Sprinkler Age March/Apr 2022

OBSTRUCTIONS TO 36 SPRINKLER DISCHARGE

MAR/APR 2022

SPRINKLER AGE

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

VOL 41/02

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MAR/APR 2022 VOL 41/02

FEATURES 12 | WELCOME TO VEGAS!

AFSA41 Offers CEUs and Connections in the City that Never Sleeps

15 | PARKS MOORE, P.E., ELECTED TO AFSA BOARD Contractor to Serve as an At-Large Director

16 | OBSTRUCTION JUNCTION, WHAT’S YOUR FUNCTION? Special Obstruction Allowance

18 | PROTECTING AMERICA’S HEROES FROM FIRE

Members Provide Residential Fire Sprinkler System for Veteran’s Home

20 | TAKE DESIGN TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Introducing the Intermediate Fire Sprinkler System Planning School

23 | CELEBRATING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

2021 Fire Sprinkler Fitter National Honor Society Announced

25 | BIDEN ISSUES PRO-PLA EXECUTIVE ORDER

Directive Will “Increase Costs to Taxpayers and Exacerbate Skilled Labor Shortage”

26 | ESCUTCHEONS DISCUSSION Details of a Common Component

28 | MEDIA MATTERS

“Sprinklers Flood Residents Out of Their Homes” or “Headlines We Hate!”

31 | INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS FOR AHJS

Changes to AFSA’s Membership for Fire Officials

32 | EARN CEUS ANYTIME, ANY PLACE New CAL FIRE-Approved Courses Added

34 | “FIRE SPRINKLERS ARE THE REAL SOLUTION” A Letter to the Editor

36 | SPRINKLER OBSTRUCTION DISCHARGE Signs a Sprinkler May Not Discharge as Designed

38 | A BETTER SIDE-BY-SIDE

ON THE COVER: The Bellagio Las Vegas will host AFSA41: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition. Also in this issue: obstructions to sprinkler discharge.

6 8 10 50 51 52 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 62

CHAIR’S MESSAGE PRESIDENT’S REPORT FLASHPOINT HIGHER STANDARDS TECHNICAL CHALLENGES AFSA NEWS CALENDAR OF EVENTS CHAPTER NEWS #MEMBERSMATTER! NEW MEMBERS AFSA CHAPTERS U.S. CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

HFSC Offers New Virtual Reality Resources

40 | “SOUND THE ALARM” ABOUT HOME FIRE SAFETY Participate in the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign

42 | SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION

Is Now the Time for Contractors to Warehouse or Carry Inventory?

44 | CELEBRATING WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

Annual Event Increases Awareness of Opportunities in the Industry

46 | MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS Tips to Maximize Your ROI

SPRINKLER AGE, (ISSN 0896-2685) is published bi-

monthly for $33.95 per year by the American Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc., 12750 Merit Drive, Suite 350, Dallas, Texas 75251. Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, Texas and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SPRINKLER AGE,

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48 | THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Members Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries

SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 5

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CHAIR’S MESSAGE HAT WE DO WORKS! Since my last article, there have been tragic fires in New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, where three firefighters lost their lives. It pains me every time this happens, knowing that there’s technology here that can prevent these tragedies from happening … fire sprinklers!

WHAT WE DO WORKS! How many more lives have to be lost? When will we figure this out as a country … as a world? We must not stop fighting to make sure that fire sprinklers are installed in every single structure that is built. I can already hear the other side saying the structures that burned were older structures that would have been unaffected by new legislation. They’re right, but, if we start protecting all structures now, in another 20-30 years, those “older” structures will be protected, and these tragedies will stop occurring. We need to fight to save the lives of our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and every generation following them from the ravages of fire. Please do what you can at the local level and reach out to us here at AFSA to assist you in any way we can. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to fight this nationally with others who share our passion for life safety.

The lifeblood of our association is our local chapters. If you are an AFSA member and reading this article, please get involved in your local chapter. That is where the real “boots on the ground” efforts take place. They do amazing work in the legislative arena, foster relationships with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and give back to our communities. One initiative in community relations is our support of Homes For Our Troops (HFOT).

A few years ago, our AFSA and the Public Education & Awareness Committee partnered with HFOT. As you know, AFSA is a very patriotic association. We love our country and those who defend it. HFOT builds specially adapted custom homes for severely injured Veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have had limb amputations, are paralyzed, or suffer from traumatic brain injury. These heroes deserve and need to have the protection fire sprinklers provide for them to escape their homes in case of a fire. AFSA contractor members, manufacturers, and suppliers donate their time and materials to provide a residential fire sprinkler system in these Veterans’ homes. Paulene Norwood, the executive director of the Sacramento Valley Chapter, heads this initiative up at the national level. She coordinates these efforts across the country, and I just want to say “Thank You” to her, as well as to all the other volunteers making our Veterans safe! You can see an example of their work in this edition of Sprinkler Age. AFSA’s Board of Directors has added a new member—Parks Moore, P.E., from S & S Sprinkler, Mobile, Alabama—to its already dedicated group of volunteers. Parks has been involved with AFSA for many years and has represented our association on various NFPA code-writing committees. He will be a tremendous addition to our Board. Welcome, Parks!

I also want to put in a plug for AFSA41: Convention, Exhibition, and National Apprentice Competition at the Bellagio in Las Vegas October 16-19. It will be hard to top AFSA40 last year in San Antonio. I had my doubts, but this year’s Convention Committee is pulling out all the stops! Las Vegas is an awesome place to hold our convention, and after hearing what the committee has planned, I’m sure AFSA41 will be a convention we will never forget!

In closing, please make sure you tell every person you know who’s in this industry (employees and friends) that they save lives every single day, and they should be proud of that!! WHAT WE DO WORKS! Thank you, and God Bless! n

EDITORIAL: 214-349-5965

BOB CAPUTO, CFPS, Publisher, ext. 124

bcaputo@firesprinkler.org

D’ARCY G. MONTALVO, Editor, ext. 115;

dmontalvo@firesprinkler.org

ADVERTISING: 214-349-5965

REBECCA HERRING, Communications Specialist, ext. 134;

rherring@firesprinkler.org

CIRCULATION: 214-349-5965

REBECCA HERRING, Communications Specialist, ext. 134;

rherring@firesprinkler.org

AFSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS JACK A. MEDOVICH, P.E., Chair, 804-222-1381

LINDA M. BIERNACKI, First Vice Chair, 318-841-0330 PAUL DELORIE, Second Vice Chair, 603-432-8221 ROD DIBONA, Treasurer, 605-348-2342 JEFF PHIFER, Secretary, 803-438-2994

TED WILLS, Immediate Past Chair, 610-754-7836 LYLE HALL, 858-513-4949

CHRIS JOHNSON, 727-581-9339

R. DONALD (DON) KAUFMAN, 505-884-2447 MICHAEL F. MEEHAN, 757-213-3660

E. PARKS MOORE, P.E., 251-473-6000 WAYNE WEISZ, 209-334-9119

AFSA LEADERSHIP BOB CAPUTO, CFPS, President, ext. 124 LAVERNE DAVIS, Vice President, Finance & Administration, ext. 112 JOHN AUGUST DENHARDT, P.E., FSFPE, Vice President, Engineering & Technical Services, ext.121

MARLENE M. GARRETT, CMP, Vice President,, Meeting & Education Services, ext. 118 BRUCE LECAIR, Senior Director, Membership & Chapter Support, ext. 139 LESLIE CLOUNTS, Director, Education Services, ext. 130 ROGER GRAGG, Director, Marketing & Information Technology, ext. 116 MEDA MERRITT, Director, Membership & Chapter Support, ext. 133

Sprinkler Age is devoted to the professional development of the fire sprinkler industry. Deadline is 1st of the month preceding publication.

Published by American Fire Sprinkler Association, 12750 Merit Drive, Suite 350, Dallas, Texas 75251.

Call (214) 349-5965, FAX (214) 343-8898, or email sprinklerage@firesprinkler.org for information.

Copyright © American Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc. All rights reserved. PRINTED IN USA. Unless expressly stated otherwise, all editorial and advertising material published is the opinion of the respective authors and/or companies involved and should not be construed as official action by or approved by Publisher or the Association.

Sprinkler Age is a membership benefit, provided free of charge to AFSA members. For information on non-member and/or foreign subscription rates, call (214) 349-5965.

ABOUT AFSA MEMBERSHIP

JACK A. MEDOVICH, P.E. AFSA BOARD CHAIR

6 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

AFSA annual membership dues are a sliding scale for Contractors and Associates and a flat fee for Authorities Having Jurisdiction. (Members receive a free subscription to Sprinkler Age.) Write or call AFSA for membership information. See AFSA’s website at firesprinkler.org.

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

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ooking to the future… one need not listen very hard to hear the thundering voices of our membership identifying the greatest concern and challenge to our businesses and our industry. It is clearly the lack of manpower in an expanding market. This is true across all of construction and is acutely obvious in specialty trades like ours. Nowhere is it more pervasive than in the need for fire sprinkler layout technicians where our industry has a serious gap in the aging population of talented staff and the need to replace those retiring with new blood.

I’m sure most Sprinkler Age readers and members are tired of hearing us beat the drum on training opportunities provided by your AFSA staff, but we’re not just sitting back offering the same old programs in the hope we will produce different results.

Our technical staff is about to launch the AFSA Intermediate Fire Sprinkler System Layout School with a totally new approach to deliver this training in a way that is more effective, both in terms of time and cost. “Hybrid” is the new buzzword driven in no small part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we can see the wisdom and benefits of delivering training materials in smaller parts over longer periods of time with virtual training in combination with live training segments. More important is the elevated level of training and its effectiveness in the development of productive and knowledgeable layout technicians our new approaches will deliver.

While this new classroom program portion will be held in Dallas, it will only be a one-week in-person experience. Candidates will participate in two, three-hour pre-work activities online in the week leading up to the in-person classroom training. The pre-work will focus predominantly on the use of Revit® and BIM utilizing HydraCAD for Revit™ software. The next-level school will be presented by AFSA technical staff, along with Hydratec staff. There is no intent to promote any software over another, but candidates need to learn how to get files loaded and converted to workable formats, regardless of what is being used at any given company. AFSA member participants will use software included during the course to complete CAD exercises while also learning about the design criteria from the codes and standards.

Our first intermediate school is currently scheduled for mid-May. Classes will be limited to 10 seats to ensure every participant is getting maximum attention. Additional schools are scheduled for August and November.

While we plan to introduce an advanced layout course later in the year, we have shifted from the two-week, “drinking-from-afire-hose” approach to training to this elongated and modular approach to sprinkler design training following the sprinkler apprentice and inspector training examples to develop productive technicians over time. With a combination of on-the-job practical experience and short-burst training intervals online and live, we believe we can shorten the learning curve and provide incremental success for new and developing sprinkler system designers.

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Based on personal experience, we believe the best designers will have spent six months or more in the field learning terminology and seeing systems being installed to create a vivid picture in their mind’s eye of the end goal while learning to layout systems. Being able to visualize a structure in three dimensions and understand coordination with ductwork, lighting, and other components can accelerate the learning process while increasing the level of understanding of the objectives. Delivering on time is a critical factor for any construction project, and a bit of field experience can also drive the understanding of this and other important factors for any candidate. Perhaps equally as important, field crews and foremen know they’re helping to train future designers, and they see the importance of contributing to this training opportunity to get a better design product in years to come. This helps organizational team building and trust between people who have worked together and know each other—breaking down those disruptive silos.

I should also note that our beginning design two-week course has undergone significant updating and revisions based on the feedback and input from our members and graduates. Recent participants have provided very positive feedback. One addition for 2022 will be a blended Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School, held over a four-week period and featuring a mix of virtual and in-person training. This new format will be offered three times in 2022, from the East Coast to the West Coast, so check our website for updates at firesprinkler.org/ design. Thanks to the entire team at AFSA for the work to make this school better in every way.

Lastly, as it relates to designer training opportunities, AFSA will be revising our existing design training correspondence course materials to incorporate some of the basic learning modules from our apprenticeship training books, as well as preparing candidates for NICET and NFPA certification testing activities. Look for this new coursework to be delivered in segments rather than waiting for the entire program to be delivered in one big volume.

The AFSA offices will be relocating in November/December 2022 to a location capable of hosting a complete training facility with learning labs to include multiple system riser assemblies, working fire pump(s), and hydrants for complete training experiences. Stay tuned as our plans gel. We’re looking forward to a collaborative effort with manufacturers, industry suppliers, and contractor members to ensure all products are represented for a complete training experience. n

BOB CAPUTO, CFPS AFSA PRESIDENT

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FLASHPOINT s I write this column, I find myself disheartened.

In the last month, 12 people in a Philadelphia rowhouse, 19 people in a New York City high-rise apartment building, and three firefighters in a Baltimore vacant rowhouse all died due to fire. These are just the reports I have seen on the national news. I live within a few hours’ drive of all these fires, and my community buried one of our own from the Baltimore fire.

So why am I so upset and sick to my stomach? The easy answer is that people died due to a fire, and many of these people were children. The three firefighters gave the ultimate sacrifice trying to do their job. But there is more to it. I have dedicated my career to protecting people and property. When I got hooked into the fire protection field at the University of Maryland, I listened and bought into Dr. Bryan and Dr. Hickey’s passion to do what was right to protect lives and property. The Engineers’ Creed (2021 National Society of Professional Engineers) says: As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge to the advancement and betterment of public health, safety, and welfare.

I pledge: • To give the utmost of performance; • To participate in none but honest enterprise; • To live and work according to the highest standards of professional conduct; • To place service before profit, the honor and standing of my profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations.

In humility, I make this pledge.

I take this pledge to heart. I know how to defeat most fires and ensure people can survive a bad situation. I also know how to protect most structures from significant fire damage. Without reviewing, analyzing, or studying the cause of the three fires being discussed, I can tell you that these tragedies could have been avoided. We do not need to perform or discover a major scientific advance in order to move forward. Let me take an educated guess of what went wrong: • Fire occurred by equipment failure, accident, or was intentionally set.

• Fire grew and should have been detected by smoke detectors or smoke alarm systems to allow ample time for people to safely evacuate. These devices or systems did not work as designed and installed due to lack of proper inspection, testing, and maintenance.

• Egress paths were deficient, not maintained, or otherwise compromised by the products of combustions trapping the individuals who died.

• Once the fire department received the notification of the fire, they responded as quickly as they could and did everything in their ability and training to save the individuals. Still, it was too much for the firefighters to overcome in time to save the lives of these individuals. The firefighters feel grief stricken because they were not able to help these victims of their enemy, fire.

As I stated before, as a society, we know the causes and how to stop this or at least make the situation much better. In 1973, almost 50 years ago, the National Commission on Fire Prevention and

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Control published a report entitled “America Burning.” It found that most deaths due to fire in the United States occurred in residential buildings and those most likely to die in residential fires were young children and adults over the age of 65. Sound familiar in the Philadelphia and New York recent fires? This can be attributed to their need for assistance in exiting burning buildings as well as the reduced likelihood that they will hear smoke alarms immediately, if at all. In response to these findings, the report recommended a sprinkler system be designed specifically for residential use.

Over the years, we have developed these systems and their effectiveness has been well documented.

Yet, we do not install a residential sprinkler system in all new and existing residential buildings. Why? Let’s think about it… it boils down to choices. We choose to mandate seatbelts in all cars and, in some cases, school busses. Air bags, antilock brakes, laminated windshields, collapsible bumpers, dual hydraulic braking systems, collapsible steering columns, and other safety devices are also required in all new cars. In most areas of the United States, we mandate smoke alarms in all existing and new residential units. We mandate building fire alarm systems in many multi-family residential buildings, and we regulate egress features including passive fire construction features.

There are requirements to maintain these systems over the life of the building. But we still have losses of lives due to fires. So why are we not installing residential sprinkler systems in all existing multi-family residential buildings and in all new residential buildings?

In new buildings, the model building codes all now require residential sprinkler systems. However, many local and state legislators have passed regulations that remove the residential sprinkler system requirements. Typical, special-interest groups have the legislators’ ears and remove requirements that will cost them money or affect their businesses. But who is representing the residents of these structures? Without a sprinkler system, we see the results.

In existing buildings, many model building codes require the retrofit of sprinkler systems in multi-family residential buildings.

Again, very few people or organizations want to spend the necessary monies to install a sprinkler system. Legislators are typically very reluctant to support legislation requiring the retrofit of sprinkler systems.

Moving forward, I am hopeful that the recent loss of lives can spur a ground swell of support to install sprinkler systems in all new residential buildings and existing multi-family residential buildings. Be safe. n

JOHN AUGUST DENHARDT, P.E., FSFPE AFSA VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL SERVICES

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WELCOME TO VEGAS! AFSA41 OFFERS CEUS AND CONNECTIONS IN THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

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D’ARCY MONTALVO | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION egas’ new slogan, “What happens here, only happens here!” is fitting—an ordinary day or night can become extraordinary in this city of business innovation, technological advancement, and spectacular entertainment. As the city reinvigorates itself, it proves to be the perfect setting for the largest fire sprinkler exhibition of its kind in the United States.

Join the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) in this exciting city for AFSA41: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition, October 16-19, 2022, at Bellagio Las Vegas. On the heels of AFSA’s 40th-anniversary celebration, AFSA41 ushers in a new decade of growth and prosperity for members with expert education, top training, and numerous networking opportunities.

“We are looking forward to returning to Las Vegas for AFSA41,” comments AFSA Vice President of Meeting & Education Services Marlene Garrett, CMP. “The energy and excitement of this destination, especially the Bellagio Las Vegas, is very appealing. We can’t wait to see you this fall!”

A PACKED SCHEDULE AFSA41 will offer four days of managerial and technical seminars filled with education, training, and networking led by industry experts. Fifty-six seminars over seven tracks cover all aspects of the industry: Install/Design, ITM, Other Technical, Fitter, NextGen, AHJ, and Business Management—over 70 hours of CEUs, CPDs, and CAL FIRE-Approved credits.

AFSA’s exhibition provides an opportunity to meet with leading manufacturers and suppliers of the latest products and services offered in the fire sprinkler industry. The unopposed exhibit hours allow attendees and exhibitors to visit without interruption, and the second day of exhibits also features the finals of AFSA’s 29th National Apprentice Competition (NAC). For apprentices interested in competing, see page 21 of this issue or visit firesprinkler.org/apprentice.

Convention highlights include the Exhibition Grand Opening reception, general session, two evening parties, and social events, as well as a chance to relax with friends new and old during the networking meals hosted for attendees who are fully registered in AFSA’s room block at Bellagio Las Vegas.

This year’s convention will kick off with an opening party hosted

by AFSA’s NextGen on Sunday, October 16, at On the Record Nightclub at Park MGM. The joy of hanging out in a record store is the inspiration for this speakeasy and club experience. The entrance

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Inspired by the villages of Europe, Bellagio Las Vegas overlooks a Mediterranean-blue lake with a fountain performance every night.

to this club is hidden behind a record store entrance off the main casino floor, featuring both indoor and outdoor spaces, providing ample space for dancing the night away or relaxing with friends.

The ever-popular Awards Party will be held on the final night of the convention—Wednesday, October 19. Pick your favorite decade and dress to impress! This “Music Through the Decades” costume party will be a night of dancing, dinner, and drinks at the Bellagio’s Grand Pool Deck— a Mediterraneaninfused al fresco poolside experience. Come celebrate with AFSA and find out who will win the apprentice competition!

A LUXURIOUS STAY The hotel rooms and suites at the Bellagio offer the perfect blend of beauty and elegance for AFSA41 attendees.

With views of the Las Vegas valley or the iconic Bellagio fountains, stays are nothing short of unforgettable. Bellagio Las Vegas offers luxurious rooms, fine dining, spectacular shows, a conservatory and botanical gardens, exquisite shops, lounges and entertainment, a spa and salon, a state-of-the-art fitness center, the top-rated Shadow Creek golf course, five outdoor pools, and a wedding chapel!

The AFSA group rate for Bellagio Las Vegas is $284 per night plus tax and includes resort fees and complimentary internet in guest rooms. When making reservations, guests should request the Spa Tower, closest to the AFSA41 meeting space. Reservations may be made online during the convention registration process at firesprinkler.org/book. Group rates are available for stays from October 13-21, 2022, but reservations must be made by Septem-

It’s Vegas, baby! Join AFSA for the industry’s largest fire sprinkler exhibition in the U.S. this October at the Bellagio Las Vegas.

ber 16, 2022, to secure AFSA convention group rates. After September 16, room rates are based on availability.

HOTEL RESERVATION & ATTENDEE LIST ALERT AFSA is made aware of third-party vendors soliciting AFSA exhibitors and attendees posing as our housing vendor or attendee list distributor. These companies mislead you to think they are working on our behalf. Companies that use this tactic include Exhibitor Hotel Reservation Services (EHR), Global Housing, and National Travel Associates. They are not endorsed by or affiliated with AFSA or its show. Entering into financial agreements with such companies can have costly consequences such as no hotel reservations, no free networking meals, no complimentary internet access, or a mailing list. Please note attendee lists are distributed onsite. To receive full AFSA hotel benefits, book directly with the hotel by phone or using the link found on AFSA’s convention website, firesprinkler.org/AFSA41.

• Room-access key cards. Diamond-level sponsors will have their logo featured on hotel room key cards.

• Recognition at Awards Party. Diamond-level sponsors will receive special recognition during the1 final-night Awards cover plate series ads.pdf 11/22/2021 3:57:20 PM Party, where AFSA crowns its newest National Apprentice Competition champion!

We’re so good at this, you won’t even know we’re there.

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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

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AFSA41 is expected to attract over 600 decision-makers from all corners of the country, many of whom are looking for innovative products and services to help make their companies more competitive. From the Diamond level to the Bronze package, AFSA has sponsorships to fit every budget.

AFSA41 sponsors enjoy visibility, recognition, and access to convention attendees. Benefits are provided throughout the convention with online exposure, increased visibility, and face-to-face opportunities. Some of these benefits include: • Priority booth selection for sponsors at the Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver levels (AFSA members only). Booth selection will be based on the current point system within each sponsorship level from Diamond to Silver.

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Learn more at reliablesprinkler.com/covers SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 13

Dance the night away during the AFSA41 Opening Party at On the Record at Park MGM. New benefits are available for Diamond and Platinum sponsors for 2022! Diamond sponsors will have added exposure with: • Sponsor-named specialty drink at the Awards Party.

• Logo on Bellagio Las Vegas marquee displayed on Vegas Strip on arrival day.

• Logo displayed on monitors at the Opening Party.

In addition, Diamond and Platinum sponsors will have a custom record cover displayed at the Opening Party.

AFSA offers several “a-la-carte” options for companies, including pre-event email press releases, pre-event sponsored blog posts, convention app rotating banner ads, networking meal tables, and golf tournament packages. These sponsorships range in cost from $250 to $2,500. More details can be found online at firesprinkler.org/sponsorship.

Gold sponsorship level includes one 10-ft x 10-ft booth. Additional booths are available for purchase to expand the size. Gold sponsors receive one all-access registration and two exhibit-hall-only registrations (a $2,700 value). Diamond sponsors receive three all-access registrations and six exhibit-hall-only registrations (a $6,950 value).

Platinum-level sponsors receive two all-access registrations and four exhibit-hall-only registrations (a $5,400 value).

It’s never too early to start planning your marketing strategy.

AFSA41 is a sure bet to reach your customers! To take full advantage of all the publicity available to sponsors, sign up by April 15, 2022. For more details, visit firesprinkler.org/sponsorship or contact Garrett via email at mgarrett@firesprinkler.org or phone at (214) 349-5965 ext. 118 to discuss how your company can make the most significant impact.

EXHIBIT AT AFSA41

A SURE BET

The schedule for AFSA41 is specially designed to create multiple opportunities for attendees to visit the exhibit hall and network. This gives exhibitors ample time and as much face-toface interaction with customers as possible. AFSA ensures traffic in the hall through: • Unopposed exhibit hours. AFSA carefully schedules each day of the convention to avoid seminars and social events conflicting with exhibit hall hours.

• National Apprentice Competition (NAC). AFSA’s NAC is held each year in the exhibit hall. This popular event draws in convention attendees to view the installation portion of the competition and puts them in your reach.

• Exhibition Grand Opening Reception. AFSA’s Chair of the Board hosts this popular evening event, allowing convention attendees to tour the exhibit hall and features hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

• Free passes for the second day of exhibits. AFSA invites local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and exhibitor-invited guests to visit the exhibit hall.

Sponsors also enjoy exhibitor benefits at AFSA41. Diamond and Platinum sponsorship levels include one 10-ft x 20-ft booth, and

Stay up to date with the latest from AFSA and AFSA41, including news, deals, discounts, and offerings. Get real-time updates on the association’s official happenings sent to your desktop or wireless device by subscribing to, or “following,” AFSA social media, and use our official hashtag #AFSA41.

• Twitter: twitter.com/AFSA • Facebook: facebook.com/firesprinkler.org • Instagram: instagram.com/firesprinklerorg • YouTube: youtube.com/user/AmerFireSprinkAssn Currently, the State of Nevada has lifted mask mandates in resorts and casinos, restaurants, bars, showrooms, and meeting spaces, and masks are recommended for individuals who are not fully vaccinated, those with underlying health conditions, and in healthcare facilities. Masks are still required on all public transportation and transportation hubs per CDC guidance. AFSA will continue to monitor these updates and will follow the CDC guidelines at the time of the event.

Plan your Vegas getaway with AFSA today! Bookmark AFSA’s convention website at firesprinkler.org/AFSA41 and check back frequently as online registration opens soon. n

14 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

PARKS MOORE, P.E., ELECTED TO AFSA BOARD CONTRACTOR TO SERVE AS AN AT-LARGE DIRECTOR

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he Board of Directors of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) elected E. Parks Moore, P.E., CEO of S & S Sprinkler Company, Mobile, Alabama, as an At-Large Director at its January 2022 Board meeting. Parks was elected to the At-Large position when AFSA First Vice Chair Linda Biernacki, president of Fire Tech Systems, Inc., Shreveport, Louisiana; moved from At-Large to Region 4 Director.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Parks to this group of dedicated volunteers,” says AFSA Chair of the Board Jack Medovich, P.E., president and CEO of Fire & Life Safety America, Richmond, Virginia. “Parks has been involved with AFSA for many years and has represented our association on various NFPA code-writing committees. He will be a tremendous addition to our Board.”

Moore has been active in the fire protection industry for more than 20 years. He currently represents AFSA on the NFPA 15 Water Spray Fixed Systems Committee and has previously served on the NFPA 13 Technical Committee for Installation and on the NFPA 13 Committee on Hanging and Bracing. Moore is a past president of the Alabama Fire Sprinkler Association and has been actively involved as one of its board members since 2007. In addition, he is a charter member and serves on the board of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). Moore earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Tulane University. He is a licensed professional fire protection engineer, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist, and holds a NICET IV certification in water-based systems layout.

“I am excited and honored to have been elected to the AFSA Board of Directors,” says Moore. “I hope to bring new ideas and contribute to the betterment of our organization and industry as an At-Large Director. I’m a big believer and supporter of our technical services department and what they offer. As an AFSA member, I’ve benefited from that, as well as from AFSA’s education and training programs.”

Moore has a long history in the industry. He worked during the summer months in S & S Sprinkler’s warehouse and design department, where his father Leland, Sr., worked. In 1995, Leland, Sr. purchased the company from the original owners while Parks was in college. After spending some time on the East Coast and South Texas, Parks and his family returned to Mobile to work at S & S. Parks and

his brother Leland, Jr. have worked in all areas of the company, learning the business.

Today, Parks serves as CEO and Leland, Jr. as COO of the company.

Moore serves as chair of AFSA’s Public Education & Awareness Committee and is a member of the Legislative and Safety & Insurance committees. He joins Parks Moore, P.E. other AFSA Contractor members elected to serve and represent AFSA’s membership and is committed to training and education for fire sprinkler fitters, layout technicians, inspectors, and management.

AFSA members are encouraged to voice any questions or suggestions to any Board or staff member. If you have a question or comment, see the list of contacts located in the front of every issue of cover plate series ads.pdf 2 11/22/2021 3:57:27 PM Sprinkler Age or visit firesprinkler.org/board-of-directors. n

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OBSTRUCTION JUNCTION, WHAT’S YOUR FUNCTION? SPECIAL OBSTRUCTION ALLOWANCE

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JOSH MCDONALD, MSET, CFPS | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

FPA 13, Standard of the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, is not intended to limit flexibility or make the layout of the sprinkler system challenging (though sometimes it seems like it for some projects). A new faux beam, placement or change order for the fixtures, a partial or full-height wall that was not depicted on a plan seemingly sprouts from the ground and is only caught on a site walkaround, and limited space all come to mind of regular headaches that may drastically affect the sprinkler layout. All these changes may disrupt the development of the spray pattern of the sprinkler or keep water from reaching the hazard.

A sprinkler’s area of coverage is adjusted based on the construction features obstructing the heat flow. Anything within 18 in. of the deflector needs to be accounted for with the “Beam Rule,” the “Soffit Rules,” the “3 Times,” or the “4 Times Rule” to ensure the spray pattern of the sprinkler is well developed to properly protect the hazard below. Anything that is more than 18 inches below the deflector and greater than 4-ft wide needs additional protection below for proper coverage. Architectural and structural features play a large part in sprinkler placement, and any changes need to be accounted for throughout each project phase. NFPA 13, 2022 edition has provided some more guidance on obstructions and helps to provide a bit more flexibility to some common obstruction issues in combustible concealed spaces, hallways, partitions in ordinary hazard spaces, and early suppression fast response (ESFR) applications.

Standard spray sprinklers are required to be spaced 3 times the maximum dimension of an obstruction (when the obstruction is within 18 in. of the deflector vertically from the obstruction) to ensure the spray pattern is developed enough to protect both sides of the obstructed with a minimal effect from shadow areas. It is not the intent of the standard to require this 3 Times Rule to be met for nonstructural noncontinuous obstructions (exit signage, trim, light fixture, etc.) for light and ordinary hazard occupancies.

The rule may not be required, but the isolated obstruction cannot be ignored if it obstructs the sprinkler spray pattern development and the beam rule still applies. The application of section 10.2.7.2 of the 2022 edition of NFPA 13 is to provide a reasonable degree of protection considering obstructions.

16 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

Figure 1: Allowable obstruction zones in hallway (ceiling light).

LIGHT FIXTURES AND OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS IN HALLWAYS The location requirements are difficult to meet in many small geometrical building areas. A frequent offender of layout difficulty is hallways. The width of hallways makes it difficult to achieve the appropriate distance from protruding light fixtures and similar obstructions, but the placement of the sprinkler is vital as an impeded spray pattern can compromise the egress corridor. The committee agreed that a sprinkler can be located a minimum of 12 in. from the closest edge of an obstruction that is no greater than 12 in. in width in hallways up to 6 ft in width if the sprinkler is located within the “obstruction zone” (see Figure 1).

Though Figure 10.2.7.2 (d) of NFPA 13 quite obviously visualizes a light fixture, this allowable obstruction zone can be applied to other obstructions within a hallway that is up to 12 in. in width. It is not uncommon for items such as exit signs to pose a similar issue. It is essential to look at the verbiage and the figure in NFPA 13 and understand that the allowable obstruction zone does not give free rein for sprinkler placement. The sprinkler must be a minimum of 12 in. from the closest edge of the obstruction, and the sprinkler must be installed the minimum of 4 in. from a

If the distance from the sprinkler is unable to be achieved, the sprinkler needs to be located on both sides of the obstruction as if it was a full-height wall while still maintaining minimum spacing requirements.

It is essential to understand the obstruction figures and allowances, which are beneficial when the location of the walls or other objects is known upfront, but there will always be changes made in the field. The obstruction rules are not there to make sprinkler layout more difficult; they are there to ensure the sprinkler spray pattern is well developed and the water sufficiently reaches the hazard to control the fire. Add new requirements and technology to your toolbox and keep them in mind to properly protect lives and property. Even if the 2022 edition is not adopted in your jurisdiction, the newest information is often should be acceptable to your approving authority. n

wall. Similar allowances have been added to Chapter 11 for extended coverage upright and pendent sprinklers.

PARTITIONS IN ORDINARY HAZARD SPACES Open floor plans have been around for a while now. As a space needs segmentation, temporary partial height walls or partitions are starting to pop up more regularly. These features are convenient in terms of construction but may pose an issue for sprinkler coverage. NFPA 13 had approached the location of sprinklers regarding partitions in light hazard occupancies in prior editions but did not address the more common additions or separations in ordinary hazard spaces. The light hazard “partition rule” allows for the minimum vertical distance below the deflector to be adjusted based on the horizontal distance regarding the partition. Prior to a new allowance in NFPA 13, both sides of a partition needed to be protected in ordinary hazard occupancies.

The committee realized that ordinary hazard occupancies are being segmented with partial walls or partitions and allows for single sprinkler protection or standard spacing dependent on the location of the sprinkler regarding the partition. The partition can be no greater than 12 in. in width. Two figures have been included for standard spray sprinklers to the NFPA 13, 2022 edition.

Figure 10.2.7.3.2.3 addresses the location of suspended or floor-mounted obstructions when a sprinkler is located to the side of the obstruction. A sprinkler is located to the “side” of the partition when the center line of the sprinkler is located more than 6-in. horizontally from the centerline of the partition. At least 18 in. must be maintained vertically from the partition to the sprinkler deflector when the sprinkler is located to the side of the partition. The 18-in. clearance has been the inferred requirement in the previous editions of NFPA 13, where an ordinary hazard partition rule did not exist.

Figure 10.2.7.3.2.4 addresses the location of suspended or floor-mounted obstructions when the sprinkler is located directly above the partition. A sprinkler is located “directly above” the partition when the centerline of the sprinkler is location 6 in. or less horizontally from the centerline of the partition. The sprinkler deflector is permitted to be located a minimum of 6-in. vertically from the obstruction.

NFPA 13, 2022 edition states: 10.2.7.3.2.3 In ordinary hazard occupancies, where sprinklers are installed above free-standing partitions, room dividers, and similar obstructions, the distance from the sprinkler deflector to the top of the obstruction shall be 18 in. (450 mm) or greater per Figure 10.2.7.3.2.3.

10.2.7.3.2.4 In ordinary hazard occupancies, where sprinklers are installed within 6 in. (150 mm) horizontally of the centerline of freestanding partitions, room dividers, and similar obstructions no greater than 12 in. (300 mm) in width, the distance from the sprinkler deflector to the top of the obstruction shall be permitted to be installed 6 in. (150 mm) or greater vertically per Figure 10.2.7.3.2.4.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joshua McDonald, MSET, CFPS, is a technical programs specialist for AFSA, where he is responsible for developing, updating, and delivering technical content. He has experience in all areas of training for fire protection industry professionals, including web-based and hands-on learning. McDonald also has experience with risk engineering applying to the installation and ITM of fire protection systems. As a manufacturer, McDonald has been involved in the research and development of new fire protection products and has extensive experience with NFPA 25. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in fire protection and safety engineering technology and Master of Science degree in Fire Safety and Explosion Protection from Oklahoma State University. McDonald is a member of NFPA and SFPE. cover plate series ads.pdf 3 11/22/2021 3:57:30 PM

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PROTECTING AMERICA’S HEROES FROM FIRE MEMBERS PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR VETERAN’S HOME

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D’ARCY MONTALVO | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION embers of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) were honored to donate and install a residential sprinkler system in the home of Navy Petty Officer First Class Ryan Sykes, who resides in Grass Valley, California. Sykes received the keys to his new home during a key ceremony on January 15, 2022.

The home was provided by Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a publicly funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries, including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

To date, HFOT has provided over 320 specially adapted homes. AFSA has partnered with HFOT and is its exclusive residential fire sprinkler provider.

A NEW, CUSTOMIZED HOME California codes require a residential sprinkler system in newly built homes in Grass Valley. The system’s components were donated and installed by AFSA Members Foothill Fire Protection, Loomis, California, and Pace Supply Corp., Rohnert Park, California.

“When I reached out to our Sac Valley Chapter AFSA Member Dillon Gray of Foothill Fire Protection to install a fire sprinkler system on this project, he graciously volunteered to donate all time and

18 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

Veteran Ryan Sykes helps to raise the U.S. flag in front of his new home, complete with a residential sprinkler system donated and installed by AFSA members. Photo courtesy of Nick Hunte. materials,” says AFSA Sacramento Valley Chapter Executive Director Paulene Norwood, HFOT coordinator for AFSA. “Knowing that we participated in the construction of this home and the safety of its occupants is so rewarding to all involved.”

In addition to the residential sprinkler system, Sykes’ new home has more than 40 special adaptations, including wider halls and doorways; handicap-accessible counters, sinks, appliances, and windows; and a ceilingmounted track system, making it possible for him to move from room to room without a wheelchair.

SERVICE AND SACRIFICE Skyes joined the military after graduating from high school, serving as a special warfare analyst for the U.S. Navy.

During his fifth deployment to Afghanistan in 2008, Sykes sustained a traumatic brain

injury and other life-threatening injuries.

Lying unconscious in the darkness for more than five hours, a local security guard found him and alerted American troops.

Sykes was saved from further brain injury due to the freezing temperatures that limited the swelling of his brain.

Now medically retired with partial paralysis, cognitive challenges, and speaking difficulties, Ryan maintains an active lifestyle and makes working out a priority despite his injuries. He likes being outdoors, usually accompanied by his service dog Docker and enjoys camping, biking, kayaking, and swimming. He also gives back to his community through his involvement in his local Rotary club. Ryan now rides an upright trike and has placed first for the past several years in the USA Cycling Para-Cycling National Championships.

“A NEW OUTLOOK”

PROUD PARTNER

Ryan is grateful to those who supported the building of his home.

“Thank you for this chance to start a new chapter in my life. This is an opportunity that I never dreamed of and one I shall never take for granted. You have given me more than just a household, a new outlook, a new way of a future.”

HFOT and its partners are proud to present this home to Skyes and to continue honoring Veterans. Bill Ivey, HFOT executive director, told FOX40 news station that the “entire home is accessible to Ryan in his wheelchair, so that restores some of the freedom and independence that he sacrificed defending freedom and independence for us in his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

“Everyone has been completely supportive,” says Shaquanta Bailey, community manager for Homes For Our Troops. “We reach out to them, and they’ve shown up—Grass Valley and Nevada County—have definitely shown up to wrap their arms around cover platethis seriesVeteran.” ads.pdf 4 11/22/2021 3:57:33 PM

In 2017, AFSA became the official provider of fire sprinkler systems in HFOT homes. AFSA members came together to donate materials, time, and talent for Veterans’ new homes when a residential sprinkler system is requested or required.

Many of AFSA’s members understand the sacrifice that these Veterans have made, and they are eager to donate their valuable resources to the cause.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Would you assist us with HFOT residential fire sprinkler projects? Everything is needed for these projects, from materials to manpower. Can you install labor; provide design services; offer inspection, testing, and maintenance services; or donate to offset expenses and fees (i.e., permitting costs)? We also need materials and supplies: sprinklers (heads, escutcheons, etc.), flexible drops, sprinkler pipe and connectors, sprinkler valves, residential riser and/or FDC, couplings, hangers, pipe cement, tape, etc. Some

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projects require additional special equipment such as a pump, tank, or backflow preventer.

We couldn’t do this without our AFSA members stepping up to volunteer their materials, time, and expertise for these deserving Veterans. To sign up, contact Norwood via email at paulenesacvalleyafsa@gmail.com or via phone at (916) 296-0635 or AFSA’s Public Relations Manager D’Arcy Montalvo via email at dmontalvo@ firesprinkler.org or via phone at (214) 349-5965 ext. 115. To find out more about HFOT or to make a donation, visit hfotusa.org. n

...or let your imagination run wild.

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TAKE DESIGN TO THE NEXT LEVEL INTRODUCING THE INTERMEDIATE FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM PLANNING SCHOOL

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he American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to announce its new Intermediate Fire Sprinkler System Planning School. Experienced layout technicians will gain a deeper understanding of the tools they utilize in the design and installation requirements for general storage, seismic protection layout, and standpipe systems. In this blended-learning class, technicians will size and select fire pumps and apply hydraulic principles to complex wet, deluge, and preaction systems.

Seismic protection and sway bracing will also be covered in detail. This school will prepare the student to: • Classify commodities and storage arrangements.

• Compare installation requirements for storage sprinklers (CMDA, CMSA, and ESFR).

• Select an appropriate fire pump based on available supply and system demand and verify using a computer model.

• Determine the appropriate component, installation, and design requirements for a standpipe system.

• Recognize the components of and prepare shop drawings where seismic protection is required.

AFSA’s Intermediate Fire Sprinkler System Planning School is designed for competent trainees and technicians with at least one of the following: • Two years’ system layout experience, • Completion of AFSA’s Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School and system layout experience of at least one year, or • NICET Level II certified in Water-Based Systems Layout.

Schools will be offered in May, August, and November of this year with agendas as follows: • One half-hour orientation via live webinar (takes place the day before the live webinars), • Two three-hour live webinars (on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the week prior to the in-person instruction), and • Five days of in-person instruction at AFSA’s Training Center in Dallas (takes place the week after the live webinars).

Alan Johnson with Hydratec, Inc., will co-present this school alongside AFSA’s technical services staff. This combined instruction will allow students to learn more advanced design criteria contained within the codes and standards and then apply it using computer-aided design. Exercises will be utilized throughout. No prior Hydratec or Revit experience is required; however, students should be computer literate.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN For more information on the Intermediate Fire Sprinkler System Planning School, visit firesprinkler.org/nextlevel or contact AFSA’s Meetings & Events Coordinator Liz Rosemiller via email at liz@firesprinkler.org or phone at (214) 349-5965 ext. 117. Early registration is encouraged! n

20 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

AFSA’s 29th Annual

NATIONAL APPRENTICE COMPETITION Apprentices could WIN UP TO $5,000 CASH, a SET OF BRAND NEW HAND TOOLS, and an EXPENSE-PAID TRIP for you and a guest determined by the sponsoring company.

For more details visit

f iresprinkler.org/competition

7 national finalists will receive an expense-paid trip to compete at AFSA’s National Convention, Exhibition and Apprentice Competition and a convention registration for their employer, tools, and cash prizes Employers may enter as many of your qualifying apprentices as you want! There is no cost to enter.

Application Form

AFSA’s 29th Annual National Apprentice Competition Competition:

One form per apprentice. Multiple entries per form will NOT be accepted. Make as many copies of this application as needed.

A written exam will be provided by AFSA and administered online.

April 29, 2022 - Entry Form Deadline

Entry forms must be submitted no later than April 29, 2022.

Return completed applications to:

May 2 - June 5, 2022 - Phase I National Competition

Phase one will consist of a 100-question multiple choice exam to be taken online. Once confirmed, AFSA will provide instructions to schedule the exam. A web cam is required for online testing. An online proctor will be assigned to your testing session. The test must be taken between May 2 - June 5, 2022.

October 15-19, 2022 - Phase II National Competition

Held at AFSA’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV, the National Competition will consist of a three-hour exam, as well as the requirement to cut, thread and install a steel and CPVC piping system with sprinkler heads and perform a pressure test. Participants will be graded on accuracy, craftsmanship and safety.

AFSA - Education Dept.

12750 Merit Drive, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75251

or mmartinez@firesprinkler.org

Deadline - April 29, 2022

Guidelines: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)

Apprentice’s employer must be a member of AFSA, in good standing.

Apprentice must be actively participating in the AFSA Apprenticeship Courses or enrolled in the AFSA/NCCER Fire Sprinkler Fitting Training Series as of April 29, 2022.

Apprentice must have at least one year of field experience with a MINIMUM of 6 months combined HANDS ON experience in cutting, threading and installing steel pipe AND installing CPVC pipe.

Prior to October 15, 2022, the apprentice cannot have worked in the sprinkler trade hanging pipe for more than six years.

If an apprentice has won first, second, or third place in AFSA’s National Apprenticeship Competition, he/she is not eligible to compete.

An employer can enter as many employees as are eligible from his/her company.

If an apprentice resigns employment from original sponsoring company after Phase I of the competition, he/she is not eligible to compete in Phase II. The apprentices scoring in the top 7 of the National Competition (Phase I) will qualify to compete in Las Vegas, NV at the National Competition (Phase II) during AFSA's Annual Convention provided no more than two (2) apprentices compete from the same membership region. In this case, the top two (2) scoring apprentices from a region will compete.

If more than one apprentice from the same control group scores in the top 7 of the National Competition (Phase I), then a maximum of two apprentices from that control group will be qualified to compete in the National Competition (Phase II) provided the apprentices are in different regions. In this case, the two qualifying apprentices will be identified by having the top scores in their region.

Privacy Policy: Honorlock is the online proctoring service AFSA will use to proctor the Apprentice Competition Phase I exam. All Phase I testing will be done through Honorlock. Please review Honorlock's privacy policy at this link: https://honorlock.com/student-privacy-statement/

Apprentice Information Name:

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Date Apprentice began installing sprinkler material:

Student ID:

Company Address:

Last Active:

Email:

Mobile Number:

Check if AFSA can send texts to this number with important alerts and upates related to Competiton, Testing Site, Dates and Times. Note: Data charges from your mobile phone provider may apply.

Contractor Member

Member: Region: Date Received:

Company Name: Contact: Address: (if different from Apprentice) Phone:

City/State/Zip: Fax:

AFSA Correspondence Course Level Apprentice is Studying Book:

Email: Lessons passed:

Note: If not testing with AFSA, documentation must be submitted proving enrollment and current transcript.

I hereby verify that the apprentice qualifies to enter the 2022 Competition according to the guidelines listed above and that the apprentice has read and accepted Honorlock's privacy policy.

Apprentice Signature: Employer Signature:

Date: Date:

Information provided is subject to verification from the Apprenticeship records in Dallas.

CELEBRATING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 2021 FIRE SPRINKLER FITTER NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY ANNOUNCED

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he American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) Fire Sprinkler Fitter National Honor Society was first established in 2012 to recognize those trainees, along with their sponsoring employers, who have completed all four levels of the AFSA Correspondence Course for Fire Sprinkler Fitters with a cumulative grade point average of 95 percent or above. Inductees into the 2021 class of AFSA’s Fire Sprinkler Fitter National Honor Society represent approximately the top 4 percent of the 206 four-level graduates for the year. The following companies are the proud employers of inductees into the 2021 Fire Sprinkler Fitter National Honor Society: • Crawford Sprinkler Company of Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina; • Falcon Fire Protection, Jackson, Michigan; • Fireline, Inc., Tupelo, Mississippi; • Hart Plumbing of Connecticut, Inc., Glastonbury, Connecticut; • Meridian Fire Protection, Inc., Salem, New Hampshire; • Prairie Fire Solutions, LLC, Dell Rapids, South Dakota; • RCI Systems, Inc., Tempe, Arizona; • Rescom Fire Protection, Burlington, Massachusetts; • Total Fire Protection, Berthoud, Colorado; and • Western Automatic Sprinkler, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Leslie Clounts, AFSA director of education services, notes: “Congratulations to these select companies and their apprentices, representing the top 4 percent of all apprentice graduates in 2021. Their dedication to training is evident, and I’m glad they chose AFSA’s curriculum as the foundation.”

Recognition plaques for the individual students are provided to the sponsoring employer so that the contractor company can present the plaque to the fire sprinkler fitter graduate at an appropriate time and location. AFSA is also pleased to honor those contractors who participate in this training curriculum and encourage their fitter trainees to study and do well on their tests by recognizing their company in Sprinkler Age.

CELEBRATING APPRENTICE AFSA’s National Apprentice Competition was created in 1993 to celebrate fire sprinkler fitters and showcases the best

AFSA’s Sprinkler Fitting Level One has been updated.

apprentices AFSA has to offer. The competition will celebrate its 29th year at AFSA41: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition October 16-19 at the Bellagio Las Vegas. Apprentices could win up to $5,000 cash, a set of brand-new hand tools, an expense-paid trip to AFSA41, and a complimentary AFS41 registration for you and a guest determined by the sponsoring company.

Many contractor employers of fire sprinkler fitter trainees who competed in the annual event state that it builds enthusiasm among all employees and encourages trainees to study the AFSA Apprenticeship Training Series for Fire Sprinkler Fitting books more carefully and improve their performance in the program. The National Center for Construction Career Education and Research (NCCER) and Pearson, in partnership with AFSA, recently updated and enhanced this book to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive apprenticeship training in the sprinkler industry. For more information about AFSA’s apprentice training and education programs, visit firesprinkler.org/ education-training.

Registration for the 2022 National Apprentice Competition is now open. For details on this year’s event and an entry form, see page 21 of this issue or visit firesprinkler.org/ apprentice. n SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 23

Introducing the Next Level of Design INTERMEDIATE FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM PLANNING SCHOOL 1/2 hour orientation via live webinar t Two 3-hour live webinars t 5 days of in-person instruction t

May 16 - 27 | Aug 22 - Sept 2 | Oct 31 - Nov 11 The school will prepare the student to: • Classify commodities and storage arrangements.

• Compare installation requirements for storage sprinklers (CMDA, CMSA, and ESFR).

• Select the appropriate fire pump based on available supply and system demand.

• Determine the appropriate component, installation, and design requirements for a standpipe system.

• Recognize the components of and prepare shop drawings where seismic protection is required.

• Apply hydraulic principals to complex wet, deluge, and preaction systems.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PREREQUISITES VISIT:

firesprinkler.org/nextlevel

BIDEN ISSUES PRO-PLA EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTIVE WILL “INCREASE COSTS TO TAXPAYERS AND EXACERBATE SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE”

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ssociated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has blasted President Biden’s executive order that encourages the use of controversial project labor agreement (PLA) mandates on federal construction projects that are funded by taxpayers.

“President Biden’s new policy will not help America ‘Build Back Better;’ instead, it will exacerbate the construction industry’s skilled workforce shortage, needlessly increase construction costs and reduce opportunities for local contractors and skilled tradespeople,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “This anti-competitive and costly executive order rewards well-connected special interests at the expense of hardworking taxpayers and small businesses who benefit from fair and open competition on taxpayer-funded construction projects.”

“Research has demonstrated that government-mandated PLAs increase construction costs by 12 percent to 20 percent, which results in fewer construction projects and improvements to roads, bridges, utilities, schools, affordable housing and clean energy projects—and the creation of fewer jobs,” said Brubeck.

“PLAs steer contracts to unionized contractors and workers at the expense of the best-quality nonunion contractors and workers who want to compete fairly at a price best for taxpayers.”

“PLA mandates are bad public policy because they effectively exclude the nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. construction workers who choose not to join a union from building taxpayer-funded construction projects,” said Brubeck. “These controversial agreements hold a third of employees’ compensation for ransom unless they join a union, pay union fees, and prop up struggling union pension plans. PLAs also create excessive cost burdens and risks for high-performing nonunion contractors, which built more than half of the federal government’s large-scale construction projects during the past decade and are more likely to be small, women- and/or minority-owned businesses.”

“Because 87.4 percent of the construction workforce does not belong to a union and the construction industry faced a skilled labor shortage of 430,000 people in 2021 alone, the Biden administration would be best served by promoting inclusive, win-win policies that welcome all of America’s construction industry to realize the potential of the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, increase accountability and competition and reduce waste and favoritism in the procurement of public works projects,” said Brubeck.

The Biden administration has also recently enacted new policies encouraging government-mandated PLAs on private, state, and local government construction projects receiving federal funding through the U.S. Treasury, Transportation, Agriculture and Interior departments, which has resulted in pushback by GOP governors.

ABC and a diverse coalition of construction industry, small business, and taxpayer advocates have been asking lawmakers to oppose PLA schemes and cosponsor the Fair and Open Competition Act (S. 403/H.R. 1284) prohibiting PLA mandates on federal and federally assisted taxpayer-funded construction projects. Similar pro-taxpayer legislation has been enacted in 24 states. To learn more, visit buildamericalocal.com. n

SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 25

ESCUTCHEONS DISCUSSION DETAILS OF A COMMON COMPONENT

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VICTORIA B. VALENTINE, P.E. | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION hen sprinklers are installed below finished ceilings, it is typical to use escutcheons to cover the hole used to install the sprinkler and provide an aesthetically appealing finish for the owner/occupants. Yet these components are not commonly focused on to understand their intent and role in the fire sprinkler system.

WHAT IS AN ESCUTCHEON? NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, does not define an escutcheon. Therefore, the Merriam-Webster dictionary states that an escutcheon is “a protective or ornamental plate or flange (as around a keyhole).” For a fire sprinkler system, this can be a plate or cone that covers any exposed pipe and the penetration through the ceiling plane or the assembly and cover plate that hides a concealed sprinkler.

The function of an escutcheon is not only to create a finished look for the owner/occupants but to cover the opening so that hot gases from a fire incident remain in the area the fire sprinklers are protecting. This will allow for the sprinkler to operate as intended based on the conditions of the compartment.

WHEN DO ESCUTCHEONS NEED TO BE LISTED? According to the component information of NFPA 13, section 7.2.6.1, “Plates, escutcheons, or other devices used to cover the annular space around a sprinkler shall be metallic or shall be listed for use around a sprinkler.” Metallic is the base requirement for escutcheon material because it has to endure the fire environment prior to the operation of the fire sprinkler. If the material melts before the operation of the sprinkler, then it could interfere with the heat reaching the sprinkler or the spray pattern if the sprinkler still operated or both. Therefore, other materials would be listed, which means tested for their endurance and ability to maintain their shape both in fire and non-fire conditions so the system could activate and protect the space as intended.

To clarify, listed is defined in NFPA 13, section 3.2.3 as, “Equipment, materials, or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with evaluation of products or services, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials or periodic evaluation of services, and whose listing states that either the equipment, material, or service meets appropriate designated standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified

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purpose.” In other words, the products are tested by a third party to ensure they will perform as expected. Quite commonly, these listings are available through UL or FM Approvals, although other sources may be acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

For recessed, flush-type, or concealed sprinklers, the escutcheons are also required to be listed (see NFPA 13 sections 7.2.6.2 and 16.2.5.2). In these scenarios, all or part of the sprinkler may be above the plane of the ceiling. The escutcheon could impact the performance of the sprinkler, especially in reference to the spray pattern. By listing the specific escutcheon with the model of sprinkler, any impact would be part of the testing demonstrating acceptable performance when installed in combination.

FIELD INSTALLATIONS Following the sprinkler listing is of utmost importance. Yet, there are a couple more things to know about escutcheons. NFPA 13 section 16.2.5.4 states, “The use of caulking or glue to seal the penetration or to affix the components of a recessed escutcheon or concealed cover plate shall not be permitted.” Along the same concept as the escutcheon itself, sealants could impact how the sprinkler operates or the performance of the assembly, which is why they are not permitted.

In addition, the escutcheon is used to help space the thermal element in flush and recessed sprinklers so that it is correctly positioned with relation to the plane of the ceiling. Commonly, the element is located 1/2-in. or 3/4-in. above the ceiling plane. The permitted distance is specified as part of the sprinkler listing, so be sure to confirm the correct value with your model sprinkler. This distance could also impact the temperature rating of the sprinkler.

For example, a sprinkler with a temperature rating that is classified as intermediate (175°F, 200°F) when the sprinkler is installed at or below the level of the ceiling may actually be rated as a high temperature (250°F – 300°F) sprinkler when installed in a recessed position.

Check the listing to make sure the installation location provides the intended protection and temperature rating.

There are also situations in seismic applications that require an oversized escutcheon or a ring around a standard escutcheon to allow for the anticipated motion of an earthquake event. The requirement for this annular space comes from ASTM E580/E580M, Standard Practice for Installation of Ceiling Suspension Systems for Acoustical Tile and Lay-in Panels in Areas Subject to Earthquake Ground Motions, and is applicable in seismic design categories D, E, and F. To accommodate this space, each sprinkler manufacturer has created a larger ring or escutcheon that can be used. There is an exception to this when flexible sprinkler hose is used.

Examples of escutcheons.

INSPECTION, TESTING, AND MAINTENANCE FOR ESCUTCHEONS Maintaining a system is just as important as installing it properly. As the escutcheon can impact the fire sprinkler performance, section 5.2.1.1.5 in NFPA 25 states, “Escutcheons and cover plates for recessed, flush, and concealed sprinklers shall be replaced with their listed escutcheon or cover plate if found missing during the inspection.” Then it goes on to indicate that the entire sprinkler assembly will need to be replaced if the escutcheon or cover plate is no longer available for the installed model. When a pendent sprinkler is not recessed, flush, or concealed, there is not a requirement to have to replace an escutcheon that is found to be missing during an inspection.

Pending final approval, an additional inspection requirement is being adopted for the 2023 edition of NFPA 25 (Second Revision (SR)-2 new 5.2.1.1.1) adds the following: “A representative sample of concealed sprinklers consisting of not less than four concealed sprinklers or 1 percent of the number of concealed sprinklers per individual sprinkler sample area, whichever is greater, shall have their cover plates removed and the sprinklers inspected ever 5 years.” If one of the samples fails the inspection, a reinspection plan will have to be created for the rest of that sample area. The frequency was set to coincide with other requirements that require additional equipment to be onsite such as ladders or lifts. This is the first time that the NFPA 25 technical committee has required removal of the cover plate to see the sprinkler.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Valentine is currently the director of engineering & technical services for AFSA. She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and an M.S. in Fire Protection Engineering, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Valentine is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). Throughout her professional career, she has written many publications and presented on fire protection systems to many audiences. She is actively involved with many organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the International Code Council (ICC), NFPA, and NFSA, among others. Valentine has participated at a chapter, national, and international level within the fire protection industry. She has also served in leadership roles such as director on the SFPE board of directors from 2015 to 2016, president of the SFPE New York Metropolitan Chapter (2014-2015), and continues as a trustee for the SFPE New Jersey New York Metropolitan Education Foundation (2016 to present).

SUMMARY Escutcheons may seem like an incidental component for a fire sprinkler. However, they can have a great impact. The detail to ensure that the correct one is being utilized is needed to ensure that the system will perform as expected in the field. n REFERENCES: “Escutcheon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/ dictionary/escutcheon. Accessed 5 Jan. 2022.

UL LLC. (2006) UL199C Outline of Investigation for Plastic Escutcheons for Sprinklers, Edition 3.

Northbrook, IL.

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MEDIA MATTERS “SPRINKLERS FLOOD RESIDENTS OUT OF THEIR HOMES” OR “HEADLINES WE HATE!”

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DOMINICK KASMAUSKAS, CFPS | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION he above headline equates to “Actor Breaks Leg Live on Stage” after the assassination of our President Lincoln.

What is the absolute first thing you notice missing in that headline? Any facts? Anything more descriptive as to what occurred? Yes, and yes, sort of.

Two things we lack in our industry in comparison to other trades are marketing and branding, known as advertising. Don’t expect contractors to be running to Madison Avenue to develop magazine ads, billboards, and TV commercials, but simple branding is a great start to getting our message out there. Be proud of your industry and show it at every opportunity.

Address negative fire sprinkler news itemsas they happen. Terrible reporting is great reporting to the reporter and their editor until they are educated on the facts. Become known as a resource, the go-to person. If not you, I’m sure perhaps someone in your company could rise to the task.

BRANDING OURSELVES DOESN’T HURT Back to my original question: To the first “yes,” what is missing? Those of you who follow me on LinkedIn know the word “fire” is one major missing item… we are the fire sprinkler industry. We are not the “sprinkler industry,” at least in my opinion. (I mentioned LinkedIn because when I relate to an article, I am often inserting “fire” into a quoted item). In presentations, programs, articles, and other deliveries, rarely do I slip and say “sprinkler” and

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Side-by-side burn demonstrations often draw media coverage. This is a perfect opportunity to create awareness, educate the public, and dispel myths about automatic fire sprinklers systems. not more appropriately, “fire sprinkler.”

Many of us in the fire protection field (notice I wrote “fire” protection, not just “protection”) have trained ourselves to include the word “fire,” based on our heavy involvement in working and doing presentations to the public, the media, Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Hellenic Societies, and many others. As another example, are the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) technical services staff members “protection engineers”? Nope, they are “fire protection engineers” and are introduced as such. Words and branding do matter. It is important that we pound into others that we protect lives, property, businesses, jobs, local economies, and the environment, to those outside of our industry, by using the words like “fire sprinklers.”

To the second “yes,” surely we can all agree—what is the headline premise focused on by the journalist? Keep in

mind that they are not fire protection specialists. Often, they are younger and never exposed to a fire incident or any incident involving fire sprinkler activations. Plus, they are quick to tell you, “I’m only relaying exactly what the fire official (fire chief, fire marshal, public information officer (PIO), or other city official) told me.” That touches on another subject for a future article regarding our need for increased training and awareness of water-based fire protection systems for fire department personnel of all positions. A short piece of education describing what a system is, what it is there to do, how its components operate, etc. (Don’t throw rocks on the next comment as I was an AHJ and have been involved in loads of these issues.) Remember, fire department personnel and others are “civilians” in Nomex® unless they have been specifically educated on fire sprinkler systems beyond how to turn off the water or stick wooden door stops in an activated fire sprinkler.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO BETTER FOR OUR INDUSTRY’S STANDING? Create awareness—educate the masses!

When a fire sprinkler activation occurs that you are made aware of, whether you are directly involved, or it is a local news item that you have come across, address any erroneous comments, and let AFSA know about (Fire) #SprinklerSaves. Fresh news is the best news to address. Something that was reported by a medium at 6:00 a.m. may be a dead item by 6:00 p.m. Acting quickly is often key.

As we know, with massive fire tragedies, the public’s memory and interest are short. The public’s apathy to their own safety, however, is lengthy.

Mention the Station Night Club Fire to a civilian and see their reaction. “What, where, when was this?” People around 19 years of age today weren’t born yet when that unnecessary loss of 100 lives and 200 life-altering injuries occurred.

More recently, mention the Philadelphia and Bronx tragedies that occurred, and you’d be hard-pressed to get a person to know of what you speak. It takes a

moment, but those in our industry will know what you are talking about. Those not in the fire protection industries will probably not.

What the public does seem to think is that all the fire sprinklers activate throughout the building, distributing millions of gallons of water into their home. They also think pulling a fire alarm will start the water flowing. A recent Delaware municipal ordinance had a dissenting vote based on the fear of all her household and personal items getting wet. As portrayed in Hollywood, burnt toast and the smoke alarm are going to get everything wet. (My first thought always with these statements is “we can fix wet; we can’t fix burnt.”)

Why? Because that’s the misconception that is reported, often by some fire service personnel, and we rarely correct and educate the media when it occurs.

READY FOR YOUR CLOSE-UP? If a microphone or a camera is thrust upon you regarding an incident, here are a few pointers from a presenta-

tion that I have delivered to several organizations over the last 20-plus years.

First, make sure you should be talking to the media yet—or at all.

Regardless of your title—contractor or AHJ—you should be consulting with either your superiors, legal advisors, or both before making off-the-cuff remarks, prepared statements, or replying to legitimate questions. Is there someone better suited, better trained to respond?

However, do not ever utter, “No comment.” That’s an automatic impression of guilt about something. Anyone in any capacity can use better responses along the lines of, “There is an active investigation, and I cannot answer any questions yet.”

This can also afford the time to develop facts and figures on fire sprinklers to provide to the media. Time to consult with others and legal advisors.

Graphics, data, and illustrations go a long way in helping a journalist understand your overall message rather than just keying in on individual words. This also allows time to prepare to use

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appropriate terminology and steer clear of jargon such as “FDC.” Everything is “on the record.” There is no such thing as a sidebar or “off-therecord” discussions. Have two or three key messages prepared that are appropriate for the situation you are walking into. A fire sprinkler success? Bridge the conversation about water damage to the fact that it was far less water than had there not been the benefit of a fire sprinkler system, and that everyone is alive and there is little or zero injuries, that the property will easily be remedied as compared to the option. Promote your key messages rather than simply responding to questions.

If it is a scheduled interview, research the journalist and come up with prepared responses to anticipate questions you may be asked. When you first get together, chat with the journalist. If there are sound or video specialists involved, acknowledge them and say hello. Thank everyone for the opportunity and time if it feels appropriate.

Always feel in control, be in control. It’s not their interview; it is your interview. Hopefully, both parties make this an informational interview and not any attempt for a “gotcha” moment. Most journalists are open to learning to ask more appropriate questions on subjects they are not familiar with. A recent article reported that a “… fire alarm causes water damage ...”. That was way off base on a couple of levels.

If you are asked for a video interview in a studio, on location, or in your office (not a public mass media interview), start your response with the question asked by the journalist. Often, they will edit out the journalist asking the question and just use your response, so your response needs to include the subject first. If they do use the journalist’s question, they can edit out your first few words as well. I’ll also interject here that if the question is somewhat technical and isn’t quite worded for how you need to respond properly to get your key message across, feel free to make suggestions to the

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interviewer. If they know it will make them seem more knowledgeable about fire sprinklers and life safety, it benefits everyone. If you are familiar with, the “bridging” concept I mentioned earlier you can easily bring a live discussion back to your key messages and facts about fire protection. Bridging can be as simple as, “Let’s not lose sight of the fact that…” or “The real issue for discussion is…”.

Deflecting has its place when appropriate. If a question is better suited to another entity or another person, make a short comment about the better-suited person and why. Try to avoid looking as if you’re passing the buck. If you should answer but need further research, say so and do so, and then call or email the journalist when you have the answer.

Be honest, factual, cooperative, and sincere. Listen closely. Repeat your key messages at least three times, if possible, throughout—and follow up. If you will be “on camera,” give sound bites and be to the point. Most of all relax!

Don’t ever lie. Steer clear of acronyms. Do not answer for others.

Don’t attack others (regardless of their position on fire sprinklers in homes, as an example). Don’t argue, and never assume the journalists know anything about fire sprinklers, standards, codes, or local laws. Don’t refer to an earlier answer—restate it. On camera, avoid short number or letter answers, create a sound bite. Never start a response using the journalist’s name.

WRAP UP Stay positive, avoid negative comments, be the expert, maintain your integrity, and represent our industry well! Many of you are well versed in speaking with groups of people, and you’ve got this! To the AHJs and contractors, who are or were, in the fire service or other positions, many of you are trained as a PIO and have delivered many interviews or taken part in press events. Those in emergency services and the fire sprinkler industry have the public’s safety at heart throughout our

careers. Many of us reading this have a passion and know-how to educate the public and elected officials. Getting our message out better and more often is paramount from a marketing standpoint. Let’s advertise our successes and push back at negative news items. AFSA is here to help.

With our stepped-up efforts to educate the public on all levels, we will save more lives than anyone may already be aware of. Changing minds will change lives and change the future of communities. Changing the public’s perception will create the demand for fire sprinklers in all occupancy classes and save countless lives in the process. #FireSprinklers = #FireSafety = #LifeSafety = #CRR (Community Risk Reduction). n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dominick Kasmauskas, CFPS, is regional director of membership & chapter support for AFSA. He covers all states in the Eastern U.S., supporting merit shop fire sprinkler contractors in technical services, training, legislation, and working with state and local governments.

Kasmauskas is an NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist® and serves on the NFPA 1031 “Fire Inspector and Plans Examiner” committee and is a former member of the board of directors for the NFPA Fire Service section. He was formerly a contract instructor for the International Codes Council, served on the ICC International green Construction Code (IgCC®) Energy & Water subcommittee, and served on the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Fire Protection committee. Kasmauskas also served on the board of directors for the Metro NYC Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and is a member of the NY Building Officials Conference, Fire Code committee. He can be reached via email at dkasmauskas@firesprinkler.org.

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS FOR AHJS CHANGES TO AFSA’S MEMBERSHIP FOR FIRE OFFICIALS

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he American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is excited to announce bigger and better memberships for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)!

Fire and building code officials who join the leading fire sprinkler industry association now have more access to training, education, networking, and resources.

“Developing relationships and increasing communications with AHJs are vital to the success of promoting fire sprinklers and ensuring that systems are planned, installed, inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the adopted codes and standards,” states AFSA’s Senior Director of Membership Chapter Support Bruce Lecair. “Training AHJs on the codes benefits everyone by increasing the knowledge of regulations that are used to plan and install systems.”

AFSA offers the best technical resources for AHJs, including Technical Reviews, expert education on codes and standards, free webinars and seminars, networking with industry professionals, and an annual convention featuring a free plan review seminar and exhibition hall pass. Other benefits include • Access to the best training in the industry at member-only rates, including AFSA’s popular Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School.

• Discounts on all products and services— technical reference products, seminars, training courses, and convention registration.

• Free, AHJ-centered education seminars and webinars.

• Industry connections, including networking at chapter meetings and events, online interactions through

AFSA’s Sprinkler Forum, and access to AFSA’s Membership Directory.

• Access to exclusive resources, publications, guidelines, White Papers, and reports.

• Updates to codes and standards. Stay current on the latest editions of NFPA 13, NFPA 14, NFPA 20, and others, and learn from technical experts who sit on these NFPA committees.

“The opportunity to open communication between contractors and AHJs when codes are adopted and having the ability to discuss challenges with new and existing systems is easier when a

common bond of chapter membership exists,” notes Lecair. “When I was a fire marshal, I remember having an open dialog with contractors that was based on mutual trust and how much easier it was when I had questions and concerns.

AFSA’s AHJ memberships are a win-win for the industry!”

Visit firesprinkler.org/ahj-benefits to learn more or contact AFSA’s Membership Department team for more information at membership@firesprinkler.org or (214) 349-5965 ext. 133. n

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EARN CEUS ANYTIME, ANY PLACE NEW CAL FIRE-APPROVED COURSES ADDED

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he American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) recently added 16 new recorded webinars to its existing on-demand library. Twentysix hours of CAL FIRE-approved training are now available online and at fitters’ convenience. Access to these webinars is especially important for contractors in California as they need to earn CEUs from CAL FIRE-approved sources. Cost varies depending on course duration.

Recorded webinars recently added include one- to four-hour courses.

“AFSA is pleased to be a CAL FIRE-approved training resource for our members,” comments AFSA’s Director of Education Services Leslie Clounts. “We have tried our best to make these courses accessible for members 24/7, so they earn get the credits they need by the deadlines.”

CAL FIRE-APPROVED ONE-HOUR COURSES • Acceptance Testing, • Applying NFPA 25-2013 (CA) Edition, • Backflow Preventer/Forward Flow Testing, • Firestopping, • Flushing Requirement for Fitters, • Hanging for Fitters, • NFPA 13/13R/13D, • NFPA 291—Water Flow Testing and Marking for Hydrants, • Seismic Protection for Fitters, and • Types of Systems.

CAL FIRE-APPROVED TWO-HOUR COURSES • Air Supplies for Dry and Preaction Systems, • Ambiguities in NFPA 13, 2016 Edition,

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AFSA is helping fire sprinkler fitters and other industry professionals earn required CEUs through its live and on-demand webinars.

• NFPA 13, 2016 Edition: Obstruction Rules Explained, • Understanding NFPA 14, 2013 Edition, and • Understanding NFPA 20, 2016 Edition.

CAL FIRE-APPROVED FOUR-HOUR COURSE • NFPA 13, Technical Changes from 2013 to 2016 Edition.

ARE YOU IN THE ZONE? Get your sprinkler fitters “in the zone” with fitter-targeted webinars!

AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services staff present live CAL FIREapproved Fitter Zone webinars monthly, alternating between Saturday mornings and Tuesday afternoons.

Upcoming webinars include: • April 12: “Hydraulics for Fitters.” This webinar will discuss the basic principles of hydraulics as it applies to field installation.

• May 14: “Test and Drains,” which will cover different types of test and

drain assemblies and accepted installation practices.

• June 4: “Standpipes for Fitters,” providing an overview of the 2016 edition of NFPA 14 and relevant installation requirements.

Learn more and sign up to receive updates at firesprinkler.org/zone.

ON-DEMAND WEBINARS AFSA now offers a total of 55 recorded webinars for viewing at your convenience and in the comfort of your office. This online learning platform offers 24/7 access to continuing education units (CEUs) and/or continuing professional development (CPD) from AFSA educational events, including live webinars. AFSA OnDemand offers fire sprinkler contractors and other professionals access to the best in specialty education anytime.

Featuring the most sought-after thought leaders in fire protection, AFSA On-Demand offers a superior learning experience in a unique and

user-friendly format. Members benefit from access to AFSA’s extensive library of content as well as the ability to earn CEU and CPD credit online.

AFSA On-Demand Courses are carefully developed to offer the ultimate in convenience and flexibility—as well as AFSA’s proven track record for effective training. These skill-building courses are sold individually with CEUs and/or CPDs, and members have one year from the date of purchase to complete the course.

AFSA On-Demand is available and accessible anytime, anywhere, via PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Users can navigate content by topic and use the search functions to quickly find educational offerings. Additional key benefits include the following: • Mobile-friendly: Sleek, modern design.

• Flexible training: Refresh skills, learn new techniques, and use the presentations to train teams.

• View and Print CEUs: Use your AFSA online account to track, view, download, and print your earned

CEU and CPD credits from one convenient area.

• Expanding course offerings: New content becomes available regularly.

• Session previews: Comprehensive session previews with speakers’ bios are available to help members select the best sessions for their learning needs.

To read more details, visit firesprinkler. org/ondemand.

LIVE WEBINARS AFSA also presents live webinars covering codes, standards, and technical topics monthly. Presented by AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services staff and other industry experts, these programs cover a variety of subjects: • April 28: “Standpipe Plan Review” will discuss the items required to be included on standpipe and hose systems plans and specific design criteria and installation requirements that are often overlooked.

• May 26: “Listed Air Compressors for Fire Protection Systems,” covering

benefits of requiring air compressors installed on sprinkler systems to be listed for fire protection use.

• June 23: “Sizing and Selections of Fire Pump Systems,” will outline driver and pump selection criteria and proper pump capacity.

Visit firesprinkler.org/live-webinars for more information.

TRAINING FOR ALL On-demand and live webinars are just two options in AFSA’s toolbox to assist members in earning and maintaining CEUs and CPDs. Check them out today! If your state requires pre-approval of fitter continued education, contact Leslie Clounts at lclounts@firesprinkler.org or (214) 349-5965 ext. 130 for assistance. n

W T! E N MA R AFSA Beginning FO

Fire Sprinkler System Planning School

The new class format features a blend of in-person and virtual learning held over four weeks.

• Two live webinars per week for three weeks.

• One week in-person taught by AFSA’s expert technical staff, focusing on hydraulics and layout

Schedule: Jun. 20 - July 15 in San Diego | Oct. 24 - Nov. 18 in Orlando Aug. 22 - Sept. 16 in Dallas

FOR INFO AND PREREQUISITES VISIT

firesprinkler.org/design SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 33

“FIRE SPRINKLERS ARE THE REAL SOLUTION” A LETTER TO THE EDITOR BOB CAPUTO, CFPS | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article, written by AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS, is a Letter to the Editor of the International Fire Sprinkler Journal, in response to a recent article it published about compartmentation as a solution to the recent horrific fires in New York and Philadelphia. Sprinkler Age is reprinting his letter in its entirety.

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ecent residential occupancy fires in New York and Philadelphia prove once again that fire sprinklers are the only real solution to saving lives and property from devastating fires in occupied spaces.

I was surprised to read editorial comments on the importance of compartmentation as a subsequent conclusion to the recent horrific fires in New York and Philadelphia. The statement, “a sprinkler system where appropriate” particularly caught my eye with concern. Let me start by saying that everyone at the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) joins our colleagues in the global fire and life safety industry in praying for the victims of these tragic fires, including the families of those who perished as well as for the first responders who bravely fought to save all they could.

Every few years, we experience a devastating fire with large loss of life somewhere in the world, reminding us of the devastating power of fire and its impact. The last thing the fire sprinkler industry wants to do is become “ambulance chasers” seeking to exploit these unfortunate events as educational opportunities. Politicians and government officials tell us to speak to the financial impact as if the lost lives have a monetary value. Yet, as an industry leader, I am compelled to call out misinformation and provide better sources of information to educate the general public until such time as consumers demand to live in sprinkler-protected homes.

Jim Dalton, a former fire marshal and strong advocate for fire sprinklers, has often been quoted as saying, “The three primary causes of fire have almost always been men, women, and children.” Statistically, the primary ignition sources in residential fires in the U.S. include unattended cooking, smoking materials, unattended candles, and portable heaters.

The fire problem in the U.S. is overwhelmingly a home fire problem. According to the National Fire Protection

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Association’s (NFPA) U.S. data, 92 percent of all civilian structure fire deaths resulted from home structure fires. The exposures in multi-family dwellings such as high-rise buildings and high-density housing (apartments, etc.) exacerbate the problem because each tenant puts the others at risk. Clearly, any improvements in overall fire safety must be improvements in home fire safety, and no strategy has as much documented life safety effectiveness as installed fire sprinkler systems.

High-rise buildings often create the greatest challenges, especially where the height of the building exceeds the pumping capacity of the local fire department, and fires must be fought internally. Tall buildings tend to be occupied by office space or residential occupancies. (We don’t see many factories on the 32nd floor.) In many cases, first responders need to protect people in place, so standpipe systems are critical equipment in large and tall buildings as they are vertical fire hydrant systems; but, unfortunately, they are often not inspected or properly maintained.

I don’t want or need to argue the benefits or the fallacy of smoke compartmentation. We all know most fire deaths occur from smoke as opposed to fire. However, it is also an irrefutable fact that if we limit or control the fire, we limit the smoke production… cause and effect. Getting water onto a fire in the incipient stage assures us we can limit the fire to the room of origin, with a minimal amount of water, and, in most cases, re-occupy the space in hours or days.

Fires burn and kill occupants faster than in years past because of the combustibles found in today’s homes. Research conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has shown that home fires become deadly in as few as three minutes. “Fires today burn faster and kill quicker because the contents of modern homes (such as furnishings) can burn faster and more intensely,” says NIST senior engineer Richard Bukowski, P.E. The problem can often be compounded in some ethnic and low-income communities where extended family living situations increase the amount of combustibles per pound (kilogram) per person due to the increased number of people living in the space. This was a factor when fire ripped through a duplex home in early January in Philadelphia, killing 12 people, including

seven children where 26 people had been staying. Reports indicate the extended family had moved into the rowhouse apartment in 2011, having outgrown a smaller home elsewhere in public housing. Since moving in, the number of occupants on the lease had grown from six to 14 as the families grew. This fire was caused when a five-year-old boy ignited a Christmas tree with a lighter, according to city officials.

Regardless of construction type (wood, steel, or concrete), new and old homes alike are filled with these newer contents and furnishings, which provide less margin for success for smoke alarms and add to the need for fire sprinklers. To watch home fire sprinklers in action, we invite you to visit the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition’s (HFSC) website at homefiresprinkler.org, where you will also find volumes of unbiased, factual information on residential fire sprinklers.

We know the solution—what we don’t know is how to find the funding to retrofit the inner-city HUD (Housing and Urban Development) buildings and low-income housing projects. How do we protect the most vulnerable members of our society? In the case of the recent Bronx, New York fire, the ignition source is reported to be a portable heater, which ignited a mattress. The residents’ entry door was apparently being held open to the public corridor, contributing to rapid extension of fire and smoke. Residents reported ignoring smoke detectors because of the frequency of nuisance alarms in the building prior to this tragic event.

Even a partial fire sprinkler system approach, such as the one adopted by the City of Los Angeles, California, following

the tragic Dorothy Mae building fire in 1982, where sprinklers were required to be installed in the public corridors with a single sprinkler installed within each unit, would have likely saved many lives in these buildings. (The Dorothy Mae building was a 55-year-old hotel converted to apartments, where 25 deaths occurred when an arsonist set multiple fires in the building) NFPA keeps statistics on fire fighter and civilian deaths in the U.S., and these statistics are enlightening as it relates to the problem and the solutions. I recommend visiting its website, nfpa.org, where volumes of information are also available. Of specific interest to readers might be nfpa.org//-/media/Files/ News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Building-andlife-safety/oshomevictims.pdf.

If, after seeing all the facts in support of fire sprinklers being the only real solution to the U.S. and worldwide fire loss problem on these websites, you are still not convinced, I encourage you to visit social media site Youtube.com and search for residential fire sprinkler demonstration videos.

Seeing is believing. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bob Caputo, CFPS, is president of AFSA. He currently serves as chair of NFPA 24/291 Private Water Supply Piping Systems committee and as an alternate member of NFPA 13 Sprinkler System Installation Criteria committee. Caputo has written and presented seminars throughout the world on fire protection and life-safety systems and has developed AFSA and NFPA education and training materials.

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SPRINKLER OBSTRUCTION DISCHARGE SIGNS A SPRINKLER MAY NOT DISCHARGE AS DESIGNED

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GRANT LOBDELL | DYNE FIRE PROTECTION LABS hen considering obstructions to sprinkler discharge, do not overlook the condition of the sprinkler itself. For a sprinkler to discharge properly, the release mechanism must activate at the designed temperature, the water seal must clear the waterway immediately upon activation, and then the deflector must direct the appropriate amount of water to the designated areas unobstructed. If there is any issue in any of these steps, sprinkler discharge may be obstructed or, in the worst case, may not occur at all. To address sprinkler conditions that could impact discharge, the current 2020 edition of NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, states that any sprinkler that shows any of the signs below shall be replaced: • Leakage, • Corrosion detrimental to sprinkler performance, • Physical damage, • Loss of fluid in the glass bulb heatresponsive element,

Figure 1. Sprinklers showing signs of leakage around the water seal.

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• Loading detrimental to sprinkler performance, and • Paint other than that applied by the sprinkler manufacturer.

Signs of any of the above could result in the sprinkler not discharging as designed.

LEAKAGE Corrosion and corrosion byproduct build-up isolated around a sprinkler water seal can be the result of leakage as water seeps out and then evaporates (Figure 1).

Such corrosion can bind the water seal to the sprinkler frame preventing it from releasing or, at the very least, fully releasing when the sprinkler activates. A water seal that remains entirely or even just partially in place after activation will clog the waterway and prevent water from discharging at the appropriate rate, if at all.

CORROSION DETRIMENTAL TO SPRINKLER PERFORMANCE Corrosion and corrosion byproduct build-up can bind any metal components together (Figure 2). Soldered release mechanisms, such as fusible links, and water seals could be impacted by a

Figure 2. Sprinklers that have experienced corrosion detrimental to sprinkler performance.

detrimental amount of corrosion. A fusible link, for example, features two metal pieces held together by solder formulated to melt at a specific temperature. When the solder melts, it allows the links to separate, thus allowing the release mechanism to move out of the waterway.

If, however, the fusible links were held together by the corrosion build-up, which does not melt at that desired temperature, the fusible links would remain in place, continuing to block the waterway and prevent activation and discharge.

LOSS OF FLUID IN THE GLASS BULB HEAT-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT Glass bulb release mechanisms contain a liquid that expands as it is heated. At a specific temperature, the expansion of the liquid will put enough force on the glass bulb that it will break, thus allowing the water seal to move out of the waterway and for discharge to occur. If there has been a loss of fluid in the glass bulb (Figure 3), though, the liquid will instead expand into the empty space left behind by the missing fluid and not apply the desired pressure to the glass.

In other words, the sprinkler will not

Figure 3. Sprinklers featuring glass bulbs that have lost their fluid.

Figure 4. Sprinklers with loading blocking the waterway.

activate at the temperature expected. In the worst case, where no fluid remains in the glass bulb, the sprinkler would then not activate until the glass melts, which is typically above 1,800°F (1,000°C).

LOADING DETRIMENTAL TO SPRINKLER PERFORMANCE Loading can be considered any material that has built up on the sprinkler that was not designed to be there. It can affect sprinkler discharge in a variety of ways. It can insulate the release mechanism from heat, effectively delaying or even preventing activation. There is also the possibility that loading could block the waterway, reducing or entirely preventing the discharge of water (Figure 4). This blockage can be found externally or internally (Figure 5). Last but not least, loading found on the deflector (Figure 6), specifically between the teeth of the deflector, can affect how the water being discharged is delivered to the surrounding area.

PAINT OTHER THAN THAT APPLIED BY THE SPRINKLER MANUFACTURER Paint other than that applied by the sprinkler manufacturer impacts a sprinkler similar to detrimental corrosion and

Figure 7. Sprinklers with non-manufacturerapplied paint, which prevented release.

Figure 5. Internal loading blocking the waterway.

loading. Paint can both bind and insulate release mechanisms delaying or even preventing release entirely (Figure 7). Paint can also hold water seals in place after activation. And finally, paint in the teeth of the deflector can affect the sprinkler’s water distribution pattern. For this reason, the only paint allowed on a sprinkler is that applied by the manufacturer, which can apply such paint evenly and before assembly to address these concerns.

OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS While not part of the annual floor level inspection, any sprinkler that is believed to feature an O-ring water seal design (Figure 8) should be replaced as well. The O-ring water seal design has a notoriously high failure rate in the fire sprinkler industry and has been the cause of recalls in the past. This type of water seal has the tendency to remain in place after activation and thus could prevent water discharge. Unfortunately, it is not always obvious that the sprinkler condition will impact discharge (Figure 9).

If there is ever any doubt, the sprinkler should be replaced or sent to a recognized testing laboratory for the field

Figure 8. Sprinklers featuring the O-ring water seal design.

Figure 6. Loading on the deflector of the sprinkler.

service test. Remember that the testing, specifically the intervals, and quantities, outlined in section 5.3.1 in NFPA 25 is considered routine testing. Nonroutine testing can certainly be conducted at any time to address any unusual conditions seen outside the typical test cycles. The type of tests, the number of samples to test, and where to pull those samples from will all be up to the building owner and/or their designated representative in consultation with, but not limited to, the manufacturer and/or an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to appropriately address the problem being investigated. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Grant Lobdell is the general manager at Dyne Fire Protection Labs—an ISO 9001 certified and 17025 accredited testing laboratory providing quick, reliable, and independent analysis of fire sprinklers, firefighting foams, antifreeze solutions, and dry chemical agents to help building owners and/or their designated representatives fulfill various laboratory requirements in inspection, testing, and maintenance standards. Lobdell can be reached at (800) 632-2304 or grant@dyneusa.com.

Figure 9. Sprinklers without any external signs for replacement that still failed to release.

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A BETTER SIDE-BY-SIDE HFSC OFFERS NEW VIRTUAL REALITY RESOURCE

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he Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) is taking home fire safety education to the next level with a new virtual reality, 360-degree house fire flashover and sprinkler comparison video created with actual fire footage. Thanks to state-of-the-art cinematic technology, viewers can experience the fires without and with an installed sprinkler as if they were inside the burning house. They can watch flames and smoke from any angle and hear the fire crackle and smoke alarms activate. In the video without a fire sprinkler, viewers will see flashover occur in real-time and watch how fast the flames and smoke spread. When they watch the video with an installed fire sprinkler, they’ll learn how the high heat from the fire activates the water flow and see the sprinkler quickly control the blaze and minimize smoke spread.

The virtual reality video can be viewed on-demand at no cost on HFSC’s website. Viewers using a computer can move their mouse or trackpad to look all around inside the active fire rooms. Turning a tablet or other smart device will achieve the same 360 views of the fires.

IMMERSIVE FORMAL EDUCATION For a more immersive educational experience, HFSC will provide members of the fire service with an advanced virtual reality kit. The kit includes high-tech headsets where viewers can

Join HFSC, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), AFSA, and other fire-safety organizations for Home Fire Sprinkler Week, to be held May 15-21, 2022! Spread public awareness about the life- and property-saving benefits of residential fire sprinklers through activities such as: • Spearhead a social media campaign demanding local legislators and decision-makers address local fire problem/support sprinklers.

• Write letters to the editor or op-eds underscoring your local fire problem and fire sprinkler laws or lack thereof.

• Download and customize a proclamation for use by one of your community’s officials.

• Learn about your state’s fire sprinkler requirements—or lack thereof.

• Have your community test their knowledge on home fire sprinklers—NFPA’s Fire Sprinkler Initiative provides a quick, online quiz on its website.

Visit HFSC’s or NFPA’s Fire Sprinkler Initiative websites to learn more about home fire sprinklers and Home Fire Sprinkler Week.

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HFSC’s virtual reality home fire and sprinkler burn kit is available free to fire service officials.

experience the two fires as a realistic 3D home fire scene. The videos can be presented to target audiences in individual or group settings. The kit is ideal for fire service education outreach to any local stakeholder involved in the decision to protect new homes with fire sprinklers, such as builders, developers, planners, building officials, and water purveyors.

FEMA-FUNDED RESOURCE HFSC produced the VR video in 2021 with a seed grant from State Farm. HFSC was later awarded a FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety Grant to build on that initial production, promote it to the fire service and the public, and purchase a set of the Immersive Kits in order to work directly with the fire service to present and evaluate the effectiveness of the virtual reality experience.

“This grant award will allow HFSC to roll out this innovative new resource to the fire service and offer guidance so they can educate their target stakeholders and advocate for home fire sprinklers in local new-construction homes,” says HFSC President Lorraine Carli. “We are grateful for this funding, which is an example of the power of public-private partnerships that enhance local community risk reduction.”

HFSC is partnering with U.S. fire departments in the grant-funded formal evaluation. With guidance from HFSC team leaders, these departments will plan and present the virtual reality education resource as a method to mitigate the home fire problem in their jurisdictions, based on the high-risk local populations they’ve identified as part of their community risk reduction work.

The grant allowed for an initial purchase of portable, reusable, Immersive Virtual Reality Education Kits, each containing 15 headsets and a presentation laptop. Fire educators will have the option to present the video to all viewers at one time or individually. HFSC is working with the kit vendor to offer a turnkey, at-cost purchase option available to any interested fire department/safety advocate. The online virtual reality video will be offered universally at no cost.

A BETTER SIDE-BY-SIDE “Because our specialized crew shot the 360-degree video footage during live home fires, this groundbreaking virtual reality resource provides authentic education that can replicate the impact of live side-by-side demonstrations,” Carli says. To extend reach, the online version can be added to fire department websites, shared via social media accounts, built into PowerPoint presentations, run on video monitor loops, and sent via email.

While public fire demonstrations have been effective as community events for many years, they are not feasible for every fire department. Many jurisdictions have environmental regulations and fees pertaining to burns, and there are costs to build, store and transport side-by-side units. Additionally, it can be difficult to get targeted stakeholders to attend public events.

With this new virtual reality education, fire educators can bring dramatic and memorable home fire side-by-sides directly to their local stakeholders using the free online video or with a one-time purchase of the kit option.

Fire departments are encouraged to use the new video as part of their community risk reduction outreach. They can visit HFSC’s website to download the video and share the link. The new video will also be featured during Home Fire Sprinkler Week May 15-21, 2022. Consumers and all those who plan to build new homes are encouraged to view the video at no cost at myhomefiresprinkler.org.

CELEBRATING OVER 25 YEARS OF EDUCATION Since the 1970s, when America Burning was published, fire safety organizations encouraged home fire sprinkler protection as an essential fire mitigation strategy. But no organization had the capacity to make that goal a priority. To fill that gap, the presidents of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) pooled their resources in 1996, creating HFSC to focus exclusively on home fire sprinkler education. The coalition has evolved from the small group the founders envisioned into a national 501c(3) organization working in the U.S. and Canada. HFSC is led by a diverse and active board of directors that includes its three founding members. HFSC’s mission is solely educational, and its materials are available to everyone at no cost through HFSC’s website at homefiresprinkler.org. n

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“SOUND THE ALARM” ABOUT HOME FIRE SAFETY PARTICIPATE IN THE RED CROSS HOME FIRE PREPAREDNESS CAMPAIGN

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D’ARCY MONTALVO | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION ach year, the Red Cross responds to an average of more than 60,000 disasters, the vast majority of which are home fires. In response, the organization set a goal to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries in the United States. On average: • Seven people die every day from a home fire, most impacting children and the elderly.

• Thirty-six people suffer injuries as a result of home fires every day.

• Over $7 billion in property damage occurs every year.

Launched in 2014, the Red Cross’ Home Fire Preparedness Campaign has made great strides: • 1,212 lives saved, • 2,281,193 smoke alarms installed, • 966,495 households made safer, and • 1,764,119 youth reached through the campaign.

A PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP In 2018, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) partnered with the Red Cross in support of its campaign to help keep the public safe from fire. Through its Public Education & Awareness Committee, AFSA is also educating the public that home fire sprinklers are the ultimate protection of their lives and property. Fire sprinklers are included in messaging provided by the Red Cross, promoting that these systems, in conjunction with smoke alarms, can drastically reduce the chances of death or serious injury in a residential fire.

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AFSA Sacramento Valley Executive Director Paulene Norwood (second from right, bottom row) was proud to volunteer for the 2019 Sound the Alarm Campaign.

Please help AFSA support this life-saving campaign which reaches the Red Cross’ 6.1 million social media followers as well as thousands of volunteers, homeowners, and disaster victims.

More than 90 percent of every dollar donated to the Red Cross is invested in humanitarian services and programs, like the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign.

SOUND THE ALARM The Home Fire Preparedness Campaign aims to help the public prevent home fires, offering resources and tools on its website, including fire safety essentials, fire safety for kids, pet fire safety, and fire safety equipment—which includes a section on home fire sprinklers. It also offers resources on how to respond during and recover after a fire.

The Red Cross is proud to report that this campaign has documented more than 1,200 lives saved!

A critical part of the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign is “Sound the

Alarm,” a series of home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events across the country. Together with fire departments and other community partners, Red Cross volunteers to canvas at-risk neighborhoods, install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms, and provide fire prevention and safety education, which includes residential fire sprinklers!

Help the Red Cross Sound the Alarm about home fire safety through education, volunteering, and providing financial support. In 2019, AFSA staff members participated in the Dallas event, including AFSA’s Communications Specialist Rebecca Herring. “This was an amazing experience that gave me the opportunity to put my passion to work. We went door-to-door, meeting people and educating them about home fire safety and residential fire sprinklers.”

AFSA Sacramento Valley Executive Director Paulene Norwood also participated in her area. “I volunteered

by installing smoke detectors and organizing emergency evacuation plans with residents in Woodland, California.

I was proud to be there representing AFSA and celebrating its partnership with the Red Cross. It was such a great experience!”

After being held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sound the Alarm outreach is back in-person for 2022. This year’s campaign will be held May 1-22 in more than 50-plus communities nationwide.

Help AFSA get the sprinkler message in front of millions, and together, we can save lives! To view the list of cities participating in this year’s Sound the Alarm campaign and to volunteer, visit soundthealarm.org.

HELP OTHERS WHILE SUPPORTING FIRE SPRINKLERS As you know, the Red Cross does much more than just this annual campaign. It strives to be there to respond to disasters and always be there in times of need. Currently, with many natural

disasters having ravaged the United States in the last year, in addition to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Red Cross is working harder than ever before, responding across the country to those in need.

“We are very grateful to AFSA and its members for supporting this life-saving initiative,” says Red Cross Sr. Officer Corporate Partnerships Diane Stephenson.

“Our humanitarian mission is only made possible thanks to the generosity of compassionate donors whose financial gifts help us better prepare underserved populations and at-risk communities against home fires disasters.”

With so much facing the country, the need is great. A donation to the Red Cross can provide life-saving aid to these areas in need while having the added benefit of supporting home fire sprinkler awareness. Any donations made through AFSA’s unique giving page at redcross. org/afsa-pub counts toward the two organizations’ annual partnership.

Through AFSA’s site, donations can be made to disaster relief, home fires, service to the armed forces, or to your

Donate today! redcross.org/afsa-pub local Red Cross. These donations also count towards the annual commitment that keeps fire sprinkler messaging in the Sound the Alarm Campaign. You can support the causes close to your heart while also supporting fire sprinkler messaging and supporting the fire protection industry! Visit redcross.org/ afsa-pub to donate. n

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SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION IS NOW THE TIME FOR CONTRACTORS TO WAREHOUSE OR CARRY INVENTORY?

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MATTHEW GIERKE | FMI CORP. upply chain challenges “will get worse before they get better,” said Tim Uy, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, in a November 2021 article.

There is a perfect storm at work: A winter wave of COVID-19, power outages and rationing in China, truck driver shortages in the U.S. and abroad, the impact of extreme climate events on commodities, and soaring consumer and energy demand.

Chaos in the supply chain has taken a toll on general contractors particularly. Four out of five respondents to FMI’s fourth-quarter Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) survey were seeing delays from supply chain issues, and one out of five respondents had experienced canceled projects.

According to a September survey by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Autodesk, 93 percent of firms were affected by materials price hikes, and nearly nine out of 10

had experienced project delays. Midyear price relief on components like steel and lumber had reversed late in 2021 when lumber rose 40 percent from September to October, and the consumer price index hit 6.2 percent.

Characteristically, construction companies respond nimbly to industry challenges, and this one has been no different. Contractors worked with owners to pull forward critical material purchases, sent project teams to factories to check on material production, doubled down on tracking materials and conducting pull-planning, planned for various budget and schedule contingencies, and, perhaps most notably, increased their willingness to buy and warehouse materials months in advance of when they might be needed on the job site.

Purchasing and holding long-lead inventory of construction materials can provide advantages for certain projects or customers but also brings with it carrying costs, increased risk, and other considerations for your business.

ADVANTAGES OF HOLDING INVENTORY

Figure 1. Carrying costs include capital costs, storage costs, and service costs.

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It has always been true that those contractors who have shorter lead times for critical path materials have a competitive advantage when bidding work. In the current environment of supply chain uncertainty, this competitive advantage is even stronger.

Consider bidding on a hypothetical distribution facility project that you believe will be determined by delivery of the roofing material specified by the customer. Can you leverage your construction knowledge, your shop’s ability to modify or adapt an alternate roofing material, your relationship with roofing material manufacturers, or your ability to buy and hold inventory?

What if you could get a suitable alternate roofing material weeks, if not months, in advance of your competitors? What if you could provide your customer with certainty that it would be on its job site the moment it was needed? This is why firms are holding and warehousing inventory, sometimes even before they’ve won the job. Holding and warehousing inventory can offer a clear advantage because: 1. The items have limited availability and are on the critical path.

Items on the critical path present a significant risk to the project schedule if delayed. Examples include roofing systems, insulation, lumber, trusses, and other fabricated structural steel, appliances, and other durable manufactured goods.

2. The items have a long lead time and are capital-intensive to manufacture but can be customized or modified in your yard, shop or prefabrication department for a specific customer application. In this category are materials and equipment such as electrical switch-

gear (especially for general commercial or distribution applications), material conveyor sections, motors, and pumps, etc.

3. Holding a limited “safety stock” of the item can minimize field stockouts or field delays. Safety stock describes excess quantities of an item held in inventory to reduce the risk that it will be out of stock. If these items are not available to your field personnel on a particular day, your teams will not be able to install work as planned. Examples are materials commonly used on multiple project types, such as fasteners, wire and cable, urethane/ polyurethane products, and other consumables.

Warehousing can provide a buffer against supply chain disruptions and competition for materials, the ability to customize, faster delivery, and sometimes even a price advantage. However, without a clear strategy and an understanding of the risks, many companies will find that the potential costs outweigh the benefits.

COSTS OF HOLDING INVENTORY Many construction firms adapted to a world that rewarded just-in-time deliveries, and warehousing is clearly a right-hand turn from this lean approach. When you buy materials early and store them until needed, you are effectively adding in cost where it had previously been trimmed. You are also increasing the financial risk to your company.

The high cost of warehousing was poignantly captured in the story of the Brooks Brothers retail bankruptcy, which left the owners of a Massachusetts warehouse saddled with the job of trying to liquidate an inventory of mannequins, sewing machines, and neon signs. The owners, Chip and Rosanna LaBonte, had to sell their house to fund junk removal.

Unlike Brooks Brothers—or any other retailer, distributor, or manufacturer—your company is much less likely to have the organizational skills and competencies related to holding and managing inventory. Because managing inventory is not a core part of your business, it may be more likely that you will overlook inventory risks, or undercount carrying costs.

As a rule of thumb for manufacturers and retailers, inventory carrying costs can be as high as 20 percent of the cost of the materials. This number goes up for unique or big-ticket items, like machinery and down for frequently used bulk items. Because the construction materials that you might inventory are typically unique to a project, are big-ticket items and take up considerable storage space, inventory carrying costs may be even higher than 20 percent.

Carrying costs include capital costs (the cost to buy the inventory), storage costs (costs to store and track the inventory), and service costs (insurance, software, taxes associated with the inventory.) (See Figure 1.) Just like putting together a detailed project budget, it’s important that your organization understands all carrying costs before you decide to buy and hold inventory.

You’ll also need to think through and make allowances for breakage, spoilage, theft, or other types of inventory shrinkage. What’s the likelihood that the materials are damaged by water, fire, or an errant forklift driver? Who would pay for these costs? Your material likely also has a risk of obsolescence—that the items are never used.

The customer may change its mind, the project may face delays or

cancellation, or the design may shift, which could leave you having to absorb the sunk costs of inventory you’re holding.

Lastly, if you buy construction materials and warehouse them—and can’t direct-cost them to a project—this inventory will likely be reflected as a long-term asset on your company’s balance sheet. This may not be looked upon favorably by your bonding or surety company or by the owners or investors of your company.

IN SUMMARY Holding and warehousing inventory may be a winning strategy for your firm in the current environment of supply chain disruption and uncertainty. It might help you win more work if your customer places a high value on schedule delivery.

But know that holding and warehousing inventory increases your costs and increases the risk to your firm. These risks are outside of your core business and could be substantial. You should earn a significant premium for providing this benefit to your customers and ensure you are getting paid for the risk you are taking. Have a full understanding of the carrying costs, the risks and how much you deserve to get paid for those risks before you decide to implement the strategy of buying and warehousing inventory. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matthew Gierke empowers contractors, construction equipment managers, materials manufacturers, and distributors with winning strategies to maximize growth, profitability, and overall improvement through non-incremental change. His work centers on building winning market strategies, developing effective change management programs, and improving each business’s development and project management capabilities. He can be reached at matthew.gierke@fmicorp.com.

SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 43

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION ANNUAL EVENT INCREASES AWARENESS OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE INDUSTRY

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D’ARCY MONTALVO | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION his year, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) celebrated its 24th Annual Women in Construction (WIC) Week, March 6-12, 2022. The event raises awareness and celebrates the work of women in the construction industry across the country. NAWIC founded WIC Week in 1998 to continue its mission of strengthening and amplifying the success of women in the industry. This year’s theme is “Envision Equity.”

“WIC Week gives chapters nationwide the opportunity to shine a bright light on the construction industry and women’s very important place in it,” states Executive Director Crissy Ingram.

“There has long been a culture of construction being only for men.

If we can get the women who have worked past that barrier out of the shadows and into the spotlight, they can show other women— no matter the age or background—that there countless opportunities for them in the industry.” “[WIC Week is vital to] bringing awareness to the great success women are having in every aspect of the industry,” says National President Doreen Bartoldus. “It will also hopefully influence the next generation to join our ranks after seeing construction can be a great career for women.”

Though more women are joining the construction industry than ever before, they make up a very small portion of the workforce. While women’s unemployment is down by 9 percent from February 2020, women continue to make less money than their male counterparts and are in fewer leadership roles. As women continue to make huge strides in the workforce, there is clearly still work to be done. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Catalyst: • 10.9 percent—Women made up a small portion of the construction industry in 2020.

• 47 percent—Women make up nearly half of the total workforce in the country.

• 96 cents—Women in construction make 96 cents for every dollar men in construction make.

As more women enter the construction and fire protection industries, they become role models for the women who will consider and enter these rewarding fields. The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) joins with NAWIC in this celebra-

44 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

tion of women. Sprinkler Age interviewed several women in various segments of the fire protection industry—contractors, manufacturers/suppliers, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and asked their perspectives.

RENEE NIX, AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION (AHJ) Renee Nix is an inspector with the Santa Fe County Fire Department in New Mexico.

She has been in the fire service for 32 years, with 10 years in the field and 22 years in the fire marshal’s office. In 2021, Nix was elected president of the Northern New Mexico Association of Public Safety Officials group, part of the International Code Council (ICC). She also serves as a New Mexico director and secretary for the Region XI ICC group.

Nix is an AFSA AHJ member and serves as treasurer for AFSA’s New Mexico Chapter.

Pros and cons being a woman in the industry (if you’ve experienced any): “Pros—learning and developing leadership for fire inspectors in my area. I have worked to change the environment of us vs. them. We are a team for life safety. Taking on the challenges as an AHJ to deliver customer service to the public and life safety companies I work with (sprinkler, alarm, clean agents, hoods, and fire extinguishers). All these companies provide a life-safety service, and I provide a service as a code enforcement officer.”

“Cons—Not being taken seriously, or treated as if I am a girl to be ignored, tolerated, lied to, or misled. That only happens once per company or job supervisor. Educating them as to the standard of treatment and I will enforce the Codes as per the law.”

What is the key ingredient to your success? “I have opened the door to installers, letting them know to call me if they are being told or forced to install something not to code. I will get to the jobsite as soon as I can (“I am in the area and thought I would drop in”), expose the error to the contractor or owner, and keep the informant confidential.”

Nix continues: “Working with these companies as a partner to take care of ‘our’ customer [building owners] has worked for me, and I share this concept with all the fire marshals or AHJs I

meet and train with. The Code is black and white, but real life is not. Be open to seeing the big picture. Are we meeting the intent of the Code? Are we meeting the life-safety need? Ask for help and give help freely; we should all be there to provide our best customer service to all.”

Advice for other women considering or entering the field? “This is a great field! Know your stuff and understand the codes. Be fair, and do not let anyone make you act out. Stay calm and deal with each person as they are. Staying professional is the key. As time goes by, these companies will respect you and rely on you.

Remember The Golden Rule—treat others the way you would like to be treated.”

LAINEY LIOTTA, ASSOCIATE Lainey Liotta is fire protection market manager at AFSA Associate Member The Lubrizol Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio.

She is a member of AFSA’s Manufacturers/ Suppliers (M/S) Council and AFSA’s NextGen Initiative.

Pros and cons of being a woman in the industry (if you’ve experienced any): “Honestly, there aren’t cons of being a woman in the industry. Although the industry is largely male-dominated, I’ve never felt out of place or held back because I’m a young female professional. In fact, my experience has been to the contrary. I’ve found that most people in the industry are excited about change and welcome newcomers with open arms.”

What is the key ingredient to your success? “Hard work and confidence. Confidence, without arrogance, is the key to success in any career field. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you?”

Advice for other women considering or entering the field? “The fire sprinkler industry is absolutely wonderful, and the fact that it is largely male-dominated should not be a deterrent to women considering a career within the industry. Being ‘different’ from those around you can actually enhance your success, as you have the ability to offer a different, fresh perspective and make a unique impact.”

STACEY FANTAUZZI, CONTRACTOR Stacey Fantauzzi, vice president of operations with AFSA Contractor Member North East Fire Protection Systems Inc., Ballston, New York, has been in the industry for 30 years. She is a past chair and current member of AFSA’s Legislative Committee and a member of AFSA’s Membership & Chapter Development Committee. Fantauzzi is a member and secretary/treasurer for AFSA’s Upstate New York Chapter.

Pros and cons of being a woman in the industry (if you’ve experienced any): “As a woman, I believe my outlook and solution sets to problems add to the conversation. I believe that men and women are

created by God to be wonderfully different, and when we play on our strengths and are aware of our shortcomings, we find there are more than enough seats at the table in our work and home life.”

She continues: “I speak with women who feel that life is hard because of their gender and think, ‘You are so smart, successful, and talented, why do you see hardship so easily?’ I wonder if we have put upon our children the need to ‘overcome’ some type of adversity in lieu of showing them that we all have a purpose and responsibility to fulfill and that there will never be a guarantee of fairness attached to the terms and conditions of this life with which we have been blessed. Why isn’t the question, ‘What are you passionate about in life and work?’”

“I believe this world would be better served by realizing how alike we are, especially in terms of our fears, insecurities, and shortcomings; and sharing excitement and experiences with people as opposed to getting out the label maker and introducing ourselves as a string of identifiers that invoke hardship and victimhood.”

What is the key ingredient to your success? “The support of my mother and father since I was a child to be the best version of myself irrespective of my gender. I was raised to believe that the only limits to my trajectory in life were my abilities and abilities can be trained up. Failure is the only entitlement we should have.

It is good to know who you are and what lane you are in. If you want to change lanes, you have to prepare and get up-to-speed to be successful.”

“Mistakes in my personal and professional life are my best teachers. When a result or outcome occurs, I think, ‘What was my part in it?’ I have never viewed myself as a victim; my gender is not a yoke. Have there been unfortunate occurrences, actions, and words done towards me in my life? Yes, there have been, and when I really look into the why of people’s behavior, I find that their poor behavior had much to do with their experiences in life and very little to do with any personal attack on me. And sometimes, just sometimes, I earned a bit of that ire and dislike.”

Advice for other women considering or entering the field?

“No one was given instructions. Our best lessons are learned by listening, doing, and learning from the imperfect actions of a perfect intention. Hard work is a gift, not a roadblock. Ask why—fearlessly. Say thank you, be kind, and be loud when needed. Do not apologize when you are right, only when you are wrong, and do it quickly. Integrity matters and your ego will survive.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE There is no doubt that more women are now, more than ever, integral parts of the construction and fire protection industries.

These women and many others are leaders in their fields, and with their mentorship, many other women will come to know the benefits and value of working in such a rewarding career. As Fantauzzi summarizes: “Stop talking and start doing! You have to make a decision, take a chance, and take action. If you do not know how life works, find someone who has what you want and ask them how they achieved what it is you admire.” n SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 45

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS TIPS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR ROI

I

REBECCA HERRING | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

f you’re reading this article, chances are you are, were, or will be a member of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). But how would you categorize your AFSA membership activity level? Are you an involved participant? Inactive? Observing your membership from the outside? The hope is that all members would fall into the first category, and with that in mind, Sprinkler Age has compiled a few tips to take your membership participation to the next level. Make no mistake, your level of active participation and engagement in AFSA directly relates to what you will get out of association membership, and AFSA wants you to receive the most for your money! Here are a few ways to easily increase your return on investment (ROI) from membership.

START STRONG When joining AFSA, or any professional association, it’s important to go into your membership with a goal. What do you want out of your membership? Continuing education? Networking? Business solutions?

Mentorship? Everyone joins organizations for different reasons and at various stages of business, so as you join (or renew), think about what you’d most like to get out of it.

Not sure how to reach your goals? Touch base with the AFSA Membership Department to receive custom-tailored ideas on how to reach your objectives through our current offerings.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS You’ve joined AFSA and established your goals. Now it’s time to build some

46 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

AFSA’s Sacramento Valley Chapter offers regular meetings, educational seminars, an annual trade show, and social events for its members year-round.

in-association relationships. As an association for fire protection professionals, AFSA is an intersection of people and companies that share a mutual goal. Other AFSA members are all potential connections ripe for the picking. Building relationships in the association fosters lifelong connections that will benefit you at any stage of business. For example, whether you’re just getting started and looking for a mentor or you’re an established business looking to connect with like-minded peers to develop strategic partnerships, don’t be afraid to search through AFSA’s membership list to find those new connections.

GET INVOLVED You’ve heard the saying “You get out what you put in,” and association membership is no exception to that.

Getting involved is one of the single best steps a member can take to deepen their

AFSA experience. Explore what kind of involvement best aligns with your goals and participate! Perhaps you start small, attending webinars or training online, or even interacting with the association and fellow members on social media. From there, branch out! Try attending local chapter events to get to know your peers and fellow members in the area who can become invaluable connections and friends to you. As you grow in membership, you can reach out further to the national level, which might look something like serving on a nationallevel committee, writing for Sprinkler Age, volunteering to help train, or attending AFSA’s annual convention and exhibition—interacting with fellow members on a larger scale. The sky is the limit as far as involvement, and AFSA hopes you take advantage of those opportunities.

The Virginia Chapter of AFSA provides ample opportunities for its members to learn and network during meetings, seminars, its annual Burn Survivors Golf Tournament, and other events.

EXTEND YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO YOUR TEAM From day one, when your company establishes AFSA membership, every employee at the company becomes an AFSA member with access to member benefits. When viewing offerings, AFSA encourages you to ask yourself, “What can others in my organization gain from AFSA membership?” Maybe your field employees could benefit from attending a specific webinar, or your marketing or communications department would benefit from networking opportunities.

Whatever the case may be, make your AFSA membership an asset available to every employee to maximize the ROI of your membership dollars.

KEEP INFORMATION UP-TO-DATE This is a make-or-break point for many memberships. If the information the association is disseminating is only going to bad/old emails, addresses, or phone numbers, you’re missing out!

Check your information regularly to make sure it’s up-to-date, especially if you haven’t heard from AFSA in a while.

Ask yourself, “Have I updated the employees in the database since I joined?

Am I removing old employees, adding in new ones, and keeping my contact information current?” Taking these simple steps helps AFSA connect with the appropriate member contacts about new training, benefits, announcements,

and more that the association is continually updating and adding!

PROVIDE FEEDBACK Lastly, AFSA always welcomes open and honest communication and feedback. If you have ideas for the association, the AFSA staff wants to hear from you. In all likelihood, if there is something that isn’t working for you, it’s likely not working for others. AFSA strives to meet your needs as completely as possible, and we are always looking to add and improve services for members.

Member success is AFSA’s success so let us hear how we can better serve you.

DON’T HESITATE; PARTICIPATE! When it comes to getting the most from your AFSA membership, participation and engagement are key in recognizing the greatest value. If you take the time, you’ll likely get much more out of the organization than you bargained for.

If you have any questions about getting the most out of your membership or what benefits are currently available, visit AFSA’s website 24x7 365 days a year at firesprinkler.org. If you have questions regarding your membership or anything discussed in this article, contact AFSA’s Membership Department via email at membership@firesprinkler.org or call (214) 349-5965 and ask to speak with the Membership team. n SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 47

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT MEMBERS CELEBRATE MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES

T

he American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is recognizing members who are celebrating milestone membership anniversaries.

The member companies featured here have belonged to AFSA for 15 or more years of continuous membership.

Several members are celebrating milestone anniversaries with AFSA in March and April 2022. Tommy Clements, president of VSC; Robert Gagnon, P.E.,

FSFPE, SET, owner of Gagnon Engineering; Travis Mack, CFPS, CWBSP, RME-G, COC, SET, senior engineering Happy Anniversary to AFSA Milestone Members!

March–April 2022 40-Year Anniversary Contractor Members VSC Fire & Security, Inc., Ashland, VA 35-Year Anniversary Contractor Members Inland Fire Protection, Inc., Yakima, WA Mid South Fire Solutions, LLC, Shreveport, LA Rustic Fire Protection, Inc., Norton, MA 30-Year Anniversary Designer Members Gagnon Engineering, Cooksville, MD 20-Year Anniversary Associate Members ITW Buildex, Itasca, IL 15-Year Anniversary Contractor Members ABR Fire Protection, Inc., Bufurd, GA Allied Fire Protection, LP, Dallas, TX ATCO Fire Protection, Inc., Rome, GA B & B Fire Protection, Jeffersontown, KY Diboco Fire Sprinklers, Inc., Flat Rock, NC Jefferson Sprinkler, Inc., Gretna, LA Designer Members Leon & Associates, Brandon, FL MFP Design, Gilbert, AZ

48 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

manager at MFP Design; and Mike Meehan, CEO and chairman of VSC; shared some of their favorite AFSA memories and things they’ve learned with Sprinkler Age.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRY AND AFSA? Clements: “A longtime family friend was one of the owners of Arkansas Automatic Sprinklers, so I knew the company was for sale. I led a private equity investment group that purchased the company in 2009. I had been a construction consultant to owners and developers for eight years, so I was familiar with the construction trades. Fire sprinklers were appealing to me because each project has an opportunity for intellectual property that allows a company to differentiate itself by ‘building a better mousetrap.’”

“The company had been a longstanding member of AFSA, and the previous owners were strong believers in the benefits of membership. I wanted to become more involved and was introduced to Board Member Wayne Weisz and Past Chair Willie Templin on a trip with George DiMatteo. They were able to give me a much deeper look at how AFSA was organized and functioned.

They also gave me ideas about how to get involved on the national level. After I expressed my interest, I was afforded the opportunity to become involved by Past Chair of the Board Joe Heinrich.”

Gagnon: “I received my bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and hired an employment agent who put me through many tests. I was given a stack of offers from employers that matched my interests and abilities, and Automatic Sprinkler Corporation (ASCOA) stood out. It had

the right mix of office and field work, design and field supervision, conceptualization and viewing the finished product, and calculation. I needed to be involved with something that made the world a better place. This profession was perfect and was the best business decision I ever made. I often say, ‘Don’t follow the money; follow your interests, and the money will follow you.’ ASCOA paid for my B.S. and M.S. degrees in fire protection engineering and was my first client when I founded Gagnon Engineering. I also joined AFSA early in my career. I knew that it was important to be an active part of my profession.”

Mack: “I had taken drafting courses in high school and got a job drafting for a fire sprinkler contractor after graduation. I got involved with AFSA through internet searches and found AFSA’s Sprinkler Forum. It just grew from there.”

Meehan: “When I was going to college, a family friend reached out and asked if I needed work. I was 19 and looking for a summer job but didn’t want to dig ditches.

Yes, I thought a sprinkler job meant underground work! I was clearly mistaken. I started as a pipefitter apprentice in 1979.”

“When AFSA was established, our former President Marty Giles was one of the original founders. We immediately saw the value it would provide to VSC, specifically training for our fitters and staff. Personally, my involvement began around 1983 at a local level with the Virginia Chapter, and later on a national scale.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OR MOST USED AFSA BENEFIT? Clements: “The annual convention! The education, networking, and entertainment are second to none. We bring multiple employees

to take full advantage of the multitude of training opportunities that are offered in a short period of time. It’s a great way to reward your team members for a job well done.”

Gagnon: “I take the webinars when I need CEUs to renew my P.E. license and two NICET Level IV certifications. I love to network with fellow professionals.”

Mack: “The Sprinkler Forum is the best benefit for any design professional in this industry. The cost/benefit is very much worth it.”

Meehan: “The networking and relationship building with peers, and the benefits of the NFPA code standard process.

What is so valuable is AFSA’s involvement with the business codes and standards—it benefits the entire industry. It helps the standards have more merit. The Safety Portal is also a very useful tool that can save a good deal of headache.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AFSA OR CONVENTION MEMORY? Clements: “The first convention I attended was in San Diego in 2009. It was a three-day crash course in all things fire-sprinkler related. The convention was an opportunity to share ideas, learn what issues are facing the industry, and see how other companies in different parts of the country handle certain issues. It also allowed me to lay the groundwork for friendships in the industry. Those relationships have strengthened my business, and I consider many like family.”

Gagnon: “Many AFSA meetings and seminars with the Chesapeake Chapter and nationally.”

Mack: “Meeting in person all of the people I have communicated with over the years through the Sprinkler Forum. I have developed solid business relationships and personal friendships with many of them.”

Meehan: “In 2018, when I was chair, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own personal journey—from a teenage pipe fitter to standing at the podium as the National Chair of the Board. I can still recall my first day of work as a pipefitter apprentice, and the individual growth and success I experienced are parallel to the growth and success of both our entire industry and AFSA as an organization.”

CLEMENTS

GAGNON

WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE YOU’VE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? Clements: “The rapid consolidation of sprinkler contractors over the past five years and the influence of private equity firms on business valuations.”

Gagnon: “I feel that I have been pushing the rock uphill in support of sprinklers my whole career. I remember when the fire service was resistant or unaware of the benefits of sprinklers. I remember touring a ‘fire-safe house’ at an NFPA convention that was not sprinklered. I told them that they should be ashamed. Today, the fire service and NFPA are active proponents of the installation of fire sprinklers. I am a happy man.”

Mack: “As a design guy, it is the change in going from hand drawing to now doing 3D virtual design and construction. Things we are doing today in the design side could never have been imagined when I started.”

Meehan: “The rapid consolidation of sprinkler contractors over the past five years and the influence of private equity firms on business. The increase in technical and training abilities of AFSA, as well as the most recent industry consolidations that are impacting the association and the contractors.”

WHAT’S THE KEY INGREDIENT TO YOUR SUCCESS? Clements: “Surrounding myself with outstanding people and letting them do their job.”

Gagnon: “My mentors. My mentor at Western Maryland College was (and still is) Dr. James Lightner. I had many mentors and Colleagues with ASCOA, including Ezio Angellini. My mentor at the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering was the legendary Dr. John L. Bryan, among many others, including Dr.

MACK

MEEHAN

James A. Milke. I am truly blessed. I followed my interests and was mentored by the best.”

Mack: “Luck and being blessed. I have had some phenomenal mentors in this industry. I can’t begin to thank those who have come before me to teach me the ins and outs of the fire sprinkler industry and how to manage a successful business.”

Meehan: “Surrounding myself with good people and empowering them.”

IF I WEREN’T WORKING IN FIRE PROTECTION, I WOULD BE… (FILL IN THE BLANK).

Clements: “ ... a real estate developer or a trade contractor other than fire sprinklers.”

Gagnon: “I cannot imagine not doing what I do. My work was a daily delight, and the choice I made 53 years ago as a 21-yearold kid out of college was a wise one.

Mack: “I hate to even think where I would be. I would probably be stuck in a job that I didn’t like doing something I didn’t like.

I think I was made for the fire sprinkler industry. Even with all of the stresses that come with our industry, I am blessed to be able to do something for 30-plus years that I still enjoy every day.”

Meehan: “ ... a traffic court judge.”

CELEBRATING AFSA MEMBERS Recognition for milestone membership anniversaries in Sprinkler Age will be done in five-year anniversary increments and is available to all membership types.

Congratulations to these members!

Interested in joining AFSA and enjoying the benefits mentioned by these members?

Visit firesprinkler.org/join to sign up for a free, six-month trial membership for contractors. Other membership types are also available. Visit AFSA’s website for details or call (214) 349-5965 ext. 133. n SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 49

HIGHERSTANDARDS

T

he standards development process can seem daunting to someone unfamiliar with the process.

However, participation by regular users of the standards is paramount in developing better standards. The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) Engineering & Technical Services staff keep a close eye on the standards our contractors utilize every day – NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems; NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems; NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection; NFPA 24, Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances; and NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. Except for NFPA 25, which just finalized its second draft ballot, every other standard is open for public input through June 1, 2022.

After teaching six different Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School classes, responding to 662 Technical Review questions, and participating on 48 NFPA technical committees, AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services staff have come across numerous issues in the NFPA 13 standard.

We read and re-read sections multiple times as we prepare for training classes and respond to insightful questions from our members when the answer provided in the standard’s language is not clear.

Most of the issues we resolve have to do with different interpretations from different parties, such as contractors and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). While AFSA is the merit shop contractor’s association, we do not always side with the contractor on the interpretation of standard language. AFSA will always respond based on the committee’s true intent and not try to argue ambiguous loopholes. If everyone is on the same page from the start, simpler and easier-to-digest language could alleviate tension between installers and enforcers. While it may not seem like it in the heat of the moment when a deadline is looming, all of us in the fire sprinkler industry, regardless of role, are just looking to provide the best fire and life safety solution.

To date, AFSA has submitted 90 public inputs for the NFPA 13 technical committees to consider to clarify and simplify some of the more confusing requirements in the 2025 edition of the standard.

AFSA has a full schedule of technical meetings on various standards in the coming months, including the second draft meeting for NFPA 1, Fire Code. For sprinkler systems and NFPA 13, preplanning has already begun for the 2025 edition of the standard. The 2019 edition of NFPA 13 added an existing system modification chapter during the reorganization of the document. The current chapter has some specific requirements for existing systems, but there are

50 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

still many more requirements buried in the new installation chapters due to the addition of the single-point density tables. The discharge committee has formed a task group to identify and relocate all of these existing system requirements to make the document more user-friendly. Don’t just rely on us, though! Please submit a public input to relocate a requirement to Chapter 30 if it only applies to existing systems.

In light of the recent fire deaths in unsprinklered high-rise residences, the installation committee has formed a task group to develop language to clarify the intent and use of partial sprinkler systems installed in apartment buildings until fully sprinklered buildings are required by the Life Safety Code® in 2033. AFSA has taken a vested interest in this topic and has submitted public inputs to get the discussion started.

The most controversial task group that has been formed is the Water Supply task group. After being voted down by NFPA membership for two consecutive cycles, requirements for water supply adjustments are being discussed again for the 2025 edition. AFSA has representation on this task group to represent our contractors on this issue and ensure that water supply analysis does not fall in the laps of contractors.

This is an engineering judgment and must be determined by the owner or their designated representative.

While AFSA sorts out water supplies yet again, I want to challenge our readers to participate in the standard development process. Submit a public input to one of the standards mentioned above, join a task group, or attend a committee meeting as a guest. True consensus comes from the consideration of multiple interest groups and regions. There is no better way to educate yourself on the standards than to participate in their development and learn the “why” for many of the fundamental requirements. For more information, please check out nfpa.org/13next or replace “13” with the standard of your choosing. n

KEVIN HALL,M.ENG, P.E., ET, CWBSP, PMSFPE AFSA COORDINATOR OF ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL SUPPORT

TECHNICAL CHALLENGES CAN YOU MEET THE CHALLENGE? Each issue, AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services Department staffpresent technical challenges. Besides testing yourself and your co-workers, these exercises are excellent preparation for professional certification tests and also may count as continuing education hours. Check with your certification organization.

Update for 2022—each issue of Sprinkler Age will focus on one set of challenge questions related to the technical theme of that issue. To participate, carefully read through and work the problems. Then check your answer in the next issue. Test your knowledge and that of your co-workers today!

hydraulic method, and the second is the hydropnuematic method.

5. What entity is responsible for correcting or repairing any deficiencies or impairments?

A. AHJ B. Owner C. Installing contractor D. Inspecting contractor The correct answer is B. Section 4.1.5.1 requires the owner or his authorized representative to correct or repair any deficiencies or impairments.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY ANSWERS

MARCH/APRIL QUESTIONS

The following questions and answers are based on NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of WaterBased Fire Protection Systems, 2020 edition.

1. Sprinklers manufactured prior to what year requires replacement per NFPA 25?

A. 1920 B. 1915 C. 1900 D. 1945 The correct answer is A. Section 5.3.1.1.1.2 requires sprinkler manufactured prior to 1920 shall be replaced.

2. Which chapter in NFPA 25 explains the procedures and frequencies for testing valves on fire protection systems?

A. Chapter 12 B. Chapter 14 C. Chapter 10 D. Chapter 13 The correct answer is D. Per the table of contents, chapter 13 is responsible for the inspection and testing of common components and valves in fire protection systems.

3. At what frequency are diesel fire pump fuel tanks required to be tested for water and foreign materials?

A. Monthly B. Quarterly C. Semiannually D. Annually The correct answer is D. Section 8.1.1.2.9 requires testing to be performed annually for both water and foreign materials.

4. The following flushing method consists of flowing water from the yard mains, sprinkler risers, feed mains, cross mains, and branch lines, respectively, in the same direction in which water would flow during a fire. What is the flushing method called?

A. The hydraulic method B. The hydropneumatic method C. The hydrostatic method D. The pneumatic method The answer is A. Annex section D.5 suggests two different methods of flushing obstructions from systems, one is the

The following questions and answers are based on NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2020 edition, and NFPA 25, 2020 edition.

1. A vertical change in elevation between two standard spray sprinklers extends down from the ceiling. How high must the elevation change be for it to be treated as a wall when spacing sprinklers?

A. 12 in.

B. 24 in.

C. 36 in.

D. 48 in.

2. When an ESFR system has areas with overhead garage doors, what other sprinklers are permitted to be used to protect under the doors?

A. Dry barrel B. Quick response C. Fast-response D. Standard response 3. A standard spray sprinkler is blocked by ductwork. If the beam rule is not met, how far must the sprinkler be spaced from the obstruction?

A. Two times the maximum dimension B. Three times the maximum dimension C. Four times the maximum dimension D. Five times the maximum dimension 4. What types of sprinklers do not need to meet the clearance to the top of storage requirements for sprinkler discharge in NFPA 25?

A. EFSR sprinklers B. In-rack sprinklers C. Combustible concealed sprinklers D. Attic sprinklers 5. When ESFR sprinklers are installed above the bottom chord of a truss that is 6-in. wide, how far away from the bottom chord must the ESFR sprinkler be installed?

A. 6 in.

B. 12 in.

C. 18 in.

D. 24 in.

SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 51

AFSA NEWS MCDONALD EARNS CERTIFICATION

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to announce that Technical Programs Specialist Josh McDonald, MSET, CFPS, CWBSP, is now a Certified Water-Based Systems Professional (CWBSP). The certification was created by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 2018 offers water-based systems design professionals the ability to demonstrate that they understand MCDONALD project development, new and existing systems design, and the ability to complete Hydraulic Calculations.

“Congratulations to Josh on this achievement,” states AFSA’s Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E. “This enhances our department and creates even more value for our members.”

CALENDAR MARCH 2022 28 - APRIL 8

• Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School Dallas, TX firesprinkler.org/design

31

• AFSA Tennessee Chapter Axe Throwing Chattanooga, TN afsatn.org/

APRIL 2022 11

• AFSA ITM Inspector Development Program Cycle 13 Kick-Off firesprinkler.org/itm

12

28

• AFSA Fitter Zone: Hydraulics for Fitters Webinar firesprinkler.org/zone

MERITT PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR

AFSA is proud to announce the promotion of Meda Merritt to director of Membership & Chapter Relations. She has spent the last year dedicated to giving all AFSA members the best experience possible through her professionalism and expertise in dealing with all facets of AFSA’s membership and chapter development.

“Meda is a vital member of the Membership & MERRITT Chapter Development team and has been instrumental in our success during our first year,” says Senior Director of Membership & Chapter Relations Bruce Lecair. “Her contributions make her more than worthy of this promotion to chapter director. Dominick and I are both proud and happy for her and look forward to another great year working together.”

VISIT WITH AFSA AT AFAA ANNUAL MEETING IN MAY

AFSA’s Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE, and Coordinator of Engineering & Technical Services Kevin Hall, M.Eng, P.E., ET, CWBSP, PMSFPE, will be presenting a “Fire Pump System Supervision” seminar at the Automatic Fire Alarm Association’s (AFAA) Annual Meeting and Codes Conference, May 3-5, 2022, in Palm Beach, Florida. AFSA will also have a booth in the exhibition hall, and Dominick Kasmauskas, CFPS, director of membership & chapter support, will be on hand to promote the association and its products and services. For more information and to register for the conference, visit afaa.org.

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER AFSA’S SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

From now until April 1, 2022, eligible high school seniors can visit afsascholarship.org to apply for one of AFSA’s high school scholarships.

Open to 2021-2022 high school seniors who want to pursue a college degree or trade school education, the scholarship offers the chance to win one of 10 scholarships. Applicants visit the website, read a short passage on fire protection and fire sprinklers, and answer questions about the reading.

Each correct answer offers one entry into the scholarship contest, with a total of eight entries possible per applicant! Winners are randomly selected to receive a one-time $2,000 AFSA scholarship payable to their respective college, university, or trade school. Visit afsascholarship.org.

BUILDING VALUE THROUGH SAFETY • Standpipe Plan Review Webinar firesprinkler.org/webinars

MAY 2022 3-5

• AFAA Annual Meeting & Codes Conference Palm Coast, FL afaa.org

Seminars subject to change. Call (214) 349-5965 to confirm locations and times.

For more events and details, visit firesprinkler.org and click on “Events” and “Events List.”

52 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

Have you visited afsasafetyportal.com yet? It’s AFSA’s member-only safety resource! This virtual library delivers accident-prevention and safety-related information to educate your staff, help prevent claims, and create a safe work environment. AFSA’s online Safety Portal is a customized safety website built with the specific needs of fire sprinkler contractors in mind. The Portal aims to address some of the key issues in fire sprinkler construction safety today, such as electrical safety, ladder safety, loss control, personal protection, and vehicle safety. Whether members are in need of OSHA regulations, workplace safety posters, or even loss statistics to better prepare their staff, AFSA’s Safety Portal helps to make your place of business and job-sites safe and compliant. To learn more, visit afsasafetyportal.com. n

CHAPTER NEWS LOUISIANA

In February 2022, the Louisiana Fire Sprinkler Association hosted AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS, who presented a seminar on fire sprinklers and water-based inspections. The training had a great turn out. Thank you to all who attended and made it a success. Visit lfsa.wildapricot.org.

NEW JERSEY

On February 15, 2022, the AFSA New Jersey Chapter held a meeting to discuss legislative updates. Additionally, members in attendance enjoyed a presentation by AFSA’s Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE, on “Updates to NFPA 13, NFPA 14, and NFPA 20.” Bill Phair of Ferguson Fire & Fabrication also presented to the chapter. Thank you to all who attended this meeting and made it a success. For more information about the chapter, contact Chair Thomas Bowlby, Jr. at (908) 226-5313 or Executive Director Victor Lugo at (201) 635-0400.

VIRGINIA

In February 2022, the AFSA Virginia Chapter members met in Richmond. The meeting provided committee updates and a discussion about upcoming projects, events, and training for 2022. Events include the chapter’s Burn Survivor Foundation Golf Tournament, which will be held at Williamsburg National Golf Course on October 5. Members have selected The Hope House in Fredericksburg as its community project for the year. The chapter is accepting donations for its estimated 26-head residential installation. The chapter will also host a career fair for high schools this spring.

The chapter had approximately 26 members in attendance!

Thank you so much to all who came and helped contribute to its success. Visit virginiaafsa.org. n

1

2

3

4

Photos 1 & 2: LFSA members welcomed AFSA President Bob Caputo to its February meeting where he presented on a seminar on fire sprinklers and water-based inspections.

Photo 3: The New Jersey Chapter held a legislative and NFPA standards update for members in February.

Photo 4: Virginia Chapter members met in February to discuss upcoming events for 2022.

SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 53

#MEMBERSMATTER!

O

ver the years, the United States has experienced too many tragic fires in residential high-rise occupancies. In a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study titled “U.S. High-Rise Building Fires Fact Sheet,” (nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statisticsand-reports/Fact-sheets/HighRiseFactSheet.pdf ) NFPA reports that from 2009 through 2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 14,500 structure fires per year in high-rise buildings. Of those fires, an average of 40 civilian deaths and 520 civilian injuries occurred each year. These fires resulted in an average of $154 million dollars in direct property damage. Sixty-two percent of all high-rise fires occurred in residential occupancies (apartments). While there have been many recent fires in the United States, including the recent needless loss of 17 lives in a Bronx, New York, building, there is little doubt that a bill to retrofit these occupancies where people are living with automatic fire sprinklers is long past overdue. The High-Rise Fire Safety Act of 2021 House Resolution 6192, introduced by Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) Dec 2021 and Senate Bill 3346, introduced by Senator Bennett (D-CO) in December 2021, address the need for tax relief when buildings are retrofitted with fire sprinklers and addresses the financial cost and cost recovery to building owners, which leaves this bill with little to debate. While we often focus on lives lost, there are several occupants and firefighters who have received injuries that may require months to a lifetime of medical and psychological care and monitoring, as well as the suffering these fires cause to their families and friends.

HR6192/S3346 very simply amends the “Internal Revenue Tax Code of 1986.” When passed and signed, the act will amend Section 168 with the present 39-year depreciation to a 15-year depreciation of an NFPA 13 automatic fire sprinkler system retrofit in a residential structure of 75 feet or more. The key points in the bill are that a property is a residential property and that “more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department access” is occupiable. With the current 39-year depreciation rate for an appropriate property owner’s tax filing, the tax incentive is not a very appealing item. Many property owners will probably be retired before they could possibly see the full return of their investment.

The proposed 15-year depreciation is a much better incentive making the investment in a valuable life safety fire sprinkler system more amenable to building owners.

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has created a Legislation webpage to keep members informed about the High-Rise Fire Safety Act and other legislative activity related to the fire sprinkler industry at firesprinkler.

54 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

AFSA has created a legislation webpage to keep members informed about the High-Rise Fire Safety Act and other legislative activity related to the fire sprinkler industry. org/legislation. Check out the site today to sign up for legislative alerts, find current legislation in your area, and find your elected officials and political office candidates.

AFSA and its Legislative Committee are asking members to support this legislation. Visit firesprinkler.org/legislation and click on “Please Support the High-Rise Fire Safety Act” to send a message of support to your elected officials. It’s easy, kind of fun, and only takes a couple of minutes of your time.

The Membership & Chapter Development team has also sent a notice through our legislative Voter Voice platform to all of our AFSA leaders and asked them to forward the information to their members, stakeholders, and other contacts. Thank you for your membership and participation in this important cause.

We are excited about the launch of our Legislative webpage and expanding our involvement in the legislative process. We encourage you, our members, to join us as we work to improve the fire sprinkler industry through the legislative arena. n

BRUCE LECAIR AFSA SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP & CHAPTER SUPPORT

AFSA NEW MEMBERS New members as of March 1, 2022.

CONTRACTORS

DESIGNERS

AHJS

Adam Vander Leest Ackney, IA

Peter Salgado Brea, CA

Allied Fire Protection, LLC Hanceville, AL

CFP Fire Protection Irvine, CA

Ariana Kistner Rockwall, TX

Robert Upson Aiken, SC

Backwater Solutions, LLC Lenoir, NC

Control Fire Protection, Inc. Bakersfield, CA

Brandon Paine Monroe, LA

Ryan Dullea Belmar, Nj

Capitol Fire Protection Co., Inc. Loudon, NH

Firepak, Inc. Miami, FL

Brelin Chisley Monroe, LA

Sarah Glover Columbia, TN

Hunton Group/Convergentz Houston, TX

Fire Sprinkler Podcast Corunna, ON, Canada

Bruce Samson San Francisco, CA

Shannon Shaver Zachary, LA

Jacobs Sprinkler Design, Inc. Columbia, MD

Foster Engineering and Consulting Columbia, SC

Charles Youngblood Hphzibah, GA

Terrance Taylor Monroe, LA

Mountain State Fire Protection, LLC Mesa, AZ

Hatcher Engineering Plant City, FL

Craig Vesely Madison, WI

Thomas Clem Lewiston, MI

Paladin Fire Protection League City, TX

Jacob Hittle Designs Little Elm, TX

Dan Heller Rockledge, FL

Performance Fire Systems, Inc. Garden Grove, CA

Koetter Fire Protection of Austin, LLC Pflugerville, TX

David Cross Henderson, NV

Powers Fire Protection Putney, VT

MeyerFire Ellisville, MO

Donald Brewer Pendleton, SC

S&B Fire Protection Nampa, ID

SprinkFire Design Abrams, WI

Donald Ferguson League City, TX

STAT Fire Sprinkler, Inc. Ronkonkoma, NY

Vertical Fire Design, LLC. Prescott Valley, AZ

Douglas Carter Rockledge, FL

A&A Fire Protection Vernon, CA

Advantage Fire Company Bakersfield, CA

Timber Products Medford, OR

Douglas Wahl Charleston, SC

Wyoming Fire Protection, Inc. Cheyenne, WY

Eric Carlson Austin, TX Frank Borrelli Sarver, PA Gabriel Cabrera Terrell, TX Gary Wilmes Wentzville, MO Jairus Thomas Monroe, LA John Wagner Concord, NC Luis Gomes El Dorado Hills, CA Matthew Morley Rochester, NY Monica Burdine Jefferson, LA

SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 55

AFSA CHAPTERS ALABAMA

alfiresprinkler.org Hunter Brendle – Pres.

334-270-8571 Greg Willis – Exec. Dir. 334-567-4257

ARIZONA

Jason Williams – Chair 480-421-8411 Makenna Leathers – Exec Dir. 804-222-1381

ARKANSAS

David Nabors– Chair 501-225-4910 Coleman Farrar – Exec. Dir. 479-461-3863

CAROLINAS

afsacarolinaschapter.com Jason Graham – Chair 919-243-2469 John Turnage – Exec. Dir. 919-624-3456

CHESAPEAKE BAY

afsachesapeakechapter.org Jason Martin – Chair 240-848-2710 Danielle Fowler – Exec. Dir. 410-972-1122

COLORADO

GREATER BAY AREA

afsacoloradochapter.org Roger Wallace – Chair 719-337-6550 Kim Cook – Exec. Dir. 704-213-4368

afsa-gba.org Dave Karrick – Chair 925-417-5550 Alicia Karrick - Exec. Dir. 510-398-9185

CONNECTICUT

afsadfwchapter.org CJ Bonczyk – Chair 817-529-1693

ILLINOIS-INDIANA

Sklyer Bilbo – Chair 217-342-2242 Mitch Bortner – Vice Chair 206-348-0078

FLORIDA

afsafl.org Suzanne Saults – Chair 727-556-2790 Jessica Cox – Exec. Dir. 813-784-3624

LOUISIANA

lfsa.wildapricot.org Randy Laguna – Chair 504-464-6236 ext 224 Ellen Ballard – Exec. Dir. 318-688-8800

GEORGIA

georgiafiresprinkler.org Allen Cagle – Chair 770-554-5285 Bonnie Pinson – Exec. Dir. 770-310-2754

MICHIGAN

afsamichiganchapter.org Doug Irvine, Jr. – Chair 616-784-1644

AFSA AFFILIATE MEMBERS

OKLAHOMA AFFILIATE

ofsa.info Tim Hollon – Pres.

918-851-2416

afsapatriot.org Chad Dubuc – Chair 508-431-9938

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

socalafsa.com Jeff Bridges – Chair 941-413-0526

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

TENNESSEE

Thomas Bowlby, Jr. – Chair 908-226-5313 Victor Lugo – Exec. Dir. 201-635-0400

sacvalleyafsa.org Jordan Hopkins – Chair 916-672-8415 Paulene Norwood – Exec. Dir. 916-296-0635

NEW MEXICO

SAN DIEGO

UPSTATE NEW YORK

NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND

SCHUYLKILL

UTAH ROCKY MOUNTAIN

NEW JERSEY

Mark McKenzie – Chair 913-432-6688 Brett Heinrich – Exec. Dir. 785-825-7710

DALLASFORT WORTH

PATRIOT

Marc Huag – Chair 701-232-7008 Tina Hoff - Exec. Dir. 701-799-1899

GREATER KANSAS CITY

afsact.org Rick Russo, Jr. – Chair 203-877-7983

MINNESOTADAKOTAS

Paul Chavez – Chair 505-898-9197 Jeriod Towery – Vice Chair505-410-4007

Scott Uren – Chair 858-722-1470 Rhonda Gudger – Exec. Dir. 951-326-4600 afsamac.org Christopher M. Campion, Jr. – Chair 732-798-0911 Carly English – Exec. Dir.

Ryan Gadhue – Chair 802-865-3600

OHIO

afsaoh.org Bill Hausmann – Chair 937-859-6198 Scott Huber – Exec. Dir. 513-942-1500

SOUTH CAROLINA

scfsa.org Nikki Ray – Chair 864-207-8545 Ashley McAdams – Exec. Dir. 864-561-4088

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

afsatennesseechapter.org Casey Milhorn – Chair 615-349-5278 David Pulliam– Exec. Dir. 901-484-0605

afsaupstatenychapter.org Justin Petcosky – Chair 607-296-7969

afsautahchapter.org Mark Winder, Jr. – Chair 385-630-8064 Brent Heiner – Exec. Dir. 801-544-0363

VIRGINIA

virginiaafsa.com Bob Beckwith – Chair 540-659-4675 Steve McGee – Exec. Dir. 757-544-0520

afsanw.org Chris Russell – Chair 360-734-4940 Ron Greenman – Exec. Dir. 253-576-9700

TEXAS AFFILIATE

fscatx.org David Stone – Pres.

713-466-9898 Sarah Kiefer – Exec. Dir. 512-844-6632

Pacific

Northw

est

Sacramento Valley Greater Bay

Michigan

Utah

Southern California

San Diego

d n er lan rth ng Upstate No w E e New York N Patriot Connecticut New Jersey Schuylkill

Minnesota-Dakotas

Arizona

Colorado

New Mexico

Indiana-Illinois

Greater Kansas City Oklahoma (Affiliate)

Arkansas

Dallas Fort Worth

Alabama Louisiana

Chesapeake Bay Virginia Carolinas

South Carolina Georgia gia

id

or

Fl

Texas (Affiliate)

Tennessee

Ohio

a

56 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

U.S. CONSTRUCTION REPORTS

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION FLAT IN DECEMBER

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION INCREASE IN JANUARY

MONTHLY SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE

MONTHLY SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE

MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, In Millions Dec. 2021 Nov. 2021 Nonresidential Building $284,311 $275,804 Residential Building $428,997 $414,381 Nonbuilding Construction $166,020 $188,043 Total Construction $879,328 $878,228

MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, In Millions Jan. 2022 Dec. 2021 Nonresidential Building $293,656 $282,606 Residential Building $430,911 $436,854 Nonbuilding Construction $198,873 $167,953 Total Construction $923,440 $887,413

Total construction starts were flat in December with a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $879.3 billion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Residential construction starts gained 4 percent in December 2021, while nonresidential building starts improved by 3 percent. Nonbuilding starts, however, declined 12 percent.

Across 2021, total construction starts rose by 12 percent compared to 2020. Residential starts moved 20 percent higher, and nonresidential buildings increased 12 percent. Nonbuilding starts were flat in 2021. n

Total construction starts increased 4 percent in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $923.4 billion, according to Dodge Construction Network.

Nonresidential building starts increased 4 percent, and nonbuilding starts rose 18 percent. Residential starts fell 1 percent. Compared to one year ago, total construction was 8 percent higher in January 2022 than in January 2021. Nonresidential building starts were up 14 percent, nonbuilding starts rose 12 percent and residential starts gained 2 percent. For the 12 months ending January 2022, total construction starts were 13 percent above the 12 months ending January 2021. Nonresidential starts were 14 percent higher, residential starts gained 19 percent, and nonbuilding starts were up 3 percent. n

Prepared by Dodge Data & Analytics

Nonresidential Building Residential Building Nonbuilding Construction Total Construction

% Change 3 4 -12 0

Prepared by Dodge Data & Analytics

THE DODGE INDEX (Year 2000=100, Seasonally Adjusted) December 2021....................186 November 2021...................186

THE DODGE INDEX (Year 2000=100, Seasonally Adjusted) January 2022.............................195 December 2021.........................188

FULL YEAR CONSTRUCTION STARTS Unadjusted Totals, In Millions 2021 2020 $285,560 $255,994 $421,565 $351,889 $193,852 $192,986 $900,977 $800,869

YEAR AGO CONSTRUCTION STARTS Unadjusted Totals, In Millions 2022 2021 $22,349 $19,520 $32,557 $31,943 $15,050 $13,414 $69,956 $64,877

% Change 12 20 0 12

Nonresidential Building Residential Building Nonbuilding Construction Total Construction

% Change 4 -1 18 4

% Change 14 2 12 13

INDUSTRY LEADING TR AINING FIRE SPRINKLER FITTER APPRENTICE TRAINING Levels I-IV Recognized curriculum in all 50 states Customizable to fit your company’s needs Nearly 600 training hours Streamlined online testing with 24/7 access Online access to student history and grades

AFSA members save over 30% per course

www.firesprinkler.org/fittertraining SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 57

PRODUCT NEWS ARMSTRONG LAUNCHES MEDIUM RANGE LINE OF PERMANENT MAGNET PUMPS

Armstrong Fluid Technology has introduced a new size range of design envelope permanent magnet pumps that are engineered to deliver 20-percent lower operating costs than variable speed pumps with standard induction motors.

The new pumps are available with motors ranging from 15 hp to 50 hp, and operate at NEMA UltraPremium Efficiency levels that exceed the efficiency targets of both the U.S. Department of Energy and the European Union.

Beyond the motor efficiency, a number of additional design innovations make the new design envelope pumps more energy-efficient and cost-effective: • Armstrong’s patented Parallel Sensorless Control stages multiple pumps and regulates output for best efficiency across the entire pump array, saving 10-30 percent in operating costs.

• Adjustable design points and setpoint based on the actual on-site conditions.

• A quadratic pressure control curve that provides more efficiency than a linear pressure control curve.

• A constant-flow function for maintaining a desired flow rate in recirculation applications.

• Advanced connectivity via Armstrong’s Pump Manager, a cloudbased performance tracking service, provides analytics and insights along with alerts, alarms and data storage To learn more, visit armstrongfluidtechnology.com.

ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS™ INTRODUCES UNIVERSAL STRUCTURAL BRACE ATTACHMENT

ASC Engineered Solutions has introduced the AF720 Afcon® universal structural brace attachment, designed for use as the structural attachment component of a complete sway brace assembly for fire protection systems. Made of ductile iron with carbon steel hardware, the AF720 brace attachment can attach to any structural steel member from 1/8-in. to 3/ 4-in. thick, including I-beams, bar joists, steel trusses, or steel columns. AF720 rigidly braces piping systems that are subjected to horizontal and vertical seismic loads.

The AF720 universal brace attachment has the highest UL listed load rating in the industry for similar structural attachments. It is cULus Listed (ANSI/UL 203a) and FM Approved. (FM 1950-13). It also complies with NFPA 13, ASCE 7, IBC & MSS SP-27 bracing requirements. The AF720 is ready for installation right out of the box; it comes with all required installation hardware. It can be installed fast, saving time and money. The AF720 universal brace provides built-in visual verification that the required installation

58 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

torque on set screws has been met. (Note: The AF270 is for use only with other ASC Engineered brand components for a Listed seismic bracing assembly.)

Proudly made in the USA, the AF720 complies with the Buy America, Buy American, and American Iron & Steel Act (AIS) program requirements. To learn more, visit asc-es.com.

INDUSTRY-FIRST UL CERTIFIED TYCO LEAD-FREE RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER

Johnson Controls has launched the Tyco Series LFII Residential 4.9 K-factor Lead-Free for 13D sprinkler. The concealed pendent sprinkler is manufactured with a polymeric material that carries anti-heat and anti-corrosion properties, making it ideal for long-lasting dependable fire protection in residential occupancies. It is the first fire sprinkler to be certified to ANSI/UL 199, Standard for Automatic Sprinklers for Fire-Protection Service, specific to the use of polymer-based materials, by UL. The Tyco LFII 4.9K Lead-Free for 13D sprinkler is intended for use in wet pipe residential sprinkler systems for one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes per NFPA 13D. It is also certified to NSF 372 and NSF 61 to ensure compatibility with safe drinking water and lead-free plumbing requirements.

The Tyco Series LFII 4.9K Lead-Free for 13D Concealed Pendent sprinkler is available in both ordinary 155°F (68°C) and intermediate 200°F (93°C) temperature configurations. The sprinkler and cover plate assembly allows for adjustment up to 3/4 in., which provides additional flexibility with residential installations.

The Tyco Series LFII 4.9K Lead-Free for 13D Concealed Pendent sprinkler complements a full line of Johnson Controls fire suppression products. Together, they help serve the company’s mission of reimagining building performance to support healthy people, healthy places and a healthy planet. Learn more at tyco-fire.com. n

Help us Sound the Alarm about fire safety.

Every day 7 people die in home fires. You can help change that.

This spring, the American Red Cross will team up with fire departments, volunteers, and partners like AFSA to Sound the Alarm with home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events. Volunteers will install 100,000 free smoke alarms in more than 100 at-risk communities across the country.

Help us Sound the Alarm about fire safety.

us millions preventabout thesethe needless tragedies all 50fire states.

Help Help educate life-saving benefits in of home sprinklers.

The American Fire Sprinkler Association has partnered with the American Red Cross Join AFSA in supporting the Red Cross Home Campaign: Campaign. to include fire sprinklers in their nationwide Home FireFire Preparedness donate at www.redcross.org/afsa-pub or sign up volunteer at an event in your community.

Be a part of this historic to effort to educate millions about home fire sprinklers, by helping us raise $10,000 to include sprinklers in this campaign.

Donate online at www.redcross.org/afsa-pub To donate go to www.redcross.org/afsa-pub or volunteer at SoundTheAlarm.org.

We make lives better through Home Care

156101-11 1/18

INDUSTRY NEWS ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS ACQUIRES VEP

ASC Engineered Solutions (formerly Anvil & Smith-Cooper International) has acquired Value Engineered Products (VEP) of Denver, Colorado. Value Engineered Products (VEP) offers the plumbing, mechanical, and industrial piping industries a series of insulated pipe supports designed to meet the broadest range of applications and piping material types, such as hot piping from 120 °F to 1200 °F to cold piping from -250 °F to 225 °F. Founded in 1990, VEP provides a patented shield product designed for all types of piping, as well as seismic applications, and has built its reputation on providing responsive customer service and innovative product design. To learn more, visit ASC’s website at asc-es.com.

CELEBRATE 125 YEARS WITH REED MANUFACTURING

Reed Manufacturing in Erie, Pennsylvania, is celebrating 125 years of supplying industry with the highest-quality pipe tools and vises for the professional trades. Carl Reed, scion of one of Erie’s pioneer families, along with three partners, started the business in 1896. REED started by manufacturing pipe wrenches and plumbing supplies, as is still the case, but also scales, bicycles, and laundry machinery. In 1902 Reuben Wright of Westfield, New York (a mere 35 miles from Erie), who had created his fortune by selling supplies to forty-niners during the Gold Rush and added to it with lumber interests, bought Reed Manufacturing and installed his sons to run the business. His great-great grandsons Scott (company president and chairman of the board) and Mark (retired and board member) are actively involved with REED to this day.

IN MEMORIAM: OLIN L. GREENE

Members and staff of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) were saddened to learn that Olin L. Greene, 85, passed away in Talla-

hassee, Florida, on February 22, 2022, after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Lourdes Greene; sister, Barbara Kruse; children, Robin Alvarez (Bill), Olin “Kelly” Greene (Terrie), Todd Greene, Ryan W. Clanton (Kendra); grandchildren, Chris Alvarez (Liz), Lesley Lewis (Chris), Lindsey Courson (Clay), Randi Davis, Ryan Wyatt Clanton; great grandchildren, Landon Alvarez, Megan and Michael Lewis, Kendall and Brielle Alvarez, Camden and Collin Courson, Hayden Davis, Hunter and Mason Russell.

After personally experiencing the trauma of a fire that consumed his own home, Greene began his career as a firefighter with the City of Miami. He advanced through the ranks and was appointed director of the Division of State Fire Marshal in Tallahassee in 1973.

In 1983, Greene moved to Oregon where he also served as state fire marshal for six years. In 1990, Greene was unanimously confirmed as the U.S. Fire Administrator , becoming the first state fire marshal ever to hold the nation’s highest fire safety position. He served the country with distinction and a steady hand, helping to guide it through several natural disasters and spearheading the passage of landmark fire safety legislation through Congress. When President Bush left office, Greene stepped down from USFA and joined the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He spent 15 years there as a regional manager with responsibility for 26 states.

In 2008, the National Association of Fire Marshals (NASFM) established the “Olin Greene Outstanding Fire Prevention Service Award” and Greene was honored as its first recipient. He was also the first state fire marshal to serve in two states—Florida and Oregon.

In 2009, AFSA selected him for the Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year award.

A celebration of Greene’s life will be held on April 2, 2022, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at The Retreat at Bradley’s Pond. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent in his name to Phoenix Society For Burn Survivors at phoenix-society.org. n

60 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022

REED tools were used in the construction of the Panama Canal. Subsequently in 1915, REED bench vises were awarded a gold medal and REED pipe dies received a bronze medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. A distantly related pair of Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, used a REED vise in their Dayton bicycle/aviation shop. REED was a defense contractor during both world wars, turning out stocks, dies, and pipe cutters in the Great War and wrenches, turbine buckets, and airplane engine mounts for World War II. Additionally, the REED Shaw Machine for pressing collars was installed in all Navy ships and could be found in most commercial laundries across the United States. REED was exporting from early in its existence with relationships in Europe and beyond.

Today REED sells into over 100 countries. Still housed in the historic building at 1425 West 8th Street, REED remains an Erie landmark.

From the company’s beginning, REED associates have invented tools that continually become industry standards, including the Quick Release™ Tubing Cutter, various tools for plastic pipe, vises, plus Hinged Pipe Cutters and Rotary Pipe Cutters. Each year REED makes enduser driven improvements and refinements to existing tools. Recent tool additions include Pump Stick® water transfer pump, Clean Ream Extreme® fitting reamers, Bevel Boss™ pipe beveler, Bear Hug™ squeeze tools, along with continuous improvements to long-standing tools. REED takes pride in manufacturing high quality tools that provide tool solutions.

The secret of REED’s continuing, increasing success can be attributed to its corporate cul-

ture of excellence and the quality of its company associates, who are individually committed to exceptional performance and service. Over the past century and a quarter, Reed Manufacturing tirelessly has worked for the betterment of Erie County, through the United Way and its predecessor the Community Chest. REED and its employees have supported dozens of organizations in categories from the arts to scouting to reducing poverty to medical causes. REED people, products, and service will continue to excel. REED is forward-thinking and will continue to improve its customer offerings throughout each of its next 125-plus years. To learn more, visit reedmfgco.com.

SAFETY STAND DOWN 2022 ANNOUNCED

Situational awareness is a critical component of emergency response operations. It is a process that helps firefighters solve problems, prevent bad outcomes, and make better decisions in high stress environments. In recognition of its importance, the theme of the 2022 Safety Stand Down campaign is “Situational Awareness: The Foundation for Good Decision-Making.”

A joint initiative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Safety, Health and Survival Section, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) , this year’s Safety Stand Down program will take place June 19-25. Responder agencies are encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activities during this week to focus on training and education related to situational awareness.

The week will be broken down into five daily focus areas to highlight situational awareness during different incident types: structure fires, EMS, wildland incidents, roadway response, and acts of violence. Resources, training videos, and a PowerPoint presentation will be made available prior to the week on the Safety Stand Down web site at safetystanddown.org to help departments plan for and implement Safety Stand Down strategies.

In addition, the NFPA will once again host the Fire Service Safety Stand Down Quiz to raise awareness and foster a greater understanding of this year’s theme. Everyone who completes

the online quiz will be automatically entered into a sweepstakes; 200 randomly selected participants will win a commemorative Safety Stand Down challenge coin. To learn more, visit safetystanddown.org.

SFPE LAUNCHES FREE DIGITAL NEWS BRIEFS

To provide direct access to the latest news, trends, and developments on fire protection and fire safety engineering, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) has launched three free digital news briefs. Working with the publishing team at Multiview, the new SFPE digital news briefs include: • SFPE Weekly News Brief­—a customized weekly news brief published every Thursday that includes a hand-curated selection of industry news and SFPE updates; • SFPE Europe News Brief—a twice-monthly supplement to the SFPE Europe digital magazine that includes industry news, SFPE updates, and activities from SFPE chapters throughout Europe; and • SFPE Foundation Monthly News Brief— a news brief published the third Tuesday of each month that includes funding opportunities, re-

search, academic updates, and news related to the scientific understanding of fire and its interaction with the natural and built environments.

To learn more visit sfpe.org/newsbriefs.

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT SURGES TO NEAR PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS

The construction industry added 60,000 jobs on net in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered virtually all (99.0 percent) of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic.

Nonresidential construction employment increased by 29,400 positions in February, with all three subsectors experiencing growth, and is up 3.9 percent over the past twelve months.

The residential sector added 31,000 in February and is up 4.5 percent since February 2021.

The construction unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent in February. Unemployment across all industries declined to 3.8 percent, down from 4.0 percent in January.

“Bottom line: The U.S. economy is charging into the post-pandemic world with significant momentum, and nonresidential

Is it Time to Sell Your Business?

Do You Need a Transition Plan for Your Business?

George Wagner and Spencer Hines served as exclusive financial advisors to Twin City Sprinkler in its sale to SuperHero Fire Protection, LLC, a Hidden Harbor Capital Partners portfolio company.

Twin City Sprinkler is a leading market provider of fire and life services to commercial and industrial companies in central North Carolina. SuperHero is a regional leader in fire and safety installation and service to multi-family and commercial markets in the southeastern U. S. Hidden Harbor is a private equity firm which brings large-scale, private equity experience to the lower and middle markets.

George Wagner and Spencer Hines are a partnership which specializes in assisting closely held, private companies in transitions of ownership. While it deals with multiple types of businesses, it has an emphasis in fire sprinkler companies because of years of personal experience and operational knowledge throughout the industry.

For more information on transitioning or selling your business, contact us today to design a plan customized to your needs.

(804) 514-3154 • wagnerg@mindspring.com SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2022 61

INDUSTRY NEWS CONT. construction is part of that story,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “At the heart of America’s economic momentum is rapid workforce growth, with more people reentering the workforce to take advantage of higher wages and to better contend with rapidly rising prices.

“Evidence indicates that contractors have had a somewhat easier time filling available positions recently,” said Basu. “There are also indications that supply chain issues have improved

slightly, though the Ukraine/Russia war may create new issues on that front. With demand strong and the supply side of the economy in repair, 2022 is setting up to be a strong year for contractors. At some point, federal infrastructure dollars will begin to flow more freely, and that will help support additional contractor backlog, which declined to 8.0 months in ABC’s latest Construction Backlog Indicator report.

“But there remain many reasons for concern,” said Basu. “Despite stepped-up federal

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investment in infrastructure, overall federal spending will be down sharply in 2022, creating substantial fiscal drag. Inflation has been draining households of accumulated savings and could trigger rapid slowing in consumer outlays. Interest rates are poised to rise as the Federal Reserve readies itself to deal more forcefully with what has turned out to be nontransitory inflation. Elevated oil prices are likely already doing damage to the economy, damage that is not yet apparent in key macroeconomic indicators. Elevated oil and other prices are also driving the cost of delivering construction services higher, which could result in the postponement or cancellation of some projects.”

Visit abc.org/economics for the Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index, plus analysis of spending, employment, GDP and the Producer Price Index. n

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