Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Education, Training, and Networking in One Place
Join the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) in Orlando, Florida, for a week of education and entertainment, September 13-16, 2020, at AFSA39: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition. This year’s event features 48 seminars offering 8.2 CEUs, 82 CPDs, and 82 Contact Hours in six tracks, tailored to meet your educational needs. Attendees can follow the seminars on a given track or mix and match.
“With safety measures in place, we look forward to the opportunity to see everyone face-to-face at AFSA39,” comments Marlene Garrett, CMP, AFSA’s vice president, program operations and education services. “By September, and considering the safety of all involved, everyone should look forward to a release from their current shelter-in place existence. We hope your most anticipated getaway will be at the AFSA39 convention!”
A brief description of technical and managerial topics to expect at AFSA39 is provided below, including field supervisory training, AHJ-focused programs, and the NextGen Initiative’s program.
Installation/Design Track
Ambiguities in NFPA 13—Tracey Bellamy, PE, CFPS, CWBSP, Telgian Corporation There are criteria within NFPA 13 that leave many people wondering what is actually required. Whether it’s a tortured sentence or simply poor directions, the contractor has to figure it out. For example, when the aisles between racks are too narrow, we are to treat it as a multiple row rack. What does that tell us regarding the placement of in-rack sprinklers? Other installation topics will include obstruction rules for CMSA, concealed spaces with TJIs, and floating clouds. 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
Ask the Experts—Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS, Fire & Life Safety America; John Denhardt, PE, FSFPE, AFSA; Matt Klaus, PE, NFPA; Russ Leavitt, CFPS, SET, Telgian Holdings, Inc.; Steve Leyton, Protection Design and Consulting; and Steven Scandaliato, CFPS, SET, RME, SDG LLC Step right up! This is your opportunity to ask a panel of the industry’s top technical minds about any NFPA standard. With dozens of applicable standards on a constant three-year update cycle, it can be difficult to keep up to date. Our panel of experts literally wrote the book and will be on hand to discuss all your burning technical questions. They can help with questions ranging from understanding the actual updates to decoding the intent and historical framework of the standards. This interactive seminar is intended to help you find answers to questions that are otherwise hard to find. We challenge you to try and stump our experts! 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
Basic Hydraulics for Fire Sprinkler System Design—Travis Mack, SET, MFP Design, LLC, and Tom Noble, CET, AFSA This seminar will cover the basics of hydraulic calculations for fire sprinkler systems. We will cover determining the area of coverage, minimum flow, and pressures at the sprinkler. A simple tree system will be calculated so that the user walks away with a basic understanding of calculations that will be required for the NICET III hydraulics exam. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Choosing a Dry Pipe System Filling Solution: Air, Dry Air or Nitrogen—Ray Fremont, Jr., General Air Products, Inc. Over the past few years, the fire sprinkler industry has been introduced to new technologies for filling dry pipe systems, specifically standard compressed air, dry compressed air, and nitrogen. There is no one best technology for every application. Each technology has pros and cons and is best suited for some applications while problematic in others. It is important for contractors to attend this seminar to learn which type of compressor to use, how dry air inhibits corrosion, and when nitrogen is and is not a good fit. 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
Commonly Misunderstood Sections of NFPA 13—John August Denhardt, PE, FSFPE, AFSA and Matt Klaus, PE, NFPA This audience participation seminar will challenge the attendee to see how well they know NFPA 13. The presenter will present questions and the audience will participate in attempting to provide the correct answer. After the answer is presented, a discussion will occur on why the answer is correct. References to the standard will be provided. Attend and challenge your knowledge. 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
Commonly Misunderstood Sections of NFPA 14—John August Denhardt, PE, FSFPE, AFSA and Steve Leyton, Protection Design and Consulting This audience participation seminar will challenge the attendee to see how well they know NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems. The presenters will present questions and the audience will participate in attempting to provide the correct answer. After the answer is presented, a discussion will occur on why the answer is correct. References to the standard will be provided. Attend and challenge your knowledge. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Commonly Misunderstood Sections of NFPA 20—Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS, Fire & Life Safety America This audience participation seminar will challenge the attendee to see how well they know NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection. The presenters will present questions and the audience will participate in attempting to provide the correct answer. After the answer is presented, a discussion will occur on why the answer is correct. References to the standard will be provided. Electric- and diesel-driven fire pumps will be discussed with an emphasis on diesel installation requirements. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Concealed Spaces and the Remote Area Increase—Tom Noble, CET, CFPS, AFSA and Steven Scandaliato, CFPS, SET, RME, SDG LLC This seminar will present to the attendee the requirements in NFPA 13 for concealed spaces and if the remote area increase needs to be applied. This section of the standard continues to be misunderstood by many users of the standard. Learn when sprinkler protection is or is not required for concealed spaces. Learn why or why not the remote area increase applies to certain construction methods and to which hydraulic calculations. Over the editions of the standard, this section of the standard has been modified to include additional construction methods. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Dry-Pipe, Pre-Action, and Deluge Valves: What They Can Do, How They Do It, and Why It Matters—Cary Webber, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. This course describes various operating mechanisms and common and unique capabilities of dry pipe, pre-action, and deluge valves. Example applications will be addressed to identify where each valve type should be considered and why. The interaction of each valve type with accessories such as air supplies, air maintenance devices, nitrogen generators, and accelerators will be described along with best practices. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Fire Pump Acceptance Testing and NFPA 25 Testing—Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS, Fire & Life Safety America and Matt Klaus, PE, NFPA Fire pumps are a critical part of an automatic sprinkler system. NFPA 20, and NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, provide requirements on the initial acceptance testing and periodic testing of this vital system component. This session looks at answering important questions including “How do I pretest my pump so that I pass my acceptance test with the AHJ?” and “What are the different periodic tests I should be trained to execute?” 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
NFPA 13: 2019 Edition—Russ Leavitt, CFPS, SET, Telgian Holdings, Inc. The 2019 edition of NFPA 13 is a complete reformat of the previous editions. This seminar will provide an overview of the new format and how to use the reorganized document. It will also include a review of the major technical revisions included in the new edition.
NFPA 13: Storage Applications—Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS, Fire & Life Safety America This program will provide an overview of design and installation criteria provided in the 2019 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. The layout and format of the 2019 edition have been reformatted and now provides design criteria in chapters based on the sprinkler technology selection (CMDA, CMSA, ESFR, in-rack sprinklers) where previous editions segregated criteria based on storage arrangements. The reformatting has reduced redundancies as well as created a more linear format for designers and installers to follow from a starting point (water supplies) to an endpoint (acceptance testing). 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
NFPA 20 Fire Pumps: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly—
Russ Leavitt, CFPS, SET, Telgian Holdings, Inc. Where needed, fire pumps are an essential component of a water-based suppression system. Selecting the most efficient driver and pump is a critical component of a successful and profitable installation project. This seminar examines how to determine the need for a fire pump along with choosing the proper pump capacity. The latest in pump installation requirements are reviewed including those for multi-stage, multi-port pumps. The latest information and requirements for acceptance testing and periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance are discussed along with the most efficient methods for assuring compliance with the standards. This seminar concludes with a review of some common issues and mistakes made when designing, installing, and inspecting/testing fire pumps. 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
NFPA 25, 2020 Edition: Significant Changes—Terry Victor, SET, Johnson Controls, Inc. Significant changes are included in the 2020 edition of NFPA 25. This presentation will review the various changes made to this newest edition of NFPA 25, describe why the changes were made, and explain the impact they will have on the fire protection industry. Some proposed changes that weren’t made will also be discussed, and potential changes to the 2023 edition will be presented. Feedback will be encouraged on other changes that are needed to future editions of this standard. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
NFPA 25: An Evaluation of Inspection and Test Results—Terry Victor, SET, Johnson Controls, Inc. NFPA 25 includes the requirements for inspecting and testing systems and components, but many inspectors aren’t sure how to record and report what they’ve observed or tested. There’s guidance in the annex for classifying deficient findings, but it doesn’t include all possible situations. Also, the standard doesn’t clearly explain what to do when an installation or a component doesn’t meet the requirements of an installation standard. This session will include examples, results, and findings using pictures of systems and components to illustrate many of the gray areas of NFPA 25 and give guidance on how to address them with the customer. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
NFPA 909: Cultural Properties-—Mark Hopkins, PE, TERP Consulting Seeing fires in Notre Dame, Shuri Castle, Brazil’s National Museum, and other historical/culturally significant properties is devastating, to say the least. NFPA 909, Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties—Museums, Libraries, and Places of Worship, provides protection requirements for museums, libraries, and other cultural properties in a holistic manner. The document requires fire prevention, active fire protection systems, passive fire protection features, and considerations for resiliency and salvage planning. When applied, it imposes additional requirements for fire alarm, detection, security, and fire suppression systems beyond what is minimally required by building and fire codes, which will impact cost and schedule. Contractors and designers of these systems need to function as part of the team assembled by the facility operators. Understanding roles and responsibilities is necessary to manage expectations. Communicating effectively will ensure successful projects in these facilities. This program will discuss issues affecting contractors and engineers working in these types of facilities. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Understanding the Obstruction Rules—Tracey Bellamy, PE, CFPS, CWBSP, Telgian Corporation This session discusses in detail the obstruction rules in chapter 8 with special attention on the ambiguities due to the current format of requirements and non-defined variables on when to apply which paragraph. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Updates on Three NFPA Standards: NFPA 3 (Commissioning), NFPA 4 (Integrated Testing), and NFPA 915 (Remote Inspections)—Terry Victor, SET, Johnson Controls, Inc. NFPA 3, Standard for Commissioning of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems, and NFPA 4, Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing, are standards that many sprinkler contractors are not aware of and yet could have a significant impact on sprinkler contracting and service work in the near future. One portion of the seminar outlines (1) the general requirements in these two NFPA standards, (2) what will be required of a sprinkler contractor to comply, and (3) project types that will soon require the integrated testing required by NFPA 4. NFPA appointed a technical committee to develop a new Standard for Remote Inspections, NFPA 915. A second portion of the seminar will describe the scope of the proposed standard and present basic content as it currently exists. Although applying NFPA 915 to water-based fire protection systems was not initially considered, it may eventually be including in the standard. 0.2 CEUs |2.0 CPDs
What’s Up in The Attic?—Karl Wiegand, PE, Globe Fire Sprinkler Corp./Victaulic Fire protection for sloped combustible concealed attic spaces can be very challenging due to their construction features. This presentation will address how attic features affect heat movement and heat collection and how sprinkler protection schemes need to change to account for those features. The presentation will address attic fire testing that has been done and how this testing has changed the requirements of NFPA 13 for attic protection. Finally, it will include how and why specially listed protection criteria has been developed to address attic challenges. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Working with Independent Designers—Steve Leyton, Protection Design and Consulting and Travis Mack, MFP Design, LLC As the complexity of fire sprinkler design increases and more considerations are included in the building and fire codes for sprinklers, the practice of design has evolved. Today, more agencies nationwide are requiring sprinkler design documents to be included with architectural permit submittals and contractors are turning to subcontractors to provide services that were historically furnished in-house. This presentation is an overview and open discussion of the benefits and challenges of working with independent designers. Course materials will include both third-party engineers of record and freelance designers working for and within the contracting industry. 0.2 CEUs |2.0 CPDs
Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) Track
Coordinating NFPA 72 and NFPA 25—Tim Knisely; Automatic Fire Alarm Association and Jeff Lewis, CET, CFPS, VSC Fire & Security, Inc. Pre-action, deluge, and other specialty water-based systems utilize electrical components that are required to operate properly for the system to function as intended. NFPA 25 requires these inspection and tests be coordinated to ensure proper operation. Utilizing the 2019 edition of NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code®, this seminar will examine Chapter 14 as it relates to the inspection and testing of these devices. The emphasis will be on the proper frequency and methods of testing for detection, supervisory, and notification devices as well as releasing panels and their associated components. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Heat and Smoke Detectors for Pre-Action/Releasing Systems: Spacing and Detecting Technology—Tom Parrish, SET, CFPS, PSP, Telgian Corporation This session will review initiating device spacing when the fire alarm system is utilized on a releasing configuration. Many of the rules are the same but a few very key ones are different, and this session will review most of the ones that tend to cause issues. 0.2 CEUs |2.0 CPDs
NFPA 25, 2020 Edition: ITM Challenges and Training—Russ Leavitt, CFPS, SET, Telgian Holdings, Inc. and Jason Williams, CET, AFSA This seminar is designed for today’s ITM challenges and opportunities, and addresses methods for handling issues falling outside the scope of work of NFPA 25. Automated inspection and testing requirements are reviewed along with how these new components impact inspection service providers. Participants receive an in-depth look at what customers need to know about their responsibilities as system owners. The session expands on requirements for sprinkler clearance, current status of antifreeze systems, and other common items often overlooked or misunderstood during inspections and tests. Presenters discuss the negative impact of undertrained and/or overextended ITM teams, with an emphasis on professionalism when delivering services. Finally, a brief description of the AFSA ITM Inspection Development program and reasons why it was created will be included. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
NFPA 25, 2020 Edition Update: Common Fails and Five-Year Tasks Revealed—Jeff Lewis, CET, CFPS, VSC Fire & Security, Inc. and Jason Williams, CET, AFSA This seminar will include the latest updates and changes to the new NFPA 25, 2020 edition and attempt to explain the reasoning behind them, if any. The seminar will also briefly explain how the standard reads for those new to NFPA standards and to easily access information from the standard. The presentation will also involve requirements on five-year internal assessments; underground/exposed piping flow test, standpipe, and PRVs; along with proper testing techniques and equipment selection. Additionally, this seminar will cover documentation, interpreting test results for the customer, and address pitfalls to avoid while conducting testing. Finally, the seminar will answer the most common misunderstood ITM tasks and tap into some of the most frequently asked questions based on informal interpretation requests and AFSA classroom discussions. 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
NFPA 25 and 72: Developing and Integrating Your ITM Plan—John Denhardt, PE, FSFPE, AFSA and Tim Knisely, Automatic Fire Alarm Association Conducting inspections in accordance with NFPA 25 or NFPA 72 require coordination between the building owner, facilities staff and occupants. Both NFPA 25 and NFPA 72 require coordination of the testing of the sprinkler systems and the fire alarm systems and may generate these questions: Can one person conduct both tests? Should these inspections be conducted at the same time? How can you be sure that your test did not unknowingly impair another system? This presentation will examine the most common issues and will guide you through the ITM of these existing systems. 0.2 CEUs |2.0 CPDs
NFPA 241: Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alternation, and Demolition Operations—Lieutenant Christopher G. Towski, Cambridge Massachusetts Fire Department These operations present an increased potential for fire due to the presence of large quantities of combustible materials and debris, as well as unusual ignition sources that may not be present following construction operations. Discussion will cover historic fires, the regulatory code path, gaps in the construction industry and real-life examples of some of the issues commonly found. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Special Systems for Special Hazards Cary Webber, CFPS, SET; Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. This course intends to identify areas that require special fire protection systems other than common wet and dry systems. Deluge systems and single/double interlock pre-action systems will be discussed, along with the equipment needed for each system to operate. The relative benefits of each system will be compared and contrasted. A brief discussion about types of alarm and detection is included, as well as different options for pneumatic supervisory pressure. This seminar also includes a basic description of the inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) requirements for each system. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
What a Sprinkler Contractor Needs to Know About NFPA 72—
Rodger Reiswig, SET, Automatic Fire Alarm Association This seminar will cover the fundamentals of NFPA 72 chapter 14, “Inspecting, Testing and Maintenance of Fire Alarm Systems.” The overview will provide an understanding of the requirements set in NFPA 72 for fire alarms and how it relates to sprinkler systems. There are variances of what NFPA 72 and NFPA 25 require and sometimes they overlap while other times they differ. This seminar will cover those items and help the attendee to become better informed of the document. Also covered will be the basics of fire alarm testing reporting as covered in chapter 7 of NFPA 72. 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
Business Management Track
AFSA Safety Portal: COVID-19 and More—Cricket Thomas, BlueRiver Underwriters Take a tour of the AFSA Safety Portal to discover how important it is for your business today. We will tour all the areas related to your business and safety related to your employees. We will begin with the toolbox talks and how to implement a formal program for your company. This begins with going through how to start a toolbox program, sign-off sheets for all who attend, and actual pertinent talks such as use of PPE by your employees. Then we will show where the OSHA state-specific hot issues are located. As you are aware, the hot issue today is COVID-19. OSHA has specific updates and articles on COVID-19. We will look at a few of these articles and show you how to use them in your business. Lastly, we will look at how your insurance policies relate to safety and can save you thousands of dollars by using this one-of-a-kind Safety Portal. 0.15 CEUs
Building a Training Program for Your Company—James D. Lake, Viking Corporation Trained and competent personnel are critical to the success of any business, especially now when technology and information change so quickly. A training program must be agile enough to grow with the pace of information and technology, yet solid enough in its foundation to support your business goals. Employee needs may not be the first thing you think about when you get up in the morning. This seminar will explore establishing training goals for your company and employees, determining the best resources for reaching those goals, and deploying a system to assess the success of the training. 0.1 CEU
Hiring and Retaining the Right People—Randy Stutzman, FMI Corporation The goal of most organizations is to have a robust workforce that supports the right people in the right positions and a set of systems and culture that keeps them excited to be there. However, the current reality for the construction industry is that there is not only an insufficient quantity of craft workers, supervisors, managers and staff for available positions, but also that the industry may not be appealing enough to attract and retain the younger Millennials or the upcoming Generation Z. 0.15 CEUs
How to Enhance the Value of Your Fire Protection Company—Randy Stutzman, FMI Corporation Managing a fire protection company is a daunting task. Determining volumes, growth, managing projects, making money and other time-consuming activities often obscure the overriding need to add value to your business each year. Too often, fire protection owners spend their careers working long hours and assuming massive amounts of risk only to see their efforts not achieve the returns they expect and deserve. You are going to be putting a great deal of energy in managing your business. Why not spend some of that energy insuring you have built something of great value. 0.15 CEU
How to Move Forward After the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis—Randy Stutzman, FMI Corporation We’re all doing our best right now during these unpredictable times to protect our families, communities, employees and businesses. As many organizations have scrambled to keep business going as they respond to the current crisis, there are things we’ve learned that will help us prepare for the future. Join FMI for insights into navigating through unpredictable times and key takeaways that can be applied from this pandemic. 0.2 CEUs
Insights and Strategies to Help Contractors Respond to COVID-19—Randy Stutzman, FMI Corporation COVID-19 has thrown world markets into a tailspin, and it’s time for construction to reposition and survive. This session will help contractors of all sizes understand critical considerations, including contractual issues, cash flow, and overhead management, as well as where to look for opportunities for well-positioned, well-capitalized companies. 0.2 CEUs
Navigating the COVID-19 Environment: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Economy and the Fire Sprinkler Industry Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D., GraphsandLaughs, LLC COVID-19 has changed the way we all live and work as the world has responded to the pandemic. This seminar will provide insight on how the world continues to adapt and respond to COVID-19 and the far-reaching economic impacts of the virus. The Strange Wealth Advisory Group, the investment advisor for the AFSA’s investments and retirement plan, has invited Dr. Elliot Eisenberg to present an economic forecast for a (hopefully) post-COVID-19 world. Dr. Eisenberg will guide the conversation from the global economic impacts down to the economic impacts at the local level for the Fire Sprinkler industry specifically. Dr. Eisenberg is known for making economics understandable and fun, so his presentation is sure to entertain you while providing valuable knowledge for your business going forward. 0.4 CEUs
NextGen Track
Building Your Personal Brand to Boost Your Career—Josh Shapiro; Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.; Jay Strickland; Strickland Fire Protection; Linda Biernacki; Fire Tech Systems, Inc. A personal brand is, in many ways, similar to a corporate brand. It is who you are, what you stand for, the values you embrace, and the way in which you express those values. Just as a company’s brand helps to communicate its value to customers and stand out from the competition, a personal brand does the same for individuals, helping to communicate a unique identity and clear value to potential employers or clients. Developing a personal brand might sound challenging, but there are incremental steps you can take to build credibility in your field. Learn the 10 tips to help you create an authentic personal brand—and amplify your career in the process. 0.15 CEUs
Easy Ways to Ramp Up Your Marketing—Nancy Houghton, Viking Group, Inc.; Conor Kauffman, Kauffman Co.; Lainey Liotta, The Lubrizol Corporation; Katie Meehan, VSC Fire & Security, Inc. There are now more ways than ever to market your brand to current and prospective customers. But which tactics are right for your business? Between social media, traditional advertising, and digital strategies, both contractors and vendors are challenged to find the right marketing mix to best meet the company’s goals within a certain budget. Through real-life examples, our panelists will share quick and simple ways to boost your marketing efforts at a variety of investment levels. In addition, you’ll learn how to measure the effectiveness of different marketing strategies, so you know that your resources are being properly applied. 0.2 CEUs
Supervisory Training Track
Field Supervisor Training, Part 1: Improving Productivity, Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS, Fire & Life Safety America This introductory segment addresses the need for sharp focus on field productivity and provides specifics on why and how to improve field performance. Discussion will include (1) why monitoring and measuring field productivity is more important than other phases of the work or parts of the company, (2) smart use of field resources and manpower, (3) how to measure productivity, (4) how to develop standard procedures and systems to create a lean operational process, and (5) how to predict and drive toward positive outcomes. 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
Field Supervisor Training, Part 2: Planning for Success, Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS, Fire & Life Safety AmericaThis second segment focuses on pre-game planning, anticipating and avoiding common mistakes, eliminating lost time, the importance of pre-job start-up calls and meetings, using project estimate data and job conditions to create action plans, and recording progress using job cost reports and as-built progress plans. 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
Field Supervisor Training, Part 3: Leadership Skills, Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS, Fire & Life Safety AmericaThe conclusion of this series focuses on improving communication skills, motivating people, confronting and dealing with difficult people and situations, and team building. Discussion includes how to identify contributions of project players in terms of successful startup and continuation of jobs in progress. 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
AHJ Track
These seminars are designed for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) only. AHJs are invited at no charge to attend the seminars the morning of Wednesday, September 16, and walk the exhibit hall for free that afternoon.
Fire Sprinkler System Plan Review (AHJs only), Steven Scandaliato, SET, SDG, LLC and Ken Wagoner, SET, Parsley Consulting Review of automatic fire sprinkler system plans has become very complex as 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 and will include an exercise in 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 among the topics which are a part of the review. This seminar will rely heavily on attendee participation and will generate a list of items which 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. 0.4 CEUs | 4.0 CPDs
Convention Headquarters—Twice the Fun!
AFSA39 guests will delight in the best of two worlds—the fire sprinkler industry and Walt Disney World®! This year’s headquarter resort includes both the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Amenities abound with elegant and family-friendly guest rooms, a three-acre lazy river and pool, poolside cabanas, championship golf course, a luxurious spa, fitness center, and nearly a dozen dining and lounge options.
Don’t leave the family behind for this trip as guests staying at the resort have magical benefits including Disney Extra Magic Hours, continuous complimentary transportation to all four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks and Disney Springs, and exceptional viewing of Disney fireworks every evening from the comfort of the resort.
The AFSA group rate for the Hilton Bonnet Creek is $189 per night plus tax for run of the house. The AFSA group rate for the Waldorf Astoria Orlando is $219 per night plus tax for run of the house. Both rates include resort fees and complimentary internet in guest rooms. Reservations may be made online during the convention registration process at www.firesprinkler.org/book. Group rates are available for stays from September 9-20, 2020, but reservations must be made by August 12, 2020, to secure AFSA convention group rates. After August 12, room rates are based on availability.
Early-bird Registration Now Open
The countdown has begun and excitement is building for AFSA39! Stay up to date with the latest from AFSA and AFSA39, including news, deals, discounts, and offerings with AFSA social media. Get real-time updates on the association’s official happenings sent to your desktop or wireless device by subscribing to, or “following,” Twitter: twitter.com/AFSA, Facebook: facebook.com/firesprinkler.org, Instagram: instagram.com/firesprinklerorg, and YouTube: youtube.com/user/AmerFireSprinkAssn. Be sure to use our official hashtag #AFSA39 when you share on social, too!
Visit AFSA39’s website at www.firesprinkler.org/AFSA39 to secure the best prices during early-bird registration, now through June 24, 2020. Invest in your business and your family with AFSA39 this fall!
