National Campus Fire Safety Month brings together schools and communities to teach college students about fire safety. This September, the initiative turns 13. Every September, education programs are held across the country to teach students about their role in fire safety – how to choose fire-safe housing, whether it is on- or off-campus; how to prevent a …
Read More »ESFR Sprinklers and Obstructions
Research Continues on Larger Sizes The invent of early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinkler in the 1980s revolutionized storage fire protection. No longer were rack sprinklers needed to protect high heat release rate commodities stored within tall racks. In addition, the ESFR sprinkler provides adequate protection for a range of …
Read More »Is Your Company Tweeting?
AFSA Member Companies in the Age of Social Media The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has some of the best and brightest in the industry. Our members are forward-thinking individuals looking to connect with their fellow AFSA members, their customers, and their friends. In this digital age, one of the …
Read More »Hollywood Thinks They All Go Off at Once!
Fire Sprinkler Misrepresentations in the Media It seems that everyone who works in the fire sprinkler industry inevitably develops a very specific pet peeve: the blatant misrepresentation of fire sprinklers in the media. Think about it. Can you remember the last time you saw fire sprinklers all go off at …
Read More »¿Quieres ser un Instalador de Rociadores?
AFSA Promotes Diversity in its Education Programs One of the things that the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is proudest to offer members is its extensive number of training opportunities. If you are interested in inspection, testing and maintenance, AFSA has a course for that! If you want to be a …
Read More »Encouraging Women to Enter STEM Fields
Tyco Sponsors Program for High School Students AFSA Associate Member Tyco Fire Protection Products believes in supporting diversity and generating awareness about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers to young women. With its Women in Technology (WIT) program, it hopes to fulfill these students’ passion and potential. Established in …
Read More »Here’s Your Sign, Part 2: NFPA 13D, 13R, 14 and 20 Requirements
In Part 1 of this article, I discussed the many signs that are required by NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. I tried to provide some of the reasons and history behind those requirements. In this follow-up article, I will extend the discussion to NFPA 13D, Standard …
Read More »Rising Stars in the Sprinkler Industry
Up-and-Coming Leaders Spill Their Secrets to Success In the fire sprinkler industry, the experience and wisdom gained from years of service is highly respected. At the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), we regularly look to our Board of Directors, and to our founding members and lifetime members, for their vast …
Read More »ESFR Sprinklers and Obstructions
The Existing Criteria is Likely Too Conservative In a continuing and extensive effort to develop reliable and effective tools and guidelines for the unique installation of early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers relative to obstructions, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) through its Research Foundation has completed three phases of …
Read More »LFSA Holds Side-By-Side Burn
On November 17, 2016, the Louisiana Fire Sprinkler Association teamed up with the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s office, the Louisiana Life Safety & Security Association and the Texas Fire Sprinkler Coalition to host a live side-by-side burn to demonstrate how quickly a typical home fire grows to the point of …
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