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Greetings, As we enter into another new year, it is not hard to just take a moment to reflect back on 2017. I think we can all look back at ‘17 and agree it was a pretty good year. The economy around the country was all-in-all robust. Most of us …

If you’ve watched TV anytime in the past year, it’s almost impossible to not have heard of the wildly popular show “This is Us.” If you haven’t heard of it, it’s an hour-long show that airs on NBC which chronicles the life of one family, the Pearsons, across the decades …

Fire Sprinkler Industry Poised to Benefit from Comprehensive Tax Reform The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) applauds passage of inclusion of fire sprinkler provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), the nation’s most comprehensive reform of the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years. AFSA members …

Battleship. An American naval vessel of sufficient size which is heavily armored and equipped with the most powerful armament, used to take part in operations of significance. The term “Battleship,” and its 4 in.-thick reinforced iron sides, was used on numerous occasions throughout the two-year term of Michael (Mike) Meehan as the American Fire Sprinkler …

Nominate Those Who Have Made an Impact on the Fire Sprinkler Industry 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 …

Abandon That Attitude and Embrace Apprenticeship Training! As business in the fire sprinkler industry picks up, more contractor companies are finding themselves with a wealth of projects to tackle. Despite the fact that this is what all contractors hope for, that kind of good fortune can also come with its …

Develop Good Relationships According to NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, “the ‘Authority Having Jurisdiction’ [AHJ] is the organization, office or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard or for approving equipment, materials, an installation or a procedure.” It should be no surprise …

Responsibility Does Not Lay With Sprinkler Contractors The fire sprinkler contractor demonstrates their professionalism by reputation, experience, and license. Such a license strictly limits their scope of contract to the design and installation of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, systems conforming to the local building code. …

How to Better Promote This Technology and, in Essence, Your Business I recently had some informal conversations with members of the fire sprinkler industry involved in residential installations. Their answers helped gauge their current level of fire sprinkler advocacy. While some admitted to promoting home fire sprinklers here and there, …

What You Need to Know In 2011, California became the first state to pass a statewide fire sprinkler requirement, serving as an example for many other states. With the surge of demand for fire protection in the state, many sought to regulate the marketplace. In 2017, CAL FIRE – Office …