Industry

Get Ready for the 33rd Annual NAC Empower your apprentices and celebrate your dedication to training by encouraging your apprentices to enter AFSA’s 33rd Annual National Apprentice Competition (NAC)! This competition showcases apprentices’ skills and will be the highlight of AFSA45: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition, to be held September …

Join Industry Professionals in the Lone Star State The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is excited to celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2026, and we are inviting everyone to the party! Join AFSA as we return to JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, …

“Cautious Optimism” Continues Into the New Year A new year brings fresh hopes, renewed energy, and evolving expectations—and the fire protection industry is no exception. The same holds true for members of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). While construction industry reports suggest a slower year ahead, most forecasts continue …

Expert-Led Blended Instruction, Hands-On Experience Make the Difference   As the fire protection industry continues to evolve and expectations for compliance and performance increase, properly trained professionals are more essential than ever. The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has designed education and training programs specifically developed for contractor members. Covering …

Nominations Open for 2026 AFSA Awards The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is accepting online nominations for its top honors: the Henry S. Parmelee Award, the Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year Award, and the Young Professional of the Year Award. Awards will be presented during AFSA45: Convention, Exhibition & …

Seriously, it’s time! For a few years now, I’ve been banging the drum, trying to convince others that we need to recognize an occupation for inspection and testing, separating it from installation as a matter of training and practice. What do I mean by that? It’s long been the practice …

The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) announced “Smoke alarms: make them work for you!™” as the official theme for Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW), October 6–12, 2024. This year’s focus on working smoke alarms comes in response to NFPA data, which shows that the majority of U.S. home fire deaths continue …

While standpipe systems may seem very simple and are often considered an afterthought in the overall design of a fire protection system, they are critical components that can result in the loss of life if not designed and installed properly. Standpipe systems are installed to help response personnel deploy hose …

As the May/June 2023 issue of Sprinkler Age will be available at the NFPA Annual Conference and Expo® in Las Vegas, this column will serve a special purpose. In preparation for the 2023 NFPA Technical Meeting, AFSA has reviewed the posted Certified Amending Motions (CAM) for the relevant standards on …

Three Observations About Workforce Development in America *The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is proud to partner with the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) to develop its Fire Sprinkler Fitter Apprenticeship Training Series and to celebrate apprentices. In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, here is an article …