A Season of Learning With Design in Mind Summer school will be in session for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) and its Beginning and Intermediate Design Schools. New for the summer of 2025 is the inclusion of AFSA’s new training lab, aka the “playground,” as an integral part of …
Read More »SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS
Enter the 32nd Annual National Apprentice Competition AFSA’s 32nd Annual National Apprentice Competition (NAC) opens soon! Celebrating apprentice training for over three decades, the competition will showcase apprentices’ skills during AFSA44: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition October 15-18 in Washington, D.C. Competition Details Each year, the competition, created in 1994 …
Read More »CALCULATING SUCCESS
Workshops Offer In-Depth Training The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) offers two workshops on understanding and applying the principles of sprinkler hydraulic calculations and node analysis. These classes provide in-depth education and hands-on exercises to ensure designers return to the workplace with the knowledge and skills they need to design …
Read More »TRAINING: A PENNY SAVED IS NOT A PENNY EARNED
Blended Learning Provides More Favorable Benefits Than Merely On-The-Job Training Benjamin Franklin was a very accomplished individual known for his numerous contributions to society. Some of those contributions are directly linked to the fire protection industry, including the formation of the first volunteer fire company in the United States, the …
Read More »VISIT THE “PLAYGROUND”
Sprinkler Lab 360° Online Tour Now Available The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) state-of-the-art training facility, or “playground,” provides a unique hands-on experience needed for today’s fire sprinkler workforce to succeed. Today’s learners need communication to be tactile as well as visual and auditory, and that’s what we deliver to …
Read More »#MEMBERSMATTER!
In every profession, there are experts and organizations dedicated to supporting individuals in their field. When you’re in legal trouble, you turn to a lawyer. If you’re sick, a doctor provides the necessary care. But who do you contact when you’re a trade professional in need of training, technical advice, …
Read More »UNCLE RUSS
Some time ago, I was sitting on an airplane, and boarding was nearly complete. I was in the first row and the seat next to me was empty. I was excited because I would have the seat to hold my things while I worked. Just before it was time to …
Read More »HIGHER STANDARDS
In the world of fire protection, codes, standards, and committee statements each play a distinct role in ensuring safety and reliability. Codes tell you when something is required, standards tell you how to comply, and committee statements explain why specific requirements exist. Without clear technical substantiation, these essential elements of …
Read More »AFSA GOES TO WASHINGTON
AFSA44 WILL BE AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION IN D.C. Join the best in the sprinkler industry to celebrate the red, white, and blue—America and the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA)—in the nation’s capital, Oct. 15-18, 2025, for AFSA44: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition. Mark your calendars and make plans now—this is …
Read More »FLASHPOINT
Integrity is an interesting concept and one I try to practice in my daily life. In my professional life as a Professional Engineer and a contractor for over 40 years, I have the Professional Engineer’s code of ethics and my reputation that keeps me grounded in doing my best. As …
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