Have It Your Way: Training and Education

Reach Your Goals In-Person, Online, or Both! Have you set some New Year’s resolutions or goals for your company? The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) can help members succeed with a wide variety of programming offered in several ways to best suit your needs. Do you want to expand your …

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President’s Report

Bob Caputo, CFPS, provides his president's report for January/February 2023.

Have any of you had to or chosen to move lately? Most of us have heard the quip that a really good friend will help you move or bury a body. I suppose the latter is a really, really good friend. Recently, the AFSA offices packed up years of accumulated …

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Flashpoint

John Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE is the vice president of engineering & technical services at AFSA. Denhardt provides a "flashpoint" for March/April of 2023 and discusses NFPA reviews.

In this issue, I want to discuss a situation in which I worry many of our members place themselves unknowingly. The design question my technical team receives most often involves the determination of a hazard classification or system design parameters for a specific occupancy, storage arrangement, or process. These questions …

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Higher Standards

Kevin Hall, M.Eng, P.E., ET, CWBSP, PMSFPE, writes "Higher Standards" to expand on NFPA standards.

The input stage for NFPA 13R and NFPA 13D has concluded, and the first draft report is available on NFPA’s website. As codes and standards are updated, many will not realize the impact of changes until their jurisdiction catches up three, five, or even 10 years down the road. By …

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Am I Covered?

Know the details about your insurance coverage relating to the fire sprinkler industry. Image is an illustration of a checklist. Know how you are covered.

Know the Details About Your Insurance Coverage Once, the question “Am I covered?” was very easy to answer, but it has now become a complicated issue. Gone are the days of very broad policies. You must be very careful in what you purchase. Today’s policies have more exclusions and limitations …

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“Hopeful” Attitudes Heading Into 2023

Regions of the United States, AFSA and the fire sprinkler and construction industry

Manpower Shortages and the Economy Worry Members Rising interest rates, workforce shortages, inflation, and supply chain delays continued to plague the construction and fire sprinkler industries throughout 2022 and show no signs of slowing in 2023. How does business in the coming year look for members of the American Fire …

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Chair’s Message

Jack Medovich, Chair of the Board, AFSA, the fire sprinkler industry

Hoping that you all had a great and blessed holiday season! With everything happening in the world, it is nice to reflect on how lucky we are to be in the best industry in the best country in the world. (Yes, we’re still the best country!) Let me spend a …

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AFSA Launches New Apprenticeship Training

Beginning in January 2023, AFSA has multiple apprenticeship educational offerings. Find the one that best suits your needs, including updated curriculum.

FIRESPRINKLER.ORG/SPRINKLER-APPRENTICE-TRAINING You may have heard the rumblings of new training for sprinkler fitter apprentices from the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) over the last year. Well, the time has come to unveil the first stage of the apprenticeship training packages. To begin, there will be three different opportunities to select …

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MEMBERS ELECT 2022-2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The members of the 2022-2023 Executive Committee are (l to r): Chair Jack Medovich, P.E.; First Vice Chair Linda Biernacki; Second Vice Chair Paul DeLorie; Secretary Jeff Phifer; Treasurer Rod DiBona; and Immediate Past Chair Ted Wills.

MEDOVICH CONTINUES AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) held its 2022-2023 officer elections during the October 2022 Board meeting. Jack Medovich, P.E., who was president/CEO and founding partner of Fire & Life Safety America, Richmond, Virginia, and is now with Summit Companies, was re-elected as …

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Viva Las Vegas!

Kevin T. Fee, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., was chosen as AFSA's 2022 Henry S. Parmelee Award recipient and received his award from Chair of the Board Jack Medovich, P.E. at the AFSA41 General Session. Call for 2023 AFSA nominations.

AFSA41 Was a Jackpot Success! This year, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) was thrilled to welcome attendees to AFSA41: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition in Las Vegas, October 16-19. Nearly 1,300 fire sprinkler contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, architects, Authorities Having Jurisdictions (AHJs), and other industry professionals rushed to the Bellagio …

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