Sprinkler Age May/June 2018

AFSA IN ACTION 38 AT MARYLAND DAY

MAY / JUN 2018

SPRINKLER AGE

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

VOL 37/03

AFSA37

GOES TO WASHINGTON

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SprinklerAge

Vol 37 / 03 May/June 2018

Features 10 | AFSA37 Heads to the Capitol

The Largest Annual Fire Sprinkler Exhibition in the World Offers Something for Everyone

14 | Join AFSA on Capitol Hill

Meet with Elected Representatives to Address Fire Sprinkler Industry Issues

16 | Fire Sprinkler Protection for Automated Rack Assemblies

Are You Ready For This Latest Challenge in Fire Protection?

22 | Expanding Education in Canada

AFSA Member Helps Translate Red Seal Certification

24 | Dry Pipe Water Delivery Time

Do Lower Air Pressure Dry Pipe Systems Deliver Water Faster Than Higher Air Pressure Systems?

27 | NextGen Initiative Presents New Webinar Series

Topics Cover Next Generation Issues

ON THE COVER Join us September 30-October 3, 2018 for AFSA37: Convention, Exhibi-

28 | Dry Barrel Sprinklers

tion & Apprentice Competition, the

30 | Safety at Your Fingertips

exhibition in the world, at the Gaylord

More Technology Available Than in the Past Online Resource is a One-Stop Shop for Safety Needs

31 | Scholarships Help Students

Pre-assembled Couplings Reduce Installation Time

36 | BIM and the Fire Sprinkler Industry

A Sprinkler Contractor’s Perspective

38 | Maryland Day Educates, Excites

UMD and AFSA Partner for Side-by-Side Sprinkler Demonstration

42 | Is Your Fire Protection System Designer Qualified?

National Resort & Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Also covered in this issue: storage.

AFSA Presents Scholarships to Ten Teens

32 | Storage Trends Push Product Evolution

industry’s largest annual fire sprinkler

NFPA’s New Certified Water-Based System Professional Certification Ensures a New Hire Has What It Takes

6

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

8

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

62 NEW MEMBERS 63 U.S. CONSTRUCTION 64 AHJ PERSPECTIVE 66 AFSA NEWS 68 CHAPTER NEWS 69 ASSOCIATION NEWS

46 | Join the Celebration!

70 INDUSTRY NEWS

48 | HFSC Introduces Builder Incentive Program

76 PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

AFSA Virginia Chapter Burn/Survivors Foundation Events Gearing Up to Celebrate 25 Years Focus is on Home Fire Sprinklers Installed in New-Home Developments

72 PRODUCT NEWS 78

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

52 | Fire Suppression Agent Selection

Protection for a Mobile Power Generation Unit

60 | AFSA Welcomes Upstate New York Chapter

Members Form Newest Chapter

SPRINKFER AGE, (ISSN 0896-2685) is published bimonthly 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.

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Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 5

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE EDITORIAL: 214 349 5965

BY WAYNE WEISZ AFSA Chairman of the Board

FRANK MORTL III, CAE, Publisher D’ARCY G. MONTALVO, Editor, ext. 115 dmontalvo@firesprinkler.org NICOLE DUVALL, Director of Communications, ext. 126; nduvall@firesprinkler.org ADVERTISING: 214 349 5965

REBECCA HERRING, Communications Coordinator, ext. 134; rherring@firesprinkler.org CIRCULATION : 214 349 5965

Greetings,

REBECCA HERRING, Communications Coordinator, ext. 134; rherring@firesprinkler.org AFSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The month of April has been both very exciting and busy for the leadership of our association. We have just concluded our second Board of Directors’ meeting of the year.

Another event in April was the National Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) dinner in Washington D.C. I was able to attend the dinner this year along with Frank Mortl III CAE, president of AFSA, as well as a couple of Directors from the AFSA Board and contractors from the Washington, D.C. area.

WAYNE WEISZ, CHAIRMAN 209-334-9119

It is always very moving to me, personally, to visit Washington D.C. The history that surrounds this beautiful city is amazing. Being able to attend the CFSI dinner and hear firsthand some of the experiences our first responders go through can be a little overwhelming. It certainly validates our profession. Fire sprinklers are truly a life-saving component when discussing building and building components. Why they are not required in all new construction? There is just no good argument against a total sprinkler requirement, especially in new construction.

PAUL DELORIE, TREASURER 603-432-8221

One of the topics at our recent Board of Directors’ meeting was the funding of grant monies for lobbying purposes. For several years AFSA was a part of the coalition which helped fund a lobbying effort to pass the National Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act. After years of working on this, it was finally passed into law as part of the recent tax reform package passed by Congress and signed by President Trump. As it turns out, our money was well spent in this lobbying effort. Lobbying of politicians, at times, may seem very cumbersome. Some view paying for a lobbyist as a waste of money. I would argue that having a set of eyes on politicians can be very useful. This may not apply in every state, but as we hear from our members around the country, there are many states that have contractor and fitter licensing legislation in the works. As a contractor, I fully understand how difficult it can be to stay on top of changes in laws that directly affect our businesses and, in some cases, our workforce. I also understand how difficult it can be dealing with politicians. Thus, at times, the need for a lobbyist.

AFSA will be hosting its national convention this year in Washington D.C. As member of AFSA, it will be an excellent opportunity to mix a lot of business and pleasure in one trip. First, by attending AFSA37, September 30-October 3. This convention will no doubt be the largest and most attended trade show our industry has experienced to date.

Second, taking some time to visit the sites and witness the history of our nation’s capitol.

This is truly one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

In conjunction with AFSA37, we have a very unique experience planned for October 4, 2018. AFSA will be hosting its inaugural “Capitol Hill Day.” This will be an excellent opportunity for everyone to become a lobbyist for the day. Those attending will be split into small groups and will visit up to three or four offices of elected congressional members. There with be a great opportunity for a group photo on the steps of the Capitol building. Please check the AFSA’s website, firesprinkler.org, for more information.

Thank you. n 6 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

THEODORE C. WILLS, JR., FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN 610-754-7836 JACK A. MEDOVICH, SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN 410-787-0639 LINDA M. BIERNACKI, SECRETARY 318-841-0330 MICHAEL F. MEEHAN, IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN 757-213-3660 DONALD G. ALBARES, 504-837-0572 DWIGHT BATEMAN, 713-910-3242 ROD DIBONA, 605-348-2342 LYLE HALL, 858-513-4949 R. DONALD KAUFMAN, 505-884-2447 JEFF PHIFER, 803-438-2994 AFSA MANAGEMENT: 214 349 5965

FRANK MORTL III, CAE, President ROLAND J. HUGGINS, PE, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services, ext. 121 MARLENE M. GARRETT, CMP, Vice President of Meetings & Operations, ext. 118 BRADLEY ELLIOTT, Director of Member Services, ext. 135 LAVERNE DAVIS, Director of Financial & Administrative Affairs, ext. 112 NICOLE DUVALL, Director of Communications, ext. 126 LESLIE CLOUNTS, Director of Education Services, ext. 130 ROGER GRAGG, Director of Marketing & Information Technology, ext. 116 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.

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

BY FRANK MORTL III, CAE AFSA President

Assurance. Having faith in a product or system that tends to inspire full confidence in the end user subscriber. Assurance, not the same as insurance, is what those of us in the association management field aim to provide voluntary member participants who take advantage of programs designed to enhance business practices. In the case of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), eight “Business Solutions” have been endorsed by elected merit shop fire sprinkler contractor representatives which include a 401(k) retirement plan, background screening, drug testing, freight service, fuel management, health insurance, and office product discounts. Additionally, our most seasoned Business Solution centers around experienced risk engineering, insurance claims specialists, and fire sprinkler construction safety resources. The AFSA Contractors Insurance Solution has been monitored very closely for nearly 30 years by the association’s Insurance & Safety Committee which meets regularly so that member contractors have the assurance necessary to access the program of choice for fire sprinkler contractors nationwide.

Administered by Blue River Underwriters, AFSA’s Contractors Insurance Solution was created in 1989 and primary operations include system design, fabrication, installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based systems. Other operations may be included as long as 51 percent of the operations are fire sprinkler installation, service, and repair. Also, the installation of CPVC jobs are not excluded within the program. The AFSA Insurance & Safety Committee meets as a group three to four times per year to discuss the virtues of the Contractors Insurance Solution, its recent effects on participating member contractors, areas for improvement, and to assess the overall performance of Blue River Underwriters. In short, our Insurance & Safety Committee provides assurance on insurance. Merit shop fire sprinkler contractors volunteering their time to deliver faith in a system which should inspire full confidence to fellow members of the association.

AFSA’s Insurance & Safety Committee has been chaired or co-chaired by six members of the Board of Directors charged with delivering oversight to the aforementioned Contractors Insurance Solution – Don Albares, Don Becker, Harold Black, Paul DeLorie, Gina Kanter, and 2018 Chair Mike Meehan. This year, Insurance & Safety Committee members include Don Becker, Dwight Bateman, 8 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Tommy Clements, Paul DeLorie, Rod DiBona, Joe Heinrich, Don Kaufman, Jeff Phifer, and Ted Wills. These committed volunteers review the critical issues important to member contractors such as commercial general liability insurance, available industry specific coverages, as well as submission details including ACORD applications, loss runs, and what used to be known as the “AFSA Audit Trail.”

Today, AFSA members underwritten by Blue River have the assurance of knowing they are automatically enrolled in a Claims Assistance Program – protecting their financial interests both during and after completion of any contractual work performed.

AFSA’s Claims Assistance Program features a coverage services support team, which includes state-of-the-art loss control, professional claims handling services, and a customized state-of-the-industry back rooms claims review

by NFPA experts to support the needs of contractors enrolled in this Business Solution. Quite a nice strategic advantage to have the assurance of merit shop fire sprinkler contractor representatives overseeing an insurance feature that includes claims handling services with actual contractual backgrounds, a claims review process with real world code-related experiences, an adjusting team which determines the strengths and weaknesses in defending or denying claims, in addition to an administrator whose goal is to identify the best outcome for the contractor.

Bob Leonhart, senior vice president/program director for Blue River Underwriters, also serves as the insurance representative on AFSA’s Insurance & Safety Committee while representing top-rated carriers by way of expert underwriting leadership.

Assurances regarding safety have been a major point of emphasis for AFSA leadership in recent years as well.

Launched in 2017, the AFSA online Safety Portal at afsasafetyportal.com is a customized safety platform built with the specific needs of merit shop fire sprinkler contractors in mind. With over 1,000 resources and references, AFSA’s Safety Portal provides assurance to members in the form of electrical safety, ladder safety, loss control, personal protection, and vehicle safety. Looking to supplement a company’s safety program by having a ready resource for researching and implementing best practices that ensure safe work environments, safety has been and continues to be a major point of focus for AFSA’s Insurance & Safety Committee. Merit shop contractors are encouraged to visit this free, members-only wealth of information which includes bulletins, employee handouts, employer programs, infographics, sample forms, and much more. In particular, the downloadable Tool Box Talks and ready links to various safety resources provide immediate positive impact to fire sprinkler professionals.

AFSA members interested in “maximizing their membership” need to look no further than the Business Solutions Continued on page 74

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AFSA37 Heads to the Capitol The Largest Annual Fire Sprinkler Exhibition in the World Offers Something for Everyone Come to the nation’s capitol and be a part of the largest event of its kind in the fire sprinkler industry as the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) hosts AFSA37: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition September 30-October 3. Join industry peers at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center for technical and managerial seminars offering CEU/CPD credits, social events including an exclusive event at the Newseum; an exciting, live apprentice competition; and a packed exhibit hall!

“Last year AFSA smashed records by hosting the biggest fire sprinkler industry event ever, and we’re eager to do it again this year,” comments AFSA’s Vice President of Meetings & Operations Marlene Garrett, CMP. “This highly anticipated event provides something for everyone including: fire sprinkler contractors and designers, manufacturers and suppliers of fire sprinkler products, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction. We encourage everyone to mark their calendars and plan to join us in D.C.!”

Convene in the Capitol This year’s convention offers an additional day of seminars, totaling four days packed with education, training, and networking. AFSA will offer another record-breaking number of seminar hours led by industry experts, and the AFSA exhibition is a proven opportunity for people to connect with great prospects as well as grow and 10 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

cultivate existing networks. The unopposed exhibit hours allow attendees and exhibitors to visit without interruption, and the second day of exhibits also features the finals of AFSA’s 25th National Apprentice Competition. This year AFSA has added a special “Train the Trainer” workshop on Sunday, September 30. Send your trainers to this program for an in-depth session on how to train for the biggest impact and a successful learning experience at your company!

Other convention highlights include the evening parties and social events, as well as a chance to relax with friends during the networking meals – three breakfasts and three lunches – hosted for attendees who are fully registered in AFSA’s room block at the Gaylord National Resort.

The final night awards party will be held at The Newseum, a dynamic, engaging, and interactive museum of news that allows visitors to experience the stories of yesterday and today through the eyes of the media while celebrating the freedoms guaranteed to all Americans by the First Amendment.

Tours include a Washington, D.C. highlights trip; a tour of the U.S. Capitol building; a Lincoln Assassination tour; and a cooking demonstration led by the Gaylord National Resort’s prestigious chef.

NextGen Day Looking to join or involve your under-40 employees in the industry’s most forward-looking young professionals’ group? AFSA’s NextGeneration Initiative (NGI) will host a “NextGen Day” Monday, October 1 during the convention. The line-up begins with a half-day workshop “Developing a Practical Plan to Work with Schools” presented

by Jennifer Wilkerson, director of marketing and the “Build Your Future” campaign for the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER), Alachua, Florida. In the afternoon, AFSA NextGen Chair Meaghen Wills, project manager at Anchor Fire Protection in Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania, will moderate an NGI Leadership Forum panel discussion with Ryan Hogan, principal of Preferred Insurance in Fairfax, Virginia and president of the American Subcontractors Association’s (ASA) Front Runners – ASA’s young professional group; Kevin Mozak, president of Meridian Fire in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and president of the AFSA Alberta Chapter; Jay Strickland, president of Strickland Fire Protection in Forestville, Maryland; and Jennifer Wilkerson, NCCER. An invitation-only NGI reception will be held that evening. To become involved in NGI and participate in the related events at convention, visit AFSA’s website at firesprinkler.org/NextGen. Inaugural Capitol Hill Day AFSA is also excited to announce a new initiative, AFSA’s inaugural Capitol Hill Day! For those attending AFSA37, stay an extra day to take part in advocacy activities on Capitol Hill on Thursday, October 4, 2018. Facilitated by AFSA’s Legislative Committee, the program seeks to harness the tremendous power of fire sprinkler industry representatives delivering a unified message to Congress to affect positive change. Prior to arriving Capitol Hill, participants will receive an agenda with their appointments (made by AFSA), talking points, background information, and training. After prepping for their meetings, participants will depart for Capitol Hill for face-toface meetings with senators, representatives, and their staff

2018 Convention Schedule At-A-Glance Sunday, 9/30/18

11:00am – 5:00pm 1:00pm – 5:00pm 8:00am – 5:00pm

Registration Open Seminars “Train the Trainers” Workshop

Monday, 10/1/18

7:00am – 5:00pm

Registration Open

7:00am – 8:30am

Networking Breakfast

8:00am – 5:00pm

Seminars

11:30am – 1:00pm

Networking Lunch

5:30pm – 6:30pm

NextGen Initiative Reception (By Invitation Only)

7:00am – 6:00pm

Registration Open

7:00am – 8:30am

Networking Breakfast

8:00am – 12:30pm

Seminars

11:30am – 1:00pm

Networking Lunch

1:30pm – 3:00pm

General Session

3:00pm – 4:00pm

Exhibitor Appreciation Event

4:00pm – 7:00pm

Chairman’s Reception

6:00am – 3:30pm

Registration Open

7:00am – 8:30am

Networking Breakfast

8:00am – 12:00pm

Seminars

11:30am – 1:00pm

Networking Lunch

11:30am – 3:30pm

Apprenticeship Competition

12:30pm – 3:30pm

Exhibits Open

7:00pm – 10:00pm

Awards Party

8:00am – 5:00pm

Inaugural AFSA Capitol Hill Day

Tuesday, 10/2/18

Wednesday, 10/3/18

Thursday, 10/4/18

on issues, such as home fire sprinkler legislation, apprenticeship, and infrastructure spending. If you’re interested in participating in AFSA’s inaugural Capitol Hill Day, see the article on page 14 for more information.

Convention Headquarter Hotel Immerse yourself in an unrivaled stay at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention

The Gaylord National Resort in Washington, D.C. welcomes AFSA this fall and blends a perfect meeting venue with fun and entertainment for the whole family!

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 11

The Gaylord National Resort in Washington, D.C. offers dining, shopping, walkways and picturesque settings to enhance your stay.

Center. Located on the Potomac River, just steps from the shopping and entertainment National Harbor is known for, this waterfront resort provides you with the best of both worlds. Bring the whole family to enjoy a ride on the Capital Wheel, while visiting MGM National Harbor® with the city’s complimentary circulator bus. Explore the Gaylord’s very own 19-story glass atrium, enjoy the fountain show, then make a splash of your own in the indoor pool. Satisfy your cravings at one of the seven onsite stylish eateries, and discover exotic cocktails and breathtaking views at Pose Lounge & Nightclub. The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center always provides a memorable stay!

posing as our housing vendor. These companies mislead you to think they are working on our behalf. Companies that use this tactic include Exhibitor Hotel Reservation Services (EHR), Global Housing, and National Travel Associates. They are not endorsed by or affiliated with AFSA or its show and entering into financial agreements with such companies can have costly consequences such as no hotel reservations and no free networking meals nor complimentary internet access. To receive full AFSA hotel benefits, you must book directly with the hotel by phone or using the link found on AFSA’s convention website (firesprinkler.org/AFSA37).

With an “all-access” convention registration, attendees receive one breakfast voucher and one lunch voucher up to three nights for each night you have a reservation at the Gaylord National Resort – a perfect time to enjoy a full meal while you network with contractors from across the country. In addition, the entire AFSA room block is located in the Gaylord National Resort, just steps away from all meeting spaces.

Be the First to Know! Hear the latest from AFSA, including news, deals, discounts and offerings. Get real-time updates on the association’s official happenings sent to your desktop or wireless device by subscribing to, or “following,” AFSA social media, and use our official hashtag #AFSA37!

• Twitter: twitter.com/AFSA • Facebook: facebook.com/firesprinkler.org • Instagram: instagram.com/firesprinklerorg • YouTube: youtube.com/user/AmerFireSprinkAssn

The AFSA group rate for the Gaylord National Resort is $249 per night plus tax for a run-of-the-house room (limited availability).

Reservations may be made online during the convention registration process at firesprinkler.org/AFSA37. Group rates are available for stays September 6-October 6, 2018, but reservations must be made by August 24, 2018 to assure AFSA convention rates. After August 24, 2018 room rates are based on availability. Be sure to ask booking agent to confirm your reservation includes both the resort fee and the complimentary internet.

Hotel Reservation Alert! AFSA has been made aware of third-party vendors soliciting AFSA exhibitors and attendees 12 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Bookmark AFSA’s convention website at firesprinkler.org/ AFSA37 as online registration will open soon. And a new feature this year allows attendees to make hotel and convention attendance registrations at the same time. Mark your calendars now to meet us in the nation’s capitol for a guaranteed return on your investment with AFSA37! n EDITOR’S NOTE: More details on AFSA37: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Cometition will be forthcoming at firesprinkler.org/ AFSA37. Convention brochures will be arriving soon in your mailbox!

Gaylord National

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ATION R T S I G ION RE VATION T N E V ER CON EL RES ACTION T O H & TRANS E N O IN A37

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g/A r o . r e l ink firespr

Join AFSA on Capitol Hill Meet with Elected Representatives to Address Fire Sprinkler Industry Issues A new initiative, AFSA’s inaugural Capitol Hill Day seeks to engage fire sprinkler professionals who are already coming to Washington, D.C. for AFSA37: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition, to ask them to take part in advocacy activities on Capitol Hill. Facilitated by AFSA’s Legislative Committee, the program seeks to harness the tremendous power of fire sprinkler industry representatives delivering a unified message to Congress to affect positive change.

“A push for national apprenticeship policy, tax reform, and other business politics combined with an unprecedented national interest in utilizing fire sprinklers as a method of cutting loss of life in residential buildings provides AFSA the opportunity to represent its members as the voice of the merit shop,” states Kevin D. Korenthal, AFSA manager of chapter relations. “So, it is with much excitement that AFSA announces its inaugural Capitol Hill Day.” Prior to arriving on Capitol Hill, participants will receive an agenda with up to three appointments (made by AFSA),

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Join your fellow AFSA members on the steps of Capitol Hill on October 4, 2018.

talking points, background information, and training. After prepping for their meetings, participants will depart for Capitol Hill for face-to-face meetings with senators, representatives, and their staff on issues such as home fire sprinkler legislation, apprenticeship, and infrastructure spending.

There will also be a photo opportunity on the stairs of Capitol Hill.

In addition to the customary handouts and maps provided to participants at all Capitol Hill visits, AFSA will be employing a new cell phone app called Advocacy Day Assistant. This handy tool helps participants navigate between Congressional buildings, provides a calendar of each user’s meetings, and contains digital copies of each handout that can be emailed to Congressional staff right from the app!

Interested in participating in AFSA’s inaugural Capitol Hill Day? For more information and to assist AFSA in planning the event, fill out the survey on AFSA’s website at firesprinkler.org/capitol. n

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Fire Sprinkler Protection for Automated Rack Assemblies Are You Ready For This Latest Challenge in Fire Protection?

TERRY VICTOR | JCI/Grinnell Fire Protection Solutions

The methods of warehousing of various products and how to protect them from fire has always been a challenge for the fire sprinkler industry. Automated warehouses are the latest challenge in fire protection, and in many ways automation technology is outpacing fire protection technology. This article will attempt to explain some of the new challenges the fire sprinkler industry faces with the continued advancement of automation in warehouses with a specific emphasis on automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). ASRS are used for many different storage arrangements and retrieval methods and the fire sprinkler industry should become familiar with terms like mobile racks, stacker cranes, trilateral stacker cranes, miniload systems, pallet shuttles, pallet conveyor systems, box conveyor systems, and of course autonomous mobile robots. Most of the giants in the manufacturing and distribution world are leading this technology including Walmart, CocaCola, Netflix, Amazon, FedEx, Nike, Ikea, and UPS to name a few.

Automation is taking warehousing to new heights and creating tightly packed storage arrangements. There is no doubt that the future state of warehousing and distribution will continue to include more and more automation and higher and higher automated racks and retrieval systems. There are many advantages to automation. Fewer people in the warehouse removes the human elements of fatigue and other factors that lead to reduced productivity and human error. Automation reduces the need for the same levels of climate controls and lighting that are needed for 16 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Figure 1. Mini-load ASRS storage arrangement with open-top unexpanded plastic containers. Photo courtesy of FM Global.

occupied warehouses. Automation also reduces some of the risk factors historically tied to fire sprinkler systems.

Sprinklers and piping are less susceptible to damage by fork lifts or pallet loads since the retrieval systems operate within very close tolerances. However, total automation may bring in other factors that affect fire sprinkler systems such as freezing conditions because the warehouse may no longer have to be heated.

(See Figure 1.)

Complete fire protection for an automated warehouse involves many components. It begins with the building site and the infrastructure including access for fire emergency vehicles, and electrical and water supplies. It includes passive fire protection features in the construction of the building itself, the protection of the structural elements, and draft curtains where required. Active fire protection features can include heat and smoke vents, fire detection and notification systems, shunt trips for automation shutdown, and of course automatic fire sprinkler systems.

Emergency response procedures must be considered. One discussion in a recent International Code Council (ICC) Fire Code Action Committee conference call centered on what should happen in a fire event in a tall rack building if the ASRS is the only means to access the rack loads. Will firefighters have to climb into the racks to reach a deepseated fire in a pallet load? Should the ASRS remain in operation in case it is needed for firefighting and access to the burning commodity? If the ASRS remains in operation, is there an electrical hazard exposure for the firefighters? The 2018 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC) requires a “manually activated emergency shutdown switch for use by emergency personnel,” which puts the decision on the first responders, who may or may not have sufficient information to make the decision to shut down the automated system or not. A proposal for the 2021 edition of the IFC adds new text requiring an approved automatic shutdown process when the fire detection system senses a fire or when water

flow is detected, plus a switch to manually initiate shutdown. By requiring an approved process, the local fire officials must be included in the conversation and must agree with the shutdown process. Hopefully this proposal will be accepted into the 2021 edition of the IFC. While consideration for the first responders is not usually on the minds of fire sprinkler contractors it emphasizes the need not only for fire control but for fire extinguishment when possible from the sprinkler system. Fire control requires follow-up from first responders to manually attack the fire where it is being contained. Fire extinguishment only requires removal of the damaged goods and general cleanup after the fire event is over.

Sprinkler protection needs to be customized to the automated warehouse. Fire protection is a vital and desired component of the overall building operation. A properly designed, installed, and maintained fire sprinkler

system is arguably the most important part of the fire protection plan. There are numerous variables and combinations that determine the sprinkler system design criteria, and most of those are addressed in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2016 edition. Chapters 12 through 21 include the general and specific requirements to protect the most common storage arrangements. To begin establishing the design criteria for an automated warehouse there are numerous factors that must first be determined. Some of those factors include: • The commodities being stored and the packaging of the commodities. Is it cartooned and if so is it compartmented?

• The percentage of expanded and unexpanded plastics in the commodity and the packaging.

• The ceiling height at the eaves and at the peak and the maximum storage height.

• The clearance height from the top of storage to the ceiling.

• The method of storage. Is it solid pile, on pallets, in crates, in boxes, in bins, on shelves? Are the pallets wood or plastic?

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Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 17

would allow for the use of those new protection schemes. Sprinkler manufacturers will gladly help determine if one of their listed sprinklers will protect the storage configuration in question.

Figure 2. Rack-supported ASRS storage arrangement. Photo courtesy of FM Global.

Are the pallet loads encapsulated or not?

• The type of rack as defined by NFPA 13 (single-row, double-row, or multi-row). What are the aisle widths?

Are there open topped containers? Are there horizontal barriers?

Once the storage arrangement and all of the various factors that affect the design criteria have been determined, the decision can be made if sprinkler protection can be achieved using the requirements of NFPA 13. Following the requirements in NFPA 13 is not easy, but at least it is possible to establish the proper protection scheme. Unfortunately, ASRS have not been specifically addressed in NFPA 13 and many automated warehouses store their materials in ways that exceed the limitations of NFPA 13 criteria. The use of open-topped containers, the height of the racks, the construction of the racks, narrow aisle widths, and the limited clearances within the racks (horizontally for flues or vertically for distance between in-rack sprinklers and the top of the load) are some of the factors that exclude the use of NFPA 13 for the design criteria. Also, NFPA 13 does not address what needs to happen to the automation when a fire is detected or when sprinklers activate.

Should the ASRS shut down is the 18 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

potential for fire spread also eliminated?

When NFPA 13 cannot be used, where do the design professional and the sprinkler contractor go for the proper protection scheme?

There are a couple of avenues to take when trying to provide sprinkler protection for storage configurations not covered by the current edition of NFPA 13. Keep in mind that the “latest technology” available in NFPA 13 is at least two years old when the newest standard is published. Updating the standard takes three years from start to finish, and any new protection schemes must be submitted during the first draft which is toward the beginning of the revision cycle. For example, the 2019 edition of NFPA 13 will be presented and acted on by the NFPA membership at its June 2018 Technical Meeting and then issued by the NFPA Standards Council in August 2018. Changes for the 2019 edition had to be submitted to the NFPA by June of 2016, over two years prior. Sprinkler manufacturers are submitting new sprinklers for testing to Underwriters Laboratories and FM Global on a regular basis that successfully protect commodities and hazards not currently covered by NFPA 13. The New Technology section in Chapter 1

Another avenue to consider is the new guidelines published by FM Global in their Loss Prevention Data Sheet 8-34 “Protection for Automatic Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS).” This data sheet is the result of a recently concluded series of full-scale fire tests by FM Global to determine how to protect these challenging storage arrangements.

Within this data sheet is guidance for the construction of the racking system, the weight considerations based on sprinklers discharging, the width of transverse flue spaces, provisions for interior hose stations, and the automatic shutdown of the ASRS when smoke or heat detectors activate.

The basic concept of sprinkler protection in Data Sheet 8-34 is to keep fire growth to a minimum by surrounding the commodity in the rack with closely spaced sprinklers that will not allow the fire to spread horizontally or vertically. 160°F nominally rated quick response in-rack sprinklers with a minimum K11.2 are strategically placed in the flues, between loads, along the face, and at maximum distances vertically. In-rack sprinklers are provided at or just below the horizontal rack member above the load at each tier level where sprinklers are required. The spacing of sprinklers in the racks and the number of sprinklers calculated in the remote area are based on the depth of the row of storage, the material used for the tray or container, the container type, the vertical distance between in-rack sprinklers, and the height of the tier levels. The number of in-rack sprinklers in the remote area calculations can range from 4 to 12 depending on these factors and the minimum flow from each remote in-rack sprinkler can range from 30 gpm to 120 gpm. The overall in-rack sprinkler demand can be as low as 120 gpm to as high as 1,440 gpm plus a hose demand of 250 gpm. Overhead sprinklers are required to protect the top tiers of storage in

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the racks, but the water demand is separate for the ceiling sprinklers meaning that it does not have to be balanced or combined with the in-rack sprinkler system.

While the protection criteria in Data Sheet 8-34 may require a significant number of in-rack sprinklers at each level where in-rack sprinklers are required, there are advantages that offset that cost by not needing horizontal barriers in the racks, not needing additional overhead steel or column steel protection, reducing the overall water flow requirements as well as suppressing the fire as opposed to simply controlling it.

More and more warehouses being built will be equipped with automated storage and retrieval systems.

Many will be built with ceiling and storage heights that cannot be protected with ceiling sprinklers alone. In-rack sprinklers will have to be installed. Contractors need to be aware of the limitations of current fire protection technology, as well as the most recent advances in sprinkler protection for rack structures. It pays to know your options.

The following are some basic best practices to consider when estimating and executing a contract to design and install a fire sprinkler system in these facilities.

Plan how to do the installation before you submit your proposal.

One warehouse built in Switzerland is 144-ft high. There is a YouTube video that takes you through the entire construction sequence of the warehouse. Single-row rack modules five-tiers high and six-loads wide were hoisted into place using cranes. The racks were assembled to full height at one end of the building and then construction progressed to the other end. While watching this operation I was not sure if there were sprinklers in the racks as these modules were being hoisted into place or not. As the installing contractor you need to ask yourself which would be the most efficient method of installation. Is it installing the majority of the sprinkler pipes and sprinklers in the rack modules before they’re hoisted in place which will require 20 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

additional protection of the sprinklers, or installing them after the racks are in place?

Installation labor is typically the highest costing line item in the estimate.

loads and containers within the racks.

The contractor should select the piping method that can best be installed within those tolerances.

Protect your estimate and your proposal. Team up with the insurance carrier and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Make sure everyone is in agreement with the protection scheme and get all parties to provide their approval in writing if possible. Getting all parties to sign off on the design criteria is preferred, but a reverse letter detailing the agreements is usually acceptable. Consult with your attorney to make sure. Qualify your proposal to protect your estimate.

Specify your installation method and any dependencies you have on the general contractor. Specify the construction schedule as you know it and how your installation fits into the schedule. (See Figure 2.)

In conclusion, the fire sprinkler industry faces new challenges every day. We know our industry and our products offer the best solution for life safety and the protection of buildings and contents from fire. However, we are constantly facing new construction practices, new materials, and new hazards. Sprinkler manufacturers with the help of Underwriters Laboratories and FM Global are testing new sprinklers and new applications for sprinklers to meet the needs of our industry and the entire fire protection community. Contractors need to follow suit, embrace the changes and challenges, and be knowledgeable of the latest technologies and advances available to our industry. n

Design the sprinkler and piping layout with the installation plan in mind. If branch line piping will be installed in rack modules before they’re lifted in place, the design must allow for piping configurations that fit into the rack modules with the necessary hangers and supports to keep it in place as they’re being hoisted. The design should include protection of the sprinklers and the most efficient method of connecting the branch lines from one rack module to the next. Will a single coupling at the intersection be sufficient or will there need to be a small spool piece? If the branch line piping is being installed after the racks are erected, then the branch line pieces must be designed to be handled and installed within the racks. Shorter pieces may be needed unless full lengths can be fed in from the ends of the racks.

The layout, stock list, and fabrication must be precise. In this age of CAD drawings generated by computer programs, addition errors are eliminated, and pipe cuts can be made as accurate as needed. The placement of sprinklers within the racks is critical with very little room for error. Tolerances are within fractions of an inch in some cases because of the movement of

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Terry Victor, senior manager of industry relations at JCI/Grinnell Fire Protection Solutions has over 44 years of technical experience in the sprinkler industry. He is NICET certified Level IV in waterbased systems layout and special hazards systems layout. Victor serves on various industry boards and committees, is a member of the CFSI National Advisory Committee and the AFAA Codes and Standards Committee. He is the JCI regional coordinator for codes and standards in the U.S., is the current chairman of the Capital Region Fire Sprinkler Association, and is a member of numerous NFPA technical committees including those for NFPA 3, 4, 13, 13D, 13R, 14, 15, 16, 20, 25, 72, 101, 214, 303, 5000, and the Correlating Committee on Building Codes. Victor received the NFPA Committee Service Award in 2015.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This article and its content are not a Formal Interpretation issued pursuant to NFPA Regulations. Any opinion expressed is the personal opinion of the author and presenter and does not necessarily present the official position of the NFPA and its Technical Committee.

Expanding Education in Canada AFSA Member Helps Translate Red Seal Certification REBECCA HERRING | American Fire Sprinkler Association

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is passionately dedicated to the educational advancement of members, and strives to encourage the growth of a membership that is dedicated to furthering industry education whenever possible. Jed Groenenboom with AFSA Contractor Member Meridian Fire Protection, Inc., Edmonton, Canada, displayed that dedication through his participation on a recent project expanding the Red Seal certification in Canada. This collaborative work of translating and updating the document with a group of dedicated industry veterans marks an impactful step in expanding apprenticeship and education in Canada.

While apprenticeship in Canada follows a different model than that of the United States, it will likely seem familiar to long-time AFSA members, as the original AFSA apprenticeship program was based around the apprentice training in Canada. The Canadian model for most trades follows a four-year process, though, it can be longer in some cases. During that time, apprentices attend classroom-style lessons for two months of the year, and spend the remaining 10 months of the year in the field doing hands-on training. When training is complete the apprentice is certified in their province or territory. However, for many trade workers, education doesn’t stop there. The next step for many of these workers after territory certification is to pursue certification with the Red Seal program.

The Red Seal program offers a common set of standards for all of Canada that assess and certify the skill of tradespeople. Each industry that trade workers can be certified in is heavily involved in the development of its national standard through the Red Seal which gives credibility and ensures it holds trade workers to the highest standards. Additionally, this partnership between the federal government and the provinces/territories gives trade workers the opportunity to be endorsed across the country, even outside of their own territory or province. This means that the Red Seal certification also offers labor mobility, allowing trade workers to cross provincial and territory lines to take jobs outside of the geographic area in which they were initially certified.

So when Groenenboom was chosen to participate in the translation of the Red Seal apprenticeship documents, he knew the huge impact this project would have not just for trade workers in Quebec, whose documents he was helping to translate, but for all trade workers Canada. This opportunity, found by chance, arose when a friend of his sent him the listing from LinkedIn calling for qualified, bilingual help to aid in refining and translating these documents for the province of Quebec and the Red Seal program.

Immediately Groenenboom saw this as an opportunity to do something outside of the day-to-day that would benefit the fire 22 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Jed Groenenboom, with AFSA Contractor Member Meridian Fire Protection, Inc, Edmonton, Canada, recently participated on a project expanding the Red Seal certification in Canada.

protection industry. His role in this project was an important one: to ensure that all testing was accurately translated, and that the translated testing would hold the same meaning for those taking the certification whether it be in English or French. Additionally, as a young fire sprinkler professional, he provided a fresh perspective on the testing questions themselves, ensuring that the questioning was updated for newer codes.

“It was 100 percent [Jed] volunteering his time, giving back to the industry, without anyone actually telling him he should which is pretty awesome,” says Kevin Mozak, president, Meridian Fire Protection Inc., Edmonton, Canada. He continues, “It’s always hard to find those people willing to volunteer for the industry, but to have someone in my organization step up is great. He chose to participate despite the cost of his personal time.”

After participating in this project, Groenenboom feels this marks a big step for Canada apprenticeship education. He is confident the translation and spread of the Red Seal into Eastern Canadian provinces will show “that there are good workers out West for companies looking for them. It gives [trade workers] an opportunity in the future to be more collaborative across all of Canada than we have been in the past.” In closing, Groenenboom imparted that he was “…definitely happy to work in this career and to have this opportunity. If anyone has the opportunity to join [the industry] I wouldn’t hesitate to jump in. It’s a place with many opportunities for all kinds of advancement and it’s a place where I’d like to be for a long time.” n

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Dry Pipe Water Delivery Time Do Lower Air Pressure Dry Pipe Systems Deliver Water Faster Than Higher Air Pressure Systems?

MANUEL SILVA & ROGER WILKINS | Johnson Controls

Introduction Dry pipe sprinkler systems are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen, which make them particularly useful in spaces subject to freezing temperatures. But because the pipe remains free of water until a fire is detected, the speed of water delivery is a concern. It is commonly believed that dry pipe systems with lower air pressure provide faster water

delivery over traditional higher air pressure systems; however, test results show that this is not always the case.

To understand why, it’s important to consider how water delivery time is affected by different valve designs and their system air pressures.

There are two primary types of valve technologies available on the market 7

Dry Pipe Valve “A” and Dry Pipe Valve Accelerator System Capacity Description Design Density = 0.30 gpm/sf over 2438 sf — Hose Demand = 500 gpm — System Capacity = 1430 Gallons — Feed Main = 6 inch pipe, Sch. 10 — Cross Main = 6 inch pipe, Sch.10 – Riser Nipples = 2-1/2 inch pipe, Sch. 40 — Branch Line = 2-1/2 inch pipe, Sch.10 — 352 Sprinklers covering 35,200 sf

Water Supply Characteristics

Initial Air Pressure, psi

K-Factor

Accelerator

Valve Trip Time

Water Fluid Transition Delivery Time Time Seconds

No 5.6

Yes No

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

Yes 50 psi static 45 psi residual at 1300 gpm

8.0

No

56.5

30.8

87.3

Yes

31.9

31.5

63.4

No

14.1

26.8

40.9

Yes

8.0

26.3

34.3

No 11.2

Yes No

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

Yes No 5.6

with out Accelerator 18

8.0

with Accelerator 11.2

5.6

120 psi static 95 psi residual at 1300 gpm

No

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

Yes

13 80 psi static 65 psi residual at 1300 gpm

Yes

8.0

11.2

No

54.1

28.6

82.7

Yes

31.9

28.8

60.7

No

13.5

25.6

39.1

Yes

8.0

25.0

33.0

No

36.0

26.8

62.8

Yes

21.2

26.8

48.0

No

9.0

26.0

35.0

Yes

5.3

25.3

30.6

No

75.7

28.6

104.3

Yes

22.2

29.2

51.4

No

18.9

24.6

43.6

Yes

5.6

23.7

29.3

No

52.7

26.8

79.5

Yes

15.5

27.0

42.5

No

13.2

24.3

37.5

Yes

3.9

22.6

26.5

No

35.1

25.3

60.4

Yes

10.3

24.9

35.3

No

8.8

24.7

33.5

Yes

2.6

22.5

25.1

Extra Hazard I Required Delivery Time

Number of Remote Operated Sprinklers

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

Pass

Fail

Fail Fail Pass Pass

Fail Fail Pass Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass

Summary data of Valve A simulations performed using SprinkFDT software Figure 1. Summary data of Valve A simulations performed using SprinkFDT software.

Water Delivery Time

24 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Comparing Traditional Higher Air Pressure to Lower Air Pressure Dry Pipe Fire Sprinkler Systems

today: Differential clapper-type valves and differential latch-type valves.

Clapper-type valves work by using a difference in exposed surface area of the clapper. They require an approximate 1:6 differential of air to water pressure (exact ratios may vary by manufacturer). System air pressure holds back water on the opposite side of the valve clapper until the air pressure drops to where water pressure can overcome the system air pressure. Systems using clapper-type valves are traditionally higher air pressure systems.

Differential latch-type valves typically use a latch to hold a clapper closed.

They require a lower pressure differential and, therefore, lower system air pressure. When air pressure drops, an actuator trips and permits the latch to release the clapper and allow water to flow into the system. The assumption is that the valve will trip faster if system air pressure is lower, and the water transition across the system will be quicker for a short water delivery interval.

NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, requires water delivery within certain time limitations as a function of system volume.

The premise is that quicker water delivery will enhance fire control ability, as water can be delivered before the fire sprinklers are overwhelmed by the increasing fire size.

To demonstrate whether lower system air pressure results in faster overall water delivery times, test simulations compared the performance of clapper type and latch type valves. The purpose of this study was not to prove

one technology is better than the other, but to determine whether it is correct to assume that a lower pressure design is faster. Although the simulation was limited to a single system, sufficient evidence was produced to disprove that assumption.

Simulated Test Comparisons Using its SprinkFDT fluid delivery time software, Johnson Controls simulated water delivery tests with two differential latch-type valves, “Low Pressure Valve A” (see Figure 1) and “Low Pressure Valve B” (see Figure 2), alongside the TYCO Model DPV-1 differential clapperstyle dry pipe valve (see Figure 3).

SprinkFDT is a UL-listed software program for calculating fluid delivery time. The software accurately calculates dry valve trip time and water delivery time to the remote sprinkler(s). A tree-style system was simulated with SprinkFDT using three common water supply values for static and residual pressure at 1,300 gallons per minute for each one. (See Figure 4.)

The simulations determined: (1) pass-fail rates, and (2) water delivery times with and without an accelerator. A tree-style system was simulated with SprinkFDT using three common water supply characteristics for static and residual pressure at 1,300 gallons per minute. The design area used to first determine whether the systems could be hydraulically validated was 2,438 ft2, derived from an initial square footage of 2,500 ft2, adding 30 percent increased square footage for a dry system and deducting 25 percent square footage for 286°F sprinklers.

On the basis of a NFPA 13 classification of “Extra Hazard I,” the following variables were examined using sprinklers with K-factors of 5.6, 8.0 and 11.2: (1) all K-factors with and without an accelerator and (2) all K-factors with the operation of one and four sprinkler heads.

(1) Pass-fail rates Pass/fail results were based on NFPA 13 water delivery requirements for dry pipe systems. The comparison validated that differential

clapper-style valves in higher air pressure systems can meet water delivery times, where, in the same circumstances, differential latch-type valves in lower air pressure systems cannot. The differential-style DPV-1 valve met water delivery times without an accelerator in 8 of 12 simulations, and with a TYCO VIZOR electronic accelerator, 12 of 12 simulations. The total was 20 passes in 24 simulations.

(2) Water delivery times without and with accelerators In the 12 simulations without accelerators, the higher air pressure DPV-1 valve tripped faster than both lower air pressure valves. The water transit times (the time from valve trip to water delivery) for the higher air pressure DPV-1 valve were also comparable to those of the lower air pressure valves, with faster times in 6 of 12 simulations. Without an accelerator, the DPV-1 delivered water faster than both low pressure valves in 12 of 12 simulations.

Valve A met water delivery times without an accelerator 6 of 12 times, and 10 of 12 simulations with an accelerator. The total was 16 passes in 24 simulations. Valve B met water delivery times without an accelerator only 3 of 12 times, and 12 of 12 simulations with an accelerator. The total was 15 passes in 24 simulations.

In the 12 simulations with an accelerator, the DPV-1 paired with the TYCO VIZOR electronic accelerator always met the water delivery time requirement. In measuring water transit times

8

Dry Pipe Valve “B” and Dry Pipe Valve Accelerator System Capacity Description Design Density = 0.30 gpm/sf over 2438 sf — Hose Demand = 500 gpm — System Capacity = 1430 Gallons — Feed Main = 6 inch pipe, Sch. 10 — Cross Main = 6 inch pipe, Sch.10 – Riser Nipples = 2-1/2 inch pipe, Sch. 40 — Branch Line = 2-1/2 inch pipe, Sch.10 — 352 Sprinklers covering 35,200 sf

Water Supply Characteristics

Initial Air Pressure, psi

K-Factor

Accelerator

Valve Trip Time

Water Transition Time

Fluid Delivery Time

Seconds No 5.6

Yes No

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

Yes 50 psi static 45 psi residual at 1300 gpm

15

8.0

No

86.5

30.3

116.8

Yes

19.2

31.6

50.8

No

21.6

27.6

49.2

Yes

4.8

26.2

31.0

No 11.2

Yes No

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

Yes No 5.6

Yes No

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

Yes 80 psi static 65 psi residual at 1300 gpm

15

8.0

11.2

5.6

120 psi static 95 psi residual at 1300 gpm

16

8.0

11.2

No

81.2

28.6

109.8

Yes

17.0

30.0

47.0

No

20.3

25.9

46.2

Yes

5.0

24.5

29.5

No

54.1

26.9

81.0

Yes

12.0

27.0

39.0

No

13.5

26.4

39.9

Yes

3.0

25.0

28.0

No

85.2

28.6

113.8

Yes

25.0

29.0

54.0

No

21.3

24.4

45.7

Yes

6.2

23.8

30.0

No

59.3

26.8

86.1

Yes

17.3

26.9

44.1

No

14.8

23.9

38.7

Yes

4.3

22.9

27.2

No

39.5

25.2

64.7

Yes

11.5

25.0

36.4

No

9.9

24.3

34.1

Yes

2.9

22.9

25.8

Extra Hazard I Required Delivery Time

Number of Remote Operated Sprinklers

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

Pass

Fail

Fail Pass Fail Pass

Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass

Figure 2. Summarydata data of B simulations performed using SprinkFDT Summary ofValve Valve B simulations performed using software.

SprinkFDT software Water Delivery Time

Comparing Traditional Higher Air Pressure to Lower Air Pressure Dry Pipe Fire Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 25

6

be attributed to the faster trip time of the electronic accelerator.

Model DPV-1 Dry Pipe Valve and Vizor Dry Pipe Valve Accelerator System Capacity Description Design Density = 0.30 gpm/sf over 2438 sf — Hose Demand = 500 gpm — System Capacity = 1430 Gallons — Feed Main = 6 inch pipe, Sch. 10 — Cross Main = 6 inch pipe, Sch.10 – Riser Nipples = 2-1/2 inch pipe, Sch. 40 — Branch Line = 2-1/2 inch pipe, Sch.10 — 352 Sprinklers covering 35,200 sf

Water Supply Characteristics

Initial Air Pressure, psi

K-Factor

Accelerator

Valve Trip Time

Water Transition Time

Fluid Delivery Time

Seconds No 5.6

Yes No

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

Yes 50 psi static 45 psi residual at 1300 gpm

15

8.0

No

52.2

31.2

83.5

Yes

2.0

33.8

35.8

No

13.0

26.4

37.4

Yes

2.0

25.9

27.9

No 11.2

Yes No

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

Yes

Extra Hazard I Required Delivery Time

Number of Remote Operated Sprinklers

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

60

1

45

4

Pass

Fail

Fail Pass Pass Pass

Conclusion The simulation data provided by SprinkFDT indicates the traditional higher air pressure system using the TYCO Model DVP-1 dry pipe valve, with or without the VIZOR accelerator, provided quicker water delivery for each variable than Valve A and Valve B. When measured against the NFPA 13 pass/fail criteria, the traditional high air pressure system outperformed the low air pressure systems for this piping arrangement.

This comparison demonstrates that assuming lower air pressure dry No 45 4 systems will provide quicker water Yes No 40.3 29.3 69.6 Fail delivery over traditional higher air 60 1 80 psi static Yes 2.0 30.4 32.4 Pass 65 psi residual 20 8.0 pressure systems is unwarranted. The No 10.1 24.2 34.3 Pass at 1300 gpm 45 4 Yes 2.0 23.9 25.9 Pass results also indicate that water No 26.8 26.9 53.7 Pass delivery time in a dry pipe system is 60 1 Yes 2.0 27.5 29.5 Pass 11.2 affected not only be air pressure, but No 6.7 24.1 30.8 Pass 45 4 Yes 2.0 23.4 25.4 Pass also by water supply, system volume, No 65.3 29.8 95.1 Fail 5 sprinkler head sizes 60 1 system design, Yes 2.0 31.2 33.2 Pass 5.6 and the useset of an accelerator. ConseNo 16.3 23.5 39.8 Pass In simulations with an accelerator, the DPV-1 was paired with the TYCO VIZOR electronic accelerator, 45 4 Yes 2.0 23.6 25.6 Pass quently, a low-pressure valve should to a standard trip time of two seconds, which was unmatched by the trip times of the mechanical accelerators No 45.5 27.4 72.8 Fail 60 1 120the psi static be assumed to be a fool-proof used on low-pressure valves. The Yes DPV-1 met the28.3 water delivery time requirements in 12 of not 12 simulations 2.0 30.3 Pass 8.0 95 psi residual 30 No 11.4 22.2 33.5 Pass performed using accelerators.

Valve A passed in 10 of 12 instances and Valve B passed 12 of 12.

The improved solution for meeting water delivery at 1300 gpm 45 4 Yes 23.9 Pass percentage of passed simulations reinforces the2.0impact21.9an accelerator can have on lowering trip times andoroverall times deciding not to employ an No 30.3 25.1 55.3 Pass 60 the impact 1 water delivery times. Comparing onlyYes water transit times to determine of lower versus higher system accelerator.

Many factors must be 2.0 25.5 27.6 Pass air pressure, the data reveals11.2 the DPV-1 faster transit time in 6 of 12 simulations.

Comparison of No valve7.6had a 21.6 29.2 Pass carefully considered when selecting a 45 4 2.0 VIZOR 21.0 electronic 23.0 Pass overall water delivery water delivery times shows the DPV-1Yeswith the accelerator had a faster differential-style or a low-pressure timeFigure in 123. of 12 simulations, which in part can be attributed software. to the faster trip time of the electronic accelerator.

Summarydata data of simulations performed using SprinkFDT valve for a dry pipe system design.

Summary ofDPV-1 DPV-1 simulations performed using SprinkFDT software In running the simulations, it was noted that in a higher air pressure dry pipe system, the probability of water Water Delivery Time flowing into the system branch lines was less than in lower air pressure systems, due to higher resistance from Comparing Traditional Higher Air Pressure to For the complete test results and to determine the impact of lower tions. With the VIZOR electronic Lower Air Pressure Dry Pipe Fire Sprinkler Systems the system air pressure. Higher air pressure in the branch lines forced water to take the path of least resistance methodology, versus higher system air pressure, the accelerator, the DPV-1 valve had a to forward motion, moving it more quickly toward the inspector’s test connection. Because of reduced resistance view the white paper at tycofpp.com/valves. n data show the DPV-1 valve had a faster overall water delivery time in 12 from system air pressure in the lower air pressure systems, water transit times and, consequently, water delivery in 6 ofimpacted.

12 simulaof 12 simulations, which can in part timesfaster weretransit at timestime negatively No

5.6

Yes

DOES NOT MEET HYDRAULIC DEMAND

60

1

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Manuel Silva is chief engineer, water and mechanical, and Roger Wilkins is senior manager, test engineering and facilities, at Johnson Controls.

Figure 4. A 2,500-ft2 tree-style system designed in SprinkFDT.

2,500 square foot, tree-style system designed in SprinkFDT

26 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

NextGen Initiative Presents New Webinar Series Topics Cover Next Generation Issues Randal G. Stutzman The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s Director “Leading Across Generations” On (AFSA) NextGen Initiative (NGI) recently Randy August 9, 2018, AFSA’s NGI will present Stutzman is a director at FMI, management consultants to theAcross construction industry. As a specialist announced its new series of webinars “Leading Generations,” from in corporate mergers, acquisitions, and strategy covering issues and topics important to 12:00-1:30 pm Eastern time (EST). development, Randy helps contractors throughout the young (40 and under) professionals in the country Millennials centennials have ushered develop and and implement plans that are uniquely tailored to meet individual needs.

This involves helping fire sprinkler industry. The first two in a new era, with new expressions, and clients acquire additional businesses, sell existing webinars have been scheduled: “Planning business newunits, expectations. thrive in this new or ensure that To profitable organic growth is achieved.

In any case, the must goal is always to maximize the Lingering Ownership Transition” on era, organizations adopt and employ shareholders’ value.

June 6 2018, and “Leading Across a cross-generational leadership approach.

Randy grew up in a family-owned construction and Generations” on August 9, 2018.

This webinar will help attendees underdevelopment business. In 1978, he joined FMI and stand how be more effective 21st-centubegan working withto contractor clients to help them In addition to his “We established the NextGen Initiative better ry manage leaderstheir bybusinesses. leveraging the power of responsibilities as a consultant to individual contractors, to not only drive the success of the next Randy insight, influence, and inclusion.

Tru is responsible for FMI’s merger and acquisition for severalfounder industry segments. an instructor generation of fire sprinkler professionals, services Pettigrew, of TruAsAccess, will for FMI seminars, Randy teaches and publishes subjects but also to fuel the growth of the overall related present this seminar. to mergers and acquisitions in the construction industry,” says Nicole Duvall, AFSA industry, field productivity improvement, pricing and bidding strategies, financial management for contractors, director of communications and staff Webinar Details The webinar connecfield management training, integration of consolidated liaison to the NextGen Initiative. “This companies, tions and are topics. free to all AFSA and acontents number of other new webinar series will highlight the Randy is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, holding a master of business leadership skills, such as generational administration. He received a bachelor’s degree in communications, leadership developbusiness management from David Lipscomb University. ment, succession planning and industry recruitment strategies, necessary to ensure the positive growth of the industry.”

Randy Stutzman (left) and Tru Pettigrew (right) will present webinars for AFSA’s NextGen Initiative.

members. These webinars offer 0.15 CEUs each. To receive continuing education credit Randal G. Stutzman these webinars, you must register for a FMIfor Corporation 5301nominal Cypress St. fee of $25 per certificate per Suite 201 webinar.

Tampa, FL 33607For more information and to register for either event, visit firesprinkler.

Tel: 813.636.1364 org/webinar. n Fax: 813.636.9601 E-mail: rstutzman@fminet.com Web sites: www.fminet.com | www.fmisource.com

“Planning the Lingering Ownership Transition” Discuss choosing and developing your next-generation leaders and examine the concept of a slower transition strategy for ownership transfers in NGI webinar “Planning the Lingering Ownership Transition,” June 6, 2018, from 12:00-1:30 pm Eastern time (EST).

Ownership transition planning for fire protection firms has historically focused on a transaction with retiring owners selling 100 percent of their stock to the next generation. The transaction typically took place over a period of years and had a defined end. There is now a shift in the way sellers think of “retiring.” Several factors have sellers taking a slower approach to the sale, resulting in an undefined end date.

This seminar will be presented by Randy Stutzman, a managing director of FMI Capital Advisors, Inc., FMI Corporation’s Investment Banking subsidiary.

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 27

Dry Barrel Sprinklers More Technology Available Than in the Past KEN BROWN | Viking Corporation

For over 30 years I have been straining my neck looking straight up every time I enter a building to get a glimpse of what sprinklers were installed. Whether it was as a contractor in my early years or working for a manufacturer, it was always the same thing: who installed it, who made it, and was it designed per the local code requirements? The one thing I could be confident of was all manufacturers went through a rigorous series of testing to receive approval by one or several listing agencies.

Sprinklers are rather simple devices; they have a set temperature at which they activate. They contain few components for an upright, pendent, or sidewall sprinkler: a frame, seating mechanism, bulb/link assembly, and deflector. But when we decided to develop a dry sprinkler, that’s when it got complicated.

Since the first UL-listed dry barrel sprinkler in 1937, our industry has been installing dry sprinklers that are capable of protecting areas subject to freezing for over three quarters of a century. (See Figure 1.) A dry sprinkler’s components consist of that same sprinkler mentioned above, but it is permanently attached to a nipple allowing a piping transition from heated to unheated. With the addition of the dry barrel, dry sprinklers are now able to easily satisfy the design challenges that can handle ambient temperatures that would normally freeze the water within the piping network. Over the years, dry sprinklers have been installed in wet and dry systems, freezers and coolers, parking garages, loading docks, outdoor walkways, balconies, and attics. Most manufacturers have a wide array of offerings from standard response uprights to early suppression fast response (ESFR).

Currently, there are over 100 different types of dry sprinklers offered by the major manufacturers with standard lengths varying in increments of 1/4-in. or 1 /2-in. up to the maximum listed length of 48-in. Sprinkler temperatures usually range from 155°F to 286°F and are offered in numerous finishes and configurations. With so many choices, ordering can be a task in itself.

The core challenge of developing and listing a dry sprinkler is its ability to manage cold conduction as temperatures move from a freezing space to the water seal in the barrel. To achieve this, the dry barrel inlet is comprised of an inlet seal, plug, yoke, and spring. This component attaches to a casing (extension nipple) that connects to a sprinkler listed for dry use. (See Figure 2.) This sprinkler must have a weep hole to allow for future field inspection and confirmation that an ice plug or build up is not present. A direct cause of build up is an interchange of warm moist air from outside a compartment coming in contact with the drier

28 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Figure 1. The first UL-listed dry barrel sprinkler was developed in 1937. Photo credit: Viking Corporation.

cold air within the freezer. Condensation forms on the sprinkler and freezes. This ultimately will obstruct or damage the sprinkler or assembly.

Similar to a typical sprinkler, dry sprinklers must undergo the same rigorous testing at the laboratories for approval and then some. UL 199, Standard for Automatic Sprinklers for Fire-Protection Service, Table 14.2 defines the testing criteria for all sprinklers at UL. In addition to the sprinklers installed for wet and dry systems, there are a few more requirements for dry sprinklers. Section 26, Dry Sprinkler Air Tightness Test, ensures that the dry sprinkler will not display any air decay from 0-15 psig (0-103 kPA) externally when under test conditions. Section 32 requires a lodgement test to verify K-factor discharge coefficient flow to within a delta of 5 percent of previously tested K-factor samples. Finally, after 30 days in a corrosive environment, Section 45

Figure 2. The components of a dry barrel sprinkler inlet. Photo credit: Viking Corporation.

Ambient Temperature Exposed to Discharge End of Sprinkler (°F)

Minimum Exposed Barrel Length when Exposed to 40°F (in.)

Minimum Exposed Barrel Length when Exposed to 50°F (in.)

Minimum Exposed Barrel Length when Exposed to 60°F (in.)

40

0

0

0

30

0

0

0

20

4

0

0

10

8

1

0

0

12

3

0

-10

14

4

1

-20

14

6

3

-30

16

8

4

-40

18

8

4

-50

20

10

6

-60

20

10

6

requires that the water seal assembly and components perform as intended, clear the water, and satisfy Table 14.2 in UL 199.

Figure 3. Table 8.4.9.1(a) Exposed Barrel Lengths for Dry Sprinklers (U.S. Customary Units). See Table 8.4.9.1(b) for metric units. Reproduced with permission from NFPA 13-2016, Installation of Sprinkler Systems, Copyright © 2015, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the NFPA on the referenced subject, which is represented only by the standard in its entirety which may be obtained through the NFPA website at www.nfpa.org.

Manufacturing a dry sprinkler is quite complicated when compared to most sprinklers. With failure reports in the late 1990s and studies performed by UL, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) issued a TIA that dry sprinklers would be tested every 10 years in service instead of 50 years as previously stated in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. A 1999-2004 study conducted on over 1,000 samples at 150 sites found that approximately 50 percent could not meet the UL 199 standards. In 2003 UL banned the use of O-ring seals.

Since then, manufacturers have improved their process. Additionally, enforcement of NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, has resulted in an increase of field samples from almost zero in the ‘90s to over 5,700 in 2013. Dry sprinklers without O-rings in the last 15 years have proven to be extremely dependable, with less than 1 percent abnormal operation. Unfortunately, with O-rings, this number is between 18-34 percent during that same period.

most of the 20th century. The use and approval of larger K-factor dry sprinklers were on the top line of all manufacturers’ pipeline as storage hazards became more demanding. The acceptance of extra large orifice (ELO) and ESFR sprinklers became common and the desire to create dry pendants followed. Two manufacturers have been supplying dry ESFR sprinklers for over 12 years. For a period of time, the ELO-type dry pendent that was offered to the market was UL listed.

UL allows for a degrading K-factor for dry sprinklers with K-factors other than K 5.6, so it is normal to see a K 8.0 dry sprinkler that is UL listed with a chart that indicates its K-factor becoming smaller when the dry barrel length increased. FM Global does not allow for degrading K-factors. There has been a recent introduction into the market of an FM-approved dry ELO sprinkler. The K-factor must be maintained through all the lengths that are offered, so in this case, from 12-in. through 48-in. long, the K-factor is 11.2.

I identified earlier the basic locations where dry sprinklers are commonly used.

That hasn’t changed, but as the “big box” culture exploded, there was a global need for frozen food goods and the ability for owners to convert warehouses economically. In response, the industry needed to expand from 5.6 and 8.0 K-factor sprinklers that we typically saw during

For the fire sprinkler contractor designing and ordering a dry pendant, numerous items must be identified.

Have I identified the correct sprinkler based on occupancy and hazard? (See Figure 3.) Will the dry sprinkler be installed in a corrosive environment where a protective coating or other finish will improve corrosion resistance?

Does the design need to consider

aesthetics, such a flush sprinkler? Have I reviewed the drawings to determine the exposed barrel ambient temperature in NFPA? Am I connecting to the proper connection off a wet or dry pipe system? How will I protect the clearance around the barrel to properly seal and avoid condensation build up?

Finally, have I ordered my dry sprinklers and allowed for manufacturing lead times?

The dry barrel sprinkler options provided in the trade today are far greater than what they were 30 years ago. They mimic almost every sprinkler offered: residential, commercial, extended coverage, and storage dry barrel sprinklers. Other recent innovations include flexible dry barrel sprinklers. Future innovations may include field-cut dry barrel sprinklers, which has always been a popular suggestion. Many trade people feel there are too many sprinklers on the market. I’m more of the feeling that more sprinkler options provide for more cost-effective system installations and allow design professionals to look for better solutions to their customers’ problems. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ken Brown has been involved in the fire sprinkler industry since the mid-‘80s as a contractor on the West Coast.

He works for Viking Corporation in business development and is active in numerous industry organizations and events. Ken can be reached via email at kbrown@vikingcorp.com.

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 29

Safety at Your Fingertips Online Resource is a One-Stop Shop for Safety Needs REBECCA HERRING | American Fire Sprinkler Association

Did you know the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) provides an online Safety Portal at afsasafetyportal. com, as a free member benefit? This portal was developed in 2017 by the AFSA Safety & Insurance Committee in partnership with Blue River Underwriters, an AFSA-endorsed insurance partner.

The Safety Portal is a customized safety portal built with the specific needs of fire sprinkler contractors in mind.

“In addition to AFSA’s Toolbox Talks, there is a wealth of resources from state and national organizations as well as governmental entities. This includes best practices, bulletins, employee handouts, employer programs, infographics, sample forms, and much more. This portal serves as a one-stop shop for our member’s safety needs,” says Bradley Elliott, AFSA director of member services.

With over 140 active users, AFSA’s Safety Portal is a robust resource that provides over 1,000 references. It aims to address some of the key issues in construction safety today such as electrical safety, ladder safety, loss control, personal protection, and vehicle safety. The portal combines a mix of print materials, digital offerings, and visuals to ensure that there is something for everyone’s preferred learning style and office needs.

“The AFSA Safety Portal provides an easy way for our members to get information on accident prevention and safety practices,” says AFSA Region 7 Director and Safety & Insurance Committee Chair Paul DeLorie, Hampshire Fire Protection, Londonderry, New Hampshire.

“Members can use this free tool to supplement their company safety program and have a ready resource for researching and implementing the best practices that ensure safe work environments and prevent claims. I especially like the downloadable 30 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

ToolBox Talks and the ready links to various safety resources.”

This member-only website proactively delivers the accident-prevention and safety-related information members need to educate their staff, help prevent claims, and create a safe work environment. In addition to expanding upon AFSA’s popular Toolbox Talks, a weekly safety series custom tailored for the fire sprinkler industry, the Safety Portal also provides a wealth of practical resources from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department of Labor (DOL), the Center for Construction Research and Training, the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, the National Safety Council, and many others.

“At Northeast Fire Protection we use the Day One, Safe One video to do a safety

and jobsite overview. [The video] is a nice third-party way to give an overview for new workers,” states Stacey Fantauzzi, Northeast Fire Protection Systems Inc., Burnt Hills, New York. She continues, “I think it’s great that [this portal] addresses fire sprinkler specific questions and issues instead of just being generalized like what we receive from our insurance company.

The information from the broker is helpful, but not necessarily specific. The Safety Portal, however, fills those gaps with fire sprinkler-centered information.”

Whether members are in need of OSHA regulations, workplace safety posters, or even loss statistics to better prepare their staff, AFSA’s Safety Portal helps to make your place of business a safe and compliant one. Because a safer business means better business. Check out all the resources available online at afsasafetyportal.com. n

Scholarships Help Students AFSA Presents Scholarships to Ten Teens The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to offer assistance, through its online scholarship program, AFSAScholarship.org, to 10 lucky graduating high school seniors as they pursue their higher education goals. These national winners were randomly selected from 65,682 students who entered to receive a one-time $2,000 AFSA scholarship payable to their respective college, university, or trade school. This online scholarship contest awards 10 (ten) $2,000 prizes annually. The national winners for 2017-2018 are: Vanessa Castellon, Chula Vista, California; Isaac Dienes, Nelsonville, Ohio; Katie Kohlman, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; Lilia Nikoomanzar, Chandler, Arizona; Daniel Popach, Marysville, Washington; India Richardson, Prince George, Virginia; Erik Simonsen, Redmond, Washington; Devin Wade, Vandalia, Ohio; Haley Wilkerson, Houston, Texas; and Zoe York, Cary, North Carolina.

To be eligible, applicants must be a current high school senior planning to attend an accredited U.S. college, university, or trade school in the coming fall. Applicants are required to read a passage about fire sprinklers – which describes their history, how they operate to save lives and property, and the types of careers that are available in the industry – and take an eight-question reading comprehension test. For each question answered correctly, the student receives one entry into a drawing for one of 10 (ten) $2,000 scholarships. A total of eight entries per applicant are possible.

2017-18 school year alone. The 2018-19 contest will begin in September 1, 2018.

For more opportunities to win, AFSA also offers a $5,000 Second Chance Scholarship Contest, which is open to anyone who has graduated high school or equivalent and wants to pursue a college

degree or trade school education. The 2018 Second Chance Scholarship will award five $1,000 scholarships and is accepting applications through noon (CT), August 31, 2018. The AFSA scholarships are open to U.S. citizens or legal residents and are not based on financial need. Visit afsascholarship.org. n

FIRE PROTECTION & SEISMIC

Since its creation in 1996, the AFSA scholarship contest has sought to promote the scholarship outside of the fire sprinkler industry in the hope of reaching students who may otherwise never have recognized the importance of automatic fire protection. Now entering its 23rd year, the AFSA scholarship continues to grow, attracting over 186,086 unique visitors to its website, afsascholarship.org, during the Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 31

Storage Trends Push Product Evolution Pre-assembled Couplings Reduce Installation Time DANIEL WAKE, CFPS | Victaulic

Warehouse and storage construction is changing in response to pressures exerted by the digital marketplace.

Those same pressures are impacting fire sprinkler system design and installation.

The Digital World More and more people are using devices to do their shopping, and this shift toward digital purchasing is changing the way people live. According to Forrester, one of the world’s most influential research and advisory firms, the number of consumers browsing and buying online will hit 270 million by 2020, driven largely by activity on mobile devices.

In a move to satisfy buyers who want their purchases immediately, companies like Walmart are now offering two-day delivery, and Amazon, the world’s biggest retailer, has just introduced a new distribution scheme called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to improve delivery service. The goal of FBA is to expedite the speed at which products reach customers by leveraging the company’s fulfillment centers to pick, pack, and ship products. To reach more people more quickly, FBA will require many more fulfillment centers, and many of these will use robots to fill orders.

Evolving Needs Today, companies like Amazon are looking closely at how they will have to offer customer support as well as merchandise from the FBA centers, which means offices will be housed jointly with storage and distribution services. And 32 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Figure 1. The industry’s first Installation-Ready™ sprinkler for exposed ceiling applications improves fire system adaptability and reduces installation time.

Amazon is not unique. Many companies are adjusting the way they move merchandise to customers, and that has changed not only how they are using warehouses, but how many warehouses they need and how these facilities will be operated.

Efficiently managing fluctuating capacity is another driver that is impacting warehouse usage, with more owners subletting space during off-peak periods to short-term lessees. According to a special report, “Multitenant Distribution Warehouse Segment in the U.S. Outlook 2016,” released by Cushman & Wakefield, a global real estate services firm, “healthy demand and tight supply has made multitenant distribution warehouses among the best performing of all commercial real estate segments.”

Flexibility is great for companies that need short-term access to warehouse space, but it is a challenge for builders, which historically have designed warehouses to fill more traditional roles. The pace at which new locations are needed and change in space usage is having an impact on design and construction, and sprinkler systems will be among the components that are affected.

Building warehouses for flexibility has not been the norm, but anticipated usage is changing the playing field.

Soon, more facilities will house multiple tenants. Warehouses will have to be refashioned quickly when tenants and space usage change, and spatial planning support. Warehouse owners that want to capitalize on leasing opportunities will seek out

both design and construction companies that can keep pace with the demand to redesign and reconfigure their warehouses, such as companies that embrace new product technologies that lend themselves to system adaptability and fast installation methods.

Evolution of Technology In order to support the changing needs of warehousing, new product development has been critical, ensuring economical installation and design.

Product advancements in fire protection systems for warehousing have come in many forms, pipe joining, sprinkler technology, and even system valves have simplified with electrical alarms and detection.

In the mid-1970s, joining technologies advanced from welding, flange, and threading mains and branch lines to being able to make connections with a coupling, which engaged either a rolled (cold formed) or cut groove in the pipe ends. Today, roll groove technology is the primary connection method for 11/4-in. to 12-in. pipe in fire protection systems. This allowed sprinkler piping to be adjusted in the field with minimal time and effort compared to welding and threading. It also provided valuable union connections at each joint for adaptability.

While the connection and fabrication of the joint was much faster, these couplings needed to be disassembled before assembling onto the joint.

Thirty years later a new design of coupling was introduced, where it was pre-assembled or “ready to install” straight out of the box. These did not require disassembly, encouraged impact guns for assembly, and since have become the standard in coupling technology for the industry.

As the world was developing higher storage buildings and the introduction of plastics in storage, fire sprinklers needed to also advance.

FM Global was a leader in this field, as their vested interest of providing better fire protection options for their

insurance clients, drove them to create a new type of sprinkler. Early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers were developed in the late 1980s and saw introduction into the market shortly thereafter. Initially these sprinklers allowed warehouses to store plastic components up to 25 feet in 30-ft buildings with ceiling only sprinkler protection. Soon larger K-factors, K16.8, 22.4, and 25.2 were developed allowing greater building and storage heights. Today, ceiling-

only sprinkler protection can protect buildings up to 48-ft ceiling height.

With the advancement in sprinkler and joining technologies, so too changed the way sprinkler piping was designed and fabricated. Grooving the pipe ends and fabricating different size threaded outlets directly to the branch line allowed for fast, clean installations. The challenge for this design in the current landscape was once the pipe was fabricated and

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Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 33

applied to the sprinkler frame and replacing the frictional connection with a mechanical one in turn reduces the likelihood of leaks when the system is pressurized. Rework due to leaks can add an average of one day of labor per system. By eliminating taping and doping on the ground, all fitters can be utilized in the air hanging and installing system components.

Reinstalling Grooved Sprinklers

by Roland Huggins, PE AFSA Senior Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services

This article raises an interesting question for sprinklers with a grooved fitting. If you look at NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, it says when it’s been removed, it shall not be reinstalled.

The 25 handbook then goes on to state: “Some installing contractors interpret this to mean that if the sprinkler drop assembly is removed without removing the sprinkler from the drop, it can be re-used.” The handbook then continues to say that this section and related sections of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, do not allow this. Unfortunately, this is blatantly wrong.

NFPA 13: A.6.2.1.1 explicitly states: “Sprinklers should be permitted to be reinstalled when the sprinkler being removed from the system remains attached to the original fitting or welded outlet, provided care has been taken to ensure the sprinkler has not been damaged.” The issue is once there has had torque applied to the sprinkler, it cannot be removed and used again such as for tenant improvements or testing (removal to check the inside of a branch line). The NFPA 13 handbook summarizes it very well by saying under section 6.2.1.1: ”It was further clarified in the 2016 edition that the restriction applies only to directly UNSCREWING the sprinkler from the fitting.”

The fact that this applies to only threaded fittings wasn’t stated since that was the only type available. Now that we have a sprinkler connected using a mechanical fitting, there is no torque applied to the sprinkler to install or uninstall it. As such, it can be reused the same as allowed for relocating a sprinkler as part of a drop.

Since this has not yet been addressed by the technical committees, ensure you discuss it with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). It’s also worth ensuring if they’ve read the NFPA 25 handbook that they realize that installation criteria is the purview of NFPA 13 and it supersedes NFPA 25 and its handbook.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This sidebar and its content are not a Formal Interpretation issued pursuant to NFPA Regulations. Any opinion expressed is the personal opinion of the author and presenter and does not necessarily present the official position of the NFPA and its Technical Committee.

34 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Figure 2. Victaulic’s FireLock™ IGS Style V9 sprinkler coupling replaces threads with grooved, one-bolt connections.

installed, you had to either plug, cut or remove sections of pipe for changes. Standardizing on a one-outletsize-fits-all approach addresses all of these concerns and redefines sprinkler installation regardless of the changing system requirements, and an outlet with the 1-in. Innovative Groove System (IGS) grooved profile does just that. The last piece is applying this groove to a sprinkler with a captured ready-to-install coupling, so transitions are easier than ever. (See Figure 2.)

As threading had been the standard way to connect many smaller sprinkler components, now it is possible to connect grooved sprinklers with pre-assembled couplings, standardizing on a 1-in. IGS grooved outlet to accommodate all connection possibilities. Adding reducing fittings (bushings) to install sprinklers added potentially costly leak points to the system. Similarly, sprinklers were only ever made with threads that needed some form of preparation before installation, until now.

The biggest time saver and labormanagement advantage introduced into small pipe diameter sizes, such as 1 in., is the elimination of prep work and the associated consumables (tape and dope). Now, utilizing a mechanical connection with one-bolt allows the fitter to use a power tool to save both wear and tear on their body, and avoid applying torque directly to the sprinkler frame. Reducing torque

Sensible Solutions By utilizing new technologies and making fire sprinkler systems more adaptable to the changing needs, there will be greater acceptance to ensuring the right sprinkler system design and installation matches the consumer’s needs. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Daniel Wake is product manager – sprinklers and devices for Victaulic and is celebrating 20 years in the industry. He began as an apprentice in 1998 and worked as a fitter in Australia and the U.S. for the next 12 years.Wake has been at Victaulic since 2010, as an application engineer; sprinkler specialist; and then product manager for sprinklers, devices, fire protection valves, and Victaulic’s Bermad line. He is a member of the NFPA 13 (SSI) and NFPA 120/122 committees, and is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist.

PASSION MAKES PERFECT We know the importance of getting the job done right the first time. Passion for performance, and the drive to deliver concrete results for your business are at the heart of each of our associates.

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BIM and the Fire Sprinkler Industry A Sprinkler Contractor’s Perspective BYRON WEISZ, SET | Cen-Cal Fire Sytems, Inc.

BIM (building information modeling) and 3D coordination. Is it the creative tool that proponents would work to convince you of or is it the albatross weighing down the design departments of most fire sprinkler contractors today? There is no doubt that BIM design and 3D coordination, when managed correctly, can have a positive impact on the installation of our work. But how are we able to manage correctly when others outside our company are actually driving the design process? Are we simply along for the ride?

Are we able to accurately account for BIM design in our project estimates? Do we accept design budgets that are disastrous, causing projects to lose money? How many times have you heard, “This project has been BIM coordinated, so we should be able to pick up all kinds of time in the field.” How has it worked for you?

We are all aware that as contractors, we need to be competitive and perform successfully to stay in business. It is a simple, yet complicated, concept. The idea to establish a reputation for our companies of being competitive, efficient, and profitable is everyone’s goal. Some owners and general contractors we work for do value the end result of a successful project and take those relationships to the next project. However, many times those relationships simply mean your company has made the bid list for that next project.

You may get preferred treatment in the bid process, but the job is going to be awarded to the lowest bidder. At the end of the day, when a project is awarded, the low bidder has given out pricing to do a job and now is tasked with the responsibility of completing it within budget.

We have all been told that BIM is an effective technique for conceiving, planning, and designing structures of any size and complexity. BIM allows the design team to visualize all the building components and systems before construc36 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

tion ever starts. With MEP clash detection, BIM allows the designers to see potential problem areas and work through fixes. Ideally, this process addresses problems in design, so that they don’t have to be taken care of in the field.

How do we account for, or attempt to account for, the impact of BIM in the design and installation of our projects? Fire sprinkler contractors today face the challenge of having to design projects and participate in the BIM process, all while trying to maintain overall project budgets and schedules. The process of designing fire sprinkler systems has changed dramatically over the last several years. Today, there are several available software programs which provide design options compatible with AutoCAD and allow for BIM. The high cost of design software, whatever your flavor may be, is a cost that we have all come to accept. The additional software required for design and participation in the BIM process (Navis and/or Revit) are costly additions. Then the cost to train and educate our fire sprinklers designers is something that we deal with as well. The costs for learning new software and the time required for training are hard to measure. Rarely does the construction world stop so we can adjust or catch up.

We all deal with the impact that training has on our overall workload. Typically, we find training interlaced with meeting the project demands of our workload.

But who really understands and bears the costly burden of this process? Is it the building owner? Is it the installing contractor? Are all building owners willing to spend the time and money required to complete the process?

Fire sprinkler contractors have a huge disadvantage over other mechanical subcontractors. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC contractors all come to the BIM table with their systems engineered,

submitted and, many times, approved.

The fire sprinkler designer typically starts with nothing and must produce design drawings while going down two roads around the same mountain.

First, we are required to provide preliminary main, line, and sprinkler head layouts so that the coordination process can begin.

Many times, the structural engineer needs to address weight loads for hanging and bracing which can impact the routing of the piping system. As the design process moves forward, the designer must attempt to coordinate the piping system, mains, branch lines, and drops. Then we must address coordination of hangers, splay wiring, and earthquake bracing. Typically, there is limited space left for the sprinkler contractor and little consideration given to the fact that NFPA codes or insurance requirements dictate certain design requirements. The person and trade facilitating the BIM-coordination effort play a huge role in how much time the process will take. So, while the designer designs to miss conflict, they must also deal with the clashes that occur with other trades. We all know this can become a very tedious process. All this preliminary yet coordinated design happens before the plan review process begins which now leads the design down a totally different road.

Now the discussion shifts to road number two or the path never traveled by the other trades. While the BIM process is happening, the designer must also be producing drawings which will be used for submittal purposes to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) or other reviewing agencies. When do we stop the coordination and allow the review process to start?

Having approvals and permit acquisition to do the work is obviously a big deal.

Dealing with the reality of meeting the overall project construction schedule and working the design schedule so that, ultimately, we meet the critical dates, is the

objective. Many projects that require BIM coordination are going to encounter a lengthy review process to obtain approvals.

If construction is progressing, not having approvals could affect the ability to set hangers, sleeves, or even weld inspections for the piping systems. We always find ourselves coordinating, dealing with design and plan check comments, and making revisions and resubmittals while updating the BIM model. Many fire sprinkler contractors find there may need to be a second designer or additional staff members assigned to the project to maintain the pace. Getting the project designed and attending BIM coordination meetings can then become a real challenge. There are some who want to do these meetings with all trades in the same office. That process seems to reflect the days when everyone sat around that table doing their overlays. We have found the most efficient way to participate in these meeting is to do so online and phone in.

This allows the designer to participate in the meetings and yet still be doing something productive while the other trades are addressing their issues.

The transition of planning and design to a better-coordinated field installation is obviously the goal of the BIM process.

Being able to translate the overall scope of a project from design to the installing field crew is a key element in BIM-coordinated design. There should be an increased awareness of where the potential problem areas are, creating the ability to plan accordingly. Likewise, we should be able to better recognize areas in a project where we may be able to make better time than originally estimated. We should be able to see increased accuracy with material take off and listing, thus increasing the efficiency of material fabrication for the project. There should be a greater ability to organize and bundle the materials. We should be able to have a better grasp of what extra materials need to be sent to the jobsite. If there are field changes in potential problem areas, having not only extra material but the right extra material can only help to keep the flow of the installation moving. The obvious benefit of having your project better organized in the shop is the ability for the field crews to cut down on the time required to layout and find the materials for the job. Being

able to hit the ground running with a fully coordinated project and with materials organized in a much more efficient manner should only translate to labor-cost savings in the field.

In the past few years, the BIM process has started to spill over into the field where foremen are now required to have tablets and need to be educated in the BIM process. If there are issues with the field installation, they must first look at the model, figure out the corrective action, and then document the change. Whatever happened to simply having a set of installation prints on the job? No matter how much BIM coordination there is, things still seem to change when the virtual world meets the real-world application. Are we making things more complicated than they need to be? BIM coordination is and will continue to be an ever-evolving process that must be refined in order to help all trades associated with the coordination effort. This is the only way that BIM coordination can reach its full potential.

I think we could conclude that given all the variables, it is extremely difficult to anticipate the design time and costs that a BIM-coordinated project could require. A project that is going to require BIM-coordinated design may not be for every fire sprinkler contractor. Having the design staff and ability to bring in additional designers if required should be a key consideration before the project is ever bid. Having the ability to properly manage your project and constantly be aware of where your actual project costs are is crucial. Obviously, you cannot go way over the design budget to properly address the BIM requirements and then send the project to the field with the expectations that the installing crew will make everything up. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Byron Weisz, SET is co-owner of Cen-Cal Fire Systems, Inc. in Lodi, California and Western Fire Protection, Inc. in Poway, California. He has been involved in the design of fire sprinkler systems for 38 years.

He holds a NICET Level III certificate in fire protection engineering technology water-based systems layout. Weisz has trained multiple individuals over the years in fire sprinkler design.

The company first started using AutoCAD-based design software in 1991. He involved several of the company’s designers in writing this article.

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 37

Maryland Day Educates, Excites UMD and AFSA Partner for Side-by-Side Sprinkler Demonstration NICOLE DUVALL | American Fire Sprinkler Association

As part of its increased focus on public education and awareness, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) was proud to support the University of Maryland (UMD) Department of Fire Protection Engineering’s side-by-side sprinkler demonstration as part of its 20th annual Maryland Day celebration on April 28, 2018.

A one-day celebration of learning and discovery, Maryland Day featured hundreds of free, family-friendly exhibitions, performances, and demonstrations that showcase how UMD students and faculty are transforming the community, the state, and the world. Now in its 20th year, the university invited over 60,000 current students, staff, families, and prospective students to explore its 1,200-acre campus.

“Each of the departments are encouraged to show off a little bit and get people excited about things that are going on at the university,” states Dr. Kenneth Isman, PE, professor of fire protection engineering (FPE) at UMD. “[The Department] has three different areas set up around the campus for Maryland Day, and we have our fire protection labs setup with different experiments.”

Utilizing a whole crew of college students, all of the FPE Maryland Day experiments were facilitated by students under the supervision of faculty and staff. For the first time at this event, the FPE department conducted a live side-by-side burn demonstration of a typical house fire. A 40-ft trailer, sponsored

by AFSA, was split into two small rooms filled with IKEA furniture – one with a sprinkler system, one without.

“We made both rooms like dormitories since we’re on a college campus,” adds Isman. “They were outfitted with a simple bed, dresser, desk, and chair, and we showed what an incredibly large fire can happen even with such spare furnishings and the tremendous power and speed of fire.”

AFSA was the exclusive sprinkler partner for the side-by-side sprinkler demonstration. “This was unique from the side-bysides that we typically do because it was tied to the department’s fire modeling. Now, they are comparing the findings of the thermocouples registered in the rooms to the computer fire models to see how accurate the models are,” states AFSA Second Vice Chairman of the Board Jack Medovich, FPE, senior vice president of Fire & Life Safety America in Hanover, Maryland.

Named a “Top 20” event, the demonstration on Mitchell Field provided proof of the importance of fire suppression systems to hundreds of onlookers. “It was a very successful burn. There were lots of people here and I think they learned a lot. They were really able to see what a fire sprinkler can do in a fire. It’s an impact,” concludes Medovich.

In addition to the side-by-side, another feature was a fire tornado, created in a room with four specially-located openings which induces a “whirl” when the hood was turned on.

Maryland Day is wonderful opportunity for visitors to tour the FPE laboratory to see what the program is all about. For more information about the UMD FPE program, visit enfp. umd.edu. n

Members of AFSA’s Board of Directors, contractor and associates members, and AFSA staff joined together with University of Maryland faculty and students to generate awarenes of the fire protection industry at Maryland Day 2018. One event AFSA sponsored was a side-by-side sprinkler demonstration.

38 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

This page clockwise from top left: Students watch an audio fire demonstration. The fire tornado was popular with attendees. Large crowds turned out to view the side-byside sprinkler demonstration sponsored by AFSA. Firefighters stand ready as the non-sprinklered living room reaches flashover. More crowds gather at Maryland Day. The sprinklered side of the sprinkler demonstration never reaches the flashover stage as one sprinkler discharged to control the flames.

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 39

Is Your Fire Protection System Designer Qualified?

NFPA’s New Certified Water-Based System Professional Certification Ensures a New Hire Has What It Takes MATT KLAUS, PE | National Fire Protection Association

When you are dealing with safety and people’s lives, it’s critical to “get it right.” For companies that design fire protection systems, that means having the highest level of confidence in the people who are laying out the systems.

They are ultimately the factor that will make the difference between a safe building or your company’s name being tied to a horrific incident.

Ideally, these candidates will have decades of experience, amazing references, and an industry-wide reputation. In reality, we are lucky if we find one of those things in a candidate. In most cases, managers are relying on an interview, hearsay, or a piece of paper saying that the individual is qualified. But are those the types of confirmations a design manager can feel comfortable with?

So how do you know if your designers are qualified? Better yet, when you are about to hire new designers to either build your company or take on the big job you’ve just sold, how do you know that they are the right fit? How to do you know that they won’t end up costing you hundreds of hours of unexpected training time or tens of thousands dollars in resubmittals or change orders?

Over the past several years, NFPA has been approached by major sprinkler associations, as well as other groups, organizations, and individuals to help answer those questions, and to assist in coming up with a tool that would allow employers to confirm that their new hires are as good as they needed them to be. As the years passed, this U.S.-based need developed into a global one. In seminars and conferences around the world, NFPA was continually asked how to confirm that the people being hired understood the nuances of NFPA’s sprinkler design standards. Furthermore, could NFPA provide a tool confirming that someone could access the standard and illustrate that they could execute the requirements as they would be required to for a new design job?

In response to these requests, NFPA has released the Certified Water-Based System Professional (CWBSP) Certification, a new certification that provides companies with the assurance they are looking for when hiring or promoting designers. What makes this certification unique is that it poses real-world challenges to the candidate that simulate the types of questions they would face on a design project. This is not simply a recall exam where if you can find the right section in the book, you will be able to find the answer to the question without having any knowledge of system design or hydraulics. This exam requires candidates to have insight into the practical application of the standards based on their educational experience and their experience executing the requirements of the applicable standards.

The CWBSP certification covers multiple water-based system concepts including sprinkler system layouts, fire pumps, standpipes, water supplies, residential systems and much more. This role requires candidates to have experience with and be able to execute the requirements of several NFPA standards including NFPA 13, Standard for

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the Installation of Sprinkler Systems; NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection; and NFPA 22, Standard for Water Tanks for Private Fire Protection; and more. The certification also addresses both new and existing systems so that companies taking on considerable tenant improvement work can rest assured that their designers know how to not only look at plans and lay out a system, but can also analyze an existing system and understand what modifications need to be made for future tenant plans.

Also included are comprehensive design scenarios that require the candidate to understand the baseline code requirement and to make adjustments based on the type of sprinkler or occupancy described in the problem. These scenarios cover both occupancy-based examples and storage arrangements.

Not only are codes and standards constantly changing, but so are the hazards that designers must protect against; the CWBSP certification covers the most current topics and hazards that our industry is facing. For designers who want to prove that they have the experience and a finger on the pulse of the industry, the CWBSP certification is a must. NFPA wants to make sure that candidates for this certification are the best of the best. That’s where we started when we developed this program.

NFPA developed this new certification with the assistance of a Certification Advisory Group (CAG) consisting of members of the water-based system design community. This group included entry level designers, seasoned veterans of the industry and everyone in between. In addition to the varied experience levels brought to the group, the CAG consisted of individuals with varying educational backgrounds, geographical locations and areas of expertise.

In today’s economic climate, you are only as good as the last job you did. The competition for new work and TI work is fierce with new design companies popping up all over the place. Owners and design managers can’t afford to be wrong about even the smallest job if they want to continue to grow, maintain, or strengthen their reputation. If you want to make sure that a new hire has what it takes, the NFPA Certified Water-Based System Professional certification provides that assurance. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Klaus, PE is the director of technical services and principal fire protection engineer at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), where he is responsible for NFPA documents addressing commissioning, integrated system testing and automatic sprinkler systems. Klaus has extensive international fire protection engineering consulting experience where he was a project manager for projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kenya, and Great Britain, as well as projects across the United States. His experience includes designing and commissioning fire protection systems including smoke control systems, suppression systems and fire alarm systems.

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Join the Celebration!

AFSA Virginia Chapter/Burn Survivors Foundation Events Gearing Up to Celebrate 25 Years GEORGE WAGNER | AFSA Virginia Chapter

The AFSA Virginia Chapter/Burn Survivors Foundation will host its 25th Annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at the Williamsburg National Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia. This will be a very special event as not only will this be our 25th tournament but we expect to break $1,000,000 total donations to our charities during this event.

The AFSA Virginia Chapter/Burn Survivors Foundation supports the Central Virginia Burn Camp for children aged five to 17 and the Old Dominion Firefighters Burn Foundation where together we support the Evans-Hayes Burn Center at VCU/MCV Hospital.

The Golf Committee has planned two days of events, with an optional third day of golf, in celebration of these important milestones. We encourage everyone in the sprinkler industry to bring their significant other and celebrate with us October 16-18, 2018. A detailed schedule is shown below.

Tuesday, October 16 The AFSA Virginia Chapter will have its luncheon and regular meeting at the Wyndham Hotel in Williamsburg. Chapter members will enjoy a deli buffet lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. before the meeting begins.

The chapter’s regular meeting will be held 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with the following agenda: • Welcome and chapter news by Virginia Chapter President Jack Medovich • Program by AFSA President Frank Mortl III, CAE with an update on AFSA national activities and information on programs available to AFSA members • Vendor program by Woody Witzak of Victaulic • 50/50 drawing Following the meeting, the AFSA Virginia Chapter/Burn Survivors Foundation will host a wine-beer tasting function from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is open to all AFSA members and their significant others.

This a free function for all registered golfers and golf committee members. Crudités with dip, assorted nuts, and pretzels will be served along with three wines from Williamsburg Winery and three beers from Alewerks. Personnel from the winery and brewery will also be present to answer questions about their products.

46 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Chapter members honor past AFSA Chairman of the Board and Virginia Chapter President Marty Giles and his memory with the Giles Cup, awarded to the topscoring golf team each year at the AFSA Virginia Chapter/Burn Survivors Foundation Golf Tournament.

Finally, the AFSA Virginia Chapter/Burn Survivors Foundation will host a dinner and casino night at The Fort Magruder Hotel in Williamsburg from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This a free function for all registered golfers, their significant others, and all golf committee members.

Dinner is at 6:00 p.m., speakers begin 7:00 p.m., and casino activities are from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Everyone will receive a special souvenir casino chip, additional casino chips for playing, and a drink ticket at the door. Additional casino chips will be available for purchase to benefit the Burn Survivors Foundation.

A cash bar will also be open. Dinner will be a two-entrée buffet with salad, sides, dessert, water, tea, and coffee. A bus will run from the Wyndham Hotel to the Fort Magruder Hotel starting at 5:30 p.m., running back and forth until 10:00 p.m. Casino night will include three-card poker, Texas hold ‘em, blackjack, craps, and roulette. Professional dealers will host and teach. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. All proceeds will benefit the Burn Survivors Foundation.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018 The golf tournament will be held at the Williamsburg National Golf Club in Williamsburg. The day’s agenda will be as follows: • 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Registration • 10:30 a.m. – Lunch for volunteers

• 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Lunch for golfers • 12:30 p.m. – Announcements and tee off • 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Dinner • 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Awards ceremony O’Toole’s Restaurant & Pub will cater a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs and a dinner of steaks cooked onsite, shrimp, salad, green beans, baked potato, and desserts. Tea, water, soft drinks, and beer will be provided. Golf, lunch, and dinner are paid for in the golfer fee. The dinner is free for significant others and volunteers. For information on sponsorship opportunities, visit afsavirginia.org.

During the golf tournament the chapter and Burn Survivors Foundation will offer a Colonial Williamsburg special event free for significant others of all registered golfers: • 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Travel to Williamsburg Tavern • 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Lunch provided • 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Guided tour of Colonial Williamsburg • 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Independent shopping in Colonial Williamsburg • 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Travel to Williamsburg National Golf Club A free bus will run from the Wyndham Hotel to the Williamsburg Tavern. A half-day pass for Historic Williamsburg is included, and after lunch the guide will provide a tour. A bus will then run from a designated spot back to the golf club for dinner and the awards ceremony. This event is free for the significant others of all registered golfers.

Thursday, October 18, 2018 For those who want to stay for an extra day of golf, the Williamsburg National Golf Club has provided a special pricing of $52 each.

Hotel Arrangements The following are special hotel prices secured for this event. These prices are inclusive of all taxes and fees. These rates are good for five days before and five days after the event.

• Best Western king or double room at $78.39 per night; • Kingsmill king or double room at $194.94 per night; • Kingsmill one-bedroom suite at $174.77 per night; • Greenspring’s Condo two-bedroom condo at $135.26 per night; and • Wyndham Hotel king or double room at $78.39 per night including a hot breakfast.

Virginia Chapter Golf Committee members recommend staying at the Wyndham Hotel since Tuesday’s events will be held there and free transportation will be provided from that hotel to casino night.

Celebrate With Us Please come support the AFSA Virginia Chapter/Burn Survivors Foundation event and have some fun. If you have any questions about the golf tournament, celebration events, or donations to the Burn Survivors Foundation, please contact AFSA Virginia Chapter Executive Director George Wagner at (804) 514-3154 or at wagnerg@ mindspring.com. n

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HFSC Introduces Builder Incentive Program Focus is on Home Fire Sprinklers Installed in New-Home Developments PEG PAUL | Peg Paul & Associates

Each year, hundreds of thousands of single-family homes are built in the U.S., yet only five percent are protected by fire sprinklers.

“That means that fire departments across the country are faced with both a fire-safety challenge and a public-safety opportunity,” states Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) President Lorraine Carli.

Some fire departments have been actively taking advantage of that opportunity. In Camas, Washington, the Camas-Washougal Fire Department began offering local home-builders development incentives in exchange for installed fire sprinklers 17 years ago.

Their work has improved land use, benefitted local developers and most importantly, dramatically increased public safety. Today Camas has thousands of sprinklered homes. “People now love the fact that they have their family protected by sprinklers,” says Camas-Washougal Deputy Fire Marshal Randy Miller, AFSA’s 2017 Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year. “We’ve even seen an attitude change in some builders who understand the value of them and really don’t oppose us on them anymore.”

What’s a fire sprinkler incentive? Incentives are locally negotiated, and do not require sprinkler code requirements.

Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) can offer these to homebuilder-developers because fire sprinklers eliminate the need for certain routine requirements in unprotected new-home developments, such as wide streets, increased hydrants, and water expansion. By installing sprinklers, developers get valuable benefits that either reduce their costs or add to their profits.

This is a model that can be replicated in most jurisdictions and it’s worth considering. Big homebuilders and developers often put in 50 or more houses in each new development they build. A fire department working with just one builder could protect hundreds of residents with long lasting benefits for the entire community.

But a pair of fire service and homebuilder surveys recently conducted for HFSC show that too few fire departments actively participate in their local planning and zoning process or negotiate with builders to get sprinklers. The national Firehouse survey found that less than half the respondents were aware of home fire sprinkler incentives such as those used in Camas. And HFSC’s HanleyWood builder survey showed that 94 percent of respondents said they’d never been offered incentives from their AHJs in return for sprinklering new developments. More than half said they’d be interested in installing fire sprinklers if incentives were offered.

48 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Deputy Fire Marshal Randy Miller, Camas-Washougal Fire Department, Washington, stands in front of one of the developments where incentives were offered to the developer because all of the homes are protected with fire sprinklers.

“Couple this encouraging homebuilder interest in incentives with a solid single-family housing market in most of the country and you can see the powerful prospect the fire service has of improving new housing stock and bolstering their community risk reduction efforts,” Carli says. “They just need some assistance to get their foot in the door. That’s where HFSC comes in.”

HFSC recently launched a national educational program to vigorously help fire departments of any size and type educate their local homebuilders, planners, consumers, and other stakeholders in their jurisdictions. The program includes new resources to ensure more in the fire service know about the important role they can and should play with homebuilder-developers. It features turn-key assets they can use throughout the new-home planning, zoning and permitting process to achieve sprinkler protection of entire developments.

“The key is for the fire service to get involved prior to the permitting phase,” Carli explains. “They need to identify development plans and start talking with their local decisionmakers early on. The tools we’re rolling out will simplify that process for the fire service.”

Nine Steps to Community Safety HFSC has launched national home fire sprinkler educational advertising and developed helpful new tools as part of the program, including outreach directly to big homebuilders and consumers.

Among the new free resources is a comprehensive microsite, homefiresprinkler.org/built-for-life-community, housed on HFSC’s website that provides the fire service with step-by-step guidance. The content ranges from the very basics of understanding home fire sprinklers to learning what incentives are (and seeing examples that are most commonly used) to conducting outreach and preparing presentations to get to agreement on home fire sprinkler installation.

Among the advocates featured in the new microsite is Chief Dennis Compton, chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), a member of HFSC’s board of directors.

“You don’t have to wait for sprinkler codes to change the future of fire safety in your community,” he says. “But it’s unlikely the homebuilders will come to you.”

What Can You Do? “Anyone can get involved in HFSC’s new program,” says AFSA President Frank Mortl III, CAE, an officer on HFSC’s board. “Your fire department will welcome your support and participation. If you have new housing start information, share it with your department. If you have experience in NFPA 13D systems, offer your expertise to the department and as part of their presentations to local planning boards. Maybe you can support a fire department’s public education efforts by donating material for live flashover and sprinkler side-by-side demonstrations and 13D riser displays.

Make a call today to see how you can help your department offer incentives for fire sprinklers.”

Among HFSC’s new free resources is a comprehensive microsite, homefiresprinkler. org/built-for-life-community, that provides the fire service with step-by-step guidance.

Stay informed about this new program and all HFSC activities at HomeFireSprinkler.org, on Facebook: facebook.com/ HFSCorg, on Instagram at homefiresprinkler-coalition and on Twitter @HFSCorg. You can also follow HFSC activities on Pinterest at pinterest.com/hfsc/ and join HFSC’s networking group on LinkedIn. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Peg Paul is founder and president of Peg Paul & Associates (PPA), Frankfort, Illinois, a marketing communications agency that specializes in developing and implementing multi-integrated information and education campaigns. While the agency supports a wide range of client needs, PPA has established a niche in public safety promotion, and has been retained for this purpose by some of the leading national and international safety advocacy groups, trade associations and industries including HFSC.

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Fire Suppression Agent Selection Protection for a Mobile Power Generation Unit RICK JACKSON | Jackson Associates, Inc.

Summary Jackson Associates, Inc. was approached by a government contractor to analyze protection of a power generating unit (PGU) which is part of a large trailer unit.

The trailer is built to fit inside a large military aircraft for rapid deployment throughout the world. The unit was being designed and tested by a consortium of military manufacturers and contractors.

Jackson Associates, Inc. was assigned the portion of the project intended to explore potential types of extinguishing systems to protect the power generating unit for the program and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the various systems. We do not have permission to provide any photographs or information regarding the purpose of the units.

Project Task The PGU module contains two diesel generators. The main fire hazard would be from a diesel fuel leak that could cause a pool fire or an atomized spray fire. The design parameters call for storage in a range from -40°F to 150°F and operating temperatures of 35°F to 125°F Because of the extreme congestion inside the PGU most systems would require locating the extinguishing storage vessels on the exterior of the PGU. The weight of the system is also a significant factor for air transportation. The lower extremes in temperature obviously eliminate any water-based extinguishants, without some type of freeze protection. The PGU also requires many openings to allow for cooling during operation.

We chose to look at the following extinguishing systems: 1. Clean Agent Systems A. INERGEN B. ECARO-25 C. NOVEC-1230 D. FM-200 2. Carbon Dioxide 3. Compressed Air Foam 4. Dry Chemical 5. Aerosol 6. Water Mist We were unable to find an approved antifreeze presently available for water mist systems (although there is speculation that it may be in development). Therefore, water mist was eliminated from consideration. The following is a description of the qualities of the remaining five types of systems.

Clean Agent Systems “Clean agent fire extinguishing system” is a term that covers a wide variety of extinguishants which were developed as alternative replacements for 52 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

A military trailer similar to this one housing a power generating unit that Jackson Associates, Inc. was tasked to protect.

Halon 1301 and other halons. The Montreal protocol of 1987 imposed severe international restrictions on production of halons, freons and other chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that were detrimental to the earth’s atmosphere.

Design and installation of clean agent extinguishing systems are governed by NFPA 2001. The most common halon replacements are: 1. Inergen (IG-541) N₂(52%) Ar(40%) CO₂(8%) 2. ECARO-25 (HFC-125) CF₃ CF₂H 3. NOVEC-1230 (FK-5-1-12) CF₃CF₂C(O)CF(CF₃)₂ 4. FM-200 (HFC-227ea) CF₃ CHFCF₃ Each of these will be described below.

Inergen Inergen utilizes inert gasses and works by lowering oxygen levels below the level that will allow combustion while at the same time maintaining an oxygen level that would allow humans to continue to occupy the space. In this application, Inergen has three main drawbacks: 1. It requires maintaining a very accurate concentration level.

In this application, with high ventilation rates and unclosable openings, this will be impractical.

2. The amount of gas is significant and is stored in heavy high pressure cylinders that would add undesirable weight.

3. The refill stations are tightly controlled by the manufacturer, which greatly reduces availability for recharge after a discharge.

Because of these three drawbacks, Inergen was eliminated from consideration.

CONSIDERING

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ECARO-25, NOVEC-1230 and FM-200 All of the above clean agents have an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero. Both FM-200 and ECARO-25 have a significant global warming potential (GWP), whereas NOVEC-1230 and Inergen have a GWP of 1. This makes NOVEC-1230 and Inergen preferable as extinguishing agents, from an environmental standpoint, since all four agents have similar extinguishing capabilities. Since Inergen was eliminated, as explained above, we consider Novec-1230 as the preferable clean agent.

A white paper by Mark L. Robin, PhD, of DuPont, which provides technical details of the various chemicals, can be found at www.chemours.com/FF/en_us/assets/downloads/ pdf/K22197_role_of_HFCs_whitepaper.pdf.

The following are advantages of clean agents and specifically of NOVEC-1230: 1. NOVEC-1230 is very effective and will quickly extinguish the fire without an adverse effect on personnel in the area.

2. The system size and weight is reasonable.

3. The equipment is durable.

4. Since NOVEC-1230 is a liquid at normal room temperature, for recharging it is easily transferred to the cylinder which is then pressurized with nitrogen.

5. There is no clean up and the generator can be restarted immediately.

6. NOVEC-1230 is environmentally friendly.

7. It is not corrosive to electronics.

8. NOVEC-1230 systems are UL listed and FM approved.

Disadvantages of NOVEC-1230 are: 1. Industry standards are that an extinguishing concentration is to be maintained for 10 minutes. The system is required to discharge in no more than 10 seconds. However, the unclosable openings in the PGU make it likely that the extinguishing concentration will be maintained for less than one minute. Due to the heat from the diesels, re-ignition of the fire is a real concern once the gas concentration descends below the required level.

2. NOVEC-1230 can absorb moisture if not properly handled during recharge, causing it to become acidic.

Acidity can cause reduced effectiveness and cause corrosion of the cylinder.

3. Clean agents function by chemically reacting with the fire and interfering with the fire chemical reaction. In order to do this, the clean agent breaks down into other chemicals when heated to extreme temperatures at the flame. The broken down chemicals can be toxic. In order to minimize the toxic chemicals, clean agents are required to discharge totally in a maximum of 10 seconds. When the system discharges it could create a potential concern. The discharge would extinguish the fire but, after the NOVEC-1230 leaks out the unclosable openings, the lower concentration could allow the fire to restart. With the inadequate concentration, the fire could produce excessive amounts of toxic gasses from the breakdown of the clean agent. One of the reasons that clean agents are typically required to maintain extinguishing concentration for a minimum of 10 minutes is to assure that the fire cannot restart, creating toxic chemicals from the extinguishing agent.

4. Because of the size, the cylinder and actuator would need to be located in a weather-tight enclosure on the outside of the PGU. Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide has been successfully utilized for fire suppression for more than 100 years. The NFPA standard for carbon dioxide is NFPA 12, Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems. Carbon dioxide displaces oxygen to a percentage that will not support combustion.

Following a discharge, the oxygen percentage is also below the level that would be necessary to support human life.

Because of this safety issue, NFPA 12 now prohibits the use of carbon dioxide in occupiable areas (areas where it is possible for a person to enter) without several safety features.

To install carbon dioxide in occupiable areas, various safety requirements are required, including: 1. Safety signs at all entrances.

2. An electrically monitored lock-out valve.

3. A pneumatic (COâ‚‚-powered) pre-discharge siren.

4. Pneumatic time delay.

5. Audible/visual discharge alarm signals at each entrance to indicate that the system has discharged.

6. A distinctive and recognizable odor that must be added to the carbon dioxide. This is typically accomplished

54 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

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Earning the NFPA Certified Water-Based Systems Professional (CWBSP) Certification helps demonstrate proficiency, distinguish yourself from your peers, and enhance your professional standing!

This essential new certification was created to fill the need for a comprehensive program to assess and verify industry knowledge and expertise.

The Water-Based Systems Professional (CWBSP) Certification compliments your existing qualifications and enhances your credentials by providing evidence of advanced aptitude in your field. It’s the only certification requiring candidates to complete the arithmetic of formulas for hydraulic calculations as well as to exhibit an understanding of project development, the design of new system layouts, and the process of surveying of existing systems.

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with a wintergreen odorizer provided by the equipment manufacturer.

The above safety devices add complexity and expense to the system.

The following are advantages of carbon dioxide systems: 1. It is very effective and will quickly extinguish the fire.

2. Carbon dioxide is an oxygen diluting agent and does not break down like clean agents. Therefore, the code allows it to take up to 2 minutes to achieve the design concentration. Because of this, we can easily extend the discharge and maintain the concentration with extra gas for several minutes.

3. The equipment is durable.

4. Carbon dioxide is readily available around the world.

5. There is no clean up and the generator can be restarted immediately.

6. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, but the quantities are negligible.

7. It is non-corrosive to electronics.

8. Carbon dioxide systems are UL listed and FM approved.

Disadvantages are: 1. It displaces oxygen so it is hazardous and potentially lethal to personnel inside the PGU. 2. In order to address safety concerns, additional safety equipment is required.

3. There is significant expense in training all personnel on the precautions and procedures for safety.

4. The carbon dioxide is stored in high pressure cylinders that are bulky and heavy.

5. Because of the size, the cylinder and actuator would need to be located in a weather-tight enclosure outside of the PGU. Compressed Air Foam Compressed air foam is a hybrid type foam system that incorporates a foam tank filled with a freeze-protected, premixed foam water solution. To discharge the foam, a compressed air tank pressurizes the tank and forces the solution into a mixing chamber. There, air is mixed with the solution, causing it to expand between 10 and 20 times and then flow through piping to discharge nozzles. It has been used extensively in portable extinguishing systems at military airports and in large engine compartments. The following are advantages of compressed air foam: 1. The foam is very effective at extinguishing both pool fires and three dimensional fires.

2. The foam will blanket the burning liquid and remain effective for an extended period.

3. The systems are fairly compact.

4. The equipment is durable.

5. Recharge is simple. Just pour in the new foam solution and refill the air cylinder.

6. The foam is widely available.

7. The foam is environmentally friendly.

8. The discharge nozzles are standard open sprinklers.

56 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

9. The foam is not corrosive to electronics although drying out any exposed electrical components could be necessary.

10. The foam solution is UL approved.

Disadvantages are: 1. Clean-up may require vacuuming out the foam and drying out the PGU. 2. While it is non-corrosive, it is an aqueous solution and any critical exposed electrical is a concern.

3. There are no nationally recognized listings of the units as fixed systems.

Dry Chemical Dry chemical is one of the most widely used fire extinguishants. It is most commonly used in portable fire extinguishers. However, it is also available in larger industrial and vehicular systems. NFPA 17, Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems, governs the installation of dry chemical systems. Dry chemical systems utilize a chemical powder which chemically reacts and interrupts the fire chain reaction.

The following are advantages of dry chemical: 1. It can effectively extinguish a fire and could continue to remain effective for several minutes.

2. The system size and weight are reasonable.

3. The equipment is durable.

4. Recharge is very simple, involving loading the powder and pressurizing with nitrogen.

5. The chemical is widely available.

6. It is environmentally friendly.

7. UL listed and FM approved.

Disadvantages are: 1. The systems are extremely messy (envision throwing 50 pounds of powdered sugar in the air).

2. The clean-up inside the PGU would be extensive.

3. Dry chemical can be corrosive to electronics and aluminum if not properly cleaned up. For example, dry chemical should not be used around aircraft because of potential damage. See the related Boeing Service letter at http://arffwg.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/sl-73703-004.pdf.

4. Personnel must be trained. While there would probably be no lasting effects, if personnel were inside the PGU when it discharged, inhalation of the dry powder and/or getting it in the eyes would be very unpleasant.

5. Because of the size, the dry chemical cylinder and actuator would need to be located in a weather-tight enclosure outside of the PGU. Aerosol Aerosol fire suppression systems are a relatively new fire suppression product, in comparison to many of the other products. NFPA 2010, which was first issued in 2005, governs the design and installation of aerosol fire extinguishing systems. Systems are available that can operate automatically at a preset temperature, manually, or electrically from a listed fire alarm releasing panel.

9. The aerosol particles are not corrosive to electronics.

10. Cleanup is very minimal.

11. Generators are UL listed.

Disadvantages are: 1. If discharged while personnel are working in the PGU, there could be temporary eye irritation.

2. The gasses discharging out of the unit can be up to 100°C, but temperatures decrease rapidly as you get away from the generator.

3. The units were tested by Underwriters Laboratories to a maximum of 130°F so the generators are listed for 130°F. The manufacturer stated that they typically will function well above that and have been extensively used in military vehicles in Afghanistan.

Conclusion With the design requirement for this application, it became apparent that aerosol was the best fit. Some of the favorable factors were the compact equipment, lightweight, no piping, limited clean up and lack of corrosiveness to aircraft aluminum. Figure 1 below compares the various sytems analyzed for this project. n

Environmental

Code Compliance

Safety

Very Good

Poor (#1)

Good

Good

Good

Excellent – None

Excellent

Excellent

Poor

Good

None

UL/FM

CO2

Very Good

Marginal (#2)

Average

Good

Good

Excellent – None

Excellent

Good

Marginal

Marginal (#3)

None

UL/FM

Compressed Air Foam

Very Good

Very Good

Good

Good

Good

Good – Some required

Good

Good

Good

Good

Fair (#4)

None

Dry Chemical

Very Good

Marginal

Good

Good

Good

Poor (#5)

Good

Good

Good

Fair (#6)

Corrosive

UL/FM

Aerosol

Very Good

Good (#6)

Excellent (#7)

Good

Good

Good (#8)

Good

Good

Good

Good

None

–

(#1) Industry standard is 10 min hold time – with unclosable openings – probably less than 1 minute – re-ignition likely (#2) Hold time can be extended with extended discharge to several minutes (#3) CO2 not recommended for safety reasons in occupiable spaces (#4) This is a water-based foam which could be detrimental to exposed electronics but will not harm enclosed electronics (#5) Dry chemical is very fine powder-time consuming and difficult to clean up. Can cause eye irritation and coughing if inhaled. (#6) Because of very small-size, multiple discharge containers could be installed if additional discharges are needed (#7) Since the extinguishant container would be located inside the generator enclosure there would be no need for a separate enclosure for the storage container. (#8) Since the particulate is in the 2 -10 micron range there is only a minor amount of dust which would probably not be noticeable in the PGU Figure 1. Comparison of the systems analyzed for this project.

58 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Listings

Durability

Effect on Electronics

Size/Weight

Clean Agent – NOVEC-1230

Clean up

Extended Effectiveness

Time to Restart Generator

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rick Jackson graduated from Wittenberg University in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering science/physics. He has worked in the HPR department at Kemper Insurance and at a special hazards company. In 1979, Jackson Associates, Inc. was incorporated, and designs and installs all types of special hazard and sprinkler systems. Jackson is a member of AFSA, NFPA’s Industrial Section, and SFPE. He has served on NFPA 409 Aircraft Hangar and NFPA 750 Water Mist committees, Michigan SFPE board of directors, and AFSA’s Technical Advisory Committee.

Call 248-762-2500 or email rick@jacksonassociatesinc.com to contact him.

Extinguishing Effectiveness

Ease of Recharge/ Replacement

The sealed aerosol generators, through an exothermic reaction, discharge extremely small aerosol particles between 2 and 10 microns. Because of the small size of the particles, they suspend in the air and will remain suspended for an extended amount of time in the enclosure. Since the particles are suspended in air, when the generator cooling air is stopped the aerosol particles are less prone to leaking out of enclosure openings than most gaseous extinguishing agents that are heavier than air.

The following are advantages of aerosol: 1. Much smaller and lighter than other extinguishing systems.

A single generator could be located inside the generator enclosure (the size of a large coffee can) that would weigh around 20 pounds. All other systems would need to be in weatherproof enclosures outside the PGU and would weigh many times 20 pounds.

2. The aerosol can effectively extinguish a fire and can remain effective for an extended period – often up to an hour.

3. Sealed generators require much less maintenance than the remotely mounted agent containers of other systems.

4. The equipment is very durable.

5. There is no piping into the PGU that could require removal for servicing of the PGU. 6. It is fairly economical to install a second generator as reserve in order to provide continued protection to restart the generator after a fire.

7. The enclosure is not pressurized, as it would be with discharging of gaseous systems. Therefore, the extinguishant is not ‘pushed’ out of the PGU during discharge.

8. The aerosol generators are sealed units so there is no recharging.

The generator is simply replaced with a new unit.

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AFSA Welcomes Upstate New York Chapter Members Form Newest Chapter Adding strength to numbers, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to announce the recent formation of its Upstate New York Chapter. This chapter will join AFSA as the 32nd chapter after holding its first chapter meeting in Endicott, New York on April 24, 2018.

“Upstate New York is a thriving market for merit shop contractors, so a chapter in that area is a logical next step in AFSA’s expansion,” says AFSA Director of Member Services Bradley Elliott. “We look forward to partnering with our newly elected volunteer leadership to ensure the chapter’s success, and I am excited to see this new chapter provide a much needed avenue for communication, training, networking, and public awareness for our members in the region.”

(From left to right): AFSA members Brian Terrell and Randy Woodbeck attended the first meeting of AFSA’s newest chapter, Upstate New York.

Nearly 30 members attended the inaugural chapter meeting on April 24. This meeting featured a presentation from Elliott to kickstart the chapter as well as a presentation from the meeting sponsor, Newburgh Windustrial, on the fire protection products and services it provides.

Additionally, a vote was held during the meeting to select chapter officials. Those elected at this meeting include: Chairman Justin Petcosky, Petcosky Fire Protection, Vestal, New York; Vice Chairman Scott Lynn, Armor Construction, Falconer, New York; Secretary Stacey Fantauzzi, North East Fire Protection Systems, Burnt Hills, New York; Treasurer Trisha Merkle, Colonial Fire Protection Systems, Rochester, New York; and Membership Chair Ryan Sklenka, Inspect Point, Troy, New York.

Chapter Secretary Stacey Fantauzzi spoke about chapter business and priorities during the meeting.

“The board members and myself are very excited with the launch of the new Upstate New York AFSA Chapter!” states Petcosky. “We are looking forward to being able to provide many great opportunities to our members. Whether it is providing more training, invaluable networking, or being a larger voice in the fire sprinkler industry in Upstate New York, we hope to grow this chapter to great success!”

The Upstate New York Chapter will serve all AFSA contractor, associate, and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) members in the state who operate north of New York City. The chapter plans to bring important technical and legislative information to the area, as well as provide new networking opportunities, and for Upstate New York members.

To find a local chapter or learn more, visit AFSA’s website firesprinkler.org. n 60 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Newburg Windustrial sponsored the chapter’s inaugural meeting at Endwell Fire Department Station #1 in Endicott, New York.

IN JO !

W NO

AFSA’S ONLINE SAFETY PORTAL

www.afsasafetyportal.comoRTAL.COM AFSA American Fire Sprinkler Association

THE TOOLS YOU NEED FOR WORKER SAFETY This virtual library proactively delivers the accident-prevention and safety related information you need to educate your staff, help prevent claims and create a safe work environment. Highlights include: • Electrical Safety • Ladder Safety • Loss Control • Personal Protection • Vehicle Safety • Reference Links • OSHA Resources Links • Workers Comp Resources

• AFSA’s Toolbox Talks (a safety series custom tailored for the fire sprinkler industry)

www.afsasafetyportal.com

AFSA MEMBERSHIP New Members The following is a list of new contractor members that have joined as of April 25, 2018.

Contractor AL Fire Protection Oklahoma City, OK

Guardian Hawk Security Lantana, FL

Alarm Solutions, LLC Lancaster, OH

JME Fire Sprinkler Corp.

Medford, NY

Blackwater Fire Suppression Manchester, NH

NJ Service Testing and Inspection, LLC Jackson, NJ

Coleman Fire Protection, LLC Melbourne, FL

Associates

Designer

National Construction Workforce Indianapolis, IN

RAN Fire Protection Engineering, PC Albany, NY

STH, Inc. Frederick, MD

R.M. Riggle Enterprises, Inc. Berea, OH

Economy Fire Protection Dania, FL

Reliable Welding and Fabricators, Inc. Bassett, VA

Fire Safety Fire Protection, Inc. Thousand Oaks, CA Fire-Matic Systems Inc. Fremont, CA

AFSA Chapter Contacts Alberta, Canada Kevin Mozark – Chair.

780-203-5263 Arkansas Randy Gilliam – Chair.

479-646-8934 Coleman Farrar – Vice Chair.

479-986-9090 Carolinas afsacarolinas.com David Smith – Chair.

828-327-4116 John Turnage – Exec. Dir. 919-624-3456 Chesapeake Bay Jay Zollars – Chair.

410-286-3314 Danielle Fowler – Exec. Dir. 410-960-3450 Connecticut afsact.org Rick Russo – Chair.

203-877-7983 Wendy Callahan – Exec. Dir. 978-855-6495

Florida afsafl.org Chris Johnson – Chair.

800-327-7604 Carolyn Mohr – Exec. Dir. 239-771-3907

Mid-Atlantic afsamac.org Meaghen Wills – Chair.

610-754-7836 Michael Leister – Exec. Dir. 215-362-0700

Ohio Bill Hausman – Chair 937-859-6198 Don Eckert– Exec. Dir. 513-310-9660

Greater Bay Area Cory Riley – Chair.

510-490-7873 Lorelei Upshaw – Exec. Dir. 925-954-5031

New Jersey Thomas Bowlby Jr. – Chair.

908-226-5313 Robert K. Melofchik – Exec. Dir. 201-741-0056

Greater Kansas City Mark McKenzie – Chair.

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

New Mexico Pete Newstead – Vice Chair.

505-884-2447 Dave Wilson – Exec. Dir. 505-573-6712

Louisiana Linda Biernacki – Chair.

318-688-8800 Mark Taylor – Vice Chair 504-837-0572

North Central Michael Winiecki – Chair.

651-484-5903 Michelle Loren – Exec. Dir. 320-676-3771

Michigan Doug Irvine, Jr. – Chair 616-784-1644 Frank L. Mortl – Exec. Dir. 517-285-7665

Northern New England Ryan Gadhue – Chair.

802-865-3600 Tim Christie – Member. Chair.

978-437-7612

Pacific Northwest afsanw.org Tracy Moore – Chair.

425-271-5598 Ron Greenman – Exec. Dir. 253-576-9700 Patriot Chad Duduc – Chair.

508-431-9938 Wendy Callahan – Exec. Dir. 978-855-6495 Rocky Mountain Brent Heiner – Chair.

801-544-0363 Sacramento Valley sacvalleyafsa.org Hal Burton – Chair.

916-315-1697 Paulene Norwood – Exec. Dir. 916-296-0635

San Diego Ron Aday – Chair.

858-513-4949 Rhonda Hill – Exec. Dir. 858-513-4949 South Carolina scfsa.org Jason Strickland – Chair.

843-664-0077 Jule Buffington – Exec. Dir. 803-951-2800 Southern California Jeff Bridges – Co-Chair.

714-285-0200 Terry Housholder – Co-Chair.

714-632-8646 Amber Barrios – Exec. Dir. 562-833-9492 Upstate New York Justin Petcosky – Chair.

607-296-7969 Virginia afsavirginia.com Jack Medovich – Chair.

804-222-1381 George Wagner – Exec. Dir. 757-486-3103

AFSA Affiliate Contacts Alabama Affiliate alfiresprinkler.org Charles Bielair – Pres.

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

62 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Georgia Affiliate georgiafiresprinkler.org Ray Vance – Chair.

404-226-8304 Billy Wood – Exec. Dir. 404-226-8304

Oklahoma Affiliate ofsa.info Gary Field – Chairman 918-266-2416

Texas Affiliate fscatx.org David Stone – Pres.

713-466-9898 Carol McCain – Exec. Dir. 281-361-8069

CONSTRUCTION REPORTS

U.S. Construction

U.S. Construction

At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $708.1 billion, new construction starts in February slipped 3 percent from the previous month, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The reduced activity in February followed a 2 percent decline in January, as the early months of 2018 are showing some loss of momentum after the 12 percent increase reported back in December. The nonbuilding construction sector, comprised of public works and electric utilities/gas plants, fell 23 percent in February, resulting in the decline for total construction starts for the second month in a row. In contrast, nonresidential building grew 5 percent in February, continuing the strengthening trend which resumed in December, and residential building improved a slight 1 percent. During the first two months of 2018, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were $102.4 billion, down 7 percent from the same period a year ago which had been lifted by the start of several unusually large projects, including the $3.6 billion Central Terminal replacement project at LaGuardia Airport in New

New construction starts in March increased 11 percent from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $785.2 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The substantial gain followed modest declines in January (down 2 percent) and February (down 3 percent), and brings the pace of total construction starts to the highest level over the past six months. The nonbuilding construction sector, comprised of public works and electric utilities/gas plants, soared 73 percent in March, boosted by the start of several very large projects.

These included the $3.5 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline expansion in West Virginia and Virginia, the $1.1 billion I-405 highway project in Orange County California, the $855 million Grand Parkway highway project in Houston, Texas, and a $400 million wind farm in Kansas. At the same time, both nonresidential building and residential building eased back slightly in March, with respective declines of 1 percent and 2 percent. During the first three months of 2018, total construction starts on

York, New York. On a 12-month moving total basis, total construction starts for the 12 months ending February 2018 were up 2 percent from the 12 months ending February 2017.

The February statistics produced a reading of 150 for the Dodge Index (2000=100), compared to 154 for January. “The 152 average for the Dodge Index during the first two months of 2018 is the same as the 152 average reported for the fourth quarter of 2017, as the pace of construction starts viewed over several months seems to have leveled off,” stated Robert A. Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “What’s important to keep in mind is that the moderately subdued amount for total construction starts during the first two months of 2018 reflects diminished activity by public works and electric utilities, which given their inherent volatility are likely to bounce back over the next month or two. Compared to last year’s fourth quarter, the first two months of 2018 have seen further increases for nonresidential building, helped by its institutional building segment, and residential building, helped by multifamily housing. This suggests that the construction expansion, while slowing, is still in progress.”

an unadjusted basis were $167.3 billion, down 7 percent from last year (which included exceptionally strong amounts for airport terminals and natural gas pipelines). On a 12-month moving total basis, total construction starts for the 12 months ending March 2018 were up 1 percent from the 12 months ending March 2017.

The March data produced a reading of 166 for the Dodge Index (2000=100), up from 150 for February. During the first quarter of 2018 the Dodge Index averaged 157, up 2 percent from the 154 average for last year’s fourth quarter, while slightly below the 161 average for the full year 2017.

“The construction start statistics can show wide swings month-tomonth, and March certainly qualifies as one of the stronger months due to the inclusion of several very large projects,” stated Robert A. Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “Looking at the data on a quarterly basis can reduce the volatility present in the monthly statistics, and this year’s first quarter shows a continuation of the up-anddown pattern that’s been present over the past year. ...”

Monthly Summary of Construction Starts

Monthly Summary of Construction Starts

February 2018

Prepared by Dodge Data & Analytics

March 2018

Prepared by Dodge Data & Analytics

MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, In Millions

Feb. 2018 Jan. 2018 % Change Nonresidential Building $246,663 $236,037 +5 Residential Building $343,281 $338,678 +1 Nonbuilding Construction $118,205 $153,949 -23 Total Construction $708,149 $728,664 -3 THE DODGE INDEX (Year 2000=100, Seasonally Adjusted) February 2018...............150 January 2018 ................154

MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, In Millions

March 2018 Feb. 2017 % Change Nonresidential Building $243,293 $246,059 -1 Residential Building $336,240 $343,409 -2 Nonbuilding Construction $205,703 $119,208 +73 Total Construction $785,236 $708,676 +11 THE DODGE INDEX (Year 2000=100, Seasonally Adjusted) March 2018...............154 February 2018 ..........156

YEAR-TO-DATE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION STARTS Unadjusted Totals, In Millions

2 Mos. 2018 2 Mos. 2017 % Change Nonresidential Building $34,631 $41,928 -17 Residential Building $48,287 $44,017 +10 Nonbuilding Construction $19,447 $24,545 -21 Total Construction $102,365 $110,490 -7

YEAR-TO-DATE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION STARTS Unadjusted Totals, In Millions

3 Mos. 2018 3 Mos. 2017 % Change Nonresidential Building $53,660 $64,699 -17 Residential Building $77,472 $72,727 +7 Nonbuilding Construction $36,206 $42,766 -15 Total Construction $167,338 $180,192 -7

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 63

AHJ PERSPECTIVE

BY RONNY J. COLEMAN

Dueling Headlines One of the models that has been proposed to explain the consequences of decision making is the win/lose model. It is often used to describe the consequences of a particular set of circumstances in which there is a possibility of several options of winning and losing. Among the options is an opportunity for both parties to win or both parties to lose.

Or, one party can win and the other loses. This model works well in decision-making scenarios when the art of compromise and the use of negotiations are used to make sure that both parties win. When people are unwilling to compromise it is not uncommon for both parties to lose.

Recently I witnessed two sets of newspaper headlines that can best be described as mutually contradictory which set up a win or lose proposition.

The first of these was about a fire in a hotel.1 The local fire department was extremely critical of the fact that an old hotel failed to have sprinklers. This is a classic retrofit argument. The second set of headlines was based on a confrontation regarding sprinkler failure in single-family dwellings.2 The homeowner’s concern for water damage from malfunctioning sprinkler heads was front-page headlines.

Which fire protection scenario is likely to prevail in determining the outcome of

these two headlines? A worst-case scenario would be the loss of the residential applications and an equally severe loss would be a failure to put sprinklers in a high-risk occupancy such as a hotel. There are going to be a lot of arguments on both sides of these cases. Our desire should be to seek a win/win proposition. This would result in the residential applications being properly remedied and a plan to retroactively protect all high community risk occupancies with sprinklers.

The worst-case scenario would be to see a lose/lose solution being offered.

This would mean increased risk to the community as well as to the firefighters themselves.

CLSE’s Plan Review & Acceptance of Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems This two-part online audio program with downloadable handouts describes the review process of fire sprinkler systems for one- and two-family dwellings, in accordance with the NFPA 13D standard (2007 edition).

Fire Sprinklers 501–Part 1: Design & Installation Concepts

This seminar describes the history of NFPA 13D, and how it differs from NFPA 13 and NFPA 13R. It discusses the exceptions allowed

by NFPA 13D in certain circumstances, and covers water supply requirements and how they are determined and evaluated.

Fire Sprinklers 502–Part 2: Review of Plans & Submittals

Designed in accordance with NFPA 13D, this seminar leads the student through the detailed step-by-step process of reviewing a fire sprinkler system plan designed for protection of a single-family home.

The student will download plans and supporting documentation to follow in the plan review process.

Convenient, affordable education available at www.clse.org

Center for Life Safety Education | www.clse.org

64 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

A more realistic approach might be found among compromise solutions.

This places a burden on the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to be willing to accept compromise. The definition of compromise is when an agreement or settlement of a dispute is reached by each side making concessions. When the word is used as a verb, it often means accepting standards that are lower than desirable. However, compromise is neither winning nor losing but rather finding a solution that is acceptable for both parties. For purposes of this discussion, we are recommending that compromise consist of highly principled debate in which the ability to listen to both sides in the dispute is clearly seen. And that it be a win/win proposition as opposed to win/lose or lose/lose.

In the case of residential sprinklers, local AHJs have a very strong need to fully understand the consequence of sprinkler failure. Emphasis should be placed on listening to the arguments of the impacted parties to see where remedies might lie. In the case of hotel and high-risk occupancies, emphasis needs to be placed on life safety of both civilians and firefighters.

This debate is a serious part of public policy. We need to recognize that there are thousands of hotels and motels that lack sprinkler protection due to the fact that they were constructed before there were any mandates requiring them. There is considerable opposition still to the concept of residential sprinklers.

Malfunctioning heads cannot remain in place without repercussion.

As the AHJ, you are at ground zero on both of these discussions. In other columns in this magazine, we have talked about fires where sprinklers could have made a difference. For over 20 years now we have been talking about residential sprinklers as a tool to stop America from burning.

Yet, here we are today with two very negative stories in the newspaper headlines. What should we be doing to improve the retrofit story? What should we be doing to improve

residential fire safety? These are both serious public policy questions that need to be addressed in the administration of a fire protection program.

As of the writing of this column, both of these issues are unresolved.

We may face another 20-year battle in the effort to see sprinklers used in a manner that is totally positive. We need to continue to provide win/win solutions to both of these scenarios.

We don’t need any more Oakland warehouses and we don’t need any more residential sprinklers discharging without cause. What we do need is a continued educational program so that the media focuses on our successes and not our failures.

In summary, we are still actively engaged in the public education effort to deal with America’s fire problem.

Not unlike other public policy issues, there is ambiguity and lack of concurrence in dealing with extremes.

I cannot help but wonder what the headlines are going to say 100 years from now. We can hope that through diligence we in the fire service can continue to find solutions faster than we are confronted with problems such as expressed in this column. n REFERENCES: 1. Sangree, Hudson, “Lodi Hotel Fire Illus trates No-Sprinkler Damages,” Sacra mento Bee, February 26, 2018.

2. Sangree, Hudson, “Folks Confront Build ers after Sprinklers Break, Flood Subdivi sion Homes,” Sacramento Bee, March 4, 2018 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ronny J. Coleman is currently the president of Fireforceone.

He is a past president of the IAFC and CFAI. Over his lifetime, he has received numerous awards including the AFSA’s 1989 Henry S. Parmelee Award, the 2011 Mason Lankford Award from the Congressional Fire Services Institute, and the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award from Fire Engineering in 2014. He continues as a contributor to the fire service in many ways.

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 65

AFSA NEWS AFSA Reintroduces Patriot Chapter The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to announce the recent rebrand of its Yankee chapter, which will now be known as the Patriot chapter in the New England area.

“I am proud to reintroduce the Patriot Chapter into the AFSA family,” says AFSA Director of Member Services Bradley Elliott. “We look forward to how this chapter will help members in their area access important technical and legislative information as well as open the door for great networking opportunities on a local level.”

Serving the chapter as officers will be: Chairman Chad Dubuc, Rustic Fire Protection, Norton, Massachusetts; Treasurer Paul DeLorie, Hampshire Fire Protection, Londonderry, New Hampshire; Director Jack Viola, JFV Engineering, LLC, South Hadley, Massachusetts; Secretary Bill Wian, Viking SupplyNet; Membership Chair Adam Belanger, Rustic Fire Protection, Norton, Massachusetts; and Executive Director Wendy Callahan, AFSA Patriot Chapter.

“The Patriot Chapter’s leadership team is ready and able to bring information, education, new products, and networking activities to its membership. We are excited about bringing quality programs that enhance success and profitability,” states Chapter Director Jack Viola, PE. “The AFSA Patriot Chapter is gearing up to provide what’s needed to help the merit shop sprinkler contractor. We look forward to seeing you at our first meeting!”

Representing Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, the chapter’s dedicated to the education and exchange of information that improves fire sprinkler awareness and safety. Their goal is to save lives by promoting educational opportunities as well as by collaborating with local agencies and organizations involved in fire safety. Learn more about the AFSA Patriot chapter by visiting afsapatriot.org. To find a local AFSA chapter or to learn more, visit firesprinkler.org.

Learn the Art of Design in 2018 The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has just four classes remaining in 2018 for its popular Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School: June 18-29, July 23-August 3, September 10-21, and November 5-16. Taught by Tom Noble, CET, AFSA technical programs specialist, the school teaches the essential elements of system layout in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of

Sprinkler Systems. Currently, the school focuses on the 2016 edition, but planning is underway for the 2019 edition’s anticipated adoption.

AFSA’s Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School is geared toward those with limited experience or those who need assistance with design. Classes are held at AFSA’s training center in Dallas, and presents a comprehensive, practical approach to preparing fire sprinkler system drawings. Students receive two full weeks of instruction: 60 percent is study and review of NFPA 13 and 40 percent is preparation of fire sprinkler system layout, shop drawings and hydraulic calculations.

Registration prices are $1,400 for AFSA members and $2,600 for nonmembers. Classes are kept small (maximum 18 students per session) and enrollment is open exclusively to AFSA contractor members until six weeks prior to each school. Register online at firesprinkler.org/education-center/ schools or contact AFSA Meeting Programs Manager Maricarmen Martinez via email at mmartinez@firesprinkler.org or call (214) 349-5965 ext. 132.

ITM Fall 2018 Class – Enroll Now The Fall 2018 class for AFSA’s Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (ITM) Inspector Development program, the first of its kind in the industry, is open for registration. The program prepares a “green” inspector trainee for NICET’s Level II Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems in less than two years. Students grow in a blendedlearning environment, including: on-demand online coursework; live, interactive web instruction; live in-class lecture; and hands-on field testing and inspections. The small class size (20 maximum) allows for personalized instruction. Register now for the Fall 2018 class at firesprinkler.org/itm. n

Happy Anniversary!

AFSA Milestone Membership Anniversaries May and June 2018 35-Year Anniversary Associate Members

Hydratec, Inc., Windham, NH

30-Year Anniversary Contractor Members

Correction The March/April 2018 issue of Sprinkler Age ran an incorrect opening paragraph in the article “Digital ITM and NFPA 25: The Impact on Report Compliance” by Joe Scibetta with BuildingReports. During the editorial process

by AFSA staff, the wording in the first paragraph was altered from its original content and, as a result, incorrectly stated that NFPA 25 has requirements for digital documentation.

The wording in the first paragraph as originally written by the author should have read as follows: “The requirements in NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, regarding documentation make digital inspection, testing, and maintenance(ITM) abilities increasingly attractive and useful to industry leaders.”

We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.

66 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

S & L Mechanical, Inc., Reading, PA

Associate Members

System Sensor/Honeywell Security and Fire, St. Charles, IL

25-Year Anniversary Contractor Members

Alpine Sprinkler, Inc., Burlington, VT Pacisa, Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain

20-Year Anniversary Designer Members

Rybak Engineering, Inc., Warren, MA

15-Year Anniversary Contractor Members

A.L. Fire Protection, LLC, East Hartford, CT ABCO, Lubbock, TX Fire Sprinkler Associates, Edgewood, NY Henry’s Plumbing, Inc., Owensboro, KY Metro Fire Sprinkler Services, Stuart, FL Total Fire & Safety, Inc., Dallas, TX

AHJ Members

Alabama Dept. of Public Health Facilities Management, Montgomery, AL

ITM

INSPEC TOR D EV EL OPME NT PROGR A M

AFSA’s ITM classes by the numbers

100% PASSED

LEVEL II INSPECTION EXAM

90%

on the first try

20%

PASSED

HIGHER PASS RATE

NICET LEVEL I EXAMS

THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE

on the first try

on the first try

ENROLLING FOR OUT SPRING 2018 SOLD

FALL 2018

Visit firesprinkler.org/ITM NICET I & II Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.

AFSA makes no implied or expressed warranty that studying these AFSA materials or passing the assessments or exams will ensure passage of the American Fire related NICET exams or certification by NICET. Sprinkler Association

CHAPTER NEWS Chesapeake Bay The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA)Chesapeake Bay Chapter held a membership meeting on March 13 with an excellent turnout of 30 attendees! The meeting’s speaker Chris Jacobs covered all aspects of healthcare for the chapter. Additionally, Kevin Korenthal, manager of chapter relations for AFSA National was in attendance and spoke on the benefits of being an AFSA chapter.

Louisiana On April 24 the Louisiana Fire Sprinkler Association hosted its Third Annual Vendor Show and NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, Training.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning attended and spoke at this exciting event! The vendor show allowed exhibitors to share their newest products and innovations with contractor members and provided an excellent opportunity for learning and networking with other industry professionals.

The Chesapeake Bay Chapter had great turnout for its March 13 meeting.

Mid-Atlantic Twenty contractor members attended the March 15 AFSA Mid-Atlantic Chapter meeting. Jim Fantauzzi provided an update on NFPA 25 to the chapter during the meeting. Attendees from Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania were in attendance and the meeting was held at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Wilmington, Delaware.

New Jersey On April 17 the New Jersey Chapter hosted a meeting at which Victaulic showcased their 1-in. groover with a RIDGID Tools 300 machine. The meeting was well attended and provided excellent networking opportunities for members.

Industry professionals networked at the Louisiana Fire Sprinkler Association’s vendor show.

Sacramento Valley On March 8 the AFSA Sacramento Valley Chapter hosted a wildly successful trade show at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. Before the trade show began, Bob Caputo,CFPS, CET, presented a seminar on NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, 2016 edition to over 80 attendees. The trade show following the training featured over 50 exhibitors and networking opportunities for all in attendance! The show once again lived up to its honorary title, “The Biggest Little Show in the West!” Thank you to all who attended!

South Carolina On Saturday, March 24 the South Carolina Fire Sprinkler Association hosted its inaugural fishing tournament and burn trailer demonstration. Proceeds from the tournament benefitted Shriners Hospitals for Children and the chapter donated $4,000 to the cause! Third place was taken home by the Mud Marlins featuring AFSA National’s Kevin Korenthal, manager of chapter relations, and Chapter Chair Stuart Weeks.

Upstate New York Congratulations to our newest chapter: the Upstate New York Chapter. Nearly 30 members attended the chapter’s inaugural meeting sponsored by Newburg Windustrial on April 24 at Endwell Fire Department Station #1 in Endicott, New York. AFSA Director of Member Services Bradley Elliott was on hand to help launch this chapter. Chapter members also elected officers: Chair Justin Petcosky, Petcosky Fire Protection) Vestal; Vice Chair Scott Lynn, Armor Construction, Falconer; Secretary Stacey Fantauzzi, North East Fire Protection Systems, Burnt Hills; Treasurer Trisha Merkle, Colonial Fire Protection Systems, Rochester; and Membership Chair Ryan Sklenka, Inspect Point, Troy.

Virginia On March 27, 2018, the AFSA Virginia Chapter held its 2018 training seminar at the Henrico County Fire Training Facility in Henrico County, Virginia. Bob Caputo CFPS, CET presented the seminar on technical changes to NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2013 edition and NFPA 25, 2014 edition. The event had over 70 attendees and 68 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

AFSA’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter provided an update to NFPA 25 at its March meeting.

Victaulic showcased their 1-in. groover with a RIDGID Tools 300 machine at the New Jersey Chapter’s meeting. helped to continue the chapter’s work of providing education to the fire sprinkler industry.

Additionally, on April 3 the chapter held a board and chapter meeting at the Four Points by Sheraton in Richmond, Virginia. There were 40 attendees present for the meeting and speakers included Chapter Vice

AFSA’s Director of Membership Bradley Elliott spoke at the Upstate New York Chapter’s inaugural meeting.

AFSA’s Sacramento Valley Chapter hosted a successful trade show at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in March.

The Sacramento Valley Chapter’s training seminar also had a great turnout, with over 80 attending.

The turnout was great for the South Carolina Fire Sprinkler Association’s fishing tournament. Proceeds benefitted Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Team Bottom Dwellers caught a big one at the South Carolina Fire Sprinkler Association’s fishing tournament.

AFSA’s Virginia Chapter’s 2018 training seminar at the Henrico County Fire Training Facility had over 70 in atendance.

President Bock Beckwith, Viking Supply, General Air, and Ferguson Fire & Fabrication.

The chapter also held its first NextGen Initiative event at Ardent Craft Ales in Richmond, Virginia. The event was a huge success with over 31 attendees. The chapter thanks Josh Shapiro, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler, who chaired the NextGen committee, and his committee members: Madison Parsons, Globe Fire; Ben Johnson, Viking Supply; and John Schwartz, Mid-Atlantic Marketing (Apollo Valves), for their efforts to ensure a successful event. The chapter plans to hold a second event later in 2018. n

ASSOCIATION NEWS Georgia The Georgia Fire Sprinkler Association hosted two National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 25, 2014 edition seminars on March 28 in Forsyth, Georgia. These seminars provided a comprehensive review of the standard and also address the liabilities associated with performing work on a contracted basis. n

The Virginia Chapter held its first NextGen Initiative event at Ardent Craft Ales in Richmond.

Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018 69

INDUSTRY NEWS Anvil International Acquires FlexHead From Atkore International Group Inc. Anvil International has announced that it has acquired the assets of FlexHead Industries, Inc. and SprinkFLEX, LLC which manufacture and hold patents for both FlexHead® and SprinkFLEX® brands of adjustable sprinkler piping drops for fire sprinkler applications in drop ceiling spaces and other applications.

“We continue to look to expand our product offering and give our customers a choice of joining methods and products. No other manufacturer offers this many options,” says Tom Fish, CEO of Anvil International. “This acquisition is an outstanding strategic fit for Anvil as we look to grow our business.”

Visit anvilintl.com.

of consensus on how to test and evaluate residential upholstered furniture flammability exposed to a flaming ignition source.

NFPA believes that one clear path forward for addressing the U.S. home fire problem is the adoption and enforcement of requirements contained in the model building codes for the installation of home fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family construction. Fire sprinklers have been proven to dramatically reduce the likelihood of civilian fatalities, injuries and direct property damage. They also provide enormous health and safety benefits to firefighters by extinguishing fires or keeping them small and reducing exposure to toxic hazards.

In addition, NFPA firmly believes that the participants who raised concerns about the

randum of understanding to collaborate on improving occupational safety and health at construction workplaces throughout the United States. The partnership is centered on developing effective prevention strategies and technologies as well as encouraging students and other professionals to choose occupational safety and health as a career and advance their competency in that field.

ABC and BCSP will work cooperatively to provide communication, outreach and occupational safety and health development opportunities by: • Developing and disseminating information on management systems and best practices for occupational safety and health in construction workplaces and career opportunities in safety and health through print and

Ferguson Grows Revenue by More Than 10 Percent Ferguson’s parent company, Ferguson plc announced its financial results for the first-half of the 2018 fiscal year, which runs August 1 through July 31.

In the U.S., Ferguson reported overall growth of 10.6 percent, including 1.8 percent coming from acquisitions. All of Ferguson’s businesses saw revenue growth, with blended branches (locations serving both residential and commercial customers) growing well across all regions. Waterworks grew strongly, and the Industrial business continued to recover after a few years of slow market growth. Total e-commerce now represents 23 percent of U.S. revenues, and the B2C ecommerce business continues to grow. Gross margins improved, and trading margin was 8.2 percent and trading profit was 15.7 percent ahead of last year.

Three acquisitions were completed in the first-half of fiscal year 2018. These included two e-commerce companies: Supply.com, a master distributor and e-commerce company and AC Wholesalers, an online distributor of air conditioning and heating products. Ferguson also acquired Duhig Stainless, an industrial business with three locations in California.

Learn more about Ferguson at ferguson.com.

toxicity of flame retardant chemicals, including first responders, need answers to their concerns. More information on home fire sprinklers can be found at firesprinklerinitiative.org.

electronic media, including the ABC and BCSP websites; • Strengthening recruiting efforts for students to enter occupational safety and health technical, undergraduate and graduate programs; • Supporting occupational safety and health competency in the construction workplace at all levels of the organization, including competency certifications; • Participating in conferences, meetings and other key events where the safety and health of workers and safety and health practitioners’ professional development are addressed; and • Promoting and facilitating the transfer of relevant occupational safety and health research findings to practices and to the body of knowledge of safety and health professionals.

The agreement was signed during ABC’s 2018 convention, which features the Excellence in Construction® Awards for safety, diversity and project quality; the National Craft Championships; the Construction Management Competition; keynote speakers and education sessions for ABC members and staff from 70 chapters; technology exhibits; networking opportunities; and a national board meeting. Visit bcsp.org. n

NFPA Standards Council Votes to Cease Standards Development of NFPA 277 After reviewing the entire record before it, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards Council has voted to cease standards development of NFPA 277, Standard Methods of Tests for Evaluating Fire and Ignition Resistance of Upholstered Furniture Using a Flaming Ignition Source. In making its decision, the Council concluded there is a fundamental lack 70 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Winsupply Names 11 Manufacturers Vendors of the Year Winsupply Inc. recently named its 2017 Vendors of the Year at the company’s biannual Strategic Planning Meetings and Vendor Showcase awards dinner held at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville.

More than 1,400 guests from Winsupply and its manufacturing partners attended the special ceremony.

The 11 winners and their respective industry category are: • Rough-in Plumbing: NIBCO • Finished Plumbing: A.O. Smith • Plumbing Showroom: MTI • Waterworks: A.Y. McDonald • Industrial: United Pipe & Steel Corp.

• HVAC: Champion Heating and Cooling • Electrical: Pass & Seymour • Pumps: Liberty Pumps • Fire Protection: Spears • Irrigation: Rain Bird • Tools: Milwaukee Tools • National Account Manager of the Year: Bob Bender, Oatey.

More than 220 vendors that supply products to the Winsupply family of companies participated in the vendor showcase March 13 and met with representatives from Winsupply, Noland, and Winsupply-subsidiary locations. Visit winsupplyinc.com.

ABC, BCSP Ink Deal to Promote Construction Safety Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) have signed a memo-

PRODUCT NEWS

Johnson Conrols Introduces Tyco® Rapid Seal Sprinkler Head Adapter Johnson Controls announces the new Tyco® Rapid Seal CPVC sprinkler head adapter. Made with BlazeMaster® CPVC compound for use in fire sprinkler systems to connect sprinkler heads to piping systems, Rapid Seal is easy to install and available in multiple sizes and styles.

With its all-CPVC design, Rapid Seal is less susceptible to dezincification in hard water environments, while also complying with growing state and federal low-lead requirements for sprinkler and plumbing systems. Further, its straight-thread adapter provides a more seamless, leak-free installation.

Additional benefits include its time-saving installation for contractors, as Rapid Seal has no thread tape or sealant, and its straightthread design allows for flexible installation.

This method provides a more precise positioning of the deflector, which is also ideal for the installation of horizontal sidewall sprinkler heads. Lastly, installation can be done by simply hand-tightening the sprinkler into place and finishing with a minor adjustment. Visit tycofpp.com/rapidseal.

Potter Announces Addition to IntelliGen™ Line of Nitrogen Generators Potter Electric Signal Company, LLC of St. Louis, Missouri, announces the release of the INS-100 and INS-250. These two units are the latest in the line of Potter IntelliGen™ nitrogen generators, and are built for smaller systems with the capability of being wall hung for compact applications. The INS-100 has a bypass fill capacity of 130 gallons at 40 psi and a total system capacity of 675 gallons. The INS-250 has a bypass fill capacity of 265 gallons at 40 psi and a total system capacity of 1,000 gallons.

Just like the rest of the IntelliGen™ line of nitrogen generators, the INS-100 and INS-250 utilize the patent pending IntelliGen™ control72 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

ler software. This intelligent technology facilitates every aspect of the nitrogen generators including pressure, runtime, power, connectivity, and operational mode. This ensures that the unit is working at optimal performance.

Using this information and proprietary algorithms, the IntelliGen™ can determine if the unit needs to be in bypass mode or nitrogen generating mode. Also, by monitoring the generator activity, the unit can indicate development of sprinkler system leaks, user interaction, and if maintenance needs to be performed on the generator.

The INS-100 and INS-200 are available for purchase immediately. Visit pottersignal.com for more information.

Johnson Controls Announces New GRINNELL G-Fire One-Bolt Coupling Johnson Controls announces the release of its new GRINNELL G-Fire one-bolt coupling with a revolutionary single-bolt design that eliminates alternate tightening and helps contractors perform quicker, more consistent installations with dependable product performance. Other features of the one-bolt coupling include: • Pre-lubricated and pre-assembled for fast and easy push-on installation in both vertical and horizontal applications; • Three-hundred-and-sixty-degree contact for an exceptionally rigid joint; • Low-profile spine allows installation of coupling in tighter spaces; and • Center-stop gasket ensures proper positioning on pipe.

The one-bolt coupling is UL/ULc Listed and FM Approved, with a pressure rating up to 365 psi. It is available in 2-in. to 8-in. sizes (DN50 to DN200) and is available in painted and galvanized finishes. Visit grinnell. com/onebolt.

outlets. The combination of the Style V9 coupling captured onto an IGS grooved end sprinkler provides superior out-of-the-box ease in sprinkler system installations and modifications for a wide variety of commodities and storage arrangements, including distribution centers and warehouses. The Style V9 is the first to standardize the 1-in. outlet since it can be used to connect sprinklers of any size. The innovative coupling has one bolt, is captured onto the sprinkler, and can be used in conjunction with 1-in. IGS No. 142 welded outlets, Style 922 Outlet-T’s and Style 920N Mechanical-T outlets. The Style V9 incorporates Installation-Ready™ technology, enabling fitters to eliminate prep-work on the ground and the consumables like PTFE tape or thread sealant that go along with the installation process. Importantly, the Style V9 can be visually inspected to confirm proper installation by checking for metal pad-to-pad contact, eliminates stress and torque requirements on the sprinkler during installation and gets rid of sprinkler wrenches needed for each sprinkler style.

Visit victaulic.com.

Victaulic FireLock™ IGS Style V9 Coupling Released Victaulic’s FireLock™ IGS Style V9 is the first FM-Approved and UL-

New System Sensor L-Series 4-Wire Indoor Notification Appliances System Sensor is excited to announce the next phase of its L-Series product line with the availability of 4-wire indoor horn strobes. This new L-Series offering includes second generation enhancements like a new rigid mounting plate and metal screw insert.

The 4-wire horn strobe appliances enable independently controlled horns and strobes, if supported by the fire alarm control panel, for designs with separate horn

Listed coupling to redefine sprinkler installation in exposed applications by connecting IGS grooved sprinkler heads and

and strobe circuits. One common application is providing temporal 3 with a synchronized strobe for a fire alarm and temporal 4

IN

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President’s Report Contined from page 8

for a CO alarm. Another application is providing different coding options for pre- and final notification of a releasing agent.

These new 4-wire devices provide a consistent look with the previously released LSeries product line while offering the following enhancements over the previous SpectrAlert® Advance line: • Thirty-eight percent lower current draw for ceiling appliances and 35 percent less for wall appliances which enables more appliances per NAC to save money on power supplies.

• Colored lenses and marking bezels for easy customization of emergency communication/mass notification.

• Backwards compatibility with existing System Sensor SpectrAlert and SpectrAlert Advance notification appliances for retrofit applications.

Visit systemsensor.com/AV.

Eighty to 100 firefighters die in the line of duty each year, in most cases from either cardiovascular events or traumatic injury.

Researchers recently looked at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) firefighter fatality reports to try to identify factors that tended to contribute to preventable line-of-duty deaths.

A key finding of the study was that firefighters who worked in departments without standard operating procedures (SOPs) for respirator fit testing, PPE, recruit fitness testing, communications equipment, vehicle maintenance, mayday operations, or incident command were more likely to have lack of training or experience implicated in the fatality.

Learn more about the factors that contribute to preventable line-of-duty deaths, and request a free copy of the research article, by visiting the USFA website at usfa. fema.gov.

USFA Releases Report on Firefighter Deaths The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has released “Factors That Contribute to Preventable Firefighter Deaths.”

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tab on firesprinkler.org. Developed by merit shop fire sprinkler contractors for the benefit of merit shop fire sprinkler contractors, these enhanced benefits and discounted products/ services are available to members looking to gain a competitive edge.

Multiple in-the-field business benefits coupled with education and training, technical resources, legal consultation, industry information, fire and life safety promotion, chapter participation, along with record-breaking industry attendance at our association’s events have resulted in over 1,200 merit shop contractor offices in 2018 finding value in retaining their AFSA membership. To many, strong leadership provided by our Insurance & Safety Committee resulting in a top-notch Contractors Insurance Solution and world-class online Safety Portal provides motivation to actively engage with AFSA along with a heightened level of assurance. n

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74 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Winsupply Names Santa Fe Springs Winwater Company of the Year, Others by Industry Categories Winsupply, Inc. has named Santa Fe Springs Winwater (California) its 2017 Company of the Year for the second consecutive year, and the third time in the last four years. Santa Fe Springs Winwater was among more than 20 companies and individuals recognized at Winsupply’s biannual Strategic Planning Meetings and Vendor Showcase in Nashville.

A highlight of the evening was the honoring of long-time company owner and area leader Kent Best with the Winsupply Lifetime Achievement Award. To read the complete list of award winners, visit winsupplyinc.com/ news-room.

NFPA Announces 2018 Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year Award Winner The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has named Denise Hynes, public educator for Toronto Fire Services, as the 2018 Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year. Hynes will be recognized at NFPA’s 122nd Conference & Expo this June in Las Vegas.

Each year, NFPA bestows the Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year award on an

educator who works for a local fire department or fire marshal’s office in the U.S. or Canada and uses NFPA’s materials in consistent and creative ways. The recipient demonstrates excellence and innovation in reaching out to the community, and views NFPA as the leading source for fire safety information.

Learn more at nfpa.org.

Steven Malm Named NIBCO Chief Executive Officer Steven Malm has been named chief executive officer by the Board of Directors of NIBCO INC. Malm continues to serve as president and a member of the board.

Rex Martin remains as chairman of the board, a position he has held since 1995.

Malm’s career in the building construction industry spans more than 35 years. His experience includes leadership in international business, mergers and acquisitions, and general management.

Since joining NIBCO in 1996, Malm has advanced through several key positions, in-

cluding president and chief operating officer; vice president followed by senior vice president in Supply Chain; senior vice president and general manager of TOLCO, a former subsidiary of NIBCO; and vice president of International and Business Development.

Visit NIBCO.com.

ASA Members Elect Courtney Little as 2018-19 ASA President Members of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), a national trade organization representing construction subcontractors, specialty trade contractors, and suppliers, elected Courtney Little, ACE Glass Construction, Little Rock, Arkansas, to serve as the Association’s 2018-19 president. His term will begin on July 1. He will succeed Jeff Banker, Banker Insulation, Chandler, Arizona.

ASA members also elected Anthony Brooks, Platinum Drywall, Little Rock, Arkansas, as vice president, and Brian Cooper, AROK, Inc., as secretary/treasurer. They will join Little in serving a one-year term from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.

Little is president and general counsel of ACE Glass. He currently serves as ASA vice president.

As ASA president, Little will preside at meetings

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76 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Help us Sound the Alarm about fire safety.

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

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

Help us Sound the Alarm about fire safety.

us millions preventabout thesethe needless tragedies all 50fire states.

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

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

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

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

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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS CONT.

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of ASA’s board of directors, executive committee and the membership of the association. He also will serve as the principal spokesperson for the association and appoint the chairs, vice chairs and members of ASA committees and task forces.

Visit asaonline.com.

AGF Manufacturing, Inc.

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American Red Cross

77

Anvil International, Inc.

59

Martin Appointed to NIBCO Board and Executive Leadership Team The board of directors of NIBCO INC. has announced the appointment of Ashley Martin to the executive leadership team and as an officer of the board of directors.

She continues her responsibilities as senior vice

president of sales, overseeing wholesale sales, retail and specialty sales.

Martin has held a variety of positions since joining NIBCO in 2012. She began her career as a sales trainee, where she won the Sales Trainee of the Year award. Her other positions have included distribution and transportation director, PEX product line general manager, and wholesale sales vice president. Visit NIBCO.com. n

You don’t have to be a genius.

ARGCO

27, 37

BuildingReports 3 Bull Moose Industries

57

Center for Life Safety Education

64

Core & Main

15

CST Industries

49

DecoShield Systems

54

Easyflex IBC Ferguson Fire & Fabrication, Inc.

35

Fire Protection Products, Inc.

9

FireLab 21 FlexHead Industries, Inc.

4

GECCO, Inc. Globe Fire Sprinkler Company

65 50-51

Harrington, Inc.

47

Hydro Flow Products, Inc.

17

Johnson Controls, Inc.

40-41

Metraflex

33

National Fire Protection Association

55

PHD Manufacturing

31

Potter Electric Signal Co.

19

Raimondo Consultants Inc.

28

Reed Manufacturing Company

71

Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co.

IFC, BC

South-Tek Systems

The solution is obvious. Firesprinkler.org is where the Fire Sprinkler industry goes online. You will find the solutions to your education and training needs, technical support and industry news and updates. Membership in the American Fire Sprinkler Association gives you full access to real benefits and services that will fit perfectly in your business plan and increase your productivity and profitability.

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78 Sprinkler Age | May/June 2018

Apply online at firesprinkler.org or call 214-349-5965.

SprinkFlex, LLC U.S. Tool

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Victaulic 74 Viega/Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co.

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Viking Group

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RASCOflex is the flexible sprinkler drop which sets a new standard for simplicity. The innovative

design positions the sprinkler in the center of the ceiling tile and the correct height, significantly reducing installation times. This incredibly efficient attachment is available in 6 different lengths with options for 2 different reducers, 2 outlet nipples, and a nylon tie for installation convenience. Complete sets come out of the box and ready to install to multiple ceiling grid types. For complete product details, please visit our website, reliablesprinkler.com.