Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Recent Training Highlights Include Contractors, Manufacturers, Suppliers, Chapters and AHJs
What began as a state-of-the-art training hub for AFSA programs has evolved into a multi-use facility supporting all aspects of the fire protection industry. The AFSA playground, built to host AFSA’s roster of training courses, is now becoming popular for private bookings. Companies, contractors, fire departments, and even those in the insurance sector have capitalized on the lab’s resources for internal training. The Playground has provided a hands-on environment for training and has seen it wanted across the country to enhance training programs.
“The lab is a great setup and an awesome opportunity to get hands-on and see many things you might not always get to see, whatever your role in your company. I’ll definitely be back for more training,” says Tyler Gibson with BlazeX Sprinkler Corp., who attended a training with AFSA’s DFW Chapter.
WHO’S TRAINING IN THE LAB?
AFSA’s technical team is filling out the calendar between training sessions. AFSA is thrilled to host and support a wide range of training needs across the industry. Some recent events include VSC Fire & Security, Inc., who booked a private fire pump class. AFSA instructors led the course, and participants applied what they learned in the lab.
Hose Monster University delivered product-specific training. Their team led demonstrations and hands-on sessions using their equipment in AFSA’s lab, with AFSA trainers on standby providing support wherever needed.
Verisk Property Solutions used the facility for internal staff development. Their team led the instruction, while AFSA assisted with the hands-on portions and provided technical insight.
Local fire departments, such as Dallas and Richardson Fire, are utilizing the lab to familiarize their teams with fire sprinkler systems they’re likely to encounter in real-world emergencies. Their internal sessions covered fire ground operation discussions, how to operate fixed water-based systems, and what to do during a freeze-up.
AFSA’s DFW Chapter recently hosted an advanced crash course focused on ITM practices and clarifying important definitions found in NFPA 25 and its current editions. The session included in-depth discussions on proper sprinkler system inspection, testing, and maintenance procedures. Talon Hernandez with Automatic Fire Protection attended and described the lab as “a cool place for me and other designers to be because it gave me a chance to get hands-on with some of the valves and see how things work compared to how they look on the plans.”
“I’m most excited that we’re using our sprinkler spray demonstration. Being able to show how movable obstructions impact spray patterns brings the NFPA 13 rules to life,” comments Eric Andresen, WBITM, technical training specialist. “It’s one thing to read it in the book, but another to see it in action. In our ITM classes, we often see things like shipping clips, tin foil, or painter’s tape left on sprinklers during inspections. Now we can test these real-world aspects and show their effects, which is incredibly valuable and pretty cool to watch.”
RENT THE LAB
AFSA has your training needs covered. The technical team balances AFSA’s original course roster and provides support and resources for quality training across the fire protection industry. AFSA’s facility is one of the few hands-on training spaces that houses several vendors and parts in one space. Book a training or reserve the lab for your team at firesprinkler.org/facility-request-form. You can also view a 360 virtual lab tour at firesprinkler.org/lab.