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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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The NFPA standards development process is often discussed in terms of public inputs, public comments, committee statements, certified amending motions, and votes at the NFPA Technical Meeting. Those steps are important, but the real impact of the process is seen later, when the language developed through that process is applied …
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Lou Holtz passed away on March 4 of this year. He was 89 years old. He was a longtime college football coach who led Notre Dame University to a perfect 12-0 record and the national championship in 1988. He is the only coach to take six different programs to bowl …
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What’s in a name? “That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet.” Okay, so I’m not writing about Shakespeare; however, I am writing about a recurring challenge we encounter at AFSA; AFSA profiles! Whether you are an AFSA member or not, anyone can create and …
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The debate over horsepower ratings on fire pumps has been heavily debated the last three revision cycles in NFPA 20, and this Technical Review that we received from a member is the exact reason why a hard limit needs to be set on these fire pumps. As noted in the …
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Boots, Business, and Breakthroughs! Get out your Western wear and join the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) for connections, collaboration, and a little Texas flair at AFSA45: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition. The best in the sprinkler industry will convene in the Lone Star State September 27-30, 2026, at the …
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Get Ready for the 33rd Annual NAC Empower your apprentices and celebrate your dedication to training by encouraging your apprentices to enter AFSA’s 33rd Annual National Apprentice Competition (NAC)! This competition showcases apprentices’ skills and will be the highlight of AFSA45: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition, to be held September …
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AFSA Trains From Beginner to Next Level Designers The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has design on its mind and your designers in mind! The association offers two schools to train your layout technicians: Beginning for new designers and Intermediate for those ready to advance their skills to the next …
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A Look Into the Industry’s Past and Future Attending AFSA43: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition in Denver, Colo., in the fall of 2024 as a NextGen Scholarship recipient was an experience that exceeded every expectation I had walking into the convention. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that …
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Focusing on CTE and Workforce Development I’m excited to introduce myself as the new workforce development coordinator for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). I am stepping into this role with enthusiasm and a clear mission: to help build a strong, skilled pipeline of professionals for the fire sprinkler industry …
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Recognizing the Top Students It’s time to celebrate the best of the best in fire sprinkler training! The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) started the National Apprentice Honor Roll in 2012 and has continued the annual tradition of spotlighting the top students. This roll showcases the brightest trainees who have …
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Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association