VISIT THE “PLAYGROUND”

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Sprinkler Lab 360° Online Tour Now Available

The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) state-of-the-art training facility, or “playground,” provides a unique hands-on experience needed for today’s fire sprinkler workforce to succeed. Today’s learners need communication to be tactile as well as visual and auditory, and that’s what we deliver to people who visit AFSA’s lab.

“The fire sprinkler playground is more than just fun—it is a crucial training center,” says AFSA’s Director of Operations and Training Joshua McDonald, MSET, CFPS, CWBSP, WBITM. “Here, the pressure of live job sites slows down, allowing the participants to see the differences between manufacturers and system types. The sounds and feelings become familiar, and the confidence takes root. The lab builds strong foundations, equipping both new and experienced individuals with the tools to do their jobs efficiently and effectively.”

AFSA offers in-depth training in the new lab, including three inspection, teseting, and maintenance (ITM) workshops: NFPA 25 Essentials, NFPA 25 Advanced Systems, and NFPA 25 Fire Pumps. Visit firesprinkler.org/lab/ to take an online tour of this exciting addition to AFSA and the sprinkler industry!

Valve Lab

The valve lab features 22 fully functional sprinkler system risers with a variety of every system type representing every major industry manufacturer. Participants in AFSA’s training programs will gain skills and build confidence through demonstrations and interactive exercises on wet, dry, preaction, and deluge systems and their appurtenances.

22 Fully Functional Sprinkler Risers
Wet Barrel Hydrant
Nitrogen Generator
Air Compressors
Corrosion-Inhibiting System
Multiple Initiating Devices
Two Large Projector Screens
Stadium Seating
Cutaway Valves and Sprinklers

Spray Room

The spray room contains a variety of sprinklers installed in the ceiling, standpipe hose valves of every type, flow and static water supply fire hydrants, fire department connections, an antifreeze loop system, and a fire pump test header. Participants can observe various fire sprinkler spray patterns and see the impact of obstructions on spray patterns. The opportunity to see sprinklers spraying water without removing one from a live system offers a real-life and exciting experience. Learning how to perform flow tests of fire hydrants, standpipes, and fire pump test headers, along with evaluating the results of those tests, will make participants more productive and better customer service representatives.

30 Outlets for Interactive Nozzle and Sprinkler Demonstrations
Standard Spray
Extended Coverage
Control Mode Specific Application (CMSA)
Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR)
Deluge Nozzles
Special Sprinklers
Watermist
Dry Barrel Hydrant
Antifreeze Loop
Fire Pump Test Header
Fire Department Connection (FDC)
Residential Sprinkler Mock Up
Standpipe System with Multiple Connections
Different Piping Layouts, including seismic and CPVC

Fire Pump Room

AFSA’s fire pump room includes an electric-driven horizontal split-case pump and an electric driven vertical in-line residential skid mounted pump, all supplied by an electric-motor driven vertical turbine pump serving as the lab’s water supply source. It also includes a pump and tank assembly for residential occupancies. Participants can view the components of a fire pump assembly to build their knowledge and confidence levels through interactive exercises, including flow and no-flow testing.

1,000 GPM Electric-Driven Vertical Turbine Water Supply Pump
500 GPM Electric-Drive Horizontal Split Case Fire Pump
50 GPM Electric-Driven Vertical In-Line Fire Pump
Watermist Pump Assembly
Residential Pump and Tank Assembly

Visit the Lab

AFSA welcomes industry members and the public to tour the lab. The Training Lab is also available for meetings, demonstrations, and training, depending on availability. For more information, email training@firesprinkler.org. For information on AFSA’s in-lab training programs, visit firesprinkler.org/.