Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
I suspect almost everyone in the fire protection community has heard that Matt Klaus has joined Team AFSA as our executive vice president and chief operating officer. Matt joins us after 15 years with NFPA, and most recently, NFPA Global. Like most, I regard Matt as an industry icon, with whom I have had the privilege of working and teaching with for many years. The fact that Matt has decided to join AFSA speaks in no small way to the growth and development of this association and the opportunities we all see ahead. I want to acknowledge the wisdom and foresight of AFSA’s Board of Directors for their decision to bring Matt aboard, as he grows into the new role. With great pride, I assure the membership that we are in great shape to continue delivering best-in-class training and education programs for the fire sprinkler industry.
Supporting people with professional development pays long-term dividends in more ways than most consider. The construction industry can be fun, and the fire sprinkler business is even more fulfilling with opportunities for anyone interested in saving lives and property. Every coin has two sides, and with opportunity comes risk. We rarely hesitate to invest in vehicles, tools, and equipment, but often ignore investing in our people. Every rule has an exception, and the exception in small businesses is usually investment in family members. While not always bad, this practice sends a message to non-family employees that the runway for them is short.
We receive regular calls from members asking if we know any designers who might be available. When we suggest putting someone in our Beginning Design School, we always hear, “We’re looking for five to eight years of experience.” I always laugh when I hear this because more designers are aging out of the industry than those being trained to take their place. AI will not fill the gap, at least not soon enough to meet the needs of our industry.
The solution is simple. Put a candidate in the field for six to eight months, then, if they prove they’ll show up on time with a positive attitude and an aptitude for mechanical systems, send them to Beginning Design School. We’ll send you back someone ready to learn and produce with an understanding of what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. Of course, you could send them to a design school first, but starting with a picture in their mind makes more sense.
The training programs at AFSA are designed to go beyond just the technical aspects of design, installation, ITM, estimating, or project management. Our programs help deliver technically capable people, and we also focus on business practices and discuss limiting liability for your companies. AFSA instructors discuss the importance of documenting issues related to inspections and claims-related concerns. We train candidates in best practices, communication with customers, and share real-life experiences. Most of us know industry problems are universal—only the accents change.
One example is ITM training, where we address how to talk to an angry customer when something breaks during a test performed, when all we did was expose a problem that would have occurred during a fire event. We revealed the issue, which is the reason for the inspection and testing requirements in the first place. We encourage inspectors and technicians to use NFPA 25 section A.3.3.8 as a tool to discuss deficiencies and how they should be handled in the case of impairments.
Participants in our beginner design courses learn about verifying project specifications and requirements to help avoid the embarrassment of having issues that should have been addressed early in a project. Simple things can be verified up front, like buying American material requirements, requiring sprinklers to be in the centerline of ceiling tiles, or even identifying sprinkler types or brands.
With service technicians, we discuss not having loose materials in the back of open trucks, double-checking their ladders, and ensuring that tools and materials are secure before leaving a job site. We also discuss the importance of safe driving and other safety issues. We discuss checking in and out with your customers and verifying central station alarm issues. Things that eliminate last-minute cancellations and increase customer satisfaction by improving communications and setting expectations.
As enrollment in our VIP sprinkler fitter apprenticeship program grows each month, we continue to hear great reviews from the participants and company owners alike. We attribute this to the experienced instructors who make this program work. Their willingness to share work experiences with the next generation of sprinkler fitters and supervisors ensures the future of our industry.
AFSA staff and chapter leaders are focused on recruiting new talent by exposing our industry’s opportunities to people who have never heard of fire sprinklers. We’re reaching out to high schools and community colleges and offering our sprinkler fitter book 1 (at no charge) to any school interested in sharing opportunities in our industry with their students.
I hope to encourage all AFSA members to take advantage of our training programs in Richardson (Dallas) or invite us to deliver training in your region. We promise to make your good people better!
Please share your stories with us, let us know how we’re doing for you as members, and tell us what we need now to ensure your success in the future. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you in October in our nation’s capital at AFSA44! Last year’s convention was a record breaker, and we hope to do it again in Washington, D.C.!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bob Caputo, CFPS, is president of AFSA. He has been an important part of the fire sprinkler industry for over 41 years and is a long-time member of AFSA and promoter of merit shop contracting. He has chaired and served on many NFPA committees. Caputo has written and presented seminars throughout the world on fire protection and life-safety systems and is a regular speaker at AFSA and NFPA conventions. He has developed AFSA education and training materials, and chaired two chapters of AFSA—Arizona and Southern California. Caputo is the recipient of numerous awards, including Fire Protection Contractor magazine’s “Industry person of the Year,” San Diego County Fire Chief’s Association’s “Fire Prevention Officer of the Year,” and AFSA’s highest honor, the Henry S. Parmelee Award.