Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
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 & Apprentice Competition in San Antonio, Texas, this fall, and the recipients will be featured in Sprinkler Age. Visit firesprinkler.org/awards to submit a nomination.
HENRY S. PARMELEE AWARD
AFSA’s highest honor, the Henry S. Parmelee Award, is given in recognition of an outstanding individual who has dedicated himself or herself to the professional advancement of the fire sprinkler industry and to the goal of fire safety through automatic sprinklers. AFSA members may nominate someone with a long-term commitment to improving the industry. The award was instituted in 1983 to give recognition to distinguished industry professionals and to memorialize Parmelee, an outstanding pioneer in the industry who is recognized as the inventor of the first commercially successful closed sprinkler. June 30 is the deadline for 2026 nominations.
FIRE SPRINKLER ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award was created to honor individuals not directly involved in the fire sprinkler industry whose efforts have had a national impact in advancing the fire protection industry and automatic fire sprinklers. Previously known as the Fire Service Person of the Year, the award was renamed in 2001 to better reflect the diversity of backgrounds, including the fire service, as well as legislative, code, and standards-setting groups in which individuals can have a major impact on the industry. The nomination deadline for this year’s award is March 31.
JOE HEINRICH YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Joe Heinrich Young Professional of the Year (YPY) Award honors the contributions of promising fire protection specialists and serves to reaffirm the growing importance of fire sprinkler knowledge in the world of business and construction management among the next generation of industry leaders,; promote the emergence of young talented professionals in the field of fire protection, thus fostering interest for the fire sprinkler profession and a future career in this field of expertise; and inspire fire protection companies and the fire protection community to invest even more in the development and excellence of the profession. Nominations for the 2026 YPY award are due by March 31.
AWARDS PRESENTED AT AFSA45
Visit firesprinkler.org/awards to read the eligibility rules and to nominate someone for the association’s highest honors. Then, join AFSA to celebrate this year’s honorees at AFSA45: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition, Sept. 27-30, 2026, at the J.W. Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Visit firesprinkler.org/AFSA45.