Featured Articles

  • Why Some Contractors Grow

    Why Some Contractors Grow

    And Some Don’t Every fire protection contractor I talk to wants to grow. The ambition is never…

  • Making a Difference for Veterans

    Making a Difference for Veterans

    Chapter Members Answer the Call If you are reading this, chances are you have heard about some of th…

  • HFSC Celebrates Milestone

    HFSC Celebrates Milestone

    Three Decades of Home Sprinkler Education Thirty years ago, the American Fire Sprinkler Association …

  • Higher Standards

    Higher Standards

    AFSA staff represented the association and AFSA’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) at the 2026 NFPA …

  • Building the Future on Purpose

    Building the Future on Purpose

    Why the NextGen Committee Exists The fire sprinkler industry sits at a quiet but consequential cross…

NFPA 13 Restructured

NFPA 13 Restructured

2019 Edition New Format Aligns with System Design Process The 2019 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, will introduce a new era in terms of the format and layout of the standard. This reorganization was done to better match and align with the fire sprinkler …

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Garages in NFPA 13R

Garages in NFPA 13R

Protection Requirements Sprinkler protection in NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies, would appear to be straightforward, but with architects getting more creative with their designs, we are forced to seek assistance in navigating the nuances of the standard. The committee members have taken …

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How We “Close the Deal”

How We “Close the Deal”

Contractors Share Advice, Strategies To build your business you need to continually “close the deal.” What are some tried and proven ways to do that? Sprinkler Age surveyed contractors around the country to learn their best practices when dealing with customers and winning projects. There is an old saying in …

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Who’s Who in Apprenticeship?

Who’s Who in Apprenticeship?

Meet the Seven Apprentice Competition Finalists for AFSA37! The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is proud to host its Silver Anniversary National Apprentice Competition (NAC) this year at AFSA37: Convention, Exhibition and Apprentice Competition to be held in Washington, DC. This competition allows apprentices representing member companies from across the …

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The Prop Master

The Prop Master

For every tool that we use in the fire service, there is a responsibility to train with it. If we are to maximize the role of automatic fire protection systems in residences, they must be incorporated in the training plan also. Failure to do this can result in misuse of …

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Honoring Les and Diane Woods’ Public Education Efforts

Honoring Les and Diane Woods’ Public Education Efforts

Couple Receives Fire Sprinklers Save Lives Award Les and Diane Woods have helped thousands of people understand the effectiveness of fire sprinkler technology through their dramatic and very effective side-by-side burn demonstrations. Les is a past president of the South Carolina Fire and Life Safety Education Association and Diane is …

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Seismic Requirements for Vertical Pipes

Seismic Requirements for Vertical Pipes

It’s Not Just About Four-Way Braces When you think about seismic bracing for vertical sprinkler systems, your thoughts probably go straight to four-way bracing for risers. But there are several additional requirements that may come into play under the hanging and bracing requirements in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation …

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Structural Support Bracket

Structural Support Bracket

Not Part of the NFPA 13 Hanger Assembly I get many technical questions regarding code and standard jurisdiction for the structural support bracket. The answer to these questions varies, but usually includes both the building code and NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, for different reasons. In …

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We Can Work It Out

We Can Work It Out

Home Fire Sprinkler Advocates and Homebuilders Team Up to Secure Landmark Sprinkler Ordinance How did they do it? That was my burning question when news broke in February that the Las Vegas City Council had unanimously approved a requirement to include fire sprinklers in all new homes under 5,000 ft2 …

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