pleased to announce that all four levels of its Sprinkler Fitting Apprentice Training will be offered as an Employee-Led Path (ELP) …
Read More »
Aid for Students in and Outside of the Sprinkler Industry The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) prioritizes training and education through its scholarship programs. Whether you’re inside or outside of the fire sprinkler industry, AFSA offers educational opportunities for everyone. With a variety of scholarships, you’re guaranteed to be one …
Read More »
AFSA44 was an unbelievable event. What a wonderful time we all had, and, if you missed it, hopefully you can join us in San Antonio at AFSA45 September 27-30, 2026. The training opportunities and networking were vast. The list of presenters throughout the event was the Who’s Who of the …
Read More »
I’m a pretty old guy. Well, ok, I’m an old guy who isn’t very pretty, but I’ve been around long enough to know the world around me is changing at a more rapid pace than the experiences my father had while visiting this planet. When we look up the word …
Read More »
As I step into the role of Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), I am both honored and excited to serve an organization that has been instrumental in advancing the merit shop fire sprinkler industry for over four decades. The trust you have …
Read More »
A Blast From the Past The recent loss of life fire at the Gabriel House Assisted Living facility in Fall River, Mass., has been attributed to the presence of recalled sprinklers installed in that facility. The Massachusetts State Fire Marshal has described this as a ticking time bomb, following an …
Read More »
DeLorie Elected Chair of the Board The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) held its 2025-2026 officer elections during the October 2025 Board meeting. Paul DeLorie, Hampshire Fire Protection Co., Londonderry, N.H., was elected Chair of the Board. Jay Strickland, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, Forestville, Md., was elected First Vice Chair; …
Read More »
Kaempfer Elected Chair, English Vice Chair The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to announce the results of the 2026 Manufacturers/Suppliers (M/S) Council election. After votes were cast and tallied, Andy L. Kaempfer, Safe Signal, will serve as chair, and Dave English, General Air Products, will serve as vice …
Read More »
The gears of the standard development process have been churning the last two months and elevating requirements in several standards of interest to the fire sprinkler industry. In October, the technical committee for NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, had their first draft meeting …
Read More »
One of my favorite books about leadership is celebrating 20 years since its publication. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, which was authored by Doris Goodwin. Ms. Goodwin has written a number of biographies and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1995 for her book No Ordinary Time, …
Read More »
Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association