Increase of 5 Percent in 2018 Predicted FMI Corporation has released its latest construction forecast, the FMI Outlook, in a new streamlined format, designed to improve user experience and access to important data. FMI’s Q3 2017 forecast predicts an increase of 4 percent for total construction put in place for …
Read More »OSHA’s Silica in Construction Standard
Concerns for Fire Sprinkler Installers On March 25, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its final rule on respirable crystalline silica exposures in construction. Most of the standard came into effect on June 23, 2017, with a few technical details going into effect on June 23, 2018. …
Read More »Forecast: Continued Growth in 2018
Fire Sprinkler Industry Looks Back and Ahead As the fire sprinkler industry settles into 2018, it’s an opportunity to look back on business in 2017 and look ahead to the coming year’s potential. While forecasters predicted 2017 to be a year of slow growth with a bigger jump in 2018, it …
Read More »Chairman’s Message
Greetings, As we enter into another new year, it is not hard to just take a moment to reflect back on 2017. I think we can all look back at ‘17 and agree it was a pretty good year. The economy around the country was all-in-all robust. Most of us …
Read More »Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) Passes
Fire Sprinkler Industry Poised to Benefit from Comprehensive Tax Reform The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) applauds passage of inclusion of fire sprinkler provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), the nation’s most comprehensive reform of the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years. AFSA members …
Read More »And the Award Goes to…
Nominate Those Who Have Made an Impact on the Fire Sprinkler Industry The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is accepting nominations for its top honors: the prestigious Henry S. Parmelee award esteemed Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year award, and the new yet highly regarded Young Professional of the Year …
Read More »AHJs and Contractors
Develop Good Relationships According to NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, “the ‘Authority Having Jurisdiction’ [AHJ] is the organization, office or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard or for approving equipment, materials, an installation or a procedure.” It should be no surprise …
Read More »Adequacy of Building Structure Support
Responsibility Does Not Lay With Sprinkler Contractors The fire sprinkler contractor demonstrates their professionalism by reputation, experience, and license. Such a license strictly limits their scope of contract to the design and installation of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, systems conforming to the local building code. …
Read More »Five Steps to Better Advocate for Home Fire Sprinklers
How to Better Promote This Technology and, in Essence, Your Business I recently had some informal conversations with members of the fire sprinkler industry involved in residential installations. Their answers helped gauge their current level of fire sprinkler advocacy. While some admitted to promoting home fire sprinklers here and there, …
Read More »California Sprinkler Fitter Classification
What You Need to Know In 2011, California became the first state to pass a statewide fire sprinkler requirement, serving as an example for many other states. With the surge of demand for fire protection in the state, many sought to regulate the marketplace. In 2017, CAL FIRE – Office …
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