Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association

AHJ Helps Expand Sprinkler Protection in Rapid City On October 17, 2016, Timothy D. Behlings, division chief and fire marshal at the Rapid City, South Dakota Fire Department, received the “Fire Sprinklers Save Lives” award from AFSA Region 3 Director and Rapid Fire Protection Inc.’s Vice President Rod DiBona on …

Part 1: NFPA 13 Requirements The comedian Bill Engvall made the saying “Here is your sign” well known. When Bill said it, it was directed at someone who just said something that was obvious or just plain stupid. One story I remember Bill telling at a comedy show was about a gentleman who was …

AFSA Educates a New Generation On October 26, 2016, more than 1,500 high school students from 43 schools all over the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex converged on the west campus of North Lake College in Irving, Texas. They were there to attend the Build Your Future Career Day, an event organized …

Fluctuations Can Cause Problems Temperature fluctuations can wreak havoc on certain types of systems in certain configurations. The most susceptible type of system to temperature fluctuations are dry-type systems, specifically dry-type systems which utilize a direct differential style dry valve. By direct differential style dry valves, it is understood to …

In January 2017, American Automatic Sprinkler celebrated its golden anniversary. The Fort Worth, Texas-based fire sprinkler contractor founded by C.B. Hall, who served as AFSA’s second chairman from 1982 to 1983, has been actively involved in AFSA’s training and education initiatives since its founding in 1981. Haws & Garrett, a …

Wood Joist Versus Composite Wood Joist NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, allows the omission of sprinkler protection from some combustible, concealed spaces for both wood joist and combustible wood joist construction. (See section 8.15.1.2.) Historically, though, only the composite wood choice had to apply a 3,000 …

First Tunnel in Virginia Protected by Sprinklers In April of 2016, the Norfolk-Virginia Beach office of VSC Fire & Security, Inc. completed installing a fire suppression system in the new U.S. 58 Midtown tunnel that connects Norfolk, Virginia to Portsmouth, Virginia. The multimillion dollar project began construction in November of …

Classes Focus on NFPA 13, 2016 Edition The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) announces the 2017 schedule for its popular Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School. The 2017 sessions remaining are February 27 – March 10, April 24 – May 5, July 10-21, August 14-25, and October 2-13. The January …

Nominations Sought for Prestigious Awards The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is accepting nominations for its top honors: the prestigious Henry S. Parmelee award, esteemed Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year award, and the new yet highly regarded Young Professional of the Year award. The awards will be presented during …

Fire Tech Systems, Inc. Apprentice Honored Every year for one week in November the U.S. Department of Labor honors the hard work and diligence of our nation’s apprentices and the importance of apprenticeship as a whole during National Apprenticeship Week. Across the nation, through over 300 events in 47 states, …