Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
ITM, Hydraulic Calculations, Design, and Apprenticeship Programs Offered In-Person and Virtually
The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is your education destination! The association has new education training programs to meet everyone’s needs. Invest in your business and empower your employees in 2022 with these offerings, developed based on AFSA member feedback.
“Ours is a busy industry, thankfully. Carving out time away from the job to hone your craft is a real challenge but so important in our evolving field,” says AFSA Director of Education Services Leslie Clounts. “It is our hope that AFSA is the go-to for sharpening skills and taking knowledge to the next level. Whether it’s install, design, or ITM and you need it online, in-person, or both, AFSA members have more training options than ever before.”
AFSA Education: Hands-On ITM Course for Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems
AFSA is pleased to offer a three-day, hands-on review of the inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) requirements for sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire pumps, and common components for water-based fire protection systems through classroom-based review and hands-on demonstrations and practice. This class is ideal for ITM technicians, building engineers, facility managers, insurance representatives, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs).
Half of the course includes a classroom-based review, and the other half consists of hands-on demonstrations and practice. Specific hands-on tests will vary and may include main drain test; valve status test; dry system trip test; preaction/deluge trip test; resetting dry and preaction/deluge valves; weekly, monthly, and annual fire pump tests; and air supplies (air compressors and nitrogen generators).
“This class is for anyone tasked with maintaining water-based fire protection systems or who oversees the maintenance of these systems. It allows them to understand better the processes required for ITM and the codes and standards enforced by AHJs,” says AFSA Manager of ITM Technical Training John T. Johnson, CFPS, who is the instructor for the course. “It also can benefit the person who takes part in selecting contractors and issuing contracts for ITM of water-based fire protection systems in their facility.”
Upon completion, participants in AFSA’s Hands-On Course for Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Water-based Fire Protection Systems will be able to:
• Identify the required periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for water-based fire protection systems and system components.
• Interpret the results from periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance activities.
Participants will also earn 2.25 Continuing Education Credits (CEUs), 22.5 Continuing Professional Development points, and 22.5 Contact Hours upon completion of this course. The Florida Fire Safety Board has also approved this course for credit.
Participants are encouraged to have at least one year of relevant ITM experience, equivalent to NICET Level I, and an understanding of water-based system components and other basic concepts. However, inspection trainees may also benefit from this course.
This course will be offered at Johnson Control Labs in Cranston, Rhode Island December 5-7. Class size is limited to ensure individualized attention, so early registration is encouraged. For more information, visit firesprinkler.org/programs/nfpa-25-hands-on-itm.
AFSA Education: Sprinkler Hydraulic Calculations Workshop
In AFSA’s three-day, in-person Sprinkler Hydraulic Calculations Workshop, students will understand and apply principles of hydraulics including the different types of pressure, calculating changes in pressure (elevation and friction loss), and node analysis. Students will apply factors for equivalent length adjustments based on pipe type, size, and system arrangement. Using the principles of hydraulics, students will select a remote area, perform hand calculations for tree systems, and identify and understand the different sections of the detailed hydraulic worksheet, and where to place the appropriate system information. Examples of calculations for sprinkler systems, water supply analysis, and simple loops are provided with a hands-on approach. Students will apply their knowledge to perform hand calculations. Then, students will utilize computer-based calculation software to demonstrate the impact of choices on system characteristics to determine effects on system demand and performance and validate the results. Visit firesprinkler.org/calculations for more details and to register.
AFSA Education: AFSA Training Course for ASSE 15010 Certification
AFSA is an ASSE (American Society of Sanitation Engineers) Approved Provider of the 15010 Certification Course. Individuals who are certified to ASSE 15010 have the ability to knowledgeably and skillfully inspect, test, and maintain water-based fire protection systems to the satisfaction of the fire protection industry and beyond the minimum requirements of NFPA 25. The evaluation of fire protection systems for conformance to codes and standards and determining if a sprinkler system is adequate based on building evaluations and uses is beyond the scope of NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. A person certified in ASSE 15010 will have the qualifications to perform such evaluations, in consultation with a licensed engineer in some states. For more details, click here.
AFSA Education: Intermediate Fire Sprinkler System Planning School
Experienced layout technicians will find this blended learning course useful to understand the tools they utilize in-depth and gain a deeper knowledge of layout standpipe, fire pump, seismic protection, and the design requirements for general storage. In addition to mastering requirements in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems; NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems; and NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection. Students will utilize computer modeling software to apply design requirements learned throughout the course, becoming familiar with the BIM process. This course begins with an orientation and two three-hour online classes followed by five days of in-person instruction. This school will next be held October 31 – November 11 (remote learning October 31 – November 2 and in-person instruction November 7-11 at AFSA headquarters in Dallas). Visit firesprinkler.org/nextlevel for full details and to register.
AFSA Education: Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School
AFSA is pleased to announced that its Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School has been revised to fit into a blended-learning format for 2022. Two schools will be offered this fall: August 23 – September 16 (remote learning August 23 – September 8 and in-person learning September 12-16 at AFSA headquarters in Dallas) and October 25 – November 18 (remote learning October 25 – November 10 and in-person learning November 14-18 in Orlando, Florida). For more details on this school, visit firesprinkler.org/design.
AFSA Education: Apprenticeship Training Program Goes Virtual
AFSA is putting together the instructional component that fire sprinkler fitter apprentices need to accompany their on-the-job learning. For many years, AFSA has provided the curriculum for employers to deliver the related technical instruction to their fitter apprentices. AFSA has also provided assessments for the material to measure participants’ learning and ensure that learning objectives are met. Now, for the first time, AFSA will provide the instruction so that employers can put more focus on the on-the-job learning.
Programs for each of the four (4) levels will be established. This Fall Level 1 will be available (others will follow in the near future). While many details are still being developed, the instruction will be delivered by industry experts a couple of times a month in a virtual learning management system. The unveiling of this program will also coordinate with the newly updated course materials that align with the 2019 edition of NFPA 13. Stay tuned for further information and registration details.
Conclusion
AFSA was created on the foundation of education and has remained dedicated to that mission for over 40 years. Its programs have been developed by experts in the fire protection industy for the fire protection industry. Let AFSA put you and your employees on the pathway to success!
To learn more about all of AFSA’s education and training options, visit firesprinkler.org/education or contact Leslie Clounts via phone at (214) 349-5965 ext 130 or via email at lclounts@firesprinkler.org.
