Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Calling All AHJs!
AFSA41: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition, to be held October 16-19 at the Bellagio Las Vegas, will feature a day especially designed for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). It’s free to attend! Join AFSA on October 19 for a plan review seminar in the morning. Then, walk the exhibit hall that afternoon, free for AHJs in uniform. To attend, register in advance at www.firesprinkler.org/register-for-afsa41/or onsite.
Fire Sprinkler System Plan Review
The review of automatic fire sprinkler system plans has become very complex. The 2019 edition of NFPA 13 has been completely reorganized and expanded to provide more information than ever before on fire sprinkler system design and installation. This seminar will guide attendees in a discussion of the requirements for plans and calculations contained in Chapter 27. It will include an exercise in a hands-on review of a fire sprinkler system plan, including the overall design concept, hydraulic calculations, seismic bracing, and the underground supply system. Evaluation of the decisions made on the part of the system designer dealing with hazard and commodity classification, building construction type, positioning of the sprinkler and their spacing, and materials selection will all be discussed.
This seminar will rely heavily on attendee participation and will generate a list of items that require further clarification or revisions. A question-and-answer session will follow the completion of the plan review. Plan reviewers and field inspectors should find this seminar helpful and will most likely find areas where their own review checklist can be modified or improved. An architect’s scale and a copy of the 2019 edition of NFPA 13 are strongly recommended for attendees. The speaker for this seminar is Keith Heckler with FEMA. This seminar is worth 3.0 Hours, 0.3 CEUs, and 3.0 CPDs.
AFSA41 Exhibition
AFSA’s exhibition hall showcases nearly 500 exhibiting company representatives, making it the leading exhibition of fire sprinkler products and services in the country. Take the afternoon to tour the exhibits, featuring over 87 companies in 122 booths. In addition, AFSA’s National Apprentice Competition will take place in the exhibit hall, showcasing the “best of the best” in the industry! Seven apprentices will cut, thread, and install a miniature wet pipe system complete with sprinklers and a pressure test—all on display for exhibit hall attendees. Established in 1994, the AFSA National Apprentice Competition promotes the strengthening and growth of skilled apprentices through higher education, advocacy, and industry promotion.
