Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Presenting at the International Fire Operations Conference and Expo in Saudi Arabia
The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) was founded in 1981 for the purpose of educating and training the U.S.-based merit shop fire sprinkler industry. As its current president, I had the honor of being invited to participate in the 4th International Fire Operations Conference and Expo held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I was privileged to present two pre-conference workshops on acceptance testing of water-based fire protection systems and fire pump testing, troubleshooting, and installation requirements. I also participated as a panelist, discussing NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, during the conference. I have never felt more welcomed anywhere, and it was good to catch up with old industry friends and acquaintances.
This event, hosted by Saudi Arabia Civil Defense and Saudi ARAMCO, was attended by more than 2,000 people, including representatives of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and was a resounding success in terms of sharing information and furthering the mission of increasing fire and life safety throughout the world. The event was well-planned and invigorating for anyone passionate about the developing technologies being introduced to our industry, along with the anticipation of AI’s impact on us all.
The two workshops I presented were sold out in advance, and the participants were actively engaged and welcoming, asking lots of great questions, making this a true workshop. As any presenter will tell you, having an interactive audience always makes the program better.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to share and expand AFSA’s mission globally while bringing the news and realities of changing norms, both culturally and technically, back to my colleagues in the U.S. The fire protection industry continues to be more than just a great career opportunity. It is an excellent community of dedicated people with a shared mission, regardless of nationality or differences in political views or policies. After this conference, I am invigorated and encouraged by the knowledge that this event is evidence of the NFPA tagline, “It’s a Big World, Let’s Protect it Together.”
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.
