Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association

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 …

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 …

Celebrate good times, we did! The AFSA43 convention was a Mile-High Success! Once again, we broke our record for attendance with nearly 1,500. I must say that this is due to you, our amazing membership, and the engaging relationship with AFSA. Thank you all for coming, and I hope that …

I like my end-of-the-year column to acknowledge what the technical team did well and what we would like to focus on next year. This gives me time to adjust my management style and goals to the needs of our membership while accomplishing our mission. I want AFSA to be the …

AFSA MEMBERSHIP REGIONS EXPAND TO BETTER SERVE MEMBERS Keeping the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) focus on local chapters and events is critical to its mission and vision. Over the past months, the AFSA Board of Directors has been discussing ways to serve our communities better and be more in …

Have you ever signed up for a service or subscription for one benefit only to discover a treasure trove of additional perks? Being a member of AFSA is a lot like that. Many join us primarily for our extraordinary training (no bias here, only the truth—okay, maybe just a smidge …

CAN YOU MEET THE CHALLENGE? AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services Department staff present technical challenges here for you and your co-workers. These exercises are also excellent preparation for professional certification tests and may count as CEUs. Check with your certification organization. Answers to this issue’s questions will be presented in …

JIMCO FIRE PROTECTION HOSTS FIELD TRIPS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN At this year’s National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Conference & Expo, Bob Caputo, CFPS, president of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), attended a seminar on building awareness about the fire protection industry and sprinklers. He was surprised to hear …

INDUSTRY VETERAN FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE THROUGH TRAINING AND THE NEXT GENERATION From his humble beginnings on the family farm in Paxton, Neb., Joseph A. (Joe) Heinrich rose to the top of his profession, dedicating himself to the betterment of the sprinkler industry. He gave his time, talents, and expertise …

University of Maryland Fire Protection Engineering Department Contest Builds Awareness and Excitement DeMatha Catholic High School has won the 10th annual Design Challenge competition hosted by the University of Maryland’s Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE), earning its second victory since 2016. The “Amigos” team demonstrated the ability to build …

Digital and Community Outreach Makes a Difference When the Runyan Acres (Ark.) Volunteer Fire Department learned they were a recipient of a $750 stipend to support community outreach during 2024 Home Fire Sprinkler Week this past May, they scheduled an open house event. The funds were used to purchase an …

ARGCO and Arkansas Chapter Build Trailer as a Recruitment Tool Two forces have come together to increase awareness about the fire protection industry. ARGCO and the Arkansas Fire Sprinkler Contractors Association, a chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), have created a demonstration trailer showcasing the industry and its …