26 REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION
MAY/JUN 2021
SPRINKLER AGE
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION
VOL 40/03
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MAY / JUN 2021 VOL 40/03
FEATURES 12 | GIVE ME A BREAK
Sizing Break Tanks in Accordance with NFPA 22
14 | TEXAS-SIZED TRAINING AT AFSA40
Over 50 Industry Experts to Present Over 60 Seminars
20 | SFPE POSITION STATEMENT: ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
“The Engineer and the Engineering Technician Designing Fire Protection Systems”
24 | MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS
Why Monitoring Legislation is a Critical Association Service
26 | REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION
Training, Education Programs Help Build the Future of Your Company
30 | FIRE FLOW TESTING AND MARKING OF HYDRANTS
Recommended Practices Updated for NFPA 291, 2022 Edition
32 | HONORING FIRE PROTECTION INDUSTRY LEADERS
Nearly 40 Years of Recognizing Henry S. Parmelee Award Recipients
34 | CELEBRATING WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Reliable Shares Insights
36 | TRAINING FOR APPRENTICES, ITM TECHNICIANS, AND MORE
Programs to Meet Your Education Needs
39 | NFPA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS
Recognizing Over a Century of Protecting People and Property
41 | AFSA WELCOMES ILLINOIS-INDIANA CHAPTER
Newest Chapter Gathers Members in the Midwest
42 | THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Members Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries
ON THE COVER: AFSA’s ITM Inspector Development Program students witness and participate in a fire pump test at General Air’s training facility to determine the available water supply.
6 CHAIR’S MESSAGE 8 PRESIDENT’S REPORT 10 FLASHPOINT 44 AFSA NEWS 44 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 45 CHAPTER NEWS 45 ASSOCIATION NEWS 46 AFSA CHAPTERS 47 NEW MEMBERS 48 AHJ CHALLENGE 48 DESIGNER’S CHALLENGE 48 FITTER’S CHALLENGE 49 ITM CHALLENGE 51 INDUSTRY NEWS 52 PEOPLE IN THE NEWS 53 PRODUCT NEWS 54 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 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,
12750 Merit Drive, Suite 350, Dallas, Texas 75251.
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SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 5
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
EDITORIAL: 214-349-5965
A
BOB CAPUTO, CFPS, Publisher, ext. 124
bcaputo@firesprinkler.org
s you read this, spring will have arrived; it is a time of growth, of renewal, of change. There is a feeling of optimism in the air as we cautiously reopen our country: baseball fans are back in their seats at stadiums, live events are on the books, and children are returning to school. But if we have learned anything from the past year it is that nothing is predictable. Our optimism must be cautious as snow showers can still happen during springtime, or, as Mark Twain put it, “In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” What excites me right now is the pace at which we continue to build and the extent to which we are finally having a serious conversation about our country’s infrastructure. If the current plan passes, there will be no shortage of building for the foreseeable future. In addition, COVID has caused many to rethink what buildings can be. Some in the real estate market foresee converting office buildings into apartments or multipurpose buildings where people will live, work, and play, all in one location. Our challenge will be to meet this demand for new and repurposed buildings. We can only do that through effective training and education combined with effective recruitment of new members into the trade. I am glad to report the success of our online training and the training we offered at regional hubs across the country. These opportunities allowed you to upskill and reskill from the comfort of your home or with less traveling than in the past, surely saving you time and money. Your training will be key as new codes come onto the books and new purposes are found for older buildings. Those who take the time now to update their training will be ready for whatever new opportunity the building industry brings. However, as much as you take care of training for yourself and your staff, there is still the problem of a shortage of people wanting to go into the trades for a career. With the extension of unemployment benefits and the additional free money from the Federal Government, it is virtually impossible to get young people off the couch and into a job. As employers, we must find ways to motivate people into wanting to learn a trade. The Federal Government and its giveaway programs will only encourage a continued sense of entitlement. We have seen fewer opportunities to get into schools to talk to young people about their paths in life; we have not had the chances like in previous years to extol the virtue of hard work. But the opportunities are still there—if we are unable to talk to the young people about their careers, what about the people in our lives who are considering a career change? What about those looking to the gig economy? Why not offer them a chance to build something each day? It is incumbent upon each of us to tell others in our lives about the benefits of being part of a trade. I urge you to share your success and passion for your job so that others might join us and strengthen our industry. I am cautiously optimistic about our future. I know that it can still rain or snow during spring. Reopening the rest of our economy will rely upon the collective individual responsibility of each of us doing our part. But I have the utmost confidence in each of you, our members, to take on our future with the training and passion that you bring to your work each day. n
D’ARCY G. MONTALVO, Editor, ext. 115;
dmontalvo@firesprinkler.org
ADVERTISING: 214-349-5965
REBECCA HERRING, Communications Coordinator, ext. 134;
rherring@firesprinkler.org
CIRCULATION: 214-349-5965
REBECCA HERRING, Communications Coordinator, ext. 134;
rherring@firesprinkler.org
AFSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS TED WILLS, Chair, 610-754-7836
JACK A. MEDOVICH, P.E., First Vice Chair, 410-787-0639 LINDA M. BIERNACKI, Second Vice Chair, 318-841-0330 PAUL DELORIE, Treasurer, 603-432-8221 JEFF PHIFER, Secretary, 803-438-2994
WAYNE WEISZ, Immediate Past Chair, 209-334-9119 DWIGHT BATEMAN, 713-910-3242 ROD DIBONA, 605-348-2342 LYLE HALL, 858-513-4949
R. DONALD (DON) KAUFMAN, 505-884-2447 CHRIS JOHNSON, 727-581-9339
MICHAEL F. MEEHAN, 757-213-3660 JAY STRICKLAND, 301-474-1136
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, Senior Director, Meeting & Education Services, ext. 118 LESLIE CLOUNTS, Director, Education Services, ext. 130 ROGER GRAGG, Director, Marketing & Information Technology, ext. 116 BRUCE LECAIR, Director, Membership & Chapter Support, ext. 139
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 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.
TED WILLS AFSA BOARD CHAIR
6 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
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PRESIDENT’S REPORT
“
Where are we headed?” Perhaps it’s one of life’s deepest and most asked questions of ourselves and of others around us about life in general. Certainly, it’s an appropriate question for our association. Where is the industry headed? Where is your company headed? How are COVID-19 and its related issues impacting the health of your company and our industry? What are the key issues and concerns as we move forward? You might be surprised, but the answer to any one or all of these questions is really a simple one. Like the answer to all fire protection questions, the honest answer is, “It depends.” A lot depends on how we chose to see it, and a lot less depends on what is happening to us. BS (British Standards), you say? Why are today’s circumstances different than other challenges you encountered when starting a new job or a business? Obstacles are always present. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it and making lots more money than we are now. But yes, these obstacles are real, and the challenges we face collectively are very real. Being Captain Obvious, let me start with the political climate. It’s no secret that the current administration supports organized labor and their unions. The result of their partnership is the realistic expectation of legislative changes that support organized labor and a federal government willing to push your tax dollars toward prevailing wage projects. The fact is that labor unions have done a good job in decades past of creating safer working factories and construction sites, getting fair wages and benefits along with other positive workplace changes. Today we have laws that protect worker’s rights and wages, and a free enterprise system ensures fair pay for deserving workers who are free to move on when they feel they’re poorly treated by a short-sighted company or boss. Make no mistake, organized labor and its leadership know how to play the legislative game, and they have specific goals and a solid game plan in mind. Union labor’s participation in construction has been deteriorating for many years, and today, only about 15 percent of construction is performed by union labor. Regardless of the statistics, this is a fight we cannot ignore or take for granted. Fitter licensing, certification, Inspector licensing, and registered apprenticeship programs are all a part of the chess game being played out around you. Your AFSA staff is monitoring and actively responding to legislative activities, and we hope you will take the time to contact your elected officials when we alert the membership to issues impacting our markets. Training is the key to winning this game in the long term—real training for pipe fitters and apprentices to fill the pipeline with well-trained and qualified people to perform the work available in our growing industry. This cannot be a check box to meet a legislated policy or to have a competitive edge on prevailing wage work. The type of work our members chose to bid or perform has nothing to do with the need for real training
8 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
and continuing education programs in design, installation, and ITM services. We hear some of our members talk about a slowing economy or less work due to the impact of COVID-19 and the economic shutdown of 2020. Yet, I hear others in the same regions tell me they’ve never been busier. It’s interesting to consider the dichotomy of member backlogs and shifting vertical markets. We hear about rising steel prices, a shortage of resin for plastic materials, and a host of concerns. As this edition goes to press, there is a lot of optimism related to herd immunity and the declining death rates associated with this pandemic. Your Board of Directors recently approved the formation (or reformation) of a national apprenticeship program to be managed and administered in the Dallas office. While many of our members already have an approved federal program, this will allow others to participate in a collective program with managerial fees where it makes more sense to have AFSA National doing the job rather than doing it in-house. This new national program will take a few months to establish with the Department of Labor and will require AFSA to form an apprenticeship committee. In addition, AFSA is developing new virtual classroom training to assist in delivering related technical instruction (RTI), and we will need to enlist instructors for this program. We plan to roll out both programs in the fall. Interested parties should reach out to AFSA’s Director of Education Leslie Clounts via email at lclounts@firesprinkler.org. This is a very exciting direction for AFSA, and we hope to see many of our members take advantage of these two new exciting programs. Lastly, AFSA40 in San Antonio is shaping up to be an incredible opportunity for us all. Exciting entertainment and killer venues, along with a great lineup of programs and opportunities, promise to make this the event of the year for this industry. If the number of early registrations and booth reservations for the exhibit hall are any indication, we’re planning to see record numbers of attendees. We hope to see you there! n
BOB CAPUTO, CFPS AFSA PRESIDENT
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FLASHPOINT he topic of this month’s column is simple and short. Your attention and assistance are needed on an issue occurring with the development of the 2022 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. The 2022 edition is almost finalized. Using a football analogy, we are in the fourth quarter with less than two minutes on the clock. We are down to our final push to score to win the game. The AFSA technical staff, with the full support of the Board of Directors, is requesting all members and friends assist “us” in overturning new language, which has been accepted in the 2022 edition of NFPA 13. This new proposed language is as follows: (All bold red text is added new language) 4.5 Water Supply Information. 4.5.1 Water Supply Capacity Information. The following information shall be included: 1. Location and elevation of static and residual test gauge and flow hydrant(s) with relation to the riser reference point 2. Flow location 3. Static pressure, psi (bar) 4. Residual pressure, psi (bar) 5. Flow, gpm (L/min) 6. Date 7. Time 8. Name of person who conducted the test or supplied the information 9. Other sources of water supply, with pressure or elevation 4.5.1.2 Where a waterflow test is used for the purposes of system design, the test shall be conducted no more than 12 months prior to working plan submittal unless otherwise approved by the authority having jurisdiction. A.4.5.1.2 Alternative means of determining available water supplies should be considered where drought or other concerns are present. 5.2.2.2.2.1* The evaluation shall be based on knowledge of the water supply and engineering judgment and shall consider daily and seasonal fluctuations, not extreme conditions. A.5.2.2.2.2.1 The evaluation to determine whether an adjustment should be made and the size of such an adjustment should consider the following variables, applicable to different degrees depending on how and when the test was conducted: 1. Maximum daily use of the water supply 2. Peak hour demand of the water supply 3. Water supply degradation due to planned development 4. Time of day the test was conducted 5. Time of year the test was conducted 6. Elevation of the test location compared to the building where the sprinkler system will be installed 7. Elevation of the water supply at the time of the test 8. How close the flow generated during the test was to the system demand There is no single specific adjustment applied to a water supply that would be appropriate for every sprinkler system. The
10 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
Mark Your Calendar! Key Dates:
• May 19 – July 2: Registration for Voting Registration closes 12:00 noon Eastern Time on July 2 • May 27: Critical Changes to NFPA 13, 2022 Edition Webinar • June 14-25: Electronic Debate Debate closes 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 25 • June 28-July 2: Voting of CAMs Voting concludes 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 2 • July 6: Posting of Voting Results
design professional needs to work in conjunction with the authority having jurisdiction to determine the appropriate adjustment. Where an authority having jurisdiction has already determined a specific buffer between test results and the demand of the sprinkler system, it is not the intent of this standard to add an additional safety factor or safety margin; the buffer mandated by the authority having jurisdiction serves the purpose of the adjustment. In the absence of information from the design professional and the authority having jurisdiction, it would be appropriate to make an adjustment to the raw data from a flow test by either obtaining information from the water utility or using a reasonable adjustment. Such an adjustment should be determined through a conversation with the authority having jurisdiction. It is important to note that not all water supplies have a linear relationship of flow to pressure. As flow demand increases, additional water can be provided into the system through multiple pumps, causing complex geometries to the pressure and flow relationship at any given point in the system. Creating multiple flow conditions during a test and getting as close as possible to the sprinkler system demand will assist in gaining a complete understanding of the water supply. 5.2.2.2.2.2 If an adjustment is determined to be appropriate, it shall be applied to the waterflow test data prior to comparison with the sprinkler system demand. 5.2.2.2.2.3 Where the water supply information is obtained from another approved method other than a waterflow test, that method shall consider daily and seasonal fluctuations, not extreme conditions. While on the surface, this language appears to require an adjustment to a water supply test, the true effect of this language is much deeper. The liability this language could put on a contractor is unbelievable. CONT. ON PAGE 23
JOHN AUGUST DENHARDT, P.E., FSFPE AFSA VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL SERVICE
GIVE ME A BREAK SIZING BREAK TANKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH NFPA 22
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KEVIN HALL, M.ENG., P.E., CET, CWBSP, PMSFPE | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION hat is a break tank? NFPA 22, Standard for the Water Tanks for Private Fire Protection, 2018 edition simply states that it is a tank that supplies a fire pump but is not large enough to meet the system demand. The official definition in the standard is: 3.3.2.2 Break Tank. A tank providing suction to a fire pump whose capacity is less than the fire protection demand (flow rate times flow duration). Since the tank is not capable of supplying the fire protection system over its full duration, the next question might be: Why would a break tank be used? This question was common enough that annex language was added to the 2018 edition of NFPA 22: A.14.5 Break tanks have been used for one or more of the following reasons: 1. As a backflow prevention device between the city water supply and the fire pump suction
2. To eliminate pressure fluctuations in the city water supply and provide a steady suction pressure to the fire pump 3. To augment the city water supply when the volume of water available from the city is inadequate for the fire protection demand 4. To serve in situations where the building owner does not have room for a tank to meet the full demand of the fire protection system The last issue of Sprinkler Age focused on backflow prevention and testing, which is applicable in the first item listed in section A.14.5. Regarding water supplies, items two through four explain that break tanks can be beneficial when it comes to eliminating pressure fluctuations, supplementing municipal supplies, or saving some square footage as leasable space comes at a premium. Once a break tank is chosen as the preferred water supply arrangement, there are specific requirements in NFPA 22 to determine minimum stored water quantities and refill rates based on the duration provided by the volume of stored water. At a minimum, break tanks need to store 15 minutes of water based on 150-percent-rated capacity of the fire pump the break tank provides suction to. [NFPA 22, 4.1.7 & 14.5.1]
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This is a critical step. NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, permits fire pumps to utilize up to 150-percent capacity to meet system demand, so for a sprinkler system demand of 500 gpm, the designer could select a 400-gpm rated fire pump to optimize the minimum break tank size. By utilizing the lower capacity fire pump, the minimum size of the break tank is reduced from 11,250 gallons to 9,000 gallons. Once the minimum tank size is determined, there is another iteration to work through. The next benchmark occurs when the tank can supply a 30-minute duration based on the maximum system demand. If the break tank supplies the system for 30 minutes or more, NFPA 22 permits the refill rate to be determined by the following formula:
[NFPA 22, 14.5.2.2.1] Where: • Qr is the refill rate (gpm) • Vd is the volume of water required by the most demanding sprinkler system (gal)
• Vt is the usable volume of water in the break tank (gal) • t is the required duration per NFPA 13 (min) As an example, let’s consider a system demand of approximately 1000 gpm for 60 min and the break tank capacity is 40,000 gal connected to a 750-gpm rated fire pump:
The refill lines would be permitted to be sized in accordance with section 14.5.2.2.1 since the stored duration is greater than 30 minutes. The refill lines would only need to provide 110 percent of the difference in volumes over the required duration, which equates to 367 gpm.
If a 30-minute duration is not met, then the design is penalized and cannot completely take advantage of the stored water. In this case, when the capacity of the tank supplies less than a 30-minute duration, refill lines must provide 150 percent of the fire pump’s rated capacity. If that cannot be met, NFPA 22 provides an allowance to provide 110 percent of the system demand, but no less. The refill arrangement requires two automatic lines and a manual bypass line, each capable of providing the required flow independently. Based on the previous
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example, if the break tank capacity was less than 30,000 gallons, then the refill lines would need to provide 150 percent of the rated flow of the fire pump or 1,125 gpm. That’s over three times! Break tanks can be an effective tool when providing stored water to fire protection systems, but the design must be balanced between tank capacity and refill rates. Depending on the project, the size of the room or capabilities of the water supply could be the limiting factor. In the end, if the refill rates can be sized appropriately, the options in NFPA 22 can give you a break and permit the installation of a smaller water storage tank. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kevin Hall, M.Eng, P.E., CET, CWBSP, PMSFPE, is the coordinator of engineering and technical services for AFSA. He has been in the fire protection industry for nearly ten years. He is a registered professional engineer in Delaware and Maryland and has his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. Hall is a member of several NFPA technical committees, including NFPA 1 Fire Code Correlating Committee; NFPA 1 Building Systems and Special Occupancies; NFPA 1 Special Equipment, Processes, and Hazardous Materials; NFPA 13 Residential Sprinkler Systems; NFPA 15 Water Spray Fixed Systems; and NFPA 20 Fire Pumps. He also represents AFSA on the majority of UL standard technical panels (STP) involving the sprinkler industry, including STP 199 Sprinkler Equipment for Fire Protection.
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Speakers for AFSA40 include (from l to r): Steve Baird, Wes Baker, Kerry Bell, Tracey Bellamy, Linda Biernacki, and Cecil Bilbo.
TEXAS-SIZED TRAINING AT AFSA40 OVER 50 INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO PRESENT OVER 60 SEMINARS
T
he Texas-sized tradition will be on display at AFSA40: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition, to be held September 18-21, 2021, with a whopping 100 hours of training across 60 different seminars with 50 industry subject matter experts (SMEs). Nine technical and managerial tracks have been developed, tailored to meet your educational needs. Attendees can follow the seminars on any given track or mix and match. “AFSA will take all safety measures recommended by the CDC and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country to keep everyone safe as we look forward to the opportunity to meet face-to-face at AFSA40 once again,” comments Marlene Garrett, CMP, AFSA’s senior director of meetings & education services. “By September, and considering the safety of all involved, we hope everyone will look forward to getting back together at the most anticipated getaway event of the year, the AFSA40 convention!”
Below is a brief description of the tracks and sample seminars planned for AFSA40. Many seminars cover multiple tracks so attendees can customize their learning experience. New this year is a daily “Ask the Experts” interactive seminar featuring the industry’s top technical minds! Other seminar tracks include field supervisory training, free training for Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and NextGen Day.
INSTALLATION TRACK The Installation track will feature 16 different seminars focusing on the installation of water-based fire protection systems. Seminar topics include NFPA 13, 14, and 20; AFSA’s popular “Sprinkler Challenges,” FM data sheets, fire pumps, attic protection, and obstruction rules. NFPA 20 – Fire Pump Sizing, Selection, and Installation Steve Baird; Armstrong Pumps & John Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE; AFSA Where needed, fire pumps are an essential component of a water-based
AFSA flashback! According to the November 1983 issue of Sprinkler Age, the 1984 convention in San Antonio, Texas, broke all records “for attendance and exhibits for the fire sprinkler industry.” During the convention, the 1985 Board of Directors (pictured above) was announced.
14 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
Speakers for AFSA40 include (top row, from l to r): Patty Bird, Bob Caputo, Chris Caputo, Howard Clay, Scott Cox, and John Denhardt. Bottom row (from l to r): Mark Fessenden; Ray Fremont, Jr.; Scott Futrell; James Golinveaux; Kevin Hall; and Scott Harrison. suppression system. Selecting the appropriate driver and pump is a critical component of a successful and profitable installation project. This seminar examines how to determine the need for a fire pump along with choosing the proper pump capacity. The latest information and requirements for acceptance testing and periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance will be discussed. This seminar concludes with a review of some common issues and mistakes made when designing, installing, and inspecting/testing fire pumps. 2.0 Hours | 0.2 CEUs| 2.0 CPDs
better method for evaluating performance, but we still have more to learn. New research has identified that the operating pressure and sprinkler type is more important than the theoretical density delivered. 1.5 Hours | 0.15 CEUs |1.5 CPDs
CODE UPDATES TRACK Learn the latest updates to all NFPA codes and standards and other related guidance in this track. Eight seminars will be
INSPECTION, TESTING, AND MAINTENANCE (ITM) TRACK Learn the ins and outs of inspection, testing, and maintenance with AFSA’s ITM track. NFPA 25 will be a big focus of the 13 seminars in this track, but other topics and standards will be covered, such as updates to NFPA 3 Commissioning and NFPA 4 Integrated Testing. NFPA 25, 2020 Edition: Significant Changes – John Johnson, CFPS & Joshua McDonald, CFPS; AFSA Significant changes are included in the 2020 edition of NFPA 25. This presentation will review the various changes made to this newest edition of NFPA 25, describe why the changes were made, and explain the impact they will have on the fire protection industry. Some proposed changes that weren’t made will also be discussed, and potential changes to the 2023 edition will be presented. Feedback will be encouraged on other changes that are needed to future editions of this standard. 1.5 Hours | 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
DESIGN TRACK If design is on your mind, AFSA has you covered with 18 different seminars. Topics include single-point-density with James Golinveaux of Viking Group, standpipe design, and fire pumps. Single Point Density – James Golinveaux; Viking Group. Density/Area method of hydraulically calculating a sprinkler system has served us well for many years, but it is time for it to go. Join us for this seminar to learn the history of the density curve development and why it’s time for a new approach. Design pressure is a SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 15
Speakers for AFSA40 include (top row, from l to r): Adam Hilton, Chip Hollis, Mark Hopkins, Tim Knisely, James Lake, and Jeff Lewis. Bottom row, from l to r: Steve Leyton, Travis Mack, Jack Medovich, Mike Meehan, Rob Mosely, Tom Noble, and Tom Parrish.
presented, focusing on NFPA 13, 2019 edition reorganization, NFPA 13, 2022 edition; NFPA 25, 2020 edition; FM DS 8-9 and 8-34; and other standards. NFPA 13 Changes in 2022 Edition – Bob Caputo, CFPS, CET; AFSA This session will review the changes made during the latest revision cycle to NFPA 13 that are contained within the 2022 edition of the newly adopted standard. Specific changes that will affect the sprinkler contractor will be highlighted. Additionally, the results of the CAMs will be discussed and provide background on
SEMINAR SPOTLIGHT: AHJ Track This seminar is designed for AHJs only. AHJs are invited at no charge to attend the seminars the morning of Tuesday, September 21, and walk the exhibit hall for free that afternoon. Fire Sprinkler System Plan Review (AHJs only) Steven Scandaliato, CFPS, SET, SDG, LLC and Travis Mack, MFP Design, LLC Review of automatic fire sprinkler system plans has become very complex as the 2019 edition of NFPA 13 has been completely re-organized and expanded to provide more information than ever before on fire sprinkler system design and installation. This seminar will guide attendees in a discussion of the requirements for plans and calculations contained in Chapter 27 and will include an exercise in hands-on review of a fire sprinkler system plan, including the overall design concept, hydraulic calculations, seismic bracing, and the underground supply system. Evaluation of the decisions made on the part of the system designer dealing with hazard and commodity classification, building construction type, positioning of the sprinkler and their spacing, and materials selection will all be among the topics which are a part of the review. This seminar will rely heavily on attendee participation and will generate a list of items which require further clarification or revisions. A question-and-answer session will follow the completion of the plan review. Plan reviewers and field inspectors should find this seminar helpful and will most likely find areas where their own review checklist can be modified or improved. An architect’s scale and a copy of the 2019 edition of NFPA 13 are strongly recommended for attendees. Tracks: AHJ 4.0 Hours | 0.4 CEUs | 4.0 CPDs
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the issue and the final decisions made by the technical committees and standards council. 1.5 Hours | 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
“OTHER” TECHNICAL TRACK This catch-all track with 18 seminars will cover other technical topics of interest to those in the fire sprinkler industry: updates on NFPA 915 remote inspections; dry, preaction, and deluge valves; choosing a dry pipe system filling solution; nitrogen use in fire sprinkler systems; heat and smoke detectors for pre-action/releasing Systems; NFPA 291 waterflow testing. Dry, Preaction, and Deluge Valves – Martin Workman; Viking Group This seminar describes various operating mechanisms and common and unique capabilities of dry, preaction, and deluge valves, including the types of dry valves (differential and mechanical) and preaction valves (single, double, and non-interlock). Example applications will be addressed to identify where each valve type should be considered and why. The interaction of each valve type with accessories, such as air supplies, air maintenance devices, nitrogen generators, and accelerators will be described, along with best practices. 1.5 Hours | 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
CHALLENGE TRACK Are you up for the challenge? Test your knowledge in three seminars covering NFPA 13, NFPA 14, and NFPA 20. You might be surprised to learn what you know—and what you don’t know! Fire Pump Challenge: NFPA 20, 2019 Edition – John Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE & Kevin Hall, M.Eng, P.E., CET, CWBSP, PMSFPE, AFSA This audience participation seminar will challenge the attendee to see how well they know NFPA 20. The presenters will present questions, and the audience will participate in attempting to provide the correct answers. After the answer is presented, a discussion will occur on why the answer is correct. References to the standard will be provided. Electric- and diesel-driven fire pumps will be discussed with an emphasis on installation requirements. The test header is an
important feature to verify that the pump is able to meet system demand. When the test header is not sized per the tables in NFPA 20, it is critical that the designer is able to perform an accurate hydraulic calculation to verify compliance. 1.5 Hours | 0.15 CEUs | 1.5 CPDs
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TRACK This track is intended for management staff and will be presented across 10 seminars, including working with independent designers, enhancing the value of your fire protection company, field supervisory training, becoming a destination employer, and hiring and retaining the right people. The Strategic Selling Series – Rob Mosley; Next Level Exchange Your prospects and clients are very busy people. Their jobs require them to make many decisions daily and frequently with a sense of urgency. From the moment you connect by email, voice mail, or in a live conversation, the clock is running, and your prospect is judging... judging whether you act in a professional and competent manner; judging whether or not you open the conversation with confidence and knowledge of this person’s role and of the work being done; and judging as to whether they want to invest time with you in a conversation or move on the tasks and people they deem as more worthy of their time. 2.0 Hours | 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
ELIMINATE FLOODING FROM BROKEN AUXILIARY DRAINS
NEXTGEN TRACK AFSA’s Next Generation Initiative (NextGen) is pleased to present NextGen Day on September 19 during AFSA40. This full day is open to all industry members and will feature three seminars, a leadership forum, and an evening mixer. For more information on AFSA’s NextGen, visit www.firesprinkler.org/nextgen.
AHJ TRACK Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) are invited to attend AFSA40 on September 21 for a plan review seminar and to tour the exhibition hall free of charge. Registration is required. See the spotlight on page 16 to read a detailed description of the “Fire Sprinkler System Plan Review” seminar, presented by Steven Scandaliato, CFPS, SET, SDG, LLC and Travis Mack, MFP Design, LLC.
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS! Come on down to San Antonio and surround yourself in the natural landscape of Southwestern splendor at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, site of AFSA40. This award-winning resort offers modern rooms with countryside views, soothing spa treatments, and family fun in the sprawling River Bluff Experience aquatic park. Dine at one of the resort’s seven distinctive restaurants featuring modern Texas cuisine, a lively sports bar, fine steak house, delectable local fare, and hand-crafted cocktails. The resort also offers outdoor tennis courts, jogging and nature trails, table tennis, a whirlpool spa, and more. The AFSA group rate for the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is $254 per night plus tax. This rate includes
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Speakers for AFSA40 include (top row, from l to r): Jack Poole, Steven Scandaliato, Jamil Shamoon, Jay Strickland, Justin Strousse, and Randy Stutzman. Bottom row (from l to r): Brandon Telford, Martin Tomasic, Terry Victor, Jason Webb, Cary Webber, Karl Wiegand, and Martin Workman.
self parking and complimentary internet in guest rooms. Reservations may be made online during the convention registration process at www.firesprinkler.org/book. Group rates are available for stays from September 14-25, 2021, but reservations must be made by August 20, 2021, to secure AFSA convention group rates. After August 20, room rates are based on availability.
NEW SPONSOR OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTRACTORS AFSA member contractor companies have an exclusive opportunity in 2021 to sponsor a networking meal table. Show your support for AFSA programs! Your donation dollars go back into the program you select: ITM Inspector Development program, Fire Sprinkler Fitter Apprenticeship Training curriculum, webinars, Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School,
SEMINAR SPOTLIGHT: Ask the Experts – Presented Daily! This is your opportunity to ask a panel of the industry’s top technical minds about any NFPA standard. With dozens of applicable standards on a constant three-year update cycle, it can be difficult to keep up to date. Our panel of experts literally wrote the book and will be on hand to discuss all your burning technical questions. They can help with questions ranging from understanding the actual updates to decoding the intent and historical framework of the standards. This interactive seminar is intended to help you find answers to questions that are otherwise hard to find. We challenge you to try and stump our experts! Experts currently scheduled to participate include Wes Baker, FM Global; Kerry Bell, PE, FSFPE, UL LLC; Tracey Bellamy, PE, CFPS, CWBSP, Telgian Corporation; Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS, AFSA; John Denhardt, PE, FSFPE, AFSA; Mark Fessenden, Johnson Controls, Inc.; James Golinveaux, Viking Group; Kevin Hall, M. Eng, P.E., CET, CWBSP, PSFPE, AFSA; Steve Leyton, Protection Design and Consulting; Travis Mack, SET, MFP Design, LLC; Steven Scandaliato, CFPS, SET, SDG, LLC; Terry Victor, SET, Johnson Controls Fire Protection; Cary Webber, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.; and Martin Workman, Viking Group. Tracks: Install, Design, ITM, Code Updates, & “Other” Technical 2.0 Hours | 0.2 CEUs | 2.0 CPDs
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traveling and chapter seminars, webinars, or the program of your choice! For more information on this exciting opportunity, visit www.firesprinkler.org/sponsorship.
MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS Not an AFSA member? Now is the perfect time to join! AFSA is currently offering a six-month trial membership for contractors and a 12-month trial for AHJs. With your trial membership, you are entitled to a range of benefits and services to support you, your employees, your business, and the industry. Membership provides the opportunity to learn about AFSA and its multitude of benefits—risk free. One of those benefits is the ability to register for AFSA40 at membership price levels! For more information on AFSA membership, visit www.firesprinkler.org/trial.
COME ON DOWN! Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of the celebration! Mark your calendars for September 18-21 and subscribe to or “follow” AFSA social media to keep up-to-date on events: • Twitter: twitter.com/AFSA • Facebook: facebook.com/firesprinkler.org • Instagram: instagram.com/firesprinklerorg • YouTube: youtube.com/user/AmerFireSprinkAssn • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/american-fire-sprinklerassociation-afsaVisit AFSA40’s website at www.firesprinkler.org/AFSA40 to explore the schedule and make hotel reservations. Convention registration will soon be live—register before June 30 to secure the lowest early-bird prices. Come on down and join the celebration as AFSA celebrates 40 years of service and dedication to its members and to the fire sprinkler industry. This is one Texas-sized celebration you don’t want to miss! n
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SFPE POSITION STATEMENT: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES “THE ENGINEER AND THE ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN DESIGNING FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS”
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JOHN AUGUST DENHARDT, P.E., FSFPE | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION n June 2008, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) developed a position paper entitled, “The Engineer and the Engineering Technician Designing Fire Protection Systems.” In October 2020, SFPE updated its position and issued a revision (PS 2020-1), found online at www.sfpe.org/ advocacy-qualifications/public-policy. The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) was asked to participate in the development of this revision and, if possible, be an endorsing organization. AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services Department and the Board of Directors reviewed the drafts, made comments, back-checked the final document, and agreed. Other organizations that also endorsed the position statement are the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA), American Society of Certified Engineering Technicians (ASCET), Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA), National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and National Institute for Certification of Engineering Technologies (NICET). The position statement was created to develop a unified position statement regarding the reasonable and prudent roles and responsibilities of licensed Professional Engineers (PE) and Certified Engineering Technicians (CET) when designing fire protection systems for installation in the United States. The position statement
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describes the critical relationship between engineer and engineering technician. Engineers and engineering technicians may overstep their respective roles if they participate in aspects of design and layout for which they are not qualified by education, experience, and/or credentials. The position statement explains the relative roles of those in the field of fire protection who contribute to public safety, including licensed Professional Engineers and Certified Engineering Technicians. Regarding sprinkler, fire pump, standpipe, or other fire protection systems, the position statement describes the engineer’s responsibilities for the design that can include but are not limited to: • Prepare engineering documents for fire protection systems. This may include: o Conceptual and detailed engineering documents; o Integrated building systems analyses; o Fire protection system drawings; o Calculations for all fire protection systems; o Technical specifications indicating general, product, and execution requirements; and o Affix a professional stamp or seal with signature and date to documents prepared under the Engineer’s direct supervision and control. • Review work by engineering technicians to ensure conformance with the Engineer’s design, including fire protection installation, shop, work, or layout drawings, calculations, and submittals. • Develop commissioning and acceptance requirements, specifically required by
installation standards, and modified if necessary, for a specific project. • Observe the installation and testing of fire protection systems. • Verify compliance of the fire protection systems with the relevant installation standards. Specifically, the engineer is responsible for the preparation of engineering documents that establish the objectives and design criteria of the system(s). The engineering documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the work proposed and show that they conform to the provisions of relevant laws, codes, ordinances, rules, and regulations. To establish minimum design quality in the engineering documents, the documents should include, as a minimum, the following information when applicable: • Identify the scope of work. • Identify applicable codes and standards, including the specific edition. • Identify any trade-offs allowed based on the installation of a suppression system or some other compensatory factor. • Identify occupancy type(s), areas to be protected (or omitted), and hazard classification(s). • Specifically for water-based suppression systems: o Select type of system(s) and components; o Classify the hazard(s), storage arrangements, and commodities to be protected; o Establish the design criteria; o Determine and confirm the available water supply, including any necessary adjustments;
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o Create a conceptual system layout and hydraulic calculations to verify adequacy of proposed water supply arrangements; o Set criteria regarding systems structural support, including if applicable, seismic documentation; o Identify water quality or other environmental factors that would affect the proposed systems; and o Establish zoning with consideration to building elements, for example, horizontal exits or other fire protection and or life safety systems like smoke control systems. A certified engineering technician who has achieved NICET Level III or IV certification or approved equivalent in the appropriate subfield and who has the knowledge, experience, and skills necessary to layout and detail the applicable systems hereinafter is referred to as a “Technician” for the purposes of the position statement. The Technician may perform tasks required by the engineering documents, together with applicable installation standards, including, but not limited to:
• Perform the system layout and prepare installation, shop, work, or layout drawings. • Prepare material submittals. • Perform calculations. • Support the installation, acceptance, and commissioning of fire protection systems. The Technician develops the installation, shop, work, or layout drawings and submittals based upon the engineering documents, specified standards, and manufacturer listings. These packages for water-based suppression systems of information could include: • Detailed layout of risers, cross mains, branch lines, sprinklers/nozzles, and hangers. • Size of pipe. • Hydraulic calculations in accordance with the engineering documents. • Technical data sheets and details for the specific equipment being furnished for installation. • Requirements of applicable codes and referenced standards. The Engineer and/or the Technician should monitor the installation and acceptance testing of all fire protection
systems. Installation quality control should be documented. The Technician should maintain accurate as-built installation drawings reflecting all field changes. At the completion of the project, the Technician should provide these as-built installation drawings to the owner. The Engineer should spot-check the accuracy of these as-built installation drawings during their periodic construction observation site visits. AFSA and the position statement do recognize that some jurisdictions have enacted regulations that allow the Technician to layout the system and prepare installation drawings without the involvement of an Engineer. In such cases, an Engineer might not be involved with the project. However, the Technician is then additionally responsible to ensure that the fire protection system(s) criteria are in accordance with all applicable codes and installation standards. This situation can increase the liability exposure to the technician and/or their employer. Some examples for consideration are: • The water supply test for a water-based fire protection system design needs to be fully
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evaluated. The evaluation should consider the following variables, applicable to different degrees depending on how and when the test was conducted: o Maximum daily use of the water supply, o Peak hour demand of the water supply, o Water supply degradation due to planned development, o Time of day the test was conducted, o Time of year the test was conducted, o Elevation of the test location compared to the building where the sprinkler system will be installed, o Elevation of the water supply at the time of the test, and o How close the flow generated during the test was to the system demand. • The hazard classification designation for sprinkler system design. For a storage hazard the evaluation needs to consider the following variables: o Commodity, o Method and height of storage, and o If applicable: • Pallet construction material; • Shelving type; • Encapsulation; • Open-type containers, and • Other storage considerations. Does the technician have the time, knowledge, expertise, and desire to perform the evaluation or determination? That decision will vary by technician and company.
If the responsibility is understood and the local regulations are complied with, all is good. If not, make the engineer of record do their job. NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and the position paper clearly states who is responsible for this information. Section 4.2/A.4.2 of the 2019 edition of NFPA 13 reads: 4.2* Owner’s Certificate. The owner(s) of a building or structure where the fire sprinkler system is going to be installed or their authorized agent shall provide the sprinkler system installer with the following information prior to the layout and detailing of the fire sprinkler system [see Figure A.27.1(b)]: (1) Intended use of the building including the materials within the building and the maximum height of any storage (2) A preliminary plan of the building or structure along with the design concepts necessary to perform the layout and detail for the fire sprinkler system (3) Water supply information as identified in 5.2.2 (4)* Any special knowledge of the water supply, including known environmental conditions that might be responsible for corrosion, including microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) A.4.2 A building constructed where the expected occupancy hazard and commodity classification of tenant uses are unknown at the time of the design and installation of the sprinkler system presents special problems due to
unknown factors of future tenants and uses. The design of sprinkler systems for such buildings should be carefully reviewed with the owners, builders, leasing agents, and local authorities having jurisdiction prior to the selection of design criteria and installation of the system. Consideration should be given to the available height for storage, as well as the occupancy hazards of potential tenants and their likely storage needs. The intent of Section 4.2 is to provide the owner’s certificate for all new systems and where there is a change of occupancy and/or building use. [See Figure A.27.1(b).] As a contractor, when is the last time you received a set of bid documents for a sprinkler installation project which included the information required by the position statement and NFPA 13? My years as a contractor showed to me the sad reality—not very often. For your protection, make the engineer of record and the owner do their job. n
All members and friends of AFSA are encouraged to attend and participate. A free recording of this webinar will be made available for those who cannot attend. AFSA’s engineering and technical staff; AFSA First Vice Chair and At-Large Director Jack Medovich, P.E.; AFSA Past Chair and Region 6 Director Michael Meehan; and Terry Victor of Johnson Controls will be on the panel. We need our voices to be heard at the NFPA annual technical meeting. All members of NFPA who joined before December 27, 2020, are eligible to vote. Due to the pandemic, the voting will occur virtually. As of the date I’m writing this column, NFPA has not published the
Certified Amending Motions (CAMs) to be voted on. This release should occur on May 19. AFSA will keep members updated via email and social media, but note these important dates: • Registration to vote is open May 19 – July 2 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time. • Voting is open June 28 – July 2 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Make your voices heard! AFSA is proud to represent you on technical issues; however, there is strength in numbers! Your involvement and assistance are needed on this issue so we can protect your interests. n
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information on the owner’s certificate and its importance, refer to sprinklerage.com/ fire-sprinkler-design. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE, CWBSP, is vice president of engineering & technical services for AFSA. He is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) registered in the District of Columbia and the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He is NICET Level III certified. Denhardt has a Bachelor of Science degree in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland (UMD). He is a member of several NFPA techincal committees and sites on the UMD FPE Board of Visitors.
FLASHPOINT CONT. FROM PAGE 10
In addition, the technical basis of this language is not based on reality. The analysis of water supply is critical to a system design; however, this analysis is the responsibility of the owner through the engineer of record for the project. The proposed language, in my humble opinion, is not enforceable as written and is not in conformance with the NFPA’s Manual of Style. If we are successful in overturning the new language, the current language in the 2019 edition of NFPA 13 will remain. AFSA agrees with the current language. We are holding a one-hour webinar on this specific proposed language on Thursday, May 27, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.
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MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS Discover what LEGISLATION you’re missing WHY MONITORING IS A CRITICAL ASSOCIATION SERVICE
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REBECCA HERRING | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION ou’ve heard it before—being a part of an association is invaluable—and it is. Still, in the digital age, where information is more readily available at lower costs than ever before, it may leave you questioning why you should spend your hardearned dollars on association membership. The answer to this question lies in the services provided to members by the association. AFSA keeps its mission at the heart of each and every action we take. Our mission is simple: “AFSA is the voice of the merit shop fire sprinkler contractor. We educate and train the industry while promoting fire protection systems to save lives and property.” With this mission in mind, the association works every day to further the fire sprinkler industry and our members’ businesses.
FREE Trial Membership*
* Free trialGive membership newa AFSA contractors AFSA isavalid Try for with Free Trial or AHJ members only, or former members lapsed at least three years.
Membership for Contractors and AHJs!
We’re growing and introducing many new programs to help meet your team’s growth and business needs. Currently, AFSA is offering a six-month trial membership for contractors and a 12-month trial membership for municipal Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). Let’s help potential members see what they’re missing! Current members who recruit a new contractor member will receive a $100 gift card and the new member gets a free recorded webinar. Let’s grow stronger together!
www.firesprinkler.org/trial *This trial offer conveys full AFSA member benefits for six months for contractors and 12 months for municipal Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). Trial membership offer is only good for new members who have never been a member of AFSA or whose membership lapsed over three years ago. One trial membership per company every five years.
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With so much going in our fast-paced day-to-day lives, it’s not always easy to identify all the activities AFSA is participating in to further this mission, much less keep up with all of the membership benefits to which you actively have access. With that in mind, this new feature series, “Membership Has Its Benefits,” was born. Its goal is simple—to highlight the value of membership by taking a more in-depth look at the membership benefits you have access to as a valued AFSA member. Each issue of Sprinkler Age will highlight a new benefit.
WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A LEGISLATIVE DIFFERENCE AFSA has long been a source of information on legislative activities throughout the nation, but with a new presidential administration comes a renewed and even greater need for the fire sprinkler community to be proactive in identifying legislation as it pertains to the industry and monitor its progress. AFSA has actively increased legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of its members this year and will continue to increase the voice and influence of fire sprinkler contractors on the Hill and at the state level. When legislation, regulations, and policies are debated, fire sprinkler contractors are rarely given an opportunity to provide feedback. It’s beneficial for AFSA members to provide more input in shaping these laws. Below are some of the actions being taken by AFSA at the national level: • Searching for and monitoring state and federal legislation that negatively or positively affects the fire sprinkler industry. AFSA has newly invested in its ability to search and monitor upcoming state and federal legislation that could either impact the fire sprinkler industry and, in turn, AFSA members. Upcoming legislation rarely makes headlines, so AFSA has prioritized keeping members apprised of legislation that is poised to make a significant impact on fire sprinkler businesses. Additionally, staying up-to-date on new legislation can result in new business opportunities for AFSA members or help prevent costs from unknown or overlooked legislation. • Researching and communicating with members about regional legislation to see if potentially affected members want AFSA national to monitor, support, or oppose, and to do so at what priority level. There is a lot of legislation in consideration at any given time, and the hard truth is monitoring all of this legislation isn’t
feasible at the individual level. This is where AFSA comes in. However, monitoring and identifying legislation is only half the battle. After the legislation has been identified, then there is the research that has to be done to see whether the legislation will directly impact the industry’s bottom line. That’s why AFSA is expanding its research and communication efforts on these measures. In addition to making members aware of potentially impactful legislation, AFSA National engages in discussions at the regional level about the importance of identified legislation to members. AFSA knows your time is valuable, and with early identification of emergent legislation, organizations have a better chance to impact the legislation (either positively through support or negatively through opposition) while saving time combatting negative legislation further into the process. • Preparing and distributing communications, including emails, sample letters, or basic talking points for a phone call that members can readily use to make their opinion known on a given issue. The fire sprinkler industry is constantly growing, and with that growth comes a need for assistance with identifying and responding to a growing amount of legislation that impacts the industry. AFSA takes that a step further, providing communications that include resources like talking points, sample letters, and lawmaker contact information, to name a few. These assets allow AFSA members to present a unified message to lawmakers on current legislation and issues. • Serving as a clearinghouse for information and statistics that could help promote fire sprinklers in your local area. Getting the correct
information into the hands of lawmakers is an integral part of successful advocacy efforts. AFSA is happy to serve as a clearinghouse to provide accurate information and statistics that combat misinformation frequently included in anti-sprinkler legislative efforts and to help positively promote fire sprinklers in your communities.
CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO BE AN AFSA MEMBER? This is by no means an exhaustive list of current legislative activities by AFSA, but hopefully, it has given new insight into some of the work that goes on behind the scenes to support and grow members and their businesses. Membership provides a variety of benefits to fuel that growth, including access to AFSA’s technical experts, legislative advocacy, philanthropy, networking opportunities, business solutions, and discounts on training. The list goes on and on. AFSA wants to aid in your growth and development by getting the most out of your membership by utilizing AFSA services. To that end, members can access a complete list of benefits at www.firesprinkler.org/join. Have additional questions about how to get the most from your membership? Contact AFSA’s membership department via email membership@firesprinkler.org or call (214) 349-5965 and ask for the membership department. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Herring is the communications coordinator for the American Fire Sprinkler Association.
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REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION TRAINING, EDUCATION PROGRAMS HELP BUILD THE FUTURE OF YOUR COMPANY BOB CAPUTO, CFPS | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION
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s an organization and as an industry, we’ve been focused on the next generation for many years now. We all understand the importance of passing the baton to a qualified and confident next level but low and behold, we’ve discovered that the next generation of young professionals don’t seem to learn the way we older generation learned. Perhaps more importantly, we older generation folks realized that we try to teach the way we learned, so we’ve been frustrated by the communication gap. Well, let’s get real about the next generation and the fire sprinkler industry. For starters, we need them a lot more than they need us. After we let that reality sink in, ask yourself, who are we and who are they? In a lot of cases, as in many small businesses, “they” are the children of the business owner. It’s not uncommon for second and third generations to be the first in their family to have attended college, which means they may have broader choices in career opportunities than their parents had. That said, even if we could capture every next generation of family members, we couldn’t fill the pipeline of this industry’s need for people to work as designers, installers, estimators, or the next generation of leadership. We need to further our reach to bring new people into our industry, new DNA. We need to find those positive attitudes and aptitudes early on and introduce them to the exciting opportunities the fire sprinkler industry has to offer!
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AFSA’s NextGen Initiative (NGI) members hosted a full day of events at AFSA38 in San Diego, California, including an evening mixer. Where do we look, and how do we find them? High school career fairs, military job fairs, and community colleges are good places to start. A lot of people leaving the military are headed back home to their point of geographic origin, looking for opportunities. These people are healthy, usually drug-free, and used to taking and giving orders. They show up on time and are responsible. For a lot of our members, these traits would be halfway to success. Did you know what you wanted to be for the rest of your life when you were 17 or 18? We all know the fire sprinkler industry offers a wide variety of opportunities for a wide range of personalities, but young people might not know this. We should highlight how exciting it is to see how the world works from behind the scenes, from the “back of house” in everything from food processing plants to
the local shopping center, hospital, hotel, or high-rise building. We see it all. Not only that, but we get to save lives and property, which for many of us has always added a sense of pride.
BREACH THE COMMUNICATIONS GAP But we still have that communications gap. How do we talk to these younger people when they don’t seem to speak the same language? I read a recent article that reinforced a few key points we’ve addressed when speaking on this topic at past AFSA conventions: • First and foremost, young people seek authenticity. Be authentic. They’re used to seeing ads and sales pitches all over social media, so they’re used to tuning those out. Avoid the fluff and try to be as personable as possible. Be transparent in your messaging, too. You can’t fake sincerity.
AFSA’s NextGen Initiative Help Make a Difference!
At AFSA37 in Washington, D.C., NextGen members networked during the evening mixer.
• Second, time is a valuable commodity, so be direct. Get right to the point and make your content “bitesized.” Leave the longer content for follow-up emails or, better yet, social media postings. • Make it important so no one will want to miss out. Promote your upcoming meeting with an email stating, “Join 35 of your team members for this important Zoom meeting!” • Use people-to-people communication to your advantage. Word-of-mouth marketing is very effective and even more so with the younger crowd. Encourage your existing young members to spread the word about your organization to their peers. Employ a “Bring a Buddy” referral program for your events… have you heard of “Bring Your Son or Daughter to Work” days? How about “Bring a Peer to Work” day?
AFSA’S NEXTGEN INITIATIVE AFSA’s Next Generation Initiative (NGI) workgroup offers networking and learning opportunities for our industry’s young professionals. AFSA’s NextGen also hosts a “NextGen Day” during AFSA’s annual convention. This year’s event will be held on September 19 and will feature seminars, a leadership forum, and evening mixer. Mark your calendars for AFSA40: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition, September 18-21, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort &
Spa. This is a popular event you don’t want to miss.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE Our industry is competing for talent with not only every other trade in construction, but also every other industry and opportunity. The solutions to our manpower issues cannot lie in “stealing” qualified people from our competitors, and we all know that our business growth and development is restrained by our collective ability to train and retain talent. Your membership in AFSA supports our mission to educate and train the industry while promoting fire protection systems to save lives and property. Our design school programs, apprenticeship training courses, and ITM training programs are designed to help you grow your staff and the next generation of industry leaders. We hope you will employ these programs to help support AFSA’s next generation initiatives. 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.
AFSA’s NextGen Initiative (NGI) workgroup offers networking and educational events and provides resources to help the next generation of leaders excel within the fire sprinkler industry. The members elected to NGI for 2021 are: • Chair Meaghen Wills, Anchor Fire Protection, Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania; • Hunter Brendle, Brendle Sprinkler, Montgomery, Alabama; • Scott Cox, Cox Fire Protection, Tampa, Florida; • Madison Horton, JCI, Ranburne, Alabama; • Nancy Houghton, The Viking Corporation, Caledonia, Michigan; • Lainey Liotta, Lubrizol, Cleveland, Ohio; • Conor Kauffman, Kauffman Fire Protection, Houston, Texas; • Mindy McCullough Buckley, AllSouth Sprinkler, Buford, Georgia; • Katie Meehan, VSC Fire & Security, Inc., Richmond, Virginia; • Josh Shapiro, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Elmsford, New York; • Karl Wiegand, P.E., Victaulic, Standish, Michigan; and • AFSA Board Liaison Joe Heinrich, Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., Salina, Kansas. AFSA’s NGI members are currently focusing efforts on launching AFSA’s mentoring program and recruiting the next generation into the industry. NGI representatives have manned booths at career fairs and are working on updating industry recruitment materials. The workgroup offers educational webinars throughout the year focused on topics of interest to this group and hosts a “NextGen Day” during AFSA’s annual convention. If you are age 40 and under and looking to help build the future of the industry, get involved! For details, contact NextGen Chair Meaghen Wills via email at mwills@ anchorfireprotection.com or Staff Liaison Rebecca Herring, AFSA’s communications coordinator, at rherring@firesprinkler.org or (214) 349-5965 ext. 134. n
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FIRE FLOW TESTING AND MARKING OF HYDRANTS RECOMMENDED PRACTICES UPDATED FOR NFPA 291, 2022 EDITION
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MICHAEL ANDERSON | THE HOSE MONSTER COMPANY s every NFPA document is published for the use of NFPA members and interested others, the documents themselves quickly enter a review process which may take between three and five years, depending on the particular document. From the public input stage to the public comment stage and subsequent technical committee review and issuance of the document, NFPA 291, Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants, is no exception. NFPA 291 is a recommended practice meaning the word “SHALL,” which indicates a mandatory action or requirement, is not found in the document. NFPA 291 presents the collaborative “best practices” of our industry’s fire protection thought leaders. Its origins date back to the mid-1930s when the NFPA Committee on Public Water Supplies for Private Fire Protection presented its thoughts on the importance of fire water supply from hydrants. The recommended practice held stable until the 1977 edition, which included the addition of a chapter on flow testing of hydrants. As is, the 2022 edition will have several changes to clarify certain recommendations, but more importantly, it will include language supporting the use of single hydrant flow testing for the evaluation of flow through. A key new definition was added in the first draft to Chapter 3: 3.3.1 Fire Flow. The flow rate of a water supply, measured at 20 psi (1.4 bar) residual pressure that is available for fire fighting. [1, 2018] This extract from NFPA 1, Fire Code, marks not only a formal definition but it also provides much-needed clarity to what the recommended practice of NFPA 291 is all about. Section 3.4 provides new hydrant definitions. These eight new definitions include dry barrel hydrants, fire hydrants, flow hydrants, flush hydrants, private fire hydrants, public hydrants, residual hydrants, and wet barrel hydrants. This not only provides practical information on the types of hydrants but it also aids in the understanding of the later chapter on hydrant testing procedures. The most significant changes to NFPA 291 occur in Chapter 4, which outlines the layout and procedures for conducting a flow test. The first addition to Chapter 4 comes in the form of the stated purpose of the entire NFPA 291 code. 4.1 Water Flow Testing Purposes. 4.1.1 Water flow tests are conducted to determine the available
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Figure 1. The effective point of a single hydrant flow test is at the test gauge installed on the hydrant.
water supply for fire protection purposes, the flow that would be available from a fire hydrant for firefighting purpose or the status of the water supply distribution system for fire protections systems or for firefighting purposes. Other important changes in Chapter 4 include the revision and clarification of Section 4.2 Rating Pressure: 4.2 Rating Pressure 4.2.1 For the purpose of uniform marking of fire hydrants, the ratings should be based on the flow available at the hydrant at a residual pressure of 20 psi for all hydrants having a static pressure in excess of 40 psi (2.7 bar). We see that the use of static pressure to evaluate a single hydrant has been removed, and the importance of maintaining a residual pressure of 20 psi, has been emphasized. An important change has been made to Section 4.3 Procedure: 4.3.1 Tests should be conducted during periods of ordinary
demand peak demand, based on knowledge of the water supply and engineering judgement. Tests should be performed during peak demand for the water supply rather than performing the test under ordinary demand or taking seasonal or daily fluctuations into account. The most significant change in Chapter 4 is the additional language accepting fire flow testing through a single hydrant. Since the 1977 edition, NFPA 291 outlined the layout of fire flow testing through two or more hydrants, and it established the residual hydrant as the hydrant where static and residual system pressures are recorded. This residual hydrant is located between the hydrant being flowed and the large water mains supplying the water. This section in the 2022 edition of NFPA 291 has been renamed: 4.4 Layout of Test and Procedure to Determine the Available Water Supply in a Water Main. Additional new language to NFPA 291 occurs in Section 4.5 and is outlined below: 4.5 Layout of Test and Procedure to Evaluate the Available Flow Through a Fire Hydrant. 4.5.1 When the purpose of a flow test is to determine the available flow through an individual fire hydrant only, the static and residual pressures should be taken at a single hydrant. The flow hydrant is also used as the static/residual hydrant. 4.5.2 A pressure gauge (or other pressure measuring device) should be located on one of the 2-1/2 in. (65 mm) hydrant outlets [see 4.6.1(5)]. 4.5.3 A closed control valve connected to a discharge nozzle(s) for the purpose of rate of flow measurement should be located on one of the other hydrant outlets. 4.5.4 The test procedures in Section 4.7 for venting air and taking static/residual readings and Section 4.8 for taking pitot readings should be followed. 4.5.5 The control valve on another hydrant outlet should be opened. When the rate of flow stabilizes, rate of flow and residual pressure measurements are taken and recorded. This new section allows the use of the single hydrant flow test for the determination of water supply at the individual hydrant. The utilization of the test will allow hydrants to be measured and marked according to their strength for use by the fire service. (See Figure 1.) Another significant update to Chapter 4 is the recommended pressure drop between static and residual system pressures. Previously, in order to obtain satisfactory test results (calculation of rated capacity at 20 psi) it was recommended to produce a minimum 25 percent pressure drop between static and residual system pressures. In the 2022 edition, section 4.4.6 is written as follows: 4.4.6 To obtain satisfactory test results of theoretical calculation of expected flows or rated capacities, sufficient discharge should be achieved to cause a drop in pressure at the residual hydrant of at least 10 percent, or to flow the total demand necessary for fire protection purposes. In water supply systems where additional municipal pumps increase the flow and pressure as additional test hydrants are opened, it might be necessary to declare an artificial drop in the static pressure of 10 percent to create a theoretical water supply curve.
In municipalities where the water distribution systems utilize pumps to add pressure, the ability to achieve a significant pressure drop becomes a challenge. Lowering the percent drop to 10 percent becomes more realistic. The importance in achieving that pressure drop cannot be overlooked. In the calculation of the predicted flow at 20 psi, the greater the pressure drop during the flow test, the more realistic that number (predicted flow @ 20 psi) becomes. In robust water distribution systems where only a small percent pressure drop can be achieved, section 4.4.6 allows us to use a theoretical pressure drop of 10 percent to create the predicted flow at 20 psi. In contrast, when flow testing hydrants for evaluating the water supply for fire protection system purposes, the test data should meet or exceed the total demand of the system. Chapter 4 also includes the Table for the Theoretical Discharge Through Circular Orifices. This table is referenced across many NFPA standards as it relates to water flow measurement through orifices sizes. The table now includes a column for a 13/4-in. orifice, most commonly found in many flow rate measuring devices. NFPA 291 has long been a long-standing recommended practice, with minimal changes. The 2022 edition provides many key improvements. The importance of this recommended practice cannot go without mention. It provides the basis for water supply analysis used by the fire service for predicting firefighting capabilities as well as water-based fire protection system designers for proper system design. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Anderson is sales manager for The Hose Monster Company. He can be reached via email at michael@hosemonster.com.
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AFSA has been honored to recognize those who have dedicated themselves to the fire sprinkler industry. From l to r: In 1986, Chair Willie Templin (left) honored recipient Harold Black. In 1989, Chair Ed Smith (right) presented the award to Ron Coleman. In 1995, Chair Don Becker (left) presented the award to winner Ed Smith.
HONORING FIRE PROTECTION INDUSTRY LEADERS NEARLY 40 YEARS OF RECOGNIZING HENRY S. PARMELEE AWARD RECIPIENTS
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D’ARCY MONTALVO | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION
he American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) highest honor, the Henry S. Parmelee Award, is given in recognition of an outstanding individual who has dedicated himself or herself to the professional advancement of the fire sprinkler industry and the goal of fire safety through automatic sprinklers. The AFSA Board of Directors established the award in 1983. The Directors thought it was only fitting that the first national award by the fire sprinkler industry should memorialize a great contributor to the industry, Henry S. Parmelee, the recognized inventor of the first commercially successful closed sprinkler head. Parmelee was also from New Haven, Connecticut, the location of AFSA’s first national headquarters. The Parmelee award has recognized selflessness and dedication by contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, Authorities Having Jurisdiction, association staff, and others within the fire sprinkler industry. “When I received the Parmelee award in 2017, I was humbled,” comments
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AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS. “To now be on the other side, it is an honor to recognize recipients and their achievements in this industry.”
THE FIRST RECIPIENT John M. (Jack) Rhodes, vice president and COO of Factory Mutual Research Corporation, was selected as the first recipient of AFSA’s Henry S. Parmelee Award. It was presented at the association’s Second Annual Meeting and Trade Exhibition in New Orleans in September 1983. An excerpt from the August 1983 issue of Sprinkler Age reads: “Rhodes was chosen from a list of 10 nominees for the award who represented the most prominent leaders of the American fire protection community. His selection by the award judges was unanimous, and he scored the highest number of points on the criteria considered by the overall cause of good fire protection.” “Long known as a quiet, diligent, and selfless worker in the cause of good fire protection, Rhodes won the admiration and respect of thousands of his colleagues throughout the United States and overseas.”
CELEBRATING PAST WINNERS Sprinkler Age contacted some past winners and asked them to reflect on their experience when they won. “Winning the Parmelee award was the greatest honor of my life,” comments AFSA founding member and past Chair of the Board Jack Viola, P.E., JFV Engineering, LLC, South Hadley, Massachusetts. “As I believe all past winners will attest, there is no greater feeling than to receive the recognition of one’s peers.” “The sprinkler industry has been so good to my family over so many years, and as we look ahead, our industry’s future is looking brighter than ever. I am confident the current and future leaders of AFSA will take us through to the next 40 years and beyond. I am proud to have served AFSA and its members since our founding. To have won the Parmelee award was truly a humbling experience— the highlight of my career. I will be forever grateful to one of the founding fathers, my father-in-law, Ed Smith, for giving me the opportunity to work in this great industry,” Viola concludes.
Ferrell delighted AFSA members with hilarious impressions and tales of everyday life as he introduced the important presentations of the day. Chairman of the Board Don
and using social networking technical changes in the NF performance of dry-type sp
Several special presentations were made during the Opening General Session at AFSA’s 2011 Annual Convention & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas. Left Photo: AFSA’s Chairman of the Board Don Kaufman (at left) presented AFSA’s highest honor, the 2011 Henry S. Parmelee Award, to Willie Templin, American Automatic Sprinkler Company, Fort Worth, Texas (right). Right Photo: AFSA Immediate Past Chairman and Legislative Committee Chairman Larry Thibodeau (at right) recognized Jeff Feid of State Farm Insurance (at left) with AFSA’s Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year Award.
Honoring Henry S. Parmelee Award recipients from years past . From l to r: Chair Bob Rees (right) presented the award to Jack Viola in 2003. In 2007, 10 Sprinkler Age | October 2011 Chair Manning Strickland (left) honored Tom Groos. In 2011, Chair Don Kaufman recognized recipient Willie Templin .
Past recipient James Golinveaux, president/CEO, Viking Group, notes, “It is an honor to be recognized by your peers for many years of dedication to this great industry. However, it is very humbling to realize the company you are now in with the other recipients.” “I was shocked when [then AFSA President] Steve Muncy called to notify me I was the Parmelee award winner,” remembers past AFSA Director of Membership Lloyd Ivy. “I could not believe I was even considered, much less chosen.” He continues: “When I looked out from the podium [when receiving the award] and saw so many wonderful friends and acquaintances who had worked so hard to build AFSA from a
toddler to the big kid on the block, a huge amount of appreciation to have been a part of that journey came over me. To have been a part of that growth and success is so rewarding.” Kraig Kirschener was chosen as the 2018 Parmelee award winner. “The AFSA organization is manifested by its Board of Directors, who evidence selfless personal commitment. This Board’s earnest dedication provides AFSA the impetus to serve and advocate for non-union fire sprinkler contractors.” “The Parmelee Award is this Board’s special recognition bestowed upon an admired recipient who comports to the high standard of the AFSA mission. Enough said—I’m honored.”
2021 NOMINATIONS AFSA will celebrate this year’s winner at AFSA40, to be held September 18-21 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Know someone deserving of this honor who has shown a long-term commitment to improving the industry? There’s still time to nominate someone for the 2021 award! Visit www. firesprinkler.org/awards to submit a nomination by the July 1, 2021 deadline. See page 14 of this issue for details on this year’s seminars, hotel reservations, and convention registration. Be sure and bookmark www.firesprinkler.org/AFSA40 to keep up-to-date with information as it is announced. We look forward to celebrating with this year’s winner in San Antonio! n
Henry S. Parmelee Award Recipients 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
John M. Rhodes, FM Global Research Corp. William J. Meyer, Central Sprinkler Corporation C. B. Hall, American Automatic Sprinkler Co. Harold L. Black, Central Fire Protection, Inc. Edward J. Reilly, Ed Reilly Associates Richard T. Groos, The Viking Corporation Ron Coleman, Chief, Fullerton Fire Dept., CA Frank J. Fee III, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Corp. Dr. John M. Bryan, University of Maryland School of Fire Protection Engineering W. D. (Dave) Hilton, Chief, Cobb County Fire Department, GA J. Frank Riseden, AFSA President 1983-1991 Haden B. Brumbeloe, Publisher, FPC Magazine Edward H. Smith, H.F.P. Corporation Tom Waller, Viking Fire Protection of the SouthEast Chester W. Schirmer, Schirmer Engineering Corp. Tom Siegfried, Retired Chief, Altamonte Springs, FL Donald D. Becker, Midland Automatic Sprinkler Co. Robert L. McCullough, AllSouth Sprinkler Company (awarded posthumously)
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Buck Buchanan, Central Sprinkler Corporation Frank M. Winiecki, General Sprinkler Corporation Jack Viola, H.F.P. Corporation Lowell Gillett, Fire Engineering Co., Inc. (retired) Joe Hankins, FM Global (retired) Art Cote, National Fire Protection Association Tom Groos, The Viking Corporation William E. Corbin, Mutual Sprinklers, Inc. Lloyd Ivy, AFSA Director of Membership (1986-2008) Marty Giles, VSC Fire & Security Willie Templin, American Automatic Sprinkler, Inc. Bob Rees, Sunland Fire Protection Russ Leavitt, Telgian Corporation James Golinveaux, Tyco Fire Protection Products George Wagner, Worsham Sprinkler Company Steve Muncy, AFSA President (1991-2016) Robert (Bob) G. Caputo, Fire & Life Safety America Kraig Kirschner, AFCON Manning Strickland, Strickland Fire Protection
SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 33
CELEBRATING WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION RELIABLE SHARES INSIGHTS
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JENNIFER KOUYOUMJIAN & JOHN CORCORAN | RELIABLE AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER CO. ince its founding in 1920, women have played integral roles at Reliable in supplying USA-produced fire protection products to the construction industry. In March, Reliable celebrated Women in Construction Week by sharing profiles of several employees who represent some of the best and brightest of our workforce. Here is a more in-depth look into their careers, advice, and insights.
SONYA CAUTHEN, SENIOR INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER Sonya Cauthen’s goal is to make the manufacturing floor more efficient, including developing and deploying training, conducting and analyzing time studies, and creating production KPI (key performance indicator) dashboards. Cauthen reflected on her work at Reliable. “There’s always some new challenge to tackle. I enjoy the process improvement aspect of it, finding ways to make things better, easier, or more efficient. It’s also cool to see things go from a concept on paper to being implemented and come to life with real people and equipment.” When asked about college, Cauthen noted, “It was tough at times. Many long nights of studying or writing papers, summer school, some tears, and lots of prayers.” To help manage the rigors of
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Clemson’s Industrial Engineering program, she tapped into a support network. ”I was in college at a time when there were quite a few women pursuing degrees in engineering. The support system was there to stay encouraged and not give up when things got hard.” Cauthen’s advice for other aspiring professionals? “I would tell girls interested in a STEM or construction career not to let the fact that it may be a male-dominated industry deter them from pursuing this field. It’s ok to be the only girl in the room. Connect with mentors or find ways to investigate the STEM/construction area that’s a good fit for you and your interests or skills. Females can bring a new and distinct perspective that will only elevate the field in the future.”
business, so I guess you can say fire protection was in my blood.” Her dad was a considerable influence on her values, too, “My father taught me to never compare myself and my work to anyone else’s. Comparison can be a slippery slope that can lead to complacency or burnout. Staying focused on you, your goals, your attitude, and your efforts alone will always lead you to become the best version of yourself.” LaCoste gives this career advice regardless of gender or industry: “Take every opportunity that comes your way; each provides you value and exposure to distinct roles, jobs, companies, sales volumes, people, resources, markets, and processes. You’d be surprised at what you are capable of and how well-rounded you can become when you say yes.”
VICTORIA LACOSTE, SALES OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
STEPHANIE ASSOULINE, REGIONAL SALES MANAGER
Victoria LaCoste is not one to mince words. “I love my job. Training and career development are passions of mine, so to have a job that allows me to help support the growth of hundreds of individuals within our company… it’s a dream come true.” LaCoste supports distribution centers throughout North America with process improvement, systems support, and training. Despite being early in her career, LaCoste’s experience in fire protection is lifelong. “Growing up, my father owned a fire sprinkler contracting and fabrication
Stephanie Assouline supports customers throughout Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. “Our team takes our customers and employer to heart.” Although Assouline’s role at Reliable is new, she has an extensive steel pipe and fire protection background. Assouline credits her parents for shaping her professional work ethic. “My mother and father worked hard, took pride in, and excelled at their jobs. By observing them, I learned to care for and perform any task at hand to the best of my ability. They were honest and ethical in
their work and in all aspects of life. We had little growing up, so we were grateful for anything and everything.” Assouline entered the fire sprinkler industry working with steel pipe. “At first, the core business was steel pipe, which we then developed into fire protection. Before starting, I just couldn’t get around how I could be excited about steel pipe. But as it turned out, I loved it. Everything is interesting once you learn enough about it.” When asked if women are treated equally in the construction industries, Assouline observed, “More and more so. When I first began working in the construction industry, that wasn’t the case. I did not resent it, though—I just worked extra hard to prove myself. I understood the perception and made sure to educate myself in the industry and offer the best service I could to my customers.”
SARAH H. BEKIBELE, BIM SPECIALIST Sarah Bekibele’s interests in fine art, architecture, product design, and creating 3D models of her ideas led her to study BIM. Additionally, the challenge offered by a high school class, Transportation Technology/Small Engines, inspired her confidence in impacting the world around her. “I got a taste of hands-on engineering. We made rockets from scratch with shop tools and took engines apart. I never stopped wanting to figure things out and improve the world around me.” Bekibele is glad to be a part of the evolution of drafting at Reliable, converting legacy product designs into digital assets for contractors and designers around the world to use in their construction documents. “It is notable to me how well Reliable is able to adapt to the changing landscape of the fire protection industry over time. I think that’s partly why we have maintained a successful company for over 100 years. To take part in the data translation process is exciting to me because I get to help turn physical
products into beautiful and functional digital resources.” She is a member of the technical services department, and she works closely with product development engineering and the CAD team as well. “I am grateful to be able to access great minds around me that can answer the tough questions. The depth of experience available within this company is invaluable.” Bekibele’s advice for women in technology fields? “Do not underestimate the utility of imagination, never stop learning and never give up.”
REBECCA MCINTYRE, REGIONAL SALES MANAGER A chance meeting with Kevin Fee in 2007 opened a crack in the door that led to Rebecca McIntyre’s career in the fire protection industry. Just 13 years later, McIntyre had risen through the ranks to become regional sales manager for Florida, the Caribbean, and South America. McIntyre’s professional philosophy is simple: “As a salesperson, honesty will not always get you the sale, but it will earn you respect.” Simple words, but not always so easy to put into practice in a highly competitive world. McIntyre’s parents planted the seeds of her success and the foundation of her business ethics. “My parents both had a big influence on my work ethic. I grew up in a farming community where hard work was an expectation. Early on, they instilled in me the importance of responsibility, accountability, and integrity.” McIntyre’s commitment to continued learning, growth, and development of others positioned her for her recent promotion into management. “Over my time at Reliable, I have learned so many more aspects of the company than I expected to when I joined the sales team 14-plus years ago. I have learned not only sales, but also about manufacturing, operations, products, design, leadership, and much more.” When asked what her
future holds, McIntyre’s response was succinct: “I look forward to being able to help others grow in the same way.”
SERVING THE INDUSTRY Without exception, each of the women profiled in Reliable’s 2021 Women in Construction Week brings dedication, skill, and a passion to their work in providing life and property-saving products to the construction industry. This passion and dedication serve as an inspiration and elevates all of us. n ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Jennifer Kouyoumjian is a technical visual communicator. Her passion is communicating about engineered products and the people who create and manufacture them in STEM industries since 1992. She has been with Reliable for two years. John Corcoran is the digital marketing manager at Reliable Automatic Fire Sprinkler Co., Inc. He has worked in marketing and commercial operations roles in the fire sprinkler industry since 1993.
SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 35
TRAINING FOR APPRENTICES, ITM TECHNICIANS, AND MORE
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PROGRAMS TO MEET YOUR EDUCATION NEEDS hen it comes to your company’s training and education needs, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is your one-stop-shop! From in-person seminars to on-demand learning, correspondence courses to live webinars, AFSA has you covered. Here are some of the programs offered year-round and ones specifically scheduled for the coming months.
APPRENTICES AFSA has your apprentices covered with its fire sprinkler fitter apprentice
training series written from a contractor’s point of view. This program has been developed through the combined efforts of technical experts and AFSA contractor members. Each level of the series includes photographs, drawings, and tables to provide the latest graphic and written instruction on proper installation techniques and use of tools. The four levels are divided into modules. Each module includes a series of lessons that cover a particular topic within the scope of that module. Convenient online testing is included to assess learner knowledge on a periodic basis. For more information, visit www.firesprinkler.org/education.
In addition to correspondence courses, AFSA offers monthly webinars for sprinkler fitters in its “Fitter Zone” series. These live webinars are scheduled for Saturday mornings whenever possible, so your employees aren’t pulled from the job site, and many offer CAL-FIRE-approved CEUs. Register your fitter employees now with AFSA and set up their account to receive upcoming webinar information and ease registration or sign up to receive notification of upcoming Fitter Zone events by visiting www.firesprinkler.org/ zone. Currently scheduled fitter-focused webinars include:
AT THE JW MARRIOTT SAN ANTONIO HILL COUNTRY RESORT & SPA IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
September 18-21
36 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE JUNE 16, 2021
Live in Person!
• Air Supplies for Dry and Preaction Systems on June 12, • Hanging for Fitters on July 10, • Seismic Protection for Fitters on August 14, • Water Flow Testing on September 11, • Flushing Requirements for Fitters on October 16, • NFPA 14, 2019 Edition on November 13, and • Firestopping on December 11.
FOREMEN
• Exton, Pennsylvania July 19-30; • Baton Rouge, Louisiana August 16-27; • Exton, Pennsylvania September 27 – October 8; and • Sacramento, California November 8-19.
ITM TECHNICIANS With AFSA’s Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) Inspector Development Program, your inspection team can “hit the ground running” as
you start this service within your company or expand your team. Remember that enrolling an inspector can place you ahead of the competition and help prepare you for whatever lies ahead for the economy. In 20 months, your inspection team can be stronger than ever! Since the program’s inception in 2016, the passing averages for students continue to impress: 93 percent of AFSA students pass their Level I exam, and 91 percent pass the Level II Inspection &
AFSA’s correspondence course, The Leadership Ladder, teaches the newly promoted fire sprinkler foreman to manage projects from beginning to end. This 24-lesson course, written by industry veteran Michael L. Brown and reviewed by contractor members of AFSA, guides the new foreman through supervision of a fire sprinkler installation project and the other employees working that job. It also includes more than 40 pages of sample forms necessary to help manage a project, such as Change Order, Request For Information, and Employee Injury Report. The course includes online testing.
DESIGNERS This year, AFSA is offerings its popular Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning Schools in every season—and possibly in your local area! This class is designed for trainees and entry-level technicians with at least six months of experience as well as those with experience in the sprinkler trade looking to make the transition to design. The school teaches the essential fundamentals of fire sprinkler system layout. For 2021, the curriculum has been updated to the 2019 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. Students learn by actually planning and drawing sprinkler systems while studying and applying NFPA 13. Instruction consists of 60 percent study of the NFPA 13 standard and 40 percent preparation of fire sprinkler system layout, shop drawings, and hydraulic calculations. The remaining 2021 schools are on the road to:
Fire Sprinkler Information at your fingertips
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ince 1978, we have published FPC/Fire Protection Contractor magazine every month for the benefit of fire sprinkler contractors and the fire sprinkler industry. Covering over 70 topics, we focus on helping fire protection contractors, engineers, designers, sprinkler fitters, apprentices, and fabricators, manufacturers, and distributors of fire protection products used in automatic fire sprinkler systems. We also reach fire marshals, inspectors, architects, unions, universities, libraries, and more, totaling over 40 categories.
Be informed, contact us TODAY to subscribe!
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SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 37
Testing exams. All told, AFSA averages a 92-percent pass rate for Level I and Level II exams versus the national average 65-percent rate. The program is led by AFSA’s Manager of ITM Technical Training John T. Johnson, CFPS, who has worked in both the fire protection and fire suppression industries for over 30 years. AFSA has set up a new installment plan for this course for members, divided into four payments. The enrollment fee of $1,250 is due at sign-up. Then three equal payments of $1,000 each are due every six months. Registration is now open for the Fall 2021 class, which will virtually launch on October 26. Plus, the first six months of the program are conducted online. Class size is limited, so early registration is encouraged!
To find more details and register online, visit www.firesprinkler.org/itm.
WEBINARS FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM AFSA presents a variety of live webinars to cover all your education needs. A benefit of this type of training is the ability to learn in your office or at home. How about getting a group together in the conference room to watch the webinar together? AFSA’s Sprinkler Challenges are a great tool for group learning and a little friendly competition! In this monthly webinar series modeled after a popular game show, AFSA’s technical experts will highlight commonly misunderstood or improperly interpreted sections of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. True/false questions will be presented that will make
the attendee think and respond. The correct answer will be displayed with a discussion on explaining why the answer is correct. Handouts will be made available after each webinar. Remaining challenges for 2021 are: • NFPA 20, 2019 Edition on July 1; • NFPA 20, 2019 Edition on August 5; • Water Flow Testing/NFPA 291 on September 11; • NFPA 13, 2019 Edition on October 7; • NFPA 14, 2019 Edition on November 4; and • NFPA 13, 2019 Edition on December 2. For more details and to register for live webinars, visit www.firesprinkler. org/webinars. AFSA is also pleased to offer on-demand recorded webinars for learning at your convenience. AFSA members save on all courses covering NFPA standards, fire pumps, and ITM. Visit www.firesprinkler.org/ondemand.
INVEST IN YOUR WORKFORCE
AFSA flashback! AFSA introduced its “School of Design” in 1984. Today, the Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School is held in Dallas and in cities around the country.
38 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling “too busy to train,” but AFSA encourages you to shake off that mindset. As business in the fire sprinkler industry picks up, more contractor companies are finding themselves with a wealth of projects to tackle, but these projects require a fully trained team. An investment in your workforce is an investment in your business overall and can save you money at the bottom line. Not an AFSA member and want to take advantage of the free and discounted training offered to AFSA members? You’re in luck! Currently, AFSA is offering a six-month trial membership for contractors and a 12-month trial membership for municipal Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). Now is the perfect time to see what AFSA can do for you and your team! Already an AFSA member? Help spread the word about all the excellent training and education you receive as a member, and you benefit as well! Current members who recruit a new contractor member will receive a $100 gift card, and the new member receives a free recorded webinar. For complete details, rules, and regulations, visit www.firesprinkler.org/trial. n
NFPA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS RECOGNIZING OVER A CENTURY OF PROTECTING PEOPLE AND PROPERTY
T
he National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and plans to commemorate the momentous milestone through a series of events and initiatives that reflect the steadfast commitment to fire, electrical, and life safety by the Association. Key to the celebration is the launch of a virtual 125th Anniversary Conference Series that replaces the traditional in-person 2021 NFPA Conference & Expo. The online conference series runs from May 2021 through March 2022. “This is a year of celebration and education,” said NFPA President & CEO Jim Pauley. “We created a year-long virtual conference series to be able to offer a more tailored and personalized experience for participants. From comprehensive workshops to discussions on the latest advancements in fire technology, what participants learn in these sessions will improve safety around the globe.” The conference series features 10 one-day programs for building, electrical, and life-safety professionals and practitioners that collectively offer more than 100 informative education sessions, engaging content, industry roundtable discussions, networking opportunities, live chat sessions, and exhibitor demonstrations. Led by leading industry experts, program sessions cover a broad range of topic areas, from the impact of new technology on codes and standards and the use of data to drive safety to community risk reduction and public education strategies aimed at protecting people and property. The sessions are designed to help professionals
adjust to changing industry needs and more effectively and efficiently perform daily work. “It’s always been incredible to think about the fact that NFPA’s founding was based on the fire sprinkler standard (NFPA 13) and more impressive to see how far the association has come, how important the job is, and how well NFPA does in delivering on its mission,” says AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS, who serves on several NFPA 13 technical committees. “I am proud to be a long-term member of NFPA!” Since 1896, NFPA has furthered safety by facilitating the development of codes and standards, research, and education for fire and related safety issues. The association has seen success through the tireless work and support of its more than 250 technical committees comprised of approximately 9,000 volunteers from 42 countries, its more than 40,000 global members, and countless professionals who use NFPA resources to fulfill the mission of reducing loss. “The NFPA technical committees allow AFSA to represent our members’ interests in the development of standards, which is an open and fair consensus process that produces life- and fire-safety standards used globally,” says AFSA Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE, who also serves on several NFPA technical committees. “Happy anniversary to this great association! We appreciate being a part of its mission and helping keep the public safe.” Find more information about the NFPA 125th Anniversary, Conference Series, and the electrical program at nfpa. org/conferenceseries. n SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 39
SPONSOR A NETWORKING MEAL TABLE Contractor Support for AFSA Programs! • • • • •
ITM Program Seminars Fitter Program Webinars New Training Center
• Design School
R ! U YO ICE O H C
• ? Program of Your Choice
Your Dollars Go Back to the Programs You Use FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
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AFSA WELCOMES ILLINOIS-INDIANA CHAPTER NEWEST CHAPTER GATHERS MEMBERS IN THE MIDWEST
T
he American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to announce the recent formation of its Illinois-Indiana Chapter. This chapter will join AFSA as the thirty-second chapter after holding its first chapter meeting via Zoom on April 29, 2021. “We couldn’t be more excited for our new chapter and their new officers,” comments AFSA’s Director of Membership & Chapter Support Bruce Lecair. “Welcome to AFSA! We are looking forward to helping you grow your chapter and serving you and your members.” The inaugural meeting featured a presentation from AFSA national, future meeting dates and locations decided, and training and legislative issues important to chapter members discussed. Officers were also elected: Chair Skyler Bilbo, Wente Plumbing & Heating, Effingham, Illinois; Vice Chair Mitch Bortner, North American Fire Protection, Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Secretary/Treasurer John O’Malley, Xtreme Fire Protection, Tinley Park, Illinois. “I’m excited for AFSA to have a larger presence in our part of the country, and I’m looking forward to networking with more AFSA members,” states Bilbo. “We need a more focused voice for the merit shop fire sprinkler contractors in our area.” He continues: “The education that AFSA provides, along with promoting fire sprinkler systems in general, is great for everyone who is involved in this industry, and it is great for the safety of the general public. We all look forward to promoting this mission with the AFSA Illinois-Indiana Chapter.” The chapter serves all AFSA members in both states, brings important technical and legislative information to the area, and provides new networking opportunities for AFSA members. The Illinois-Indiana Chapter joins 31 other AFSA chapters and two state affiliates. Although AFSA is a national association, many of the most important and significant achievements of the association are accomplished at the local chapter level. Changes in code requirements, licensing laws, and training have the most direct effect on a contractor’s bottom line. The most convincing arguments for change come from the same people who have to live with these changes. Members also experience the personal side of the association where
they can network their services and enjoy friendships at the many chapter’s activities and events. One of the most important AFSA membership benefits is access to and participation in its chapters. Therefore, AFSA actively promotes and encourages strong, active chapters. Visit firesprinkler.org/chapters to find your local chapter or contact Membership & Chapter Relations Manager Meda Merritt via email at mmerritt@firesprinkler.org or phone at (214) 349-5965 ext. 133 and become involved today! n
SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 41
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
T
MEMBERS CELEBRATE MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES 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. “I’m honored to assist and advocate for our members, who are some of the best fire protection professionals I have ever met,” comments AFSA Regional Director of Membership & Chapter Support Dominick Kasmauskas, CFPS. “Keep doing what you do, and we’ll keep doing what we do to support you.” Several members are celebrating milestone anniversaries in May and June 2021. Sprinkler Age asked those members some questions about their time in the fire
sprinkler industry and with AFSA. Daniel Laird, CEO of Commonwealth Fire Protection Company (CFPC), and Linda Biernacki, president/owner of Fire Tech Systems, Inc., shared some of their favorite AFSA memories and things they’ve learned through the years.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE FIRE SPRINKLER INDUSTRY? Laird: “I was working as a draftsman for an engineering firm, and a friend who worked as an estimator for a local sprinkler contractor called me to see if I wanted to take a look at sprinkler design. I had just gotten married, and a $2 an hour raise in 1986 was a big deal! So I became a sprinkler designer.” Biernacki: “I always liked to draw, but kept thinking of the old saying ‘starving
Happy Anniversary to AFSA Milestone Members! May–June 2021 35-Year Anniversary Contractor Members Commonwealth Fire Protection, Leola, PA 30-Year Anniversary Contractor Members Fire Tech Systems, Inc., Shreveport, LA Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinklers, Inc., Vancouver, WA Associate Members Senju Fire Protection Corp., Irvine, CA 25-Year Anniversary Contractor Members Action Fire Systems Co., Spring Valley, CA Associate Members Croker Div. Fire-End & Croker Corp., Elmsford, NY 20-Year Anniversary Contractor Members Alliance Fire Protection, North Kansas City, MO AHJ Members City of Frederick, MD 15-Year Anniversary Contractor Members Eagle Fire Protection Systems, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ
42 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
artist,’ so I enrolled in a local VoTech for mechanical drafting, thinking about a career drawing process piping for the petrochemical industry. Fortunately for me, that did not work out. An ad in the newspaper for a fire sprinkler designer (how we found jobs back then) caught my eye, and I thought, ‘Hmmm, same premise,’ so I applied and was hired on the spot.”
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH AFSA? Laird: “My first involvement was to attend the three-week sprinkler design class in Dallas in 1987 while I was working for a union sprinkler contractor, COMASI.” Biernacki: “When I started my business in 1990 as an open-shop contractor, AFSA was known for the best apprenticeship training program in our industry. One year later, in 1991, I was financially able to join AFSA and took advantage of every tool in AFSA’s toolbox to keep my employees trained and educated.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OR MOST USED AFSA BENEFIT? Laird: “AFSA training, mainly the AFSA apprenticeship program and design programs.” Biernacki: “Training and education, especially apprentice training. We have used AFSA’s program to train our fitters, staff participate in technical webinars, and I always bring a big group to attend convention seminars and enjoy the networking.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AFSA CONVENTION MEMORY? Laird: “Attending the 2016 AFSA convention in Nashville, Tennessee, when we had a finalist in the National Apprenticeship Competition. Jon Offord went on to be crowned the winner of that year’s competition. It was awesome being there to witness the competition and to see many of our vendors,
Commonwealth Fire Protection Company (left) and Fire Tech Systems, Inc. are celebrating milestone AFSA anniversaries this year. suppliers, and even competing contractors cheering for Jon! Being able to spend time with Jon and his wife, Natasha, on a personal level was very special. Jon continues to be an outstanding employee, and I can see a very bright future for Jon at CFPC.” Biernacki: “We have been honored to have had several apprentices compete in AFSA’s National Apprentice Competition. I love seeing our fitters compete: Jared Jurek in 2003; Ross Low, who won third place in 2004; Chance McCollister, who won first place in 2017; and Jareth Hillard in 2018.”
Biernacki: “Take good care of your employees, and they will take care of your customers. Don’t take your eye off the simplest of things, like answering and returning phone calls, following through a timely manner, and don’t procrastinate when it comes to your customers’ needs.”
CELEBRATING AFSA MEMBERS AFSA looks forward to celebrating with more members this year and is excited to be rolling out new membership
programs. For more information, contact Membership & Chapter Relations Manager Meda Merritt at mmerritt@ firesprinkler.org or (214) 349-5965 ext. 133. Membership details are also available online at visit firesprinkler.org/join. 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! n
WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE YOU’VE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? Laird: “Technology! The changes that have occurred to the ‘simple’ sprinkler head are amazing. Thirty years ago, as a designer, we had a handful of sprinklers to choose from, and now the list is multiple pages long.” Biernacki: “The advances in AutoCAD for computer-generated shop drawings. Everything was hand-drawn when I started as a designer, and pipes were sized by hand calculations until HASS revolutionized calculations. Hallelujah!”
WHAT’S THE KEY INGREDIENT TO YOUR SUCCESS? Laird: “Planning, specifically succession planning. If our company did not have a succession plan in place in 2014 and again in 2017, I do not think we would still be in business, or at the very least, we would be owned by someone else. I am proud to say our company became 100-percent employee owned at the beginning of 2020!” SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 43
AFSA NEWS CARTER JOINS AFSA
Please welcome Sharon Carter as education programs coordinator for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). Carter’s role as education programs coordinator places her on the front lines when meeting members’ needs as they relate to AFSA’s #1 education service: fire sprinkler fitter apprenticeship training. She monitors online testing activity, sends out daily test summary reports, prepares apprentice completion certificates, and fields emails and phone calls throughout each day to answer questions about apprentice training status, test login, student transfers, course purchases and transfers, verification of enrollment, retake codes, and much more. Carter can be reached via email at scarter@ firesprinkler.org or phone at (214) 349-5965 ext. 140.
HALL AND NOBLE RECEIVE NICET CERTIFICATIONS
AFSA’s Technical Programs Coordinator Tom Noble, SET, CFPS, CWBSP, has achieved the designation of Senior Engineering Technician from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) by obtaining
CALENDAR JUNE 2021
3 • Sprinkler Challenge: NFPA 25, 2020 Edition Webinar firesprinkler.org/webinars 8 • What Works in Mentoring? Tips for a Successful Relationship Webinar firesprinkler.org/webinars 12 • Air Supplies for Dry and Preaction Systems Webinar firesprinkler.org/webinars 22 • Lunch with Leaders Webinar firesprinkler.org/webinars
JULY 2021
1 • Sprinkler Challenge: NFPA 20, 2019 Edition Webinar firesprinkler.org/webinars 10 • Hanging for Fitters Fitter Zone Webinar firesprinkler.org/zone 19-30 • Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School Exton, PA firesprinkler.org/schools
Seminars subject to change. Call (214) 349-5965 to confirm locations and times. For information on OSU programs, visit firesprinkler.org and click on “Training Calendar.”
44 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
CARTER
HALL
NOBLE
his NICET Level IV in water-based systems layout. In addition, AFSA’s Coordinator of Engineering & Technical Services Kevin Hall, M.Eng., P.E., CET, CWBSP, PMSFP.E., has earned his NICET Level I in water-based systems layout and his applications for Level II and Level III are pending review.
NFPA COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
The following AFSA technical services staff members were recently appointed to these NFPA committees: • NFPA 3, Standard for Commissioning of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems, Commissioning and Integrated Testing Committee: John August Denhardt, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 4, Commissioning and Integrated Testing, Commissioning and Integrated Testing Committee: John August Denhardt, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 13E, Recommended Practice for Fire Department Operations in Properties Protected by Sprinkler and Standpipe Systems, Fire Service Training Committee: John Johnson, CFPS, Principal and Kevin Hall, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, Correlating Committee: John August Denhardt, P.E., Principal and Kevin Hall, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, Fundamentals Committee: Kevin Hall, P.E., Principal and John August Denhardt, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 30B, Code for the Manufacture and Storage of Aerosol Products, Aerosol Products Committee: Kevin Hall, P.E., Principal and John August Denhardt, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals, Laboratories Using Chemicals Committee: Kevin Hall, P.E., Principal and John August Denhardt, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 88a, Standard for Parking Structures, Garages and Parking Structures Committee: John August Denhardt, P.E., Principal and Kevin Hall, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection,of Commercial Cooking Operations, Venting Systems for Cooking Appliances Committee: Kevin Hall, P.E., Principal and John August Denhardt, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration and Demolition Operations, Construction and Demolition Committee: John August Denhardt, P.E., Principal and Kevin Hall, P.E., Alternate • NFPA 770, Standard on Hybrid (Water and Inert Gas) Fire Extinguishing Systems, Hybrid (Water and Inert Gas) Fire Extinguishing Systems Committee: John August Denhardt, P.E., Principal and Kevin Hall, P.E., Alternate. n
CHAPTER NEWS FLORIDA CHAPTER
The Florida Chapter hosted a three-day prep course and exam on water-based inspections. The series was presented by AFSA Manager of ITM Technical Training John Johnson, CFPS. The event was a success and provided some excellent training for attendees. Visit afsafl.org.
LOUISIANA
The Louisiana Chapter held its first in-person meeting in over a year on April 27, 2021. The meeting included both a general chapter membership meeting, as well a training session featuring seminars presented by AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS, and a luncheon. The seminars included were “Spacing & Location of Fire Sprinklers NFPA 13, Chapter 8 (2016 Edition)” and “NFPA 25 (2017 Edition) Standards of ITM of WaterBased Fire Protection Systems.” Thank you to all who attended, making this in-person event a huge success! Mark your calendars for the Southern Fire Sprinkler Summit August 4-6, 2021, hosted by the AFSA Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana Chapters at The Lodge at Gulf State Park. Visit www.southernfiresprinklersummit.org for details. Also save the date for the LFSA 15th Annual Golf Tournament on October 25, 2021, at the Santa Maria Golf Course. Visit lafiresprinkler.org.
VIRGINIA
AFSA’s Virginia Chapter has scheduled its 28th Annual Burn Survivors Golf Tournament for Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at the Williamsburg Naitonal Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia. This event benefits the Central Virginia Burn Camp 501(c)3 and the Old Dominion Firefighters Burn Foundation 501(c)3. Regisration begins at 9:30 a.m., lunch begins at 10:30 a.m., and the practice range will be open from 10:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m, with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The dinner and awards begin at 5:30 p.m. Sponsorships are also available. The deadline for entry is September 17, 2021. For more information contact Tiffany Clarke via email at Tiffany.Clarke@eaglefire.com or via phone at 804-620-3727 or visit burnsurvivorsfoundationva.org. n
ASSOCIATION NEWS
AFSA’s Manager of ITM Training John Johnson, CFPS presented on waterbased inspections for Florida Chapter members.
Louisiana Chapter members met on April 27 for a general chapter meeting and training session.
AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS, presented NFPA 13 and NFPA 25 seminars to Louisiana Chapter members.
TEXAS (FSCATX) AFFILIATE
On March 11, 2021, AFSA Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE presented a seminar on the “Design and Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems” at the FSCATX meeting in Houston. The event sponsor, Victaulic, also presented both a seminar on “Dry Fire Sprinklers for Commercial and Residential Fire Protection” and on “Pressure-Regulating Valves for Commercial Fire Protection.” Additionally, on March 30, 2021, AFSA President Bob Caputo, CET, CFPS and Denhardt presented at the FSCATX meeting in Dallas on “Comparing and Contrasting Residential Requirements in NFPA 13/13R/13D – 2019 Edition” and “Design and Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems.” Thank you to all members who attended either event, making them both a success. Visit fscatx.org. n
AFSA’s Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE, presented a seminar on standpipe and hose systems to FSCATX members.
SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 45
AFSA CHAPTERS ALABAMA
alfiresprinkler.org Hunter Brendle – Pres. 334-270-8571 Greg Willis – Exec. Dir. 334-567-4257
ALBERTA, CANADA afsaalberta.org Kevin Mozak – Pres. 780-203-5263
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 Bernie Parsons – Chair. 704-201-7352 John Turnage – Exec. Dir. 919-624-3456
CHESAPEAKE BAY
afsachesapeakechapter.org Jason Martin – Chair. 410-286-3314 Danielle Fowler – Exec. Dir. 410-972-1122
COLORADO
afsacoloradochapter.org Roger Wallace – Chair. 719-337-6550 Kim Cook – Exec. Dir. 704-213-4368
CONNECTICUT
GREATER KANSAS CITY
Mark McKenzie – Chair. 913-432-6688 Brett Heinrich – Exec. Dir. 785-825-7710
ILLINOIS-INDIANA
afsact.org Rick Russo, Jr. – Chair. 203-877-7983
Sklyer Bilbo – Chair 217-342-2242
LOUISIANA
DALLASFORT WORTH
afsadfwchapter.org CJ Bonczyk – Chair. 817-529-1693
lafiresprinkler.org Randy Laguna – Chair 504-464-6236 ext 224 Ellen Ballard – Exec. Dir. 318-688-8800
FLORIDA
MICHIGAN
afsamichiganchapter.org Doug Irvine, Jr. – Chair. 616-784-1644
afsafl.org Suzanne Saults – Chair. 727-556-2790 Jessica Cox – Exec. Dir. 813-784-3624
MINNESOTADAKOTAS
GEORGIA
georgiafiresprinkler.org Allen Cagle – Chair. 770-554-5285 Bonnie Pinson – Exec. Dir. 770-310-2754
Marc Huag – Chair. 701-232-7008 Derek Peterson, Exec. Dir. 701-232-7008
GREATER BAY AREA
Thomas Bowlby, Jr. – Chair. 908-226-5313 Victor Lugo – Exec. Dir. 201-635-0400
afsa-gba.org Dave Karrick – Chair. 925-417-5550 Alicia Karrick - Exec. Dir. 510-398-9185
NEW MEXICO
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Rebecca Garley – Chair. 505-898-1647 Benjamin Dominguez – Exec. Dir. 505-898-1647
TENNESSEE
sacvalleyafsa.org Jordan Hopkins – Chair. 916-672-8415 Paulene Norwood – Exec. Dir. 916-296-0635
NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND Ryan Gadhue – Chair. 802-865-3600
UPSTATE NEW YORK
SAN DIEGO
Scott Uren – Chair. 858-722-1470 Rhonda Gudger – Exec. Dir. 951-326-4600
OHIO
afsaoh.org Bill Hausmann – Chair 937-859-6198 Scott Huber – Exec. Dir. 513-942-1500
SCHUYLKILL
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
afsanw.org Josh Massingale – Chair. 360-794-8621 Ron Greenman – Exec. Dir. 253-576-9700
PATRIOT
afsapatriot.org Chad Dubuc – Chair. 508-431-9938
afsatennesseechapter.org Casey Milhorn – Chair. 615-349-5278 Leslee Kiser – Exec. Dir. 615-865-5600
afsamac.org Ben Young – Chair. 480-621-5074 Ilyse Shapiro – Exec. Dir. 610-642-7427
SOUTH CAROLINA
scfsa.org Stuart Weeks – Chair. 843-442-3346 Ashley McAdams – Exec. Dir. 864-561-4088
afsaupstatenychapter.org Justin Petcosky – Chair 607-296-7969
UTAH ROCKY MOUNTAIN
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
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
socalafsa.com Terry Housholder – Chair. 714-632-8646 Jeff Bridges –Vice Chair. 941-413-0526
NEW JERSEY
AFSA AFFILIATE MEMBERS
OKLAHOMA AFFILIATE
ofsa.info Tim Hollon – Pres. 918-851-2416
TEXAS AFFILIATE
fscatx.org David Stone – Pres. 713-466-9898 Sarah Kiefer – Exec. Dir. 512-844-6632
Alberta, Canada
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
a
id
or
Fl
Texas (Affiliate)
Tennessee
Ohio
46 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
AFSA NEW MEMBERS CONTRACTORS
DESIGNERS
ASSOCIATES
Lance Bond Installation, Inc. San Bernadino, CA
Hatcher Engineering Plant City, FL
Acom Fire Solutions Columbus, GA
Markarian Fire Protection, LLC Watertown, MA
Lehigh Valley Engineering Bethlehem, PA
Duyar Vana Makina San. Ve Tic. A.S. Istanbul, Turkey
ADT Commerical, LLC North Haven, CT
Monterey Fire Ext Monterey, CA
TERPconsulting Abingdon, MD
Alliance Safety and Fire Protection Round Rock, TX
Moreno Fire Protection Co., Inc. Riverside, CA
A&A Mechanical St. Louis, MO
Incendio Fire Protection Union, IL
Absolute Fire Protection, LLC Selkirk, NY
Apex Pumping Equipment Sugar Grove, IL Assurance Fire Protection Denver, CO Atlantic American Fire Protection Elgin, IL
MVL Lansing, MI Neptune Fire Alarm Laguna Hills, CA New England Fire & Sprinkler Protection Chelmsford, MA
Brennan Fire & Security, Inc. Santa Fe Springs, CA
Patterson Fire Protection Meadow Vista, CA
Browning Fire Protection, Inc. Torrance, CA
RPI Plumbing and Fire Vancouver, WA
Checkmark Services Co., LLC South Chesterfield, VA
Serrano Fire Protection Systems Petaluma, CA
Doringer Cold Saws Gardena, CA Double Eight Fire Protection, Inc. Dublin, OH Facilities Compliance Fire Protection Berlin, CT Facilities Management Group Salinas, CA Fire Systems of Michigan Novi, MI Halo Fire Protection, LLC Mesa, AZ Hamrick Fire Systems, LLC Hilliard, OH Impact Fire Protection Bakersfield, CA
Shield Fire Protection Laguna Niguel, CA SIEMENS Blue Bell, PA Smith Fire Protection LLC Elkridge, MD SprinkMt, LLC Belgrade, MT Triangle Fire Protection Glendale, CA Ultra Fire Operations, Inc. Irvine, CA Willetts Fire Protection Mullica Hill, NJ World Fire Protection, Inc. Palm Desert, CA XL Fire Protection Santa Ana, CA
Thinkmax Austin, TX
STUDENTS
Aleksandra Morozova Columbia, MD Evan Charles Orowetz Pittsburgh, PA Jeff Arnold Johnstown, CO
Mutual Fire New York, NY
Axe Fire Protection & Contracting Inc. Edmonton, AB, CAN
DG Design La Mesa, CA
Fire Main Solutions, LLC Magnolia, TX
AHJS Adam Peltz, Suffern, NY Andrew Milliken, Stafford, VA Andy Loperena, Poway, CA Anthony Murphy, Scottsbluff, NE Anthony Staniscia, Caledon East, ON Anthony Validzic, Penn Yan, NY Ashley Chervenak, Winter Park, FL Bernie Arends, Chicago, IL Blake Holloman, Wilson, NC Brad Westberry, Saint Hedwig, TX Brian Mading, Naples, FL Chad Parsons, Amarillo, TX Charles Howe, Gainesville, FL Chris Dempwolf, York, PA Chris Hendrickson, Sandy, UT Conor Lenehan, Rancho Santa Fe, CA Corey Adamski, Naples, FL Cory Feese, Sandy, UT Dan Meneguin, Madison, WI Daniel Zunzunegui, Naples, FL Darrel Cross, Noblesville, IN David Kulbacki, Bozeman, MT David Rodriguez, Anaheim, CA Dearan Quigley, Enola, PA Douglas E. Faber, Winchester, VA Dustin Kindell, Siloam Springs, AR Edward Braddick, Croton on Hudson, NY Ethan Ivy, Austin, TX Gaby Manzo, Aptos, CA Gary Jackson, Tazewell, VA Gary Yarno, Rogers, AR Gilles C. Couty, Paris, France Guillermo Rivera, Huixquilucan Estado de Mexico Isaac Mendel, Pleasanton, CA Jacob Powell, Manhattan, KS James Cody, Naples, FL James Dray, Rogers, AR James Richardson, Crest Hill, IL Jason Fife, Rochester, MN Jason Parthun, East Dundee, IL Jay Holcombe, Covington, LA Jeffrey Renihan, Wappingers Falls, NY Jerry Marrison, Arcadia, FL Jessimay Llaneta, College Park, MD
John Kewell, Burlington, ON Justin Gipson, Chula Vista, CA Karin Izumi, Van Nuys, CA Kimberly Christian, Ontario, CA Laura Ridenour, Melvindale, MI Maggie Greene, Chula Vista, CA Mark Cacchione, Mundelein, IL Mark Clayton, Springfield, IL Mark Vierow, Vista, CA Michael A. Wright, Milwaukee, WI Michael Douglas, Springfield, IL Michael Long, Fairfax, VA Michael McNally, Waukesha, WI Nicholas Cecere, Peekskill, NY Norm George, Waynesburg, PA Patrick Cullen, Sandy, UT Paul Higginbotham, Centerton, AR Paul Varble, Hendersonville, TN Pete Melnicki, Lowell, AR Pete Metcalf, Veazie, ME Randy Metz, Carlsbad, CA Richard Harrod, Henrietta, NY Robert Sontag, Denver, CO Rohn Peterson, Richfield, UT Roland Tellier, Halifax, NC Rosalee Simmons, Naples, FL Ryan Crawford, Northampton, PA Ryan Putman, Sandy, UT Sam Baker, Roseville, MN Sam Horton, Springfield, IL Scott Determann, Warrenton, MO Shar Beddow, Naples, FL Sheryl Chavez, Amarillo, TX Steven Faraclas, Surprise, AZ Steven Kimble, Los Angeles, CA Terry Deam Mathews, Wenatchee, WA Todd Hohbein, Hurricane, UT Troy Komarowski, Naples, FL Troy Long, Salina, KS Vincent Krug, Ridgewood, NJ William J. Cary, Gilbert, AZ William Longley Jr, Cumberland Center, ME Yong Kye, Norfolk, VA Zeke Dombrowski, Milwaukee, WI
SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 47
TECHNICAL CHALLENGES CALLING ALL AHJS, DESIGNERS, FITTERS, AND ITM TECHNICIANS!
Each issue, AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services Department presents 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 to see if this exercise meets its criteria. For apprentice fitters, working these problems enforces lessons that should be learned through an apprenticeship program and explains how requirements from the standard are applied in the field. To participate in these challenges, carefully read and work the problems, and submit your answers online on the appropriate website by June 15, 2021: • firesprinkler.org/ahjchallenge • firesprinkler.org/designerchallenge • firesprinkler.org/fitterchallenge • firesprinkler.org/itmchallenge One winner will be pulled at random from each category from those who answer correctly to receive some industry swag! Answers will be published on the Sprinkler Age blog, found at sprinklerage.com, after the deadline.
AHJ CHALLENGE
The following questions are based on NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2019 edition. 1. When witnessing the flushing of underground piping, what is the minimum acceptable velocity to flush the piping of debris? A. 15 ft/s B. 10 ft/s C. 20 ft/s D. 5 ft/s 2. When flushing underground piping what is the minimum acceptable flow rate that 6-in. piping needs to achieve a velocity of 10 ft/s?
48 SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021
A. 880 gpm B. 610 gpm C. 1560 gpm D. 390 gpm 3. What is the maximum allowed pressure drop in PSI that is allowed when performing a hydrostatic test on 6-in. C900 PVC piping? A. 0 psi B. 2 psi C. 5 psi D. 10 psi 4. Who is responsible for notifying the sprinkler contractor of corrosive conditions of the water supply? A. The AHJ B. The water municipality C. The person who performed the water flow test D. The owner
DESIGNER CHALLENGE
The following questions are based on NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2019 edition, NFPA 22, Standard for Water Storage Tanks for Fire Protection, 2018 edition, and NFPA 291, Recommend Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants, 2019 edition. 1. What additional coefficient is required to be used when a pumper outlet with a smooth rounded outlet is utilized for a waterflow test and the pitot reading is 8 psi? A. 0.7 B. 0.747 C. 0.83 D. 0.9 2. A waterflow test is required to be conducted within 12 months of what project milestone? A. Start of installation B. System acceptance C. Working plan submittal D. Permit application
3. What is the minimum size of a fire main that supplies a fire hydrant? A. No minimum, per hydraulic calculations B. 4 in. C. 6 in. D. At least the size of the system riser 4. A break tank is proposed to supply an ESFR system protecting a Class II commodity stored up to 12 ft. If the system demand is 1,000 gpm, what is the required refill rate if the tank capacity is 40,000 gal and the fire pump’s rated flow is 750 gpm? A. 367 gpm B. 750 gpm C. 1,100 gpm D. 1,125 gpm
FITTER CHALLENGE
All questions are based on the 2019 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. 1. A new sprinkler system is being connected to a new underground water supply. What document must a sprinkler contractor have in their possession before making the connection? A . Copy of NFPA 13 B. Copy of the signed and witnessed underground test certificate, indicating a full flush and hydrostatic test has been completed and accepted by the AHJ C. Copy of the signed and witnessed aboveground test certificate, indicating a hydrostatic test has been completed and accepted by the AHJ D. Copy of the underground water supply permit and approved shop drawings 2. True or False: A hangar is defined as a device or assembly used to support the gravity load of the system piping. 3. True or False: A spring-loaded check valve can be installed in the vertical flow down direction.
4. True or False: An arm-over is defined as a horizontal pipe that extends from the branch line to a single sprinkler or a sprinkler above and below a ceiling.
ITM CHALLENGE
All questions are based on NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, 2020 edition. 1. Listed corrosion-resistant sprinklers exposed to harsh environments, including corrosive atmospheres shall be permitted to be tested at what frequency? A. 3 years B. 5 years C. 10 years D. 15 years 2. Compressors that require oil for lubrication shall have the oil replaced at what frequency? A. Semi-annually B. Annually C. According to manufacturer’s specifications D. Annually, unless manufacturer’s speci-
fications require the oil to be changed more frequently 3. While conducting an annual forward flow test of a backflow preventer you are unable to achieve the required minimum flow. How would you record your finding? A. Noncritical deficiency B. Critical deficiency C. Impairment D. Classification of this finding is not addressed in NFPA 25
lems, and submit your answers online on the approprite website by June 15, 2021: • firesprinkler.org/ahjchallenge • firesprinkler.org/designerchallenge • firesprinkler.org/fitterchallenge • firesprinkler.org/itmchallenge Answers for each challenge will be posted on SprinklerAge.com after that date. Test your knowledge today and you might just win some industry swag! n
4.While conducting a monthly inspection of a dry pipe system you notice the control valve to the accelerator is in the closed position and not communicating with the system piping. How would you classify your finding? A. Noncritical deficiency B. Critical deficiency C. Impairment D. Classification of this finding is not addressed in NFPA 25
ENTER TODAY!
Don’t forget: to participate in these challenges, carefully read and work the prob-
Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School
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W W W . F I R E S P R I N K L E R . O R G / D E S I G N SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 49
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Visit: www.firesprinkler.org/ITM
INDUSTRY NEWS OSU SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology (FPSET) program at Oklahoma State University (OSU) is dedicated to providing a world-class education and training experience for future FPSET professionals. Pat Brock has been at the forefront of this effort as a beloved professor impacting hundreds of students and alumni for the past 45 years. To celebrate his legacy on the OSU campus, help complete the Pat Brock BROCK Endowed Professorship to continue to recruit and retain professors just like him. There is an ambitious goal to get this funded by the FPSET reunion in September of 2021. Visit osugiving.com and search for “Pat Brock” to donate.
ELIMINATE FLOODING FROM BROKEN AUXILIARY DRAINS
INTRODUCING ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS™
Following the 2019 merger of Anvil International and Smith-Cooper International, the unified company has relaunched as ASC Engineered Solutions. Under a single name and logo, ASC Engineered Solutions continues its focus on improving the customer experience everyday and striving to deliver service excellence. The evolved ASC Engineered Solutions brand reinforces a focus on what matters most to customers: quality. As a solutions provider, this quality is reflected in the company’s precision-engineered products, support and knowledge. The new brand communicates that the organization is a dependable strategic partner focused on its customers’ success. Visit asc-es.com.
POTTER ELECTRIC ACQUIRES SURECALL ERCES BUSINESS
Potter Electric Signal Company, LLC (“Potter”) has announced the acquisition of SureCall’s emergency responder communication enhancement systems (“ERCES”) business which provides in-building public safety radio communications for first responders. SureCall is the performance leading supplier of cell phone signal boosters. Potter is expanding its portfolio of life safety and fire protection systems by adding to its 2020 acquisition of TowerIQ, the premier manufacturer of wireless life-safety communication and smart building technologies. The combination of SureCall’s Guardian product range with TowerIQ’s technology provides the broadest ERCES offering in the market. To support this platform, Potter provides business partners, emergency services personnel and building owners with full-service applications design services, including cloud-based monitoring and engineering tools. Potter’s motto is “We Save Lives,” which represents its mission to provide products and solutions for the protection of people and property. This acquisition brings state-of-the-art technology to advance Potter’s commitment to enhancing life safety. Potter is quickly establishing itself as a leader in the evolving and fast-growing field of ERCES, which includes Bi-Directional Amplifiers (BDA), Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and Auxiliary Radio Communication Systems (ARCS). ERCES technology is growing in importance throughout North America and internationally, as local jurisdictions and municipalities adopt codes that specify the need for reliable radio signal coverage used by emergency personnel and first responders. These requirements ensure that front line first responders will have total communication coverage when responding to an emergency. Visit pottersignal.com. n
Model 5900 FLOOD ELIMINATOR • Stops Flooding caused by Auxiliary Drain Breaks due to Freezing, Improper Maintenance, or Vandalism • For Dry and Pre-Action Systems • Compatible with Compressed Air and Nitrogen Systems • No Power Required • Automatically Resets after System Repair • Retrofit onto Existing Auxiliary Drains
www.agfmfg.com SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 51
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS WINSUPPLY NAMES NEW AREA LEADERS
Winsupply Inc. Local Company Group President Rob Ferguson announces the promotions of three of Winsupply’s local company presidents to the roles of area leaders. Area leaders are responsible for mentoring and providing consulting expertise to 620 local companies that make up the Winsupply family of companies. The promotions of the three individuals comes at the upcoming retirement of longtime Winsupply area leader, Mike Larkin. Larkin will retire at the end of June after 44 years at Winsupply. Eric Leatherman, previously president of Lincoln Winwater (Nebraska), has been named one of the new area leaders, effective immediately, and will be responsible for local companies in states in the northern plains and Upper Midwest. David Benton, president of Macon Noland (Georgia), will become area leader effective May 1, helping oversee local companies in the Southeast. Steve Lyon, president of Winsupply of Orlando (Florida), has been named area leader,
also serving local companies in the Southeast. Lyon’s appointment is also effective May 1. Visit winsupplyinc.com.
ternational (ESCI), working with ESCI Chair, Chief Chris Christopoulos. Visit IAFC.org.
BROWN APPOINTED IAFC CEO/ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) announces that it has hired Jarrell Jackson as the director of ABC’s National Craft Championships (NCC) and Construction Workforce JACKSON Awards (CWA). Jackson brings nearly 15 years of program management experience to ABC’s NCC and CWA. While promoting and celebrating skilled trades and careers in construction, Jackson will serve as the ABC national staff liaison to the NCC committee and as the liaison amongst ABC strategic partners, training sponsors and outside resources in a workforce development subject matter expert capacity. Visit abc.org. n
Acting President & Chairman of the Board Ken Stuebing and the board of directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) are pleased to announce the appointment of Fire Chief (Ret.) J. Robert “Rob” Brown, Jr., as IAFC chief executive officer and executive director. Brown will be responsible to assure that the IAFC builds upon its near 150 years of success at the forefront of the fire, rescue, and emergency services profession and that the IAFC’s advocacy, leadership, education, and service initiatives are laser focused on the success and support of IAFC members worldwide. Additionally, Brown is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and continuity of IAFC corporate operations and serves as president and CEO of the IAFC’s subsidiary company, Emergency Services Consulting In-
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PRODUCT NEWS HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR AFSA MEMBERS
AFSA members—custom design a group rate health insurance plan for you and your employees! Health insurance is one of the most important benefits you can offer your employees. AFSA has partnered with Mass Marketing Insurance Consultants, Inc. (MMIC) to help you design a healthcare program to fit your needs, your employee’s needs and your budget. • Group rates • Competitive health insurance options • Virtual Human Resources Department • Negotiating plans, rates and renewals • Free no-obligation quote Complete a proposal request form by going online to www.mmicinsurance.com. Within 48 hours, MMIC evaluates and negotiates with the two companies to tailor a plan that best fits your needs and sends you the proposal with the rates and benefit comparisons. Searching for superior healthcare options can be challenging, time-consuming and frustrating. AFSA’s affiliation with MMIC can open up savings opportunities for members. MMIC’s response time is amazing, the quote process is easy, and offers cost savings on coverage comparable to your existing program. AFSA members should explore this opportunity and take advantage of the healthcare options and savings MMIC can provide. Visit mmicinsurance.com, call 800-349-1039, or email quotes@mmicinsurance.com.
GAST MANUFACTURING INTRODUCES ROCKING PISTON COMPRESSOR
Gast Manufacturing Inc. introduces the new 2 horsepower Gast 120R Series Rocking Piston Compressor. A rugged, reliable workhorse–the new 120R is the most powerful twin cylinder rocking piston compressor on the market. Built from the ground up to meet systems builders’ pneumatic requirements in a smaller footprint, the new 120R has airflow capacity up to 12 cfm and pressure to 145 psi. So, customers can replace two or more smaller compressors with one 2 HP unit–meeting their system’s pressure demand faster while reducing extra hardware and maintenance costs. With the ability to easily integrate into an existing system, the compressor is also a simple drop-in replacement for previous generation Gast & Jun-Air compressors.
Lighter and quieter than other models, the 120R provides higher performance with lower energy consumption for optimal efficiency. With a cleaner oil free design, this compressor delivers a long life of outstanding performance and lowers total cost of ownership. Inspected and tested to meet the strictest safety requirements for medical equipment, OEMs can spec the Gast 120R with confidence. Visit gastmfg.com.
AGF INTRODUCES FLOOD ELIMINATOR FOR AUXILIARY DRAINS
AGF Manufacturing is excited to introduce the Model 5900 Flood Eliminator, an attachment that prevents broken auxiliary drains from flooding a facility. The Model 5900 is designed to allow condensate water to collect normally in a standard drum drip. If presented with the pressurized flow that would result from a failed drum drip, it automatical-
ly trips to cut off that flow, eliminating the flooding and damage that would result from the system’s failure. The Flood Eliminator can be pre-assembled to AGF’s COLLECTanDRAIN auxiliary drains or retrofitted to existing auxiliary drains. Visit agfmfg.com.
VICTAULIC STREAMLINES FIRELOCK™ SPRINKLER OFFERING
Victaulic has streamlined its sprinkler offering to optimize customer experience. The offering has been unified under the FireLock™ brand and is now uniformly cataloged with consistent and intuitive product terminology. As part of the overhaul, Victaulic aligned its extensive line of sprinklers into new “Series” group names to clearly communicate product function and simplify decision-making. Victaulic has created a user-friendly, interactive sprinkler chart that allows customers to easily search
USE PROTECTION L4N1XP THRU-BOLT ™ 4-IN-1 RATCHET WRENCH One wrench for all your jobs • Sealed ratchets provide extra protection from jobsite conditions • Maximum leverage handle design with rugged grip • Sockets stay on – no loose sockets Sockets 15/16"
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Reed Manufacturing • Erie, PA USA reedsales@reedmfgco.com • 800-666-3691 • www.reedmfgco.com
SPRINKLER AGE | MAY/JUN 2021 53
PRODUCT NEWS CONT. and choose among the options, including technical documentation and product specifications. The website has also been redesigned to include more user-friendly search functionality and catalog filters such as category, k factor, deflector and more. Visit victaulic.com.
NFPA 420 TO BE DEVELOPED
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards Council has approved the development of NFPA 420, Standard on Fire Protection of Cannabis Growing and Processing Facilities. The new standard, which was originally proposed in re-
sponse to serious fires that have occurred at cannabis facilities in recent years, will provide clear guidance on fire protection standards for facilities that produce, process, and extract cannabis. NFPA 420 will build upon the work started several years ago in NFPA 1, Fire Code, which addresses the fire protection aspects of the growing and processing facilities. The new stand-alone document will expand upon those requirements, referencing appropriate resources as needed, with the overall goal of addressing the protection of facilities from fire and related hazards where cannabis is being grown, processed, extracted and/or tested.
Discover what you’re missing
NFPA 420 is envisioned to include requirements for inspecting, systems testing, and maintenance of cannabis growing, processing, and extraction facilities. It also is anticipated to establish the general skills, knowledge and experience required among facility operators and facility managers responsible for ensuring adequate levels of safety at these facilities. The start-up roster for the Technical Committee on Fire Protection of Cannabis Growing and Processing Facilities (CGP-AAA) will be appointed at the NFPA Standards Council meeting in August 2021. Committee applications are being accepted through June 15, 2021. Visit nfpa.org. n
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DRY FIRE SPRINKLER COMPRESSOR RISER & FLOOR MOUNT CAPABLE
A quiet, easy to install air compressor unit for fire sprinkler applications.
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Copyright © IDEX Corporation 2021. Gast is a unit of IDEX Corporation.
