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 »Classifying Mixed Commodities
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 »The Shortcomings of Engineering Judgment
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 »Sacramento Valley Chapter Trade Show Celebrates Ten Years
Event Brings Industry Together The Sacramento Valley Chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) held its 10th Annual Training & Trade Show on March 10, 2022, at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. In the morning, AFSA Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., …
Read More »May/June Technical Challenges
Can You Meet the Challenge? Each issue, AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services Department staff present technical challenges. Besides testing yourself and your co-workers, these exercises are excellent preparation for professional certification tests and also may count as continuing education hours. Check with your certification organization. Each issue of Sprinkler Age …
Read More »Construction Industry in Crisis
Help AFSA Help You Everywhere I go, I hear people talk about the current crisis facing the construction industry, and especially in our fire sprinkler industry: • We don’t have enough labor to do the available jobs. • Steel prices and other material prices keep going up. • Supply chain …
Read More »Virginia Chapter Members Golf for a Great Cause
It Was a Great Day for Golf On October 13, 2021, the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) Virginia Chapter held is 28th Annual Burn Survivors Golf Tournament at the Williamsburg National Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was a great day filled with beautiful weather, spectacular golf, and great camaraderie …
Read More »AFSA: Your Education Destination
ITM, Hydraulic Calculations, Design, and Apprenticeship Programs Offered In-Person and Virtually The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is your education destination! The association has new education training programs to meet everyone’s needs. Invest in your business and empower your employees in 2022 with these offerings, developed based on AFSA member …
Read More »Flashpoint: NFPA Committees
One of the primary missions of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is to formulate health and safety standards. The term “standard” includes various technical words that prescribe rules, guidelines, best practices, specifications, test methods, design or installation procedures, and the like. The size, scope, and subject matter of standards …
Read More »President’s Report: Remain Optimistic
Despite the challenges we’re living through—from economic recession, war in Ukraine, and the nightly news showing criminal atrocities—not to mention the pandemic or the availability of trained people to hire—we need to remain optimistic to succeed. Let’s learn from the past… It’s a little-known fact that more millionaires were made …
Read More »AFSA Membership Has Its Benefits
Remembering Your “Why” There are thousands of contractor companies in the United States. Out of those thousands, less than half are members of a professional organization. Those who are members join for an intended purpose, whether it be networking, training, professional development, or professional advice. It’s called their “why”—why they …
Read More »A Sure Bet on Education
AFSA41 in Las Vegas Features Nearly 60 Technical and Managerial Seminars The biggest and brightest minds in the fire sprinkler industry are converging Las Vegas for AFSA41: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition, to be held October 16-19, 2022. Learn from the best and earn CEUs, CPDs, and Contact Hours with …
Read More »It’s an AFSA Sweep at NCC!
Members Win Gold, Silver, and Bronze The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) was pleased to learn that fire sprinkler apprentices from three AFSA Contractor member companies won gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 2022 National Craft Championships (NCC) held in San Antonio in March. …
Read More »