Featured Articles

  • THE IMPORTANCE OF ANNUAL FIRE PUMP TESTING

    ENSURING YOUR FIRE PUMP SYSTEM IS READY WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST Fire pumps are critical components of …

  • THE NAC IS A “WIN-WIN”

    NAC’S PHASE I EXAM HELPS EVALUATE, PREPARE, AND SHOWCASE YOUR APPRENTICES AFSA’s Annual National App…

  • TAKING AFSA43 TO A NEW HEIGHT

    CONVENTION, EXHIBITION, AND APPRENTICE COMPETITION TO BE HELD IN THE MILE-HIGH CITY Mark your calend…

  • FLASHPOINT

    With the changes to automobile vehicles over the years and the method in the way parking garages are…

  • PRESIDENT’S REPORT

    Why are standards, not standard?  I mean the very word itself conjures up thoughts of other wor…

Flashpoint

While standpipe systems may seem very simple and are often considered an afterthought in the overall design of a fire protection system, they are critical components that can result in the loss of life if not designed and installed properly. Standpipe systems are installed to help response personnel deploy hose …

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Chair’s Message

Jack Medovich, Chair of the Board, AFSA, the fire sprinkler industry

One thing we all know by being in this business is that labor can make or break a job. If you have been doing this for longer than one year, you’ve seen it happen both ways! As most of you know, I did not grow up in this industry from …

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Higher Standards

As the May/June 2023 issue of Sprinkler Age will be available at the NFPA Annual Conference and Expo® in Las Vegas, this column will serve a special purpose. In preparation for the 2023 NFPA Technical Meeting, AFSA has reviewed the posted Certified Amending Motions (CAM) for the relevant standards on …

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President’s Report

Bob Caputo, CFPS. President of the American Fire Sprinkler Association.

For a very long time, I owned a 1983 Jeep CJ7 Renegade, which is now in the possession of my daughter and son-in-law, who enjoy weekends in the desert. I bought that vehicle in early 1990 from a Marine who was deploying, and it’s since been driven by multiple friends, …

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Flashpoint

John Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE is the vice president of engineering & technical services at AFSA. Denhardt provides a "flashpoint" for March/April of 2023 and discusses NFPA reviews.

I am sitting in California in early February as I write this column. The AFSA Board of Directors is meeting, and I have the opportunity to present the status of work in progress and answer questions regarding the Engineering & Technical Services Department. To prepare for this discussion, my department …

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Thirty Years of Excellence

CATCHING UP WITH PAST NATIONAL APPRENTICE COMPETITION COMPETITORS Thirty years ago, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) launched the National Apprentice Competition in 1994 at the 13th Annual AFSA Convention & Exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That inaugural year, the competition was well represented, with seven apprentice finalists from member …

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Technical Challenges March/April 2023

AFSA's Technical Challenges

CAN YOU MEET THE CHALLENGE? Each issue, AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services Department staff present technical challenges. Besides testing yourself and your co-workers, these exercises are excellent preparation for professional certification tests and may count as CEUs. Check with your certification organization. To participate, read through and work the problems. …

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Higher Standards

Kevin Hall, M.Eng, P.E., ET, CWBSP, PMSFPE, writes "Higher Standards" to expand on NFPA standards.

Review of NFPA 20 First Draft Report For the installation of water-based fire protection systems, the NFPA standard development process aligns every three years. During this time, NFPA 13, NFPA 13R, NFPA 13D, NFPA 14, NFPA 20, and NFPA 24 are all under the microscope, with the technical committees reviewing …

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NEW MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES ADDED

The American Fire Sprinkler Association has two new categories for membership: A&E Design Firms, and Facility Managers.

Welcoming A&E Design Firms and Facility Managers The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Board of Directors has approved two new categories for membership: A&E Design Firms and Facility Managers while redefining the Designer category to be for independent designers with more than two people. “AFSA offers education and technical support …

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One-Stop CEU Shop

AFSA offers the best webinars in the industry to receive CEUs, CPDs, and CAL FIRE-Approved credits.

Live and On-Demand Webinars Offer CEUs, CPDs, and Cal Fire-Approved Courses The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to offer live and on-demand webinars on technical and managerial topics related to the fire sprinkler industry. These programs offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Continuing Professional Development points (CPDs), and/or CAL …

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