September/October Sprinkler Age

40 AFSA FITTER ZONE

SEP/OCT 2020

SPRINKLER AGE

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

AFSA Resumes Training

VOL 39/05

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Viking’s cULus Listed and ICC ES approved window sprinklers are to be used with fixed glazed assemblies, and provide an alternative to a fire resistance rated wall assembly. Their unique spray pattern coats the surface of the glass with water and effectively reduces the risk of cracking or shattering in the event of a fire.

Viking’s new window sprinklers are available in both pendent vertical sidewall (VK960) and horizontal sidewall (VK962) models. The VK960 is Listed for up to 12’ (3,7 m) spacing between sprinklers, along with 7’ (2,1 m) maximum distance from vertical mullions, providing significant installation advantages.

As glass becomes more and more common in new construction projects, such as offices, restaurants, and more, it becomes increasingly important to provide applicable fire protection solutions. Viking’s window sprinklers are created to ensure that these surfaces can actively withstand the effects of a developing fire, and successfully keep the fire contained. By coating the surface of the panes with water, the sprinklers are able to protect property, assets, and most importantly, the lives of those within the structure.

The VK960 is also Listed at 15 gpm at all spacings up to 12’ (3,7 m).

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SPRINKLER AGE

SEP / OCT 2020 VOL 39/05

FEATURES

10 | ITM CLASS GRADUATES

Sixth Class Finishes Program with Two Weeks’ Training at General Air Products

14 | THE RISK OF NOT USING NITROGEN

Will Your Fire Sprinkler System Operate When Called Upon?

16 | GET READY FOR GREEDY GROWTH

Build a Lasting Competitive Advantage During an Economic Turndown

18 | PROTECTING AGAINST CORROSION

Beyond Basic Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Sprinkler Systems

20 | VIRTUAL GENERAL SESSION

Join AFSA Online October 7

22 | NITROGEN GENERATORS ARE NOT RIGHT FOR EVERY DRY OR PREACTION SYSTEM

How Do You Know if One is Right for Your System?

25 | SAFETY ON A PROJECT

Know the Requirements Before the Job Starts

26 | EATING AWAY AT THE CORROSION PROBLEM

New Solutions Transcend Thicker Pipe Schedules to Protect Against Corrosion Finds

28 | ASK THE ATTORNEY

Determining Whether COVID-19 Illnesses are Work-Related

30 | ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM

Lessons Learned From My Father

35 | OCTOBER IS “CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION” MONTH

Help Raise Awareness About Opportunities in Construction

36 | CONTINUE TRAINING AMID THE PANDEMIC?

Yes! Three Key Reasons Why

38 | NITROGEN GENERATORS: THE RIGHT SOLUTION?

Setting the Record Straight

40 | GET FITTERS “IN THE ZONE”

Webinar Series Focuses on Sprinkler Fitter Training

42 | NFPA 13 PROPOSED CHANGES

Second Draft Meetings for the 2022 Edition

44 | MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH THE RED CROSS

Budget & Finance Committee in the Spotlight

46 | TESTING THE WATERS

Sometimes Evaluating Water Supply Takes on a Whole New Meaning

48 | BALDWIN RECEIVES DE CAMARA SCHOLARSHIP

Endowed Scholarship Funds the Future of Fire Protection

50 | THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

6 8 52 52 53 54 55 55 56 57 58 59 60 62

CHAIR’S MESSAGE FLASHPOINT AFSA NEWS CALENDAR OF EVENTS CHAPTER NEWS AFSA CHAPTERS NEW MEMBERS U.S. CONSTRUCTION DESIGNER’S CHALLENGE ITM CHALLENGE PRODUCT NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS PEOPLE IN THE NEWS INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Donations Help During Disasters and to Raise Sprinkler Awareness

45 | ENSURING A STRONG ASSOCIATION

ON THE COVER: AFSA has resumed inperson training and education programs, adhering to the CDC safety guidelines. Also in this issue: corrosion.

SPRINKLER AGE, (ISSN 0896-2685) is published bimonthly for

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SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 5

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

EDITORIAL: 214-349-5965

NICOLE DUVALL, Publisher,

Director of Communications & Social Media,ext. 126; nduvall@firesprinkler.org

Y

D’ARCY G. MONTALVO, Editor, ext. 115;

dmontalvo@firesprinkler.org

ogi Berra said, “Never make predictions, especially about the future.” I think the only thing I can predict for the coming months is that how we think things will turn out will probably not be the case. Rather than use that as a reason for despair, it is a reason for hope. Your ingenuity and creativity that you apply each day in your craft will serve you well for an unpredictable future.

As we enter the last quarter of 2020, I am filled with hope for what the last part of this year, and the beginning of 2021, will bring. This was not the year we expected in our work or our lives; 2020 cannot come to an end quickly enough. I want to commend you, our membership, and the staff of the association for your resilience.

The health of all our members has been a top concern. Statistics have shown that construction job sites are a pretty safe place to work. Contractors have taken the necessary precautions on job sites, and we have had few cases of the virus. It gives me hope that those models can work for the rest of society. May you continue to work and live safely.

Our association continues to impress me with new ways of providing essential training to each of you. During the past few months, our online programs have soared. You have taken plenty of online classes and webinars. I want to let you know that we are taking our training on the road with the right safety precautions.

By the time you are reading this, we will have completed training for the ITM Inspector Development Program in the Philadelphia area, and we will hold our October Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School in that area as well. This new opportunity will allow people in these local areas to attend training during the day and go home in the evening—you will not have to weigh the risks of traveling by plane or staying in a hotel for a prolonged period of time. Watch for new opportunities in areas near you.

There is still work to be done. The pace is not as fast as it was back in January, but with proper precautions, and an effective vaccine, we will see a new outlook early next year. But what is also happening is that owners and developers of commercial real estate are re-examining what office space should look like and how it should function. We may see entire floors and suites divided up for new and unique uses— which means new construction and a steady amount of jobs for our workers.

Patience, resilience, and hope are the three values that will lead us into 2021. They will be the bedrock of future prosperity for members like you and our fellow citizens.

The only thing that I can predict is that the future will be unpredictable. But if we keep those values in mind, we will be able to weather any storm together. n

ADVERTISING: 214-349-5965

REBECCA HERRING, Communications Coordinator, ext. 134;

rherring@firesprinkler.org

CIRCULATION: 214-349-5965

REBECCA HERRING, Communications Coordinator, ext. 134;

rherring@firesprinkler.org

AFSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS TED WILLS, Chair, 610-754-7836 JACK A. MEDOVICH, P.E., First Vice Chair, 410-787-0639 LINDA M. BIERNACKI, Second Vice Chair, 318-841-0330 PAUL DELORIE, Treasurer, 603-432-8221 JEFF PHIFER, Secretary, 803-438-2994 WAYNE WEISZ, Immediate Past Chair, 209-334-9119 DWIGHT BATEMAN, 713-910-3242 ROD DIBONA, 605-348-2342 LYLE HALL, 858-513-4949 R. DONALD (DON) KAUFMAN, 505-884-2447 CHRIS JOHNSON, 727-581-9339 MICHAEL F. (MIKE) MEEHAN, 757-213-3660 JAY STRICKLAND, 301-474-1136

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

MARLENE M. GARRETT, CMP, Vice President, Program Operations & Education Services, ext. 118 LIZ MESSNER, CAE, IOM, Vice President, Membership & Communications, ext. 135

LESLIE CLOUNTS, Director, Education Services, ext. 130 NICOLE DUVALL, Director, Communications & Social Media, ext. 126 ROGER GRAGG, Director, 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

TED WILLS AFSA BOARD CHAIR

6 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

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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FLASHPOINT

F

or the issue’s column, I want to discuss the issue of corrosion of water-based fire protection systems; specifically, wet, preaction systems filled with pressurized air and dry pipe sprinkler systems.

Corrosion occurs when oxygen, water, and iron are brought together. Corrosion has been around in our industry for years, but recently, greater attention and methods to slow down corrosion have been developed and brought to the marketplace. NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, have added language and general requirements over the last few cycles addressing corrosion. However, while there has been general information provided, specific requirements are lacking. An attempt has been made to remove excess air from wet sprinkler systems. For dry sprinkler systems, no installation-specific requirement changes have occurred.

NFPA 25 has added more requirements for internal pipe system inspections.

Over the years, for wet pipe sprinkler systems, the manufacturers have responded with testing kits for water supplies and piping system water, corrosion monitoring stations, chemical treatments for the water supply, piping material with protective coatings, nitrogen-purging equipment before filling of the piping system with water, manual and automatic air release valves of various types and options, and many more products.

For preaction and dry pipe sprinkler systems, some of the same equipment utilized for wet pipe sprinkler systems may be used. Equipment—such as testing kits for water supplies and piping system water, corrosion monitoring stations, chemical treatments for the water supply, and piping material with protective coatings—are/were available. However, the pressurized air supply for these systems has received the most attention. Nitrogen gas utilizing high-pressure tanks has been allowed for as long as I have been in the industry. Nitrogen generator systems were introduced to our industry over a decade ago. Air dryers and dry-air generator equipment have been commonplace in certain segments of our market and have been around for years. Recently, the NFPA 13 Technical Committees have been reviewing some proposed credits for using a nitrogen generator system. (See my article in this issue on page 42.) Proper or even excessive pitching of the system piping, heavier wall piping, cut groove versus roll groove pipe-end preparation, and closer spacing hangers are now being specified by some engineers to minimize corrosion.

Some of these products have come and gone. Other products are currently available, and others are being developed as I write this column. Technology keeps changing as the

8 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

Typical main system pipe showing corrosion. Photo credit: South-Tek Systems.

market and the perceived best options are determined. Keep in mind, except for the air-vent requirements for wet pipe sprinkler systems, no specific requirements exist in NFPA 13.

Preventing and minimizing corrosion is strictly an owner’s choice and responsibility. Specifying engineers need to specify what approach, if any, an owner wants. A sprinkler contractor can suggest an approach, but one must fully understand the benefits versus lifetime cost with the selection. There is not one magic choice that will work in every application.

Corrosion is going to occur unless we eliminate water, oxygen, or iron. It is a natural occurrence in our piping systems.

How we slow it down and minimalize the effects is up for discussion. In this issue, several manufacturers will discuss their opinions and options. Read, research, and do what is in the best interest of your customer, but make sure your customer knows every approach has its benefits and drawbacks. n

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

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ITM CLASS GRADUATES SIXTH CLASS FINISHES PROGRAM WITH TWO WEEKS’ TRAINING AT GENERAL AIR PRODUCTS D’ARCY MONTALVO | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

T

he American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) Inspector Development Program has hit high marks with employers and students alike and is celebrating its sixth graduating class.

“We’re delighted to finally resume training and see outstanding test results for Level I and Level II certification. These students have not let five months of postponed classes deter them from their program studies,” says AFSA Director of Education Services Leslie Clounts.

Recently resumed classes posted some impressive numbers, with the Level I class passing all of their NICET Inspection & Testing exams and the Level II class passing 95 percent of the exams on their first attempt. Since the program’s inception in 2016, the passing averages for students is continues to impress: 94 percent of AFSA students pass their Level I exam, and 98-percent pass the Level II Inspection & Testing exams. All told, AFSA averages a 91-percent pass rate for Level I and Level II exams versus the national average 66-percent rate.

Led by accomplished AFSA staff and industry experts, students excel both inside and outside the classroom. The program’s small class size allows instruction to be tailored to individual interests, strengths, and needs.

AFSA’s ITM classes have received positive reviews from both supervisors and students, with one supervisor stating: “Thank you, AFSA. The training was a great compliment and

AFSA’s Manager of ITM Technical Training John Johnson (standing) led the August 2020 ITM program sessions at General Air Products.

10 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

“THE PROGRAM IS GREAT FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE TRADE TO BE ABLE TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO GO OUT AND BE A GREAT INSPECTOR....” – CURRENT ITM STUDENT reinforcement to the messages we teach regarding profession conduct, knowledge, integrity, and documentation.”

PROGRAM DETAILS AFSA is proud to be the first to offer an industry-wide ITM Inspector Development Program, which aims to develop “green” or beginner technicians into NICET Level II-equivalent inspectors. With the ever-growing need for a well-trained, well-rounded workforce in mind, AFSA’s ITM program goes far beyond just providing technical training.

“Being new to the ITM Inspector Development Program, I was impressed by the very comprehensive training curriculum,” says AFSA Manager of ITM Technical Training John Johnson, CFPS. “Participants receive training on topics such as installation requirements, inspection and testing standards, personal safety, and best practices in the field.”

It features a blend of learning tools, environments, and styles that combine to make a highly immersive and comprehensive training package for future inspectors, including ondemand lessons; live webinars; instruction and discussion; on-the-job training (OJT) guidance; instructor support; and two in-person live sessions that include mock field inspections, lab instruction, classroom training, role play, class tours, and NICET I & II exam prep.

“Although the program is a blend of live and online training, student interaction has been excellent, and the camaraderie amongst everyone allows attendees to be comfortable and ask questions or share personal experiences,” states Johnson.

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Left photo: ITM students toured the General Air Products’ facility with Ray Fremont (far left) . Right photo: Mike Anderson with The Hose Monster Company traveled to Exton to guest lecture.

Training on the Road

General Air Products Hosts Education Programs The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) Inspector Program and Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School are in session and on the road! AFSA member AFSA General Air Products graciously offered its training facility in Exton, Pennsylvania, for both training programs in the fall of 2020.

The sixth class of the ITM program met at the site in August for their final two weeks of training and testing with safety measures in place. Guest lecturers included Jim McHugh with AGF Manufacturing; Ray Fremont, marketing director with General Air Products, who also gave the students a tour of the facility; Mike Anderson with The Hose Monster Company, who brought equipment for the students to practice on and also donated equipment to AFSA for future classes. AFSA is grateful for the support of its members!

Join AFSA October 5-16 at General Air Products for its Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School. This is an excellent opportunity for those in the Northeast to attend without travel costs. The schools are instructed by AFSA’s technical services staff, including Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE; Technical Programs Specialist Tom Noble, CET, CFPS; Manager of ITM Technical Training John J. Johnson, CFPS; and/or Coordinator of Technical Services Kevin Hall, P.E., MSFPE. AFSA takes the current health situation seriously. Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our students, members, and staff. AFSA follows the recommendations of the CDC and safety measures will be taken for in-person training.

AFSA is also holding a school in Dallas at its training center November 9-20. Registration is now open for both schools. For more details and to register, visit firesprinkler.org/design. n

12 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

With so much content being delivered in a variety of ways, students will have an opportunity to truly immerse themselves in all aspects of inspection, testing, and maintenance. “The program is great for anyone who knows nothing about the trade to be able to get all the information they need to go out and be a great inspector. I am very happy to be a part of this!” comments one ITM student.

In addition to the lessons, AFSA is with you every step of the way, starting with candidate selection. AFSA provides the tools to not only help you pick your trainee but to offer unrivaled support of them along the way. AFSA also provides hands-on tools such as the Contractor Manager Guide, trainthe-trainer information, and more that help you establish support for your candidate.

While technical learning is essential to the program, it also includes additional hands-on training methods such as role play to further prepare your inspector for situations they may encounter on the job and how to conduct themselves professionally. As one current student notes: “It has helped with my understanding of what I am actually looking at when testing wet and dry systems. I am actually able to connect my standard to my walk-through during the day.”

REGISTER NOW In just 20 months, your inspection team can “hit the ground running” as you start this service within your company or expand your team. As one student comments: “I absolutely recommend this course to anyone looking to advance their knowledge of the fire protection industry.” Another notes: “Helpful in the ‘why’ aspect. [I] always knew ‘what,’ but ‘why’ is important for passing on to others in the field and also to customers.”

Registration is now open for the Fall 2020 class, which will virtually launch October 26, 2020, and be conducted online for the first six months. Class size is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Find more details and register online at firesprinkler. org/itm or call Clounts at (214) 349-5965 ext. 130. n

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THE RISK OF NOT USING NITROGEN WILL YOUR FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM OPERATE WHEN CALLED UPON?

A

GARY KOELLHOFFER | JOHNSON CONTROLS s the number of aging sprinkler systems in the field grows day-by-day, corrosion has become a common discussion topic over the past decade. Often, the first indication a building owner has that their system is corroding is the development of leaks. System leaks can result in significant property damage, high repair costs, and eventual replacement of the system. However, there is another risk associated with corrosion that is often overlooked or under-appreciated by the building owner—the system not operating as designed in the event of a fire, potentially resulting in loss of life and property. The formation of corrosion deposits in the system piping can result in reduced water flow or even the complete obstruction of the piping and sprinkler orifices.

The primary source of deposit formation in a water-based sprinkler system is oxygen corrosion of metallic sprinkler pipe. For black steel systems in an oxygenated environment, the amount of oxygen introduced into the pipe network governs the formation of deposits in the pipe.

These corrosion byproducts (iron hydroxides) further oxidize into the iron oxides: hematite (reddish/brown in color) and magnetite (black in color).

For the case of galvanized steel systems, zinc oxides will form first, then attack the underlying steel once the zinc layer is breached. While corrosion deposits will form in any water-based system, wet or dry, the large amount of oxygen

14 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

Figure 1. A 4-in. Main – 12-year-old black steel system. available in dry systems leads to the formation of staggering amounts of internal deposits. When inspecting any aging dry or pre-action system, the amount of deposits present constitutes a significant risk to proper system operation. (See Figures 1 and 2.)

While deposits will form at any location where trapped water is present, system trips and flow testing can push these deposits to remote locations within the system. The highest obstruction risk is present when deposits are pushed into smaller diameter pipe, such as 1-in. drops feeding a sprinkler. The hard, adherent nature of the deposits can quickly lead to a complete obstruction of the sprinkler orifice, preventing delivery of water to a fire. The drop pictured in Figure 3 was found during an inspection of a 20-year-old pre-action

Figure 2. A 4-in. Main – 10-year-old galvanized steel system. system. The other drops in the surrounding area were equally obstructed. In the event of a fire, this system would not have been able to deliver water to the fire.

NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, addresses the risk of internal obstructions with their requirements for both Internal Assessments and the more stringent Obstruction Investigations. If sufficient obstructive material is found during the investigation, a complete flushing program shall be conducted.

The annex of NFPA 25 provides further detail on methods of performing a flushing program, all of which are very intrusive, time and labor intensive, and ultimately expensive. Failure to perform the flushing procedure correctly will be

more likely to push deposits to end of lines and drops, thereby increasing the risk of future obstructions. Obstructions are not the only threat posed by the formation of internal deposits. Pitting of the pipe wall surface, in addition to the adherent nature of the deposits formed, will negatively alter the hydraulic performance of the systems. Increased roughness and reduced diameter of flow in aging systems contribute to increased water delivery times and potentially not delivering enough water to a sprinkler to adequately control a fire.

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) published a research document titled “U.S. Experience with Sprinklers”1 in 2017. The document analyzes the reported fires in the U.S. between 2010 and 2014, identifies if sprinklers were present, and whether they were effective in controlling the fire. Of all the reported fires in which a sprinkler system was present, sprinklers were 96-percent effective when they operate. However, when the system operated but failed to control the fire, the two leading causes were water not reaching the fire (51 percent) or not enough water being discharged (30 percent). The accumulation of corrosion byproducts within the system piping could directly lead to both modes of failure.

The ideal way to limit risk, for both loss of life and loss of property, is to prevent the formation of deposits throughout the life of the system. The formation of iron and zinc deposits in a dry pipe system is a continuous and cumulative process when compressed air is used as a pressure maintenance gas.

However, by limiting the introduction of oxygen into dry pipe and pre-action systems, corrosion rates and the volume of resulting deposits will be greatly reduced. Nitrogen-based corrosion control strategies have become the leading method of corrosion control in these type systems. The sprinkler system’s longevity and reliability can be maximized by implementing a nitrogen generator as early as possible. Several recent changes to codes and standards

recognize the benefits of applying nitrogen to newly installed systems, and offer several key installation/maintenance advantages as a result: • NFPA is expected to include an allowance for increased C-Factors for new dry and pre-action systems initially installed with listed nitrogen systems in the 2022 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.

• FM Global Data Sheet 2-81, Fire Protection System Inspection, Testing and Maintenance,2 (covering ITM requirements for FM Global clients) has been revised to change the frequency of trip test and internal inspection requirements for systems using nitrogen as a pressure maintenance gas. o Full trip testing interval was changed from three years to 10 years for systems utilizing nitrogen. o Eliminated internal investigation requirement for systems originally installed with nitrogen. n

Figure 3. 20-year-old black steel pre-action system. 1-in. drop completely obstructed.

REFERENCES: 1. “U.S. Experience with Sprinklers,” Marty Aherns, July 2017, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 2. “Fire Protection System Inspection, Testing and Maintenance,” Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 2-81, Interim Revision October 2019, FM Global.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gary Koellhoffer is a global product manager for Johnson Controls, and has been working in the fire suppression industry for five years.

He is responsible for TYCO’s Corrosion Solution product portfolio which includes the NG-1 nitrogen generator series. He can be reached at gary.koellhoffer@jci.com.

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GET READY FOR GREEDY GROWTH BUILD A LASTING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE DURING AN ECONOMIC TURNDOWN

“

BILLY MARSHALL | SERVICETRADE

When others are greedy, be fearful. When others are fearful, be greedy.” Warren Buffet is the third richest guy on the planet, and he is known for taking a long view on wealth creation. According to Buffet, when the good times are rolling, that is the best time to prepare for the crap to hit the fan. The crap hit the fan in 2020, so are you prepared to be greedy and grow at the expense of your competition? Let’s set the stage for greedy growth by examining what happens in an economic downturn.

First, capital flows and payments slow. Good customers who formerly paid in 30 days now pay in 60. Marginal customers who paid in 60 days now pay in 120. Bad customers don’t pay at all. And repair and retrofit projects grind to a halt.

Second, unemployment grows because some can’t make payroll. Businesses dependent on capital will divest human capital assets to reduce liabilities and lower payroll.

The third thing that happens is that marginal businesses become distressed and many will fail. They are over leveraged and dependent upon capital or they depend upon customers that are dependent upon capital. In either or both cases they sell assets, divest of liabilities, or they fail.

So what’s the point? The point is that playing a football game against the Dolphins in Miami in September is totally different than playing the Packers in January at Lambeau Field. The past several years have been like playing in Miami. In Miami, everyone is scoring lots of points because the weather is warm, the offense is loose, the defense is getting gassed from the heat, and the ball carries forever. At -20º in Green Bay with a blizzard raging and the wind howling at 30 mph and the ball feeling like a brick, running up the score requires a different set of Xs and Os. So, let’s talk about the playbook for an economic downturn.

DEFENSIVE PLAYS: CUSTOMER CONSOLIDATION Customer consolidation is a set of defensive plays to create an unbreakable bond with your most valuable customers. The plays are Review, Reject, and Renew.

Review. Review and grade your customers for their vulnerability during a downturn. Their vulnerability is typically a function of two things:

16 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

Your business can grow during an economic downturn with good defensive and offensive strategies.

1. Does the customer pay my company from an operating budget or a capital budget? Am I assisting their operational productivity, or doing capital projects?

2. Will the customer be severely impacted because they rely upon capital to operate? Do they sell a large durable good to their customers, who pay them from a capital budget? Or both, which is really bad.

Sort your customers by their revenue value to your company. Then grade the quality of that revenue by judging the percentage that comes from capital-oriented budgets (theirs or their customers) or from operating-type budgets (this is the best money in a downturn). Place the highest value on maintenance and inspection revenue at low vulnerability customers.

Reject. The warm weather environment of Miami in September is the best time to run the defensive play I call “Reject.” Get rid of the customers that graded poorly in the above exercise along with the smaller ones with low revenue and high scores for being a PITA (pain in the a**). If you find yourself already in the game at Lambeau Field in January (i.e., in the midst of a pandemic and a recession), it is likely that the customer that you would reject in Miami will become more obvious candidates in Green Bay. They won’t be paying their bills, so they are easy to spot.

However, you may want to keep some customers who will be negatively impacted in the downturn but are safe long-term bets as good customers overall. Just make certain you can afford to extend them some credit when they need to slow pay your invoices. Quickly resolve equipment deficiencies at risky customers with upgrades and repairs, or move them out of your portfolio. The last thing you want during the downturn is unplanned work that you might not get paid to deliver.

Renew. The “Renew” play is the opposite of the “Reject” play. Identify high-value customers that pay from an operating budget. Rank and renew them with favorable terms, subscription payments, and all-inclusive pricing. What does this look like? Offer to clean up outstanding deficiencies for your lowest-risk accounts and lock in their loyalty with a new multi-year agreement. Give them a good reason like lower rates on service calls if they repair or upgrade all risky equipment. Offer a subscription payment plan.

When you have your cash flow locked in with a good defense, you can focus on the second part of the strategy— how to go on offense.

OFFENSIVE PLAYS: COMPETITOR ASSET APPROPRIATION Competitor asset appropriation is the offensive strategy to take the best technicians and best customers from the rival team and suit them up to play for your company. The plays are Connect, Convince, and Convert.

Connect. Start by connecting with those assets you covet.

How are you going to do that? How are they going to remember you in the chill of the downturn in the moment they have decided to make a change? And who are “they,” anyway?

Keep a list of target customer accounts. Just like the customer list exercise you completed above for a Reject and Renew strategy, rank prospective customers based upon their potential annual revenue value to you plus the stress they are likely to feel during an economic downturn. You’ll also need to know which competitor currently has the account to know what defense you will be facing.

Do the same type of play with technicians. Compile a list of skilled players you can identify in the market. Rank them based upon what you can find publicly about their certifications, expertise, and years of experience, plus what you know about the competitor. Some will be easier to pry away than others.

So, now you have a ranked list of valuable connections you want to make. Now, what plays do you run to connect?

There is no substitute for sales reps calling customer prospects and recruiters calling technicians. But how will you be memorable after the call?

My favorite scalable tool in this realm is LinkedIn. LinkedIn is specifically designed to run a connection strategy to the assets you want to have in your network. So go make it happen. Being blunt and uninteresting, however, will not work. Set up the connection request with interesting activity from you and your company on the platform. LinkedIn makes it easy to share the activities in your business to build a positive impression. When you have a positive reputation, connecting is easier.

Convince. You have connected with valuable assets of the competitor, but you still need to convince them to change teams. Google reviews will probably be the best approach to stand out to the prospects that are looking for a change. There are a number of products that can help you build those reviews.

Beyond the Internet, there are also real-world tactics that will help you convince technicians and customers to jump teams. Consider inviting technicians and customer prospects to your training and customer events. I know the idea of training your competitors’ technicians might sound crazy, but the impression you make is more valuable than the risk. Also, If you are not doing ongoing employee development or community service work, you should. It is invaluable in convincing employees that they want to work for you.

We have now put in place a strategy for Connecting and Convincing target prospects and technicians. They know who you are, and they believe you are doing good things. Now, how do you get them to take action and say, “I want to be on your team?”

Convert. Converting technicians means getting their job application. Your website’s careers page should be front and center to show what openings you have and what it’s like to work at the company. Give visitors clear qualifications, a button to apply, and ways to share their contact information.

Customer prospects have now seen your brand all over the Internet so they know how to find you online. The moment the other guy has made it too difficult to continue in a relationship, it has to be really easy for them to see what you’re selling and get started with you. Offer something like a free first inspection to give them the experience of your superior customer service. Make the conversion easy with simple web forms and by repeating phone numbers and email addresses all over your website.

RUN THE GREEDY GROWTH PLAYBOOK These plays for defense (Review, Reject, Renew) and offense (Connect, Convince, Convert) represent a super simple formula for growth, right? Defend what you have against any competitor and have an offense that runs up the score by taking technicians and customers away from the competition.

The blizzard bowl in Green Bay in January is very different than airing it out in Miami in September. The tactics change dramatically. A greedy growth strategy will create more wins than losses on the hostile playing field of a pandemic and a recession. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Billy Marshall is the CEO at ServiceTrade and author of two books: The Digital Wrap and Money for Nothing. He is a sought-after speaker on topics relating to innovation, technology, digital marketing, and sales methodology for commercial service contractors.

Contact Marshall at billy@servicetrade.com.

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 17

PROTECTING AGAINST CORROSION BEYOND BASIC INSPECTION, TESTING, AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS GEORGE MCHUGH | AGF MANUFACTURING

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n fire sprinkler systems, corrosion is a danger that can have dire consequences and can go unseen until it’s too late. The consequences vary in severity from a leak that damages property to an obstruction that restricts water flow or blocks a sprinkler head. When obstructions cause the system to fail during a fire, it can mean a loss of life and property that might otherwise have been saved.

What can be done about this hard to detect threat? Inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) protocols exist to detect corrosion-related obstructions, but they can result in faster rates of corrosion by introducing fresh oxygen to the system. Luckily, there are products on the market that go beyond traditional inspection, testing, and maintenance to better prevent and monitor the danger of corrosion.

THE CORROSION TRIANGLE Why is corrosion such a big issue in fire sprinkler pipes?

Corrosion is a chemical reaction that produces rust particles.

While in most plumbing flowing water would carry these particles away, in fire sprinkler systems water sits still until something activates the system, so rust particles can pile up to cause obstructions. Throughout a system, hundreds of pounds of rust particles can pile up. If present when a sprinkler activates, these rust particles can be carried through the system by the water flow and could become lodged in vital components like a sprinkler. In a worst-case scenario a large deposit could block flow completely.

Three elements are needed for the chemical reaction of corrosion to occur: steel, water, and oxygen. When combined, they’re referred to as the “corrosion triangle.” Fire sprinkler system pipes are a perfect breeding ground for corrosion because they have all three factors present. In wet systems, the pipes are steel, they are full of water, and oxygen is present both within the water and the air pockets trapped during system filling. In dry systems, the pipes are steel, they are full of air, condensation provides the water, and insufficient pipe pitching can result in water being trapped in the pipe.

Removing one of the elements—the water, steel, or oxygen— from the “corrosion triangle” will stop the corrosion process. Some

18 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

Internal pipe corrosion should be monitored and managed so you can take action before lives and property are put at risk. degree of corrosion will always exist within systems, but it can be significantly reduced by including some components and good system design and installation practices.

For both wet and dry systems removing the pipe is not really an option. In a wet system removing the water ceases to be an option, so efforts need to be made to remove the oxygen. Long term studies have proven that venting the air out of a wet system can significantly increase pipe life. A dry system, by definition, would seem a better alternative, but the reality is that most dry systems are never completely dry. Condensation and trapped water will react with the unlimited volume of oxygen in the system causing the pipe to corrode even faster than a wet system.

To slow corrosion activity in dry systems properly pitching the system and adequate properly placed low point drains are critical.

Internal pipe deterioration can also be slowed by using systems like “Dry Air” and Nitrogen Generation to condition the pressurized air in a dry system.

THE ROLE OF INSPECTION, TESTING, AND MAINTENANCE

MONITORING CORROSION TO PREVENT CONSEQUENCES

From the moment a fire sprinkler system is installed, the pipe will begin to deteriorate. Thus, a schedule of inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) is employed with the intention to detect any performance problems before they put lives at risk. In the case of corrosion and obstructions, however, this testing can contribute to an accelerated rate of the very corrosion it’s trying to protect against, especially with wet systems.

When fresh water fills a system, it is oxygen rich. Oxygenrich water enables the fastest rate of corrosion. But if left untouched over time, the oxygen would eventually be depleted, and the rate of corrosion will slow or stop. However, that water doesn’t go untouched due to the vital tests and inspections of the ITM schedule. When scheduled ITM functions happen, the system is drained and fresh oxygen-rich water is again introduced, feeding more corrosion. This is why the rates of corrosion can be higher at areas where freshwater flows into the system, such as near the pump and inlet.

Not only is oxygen present in water, but it’s more so in air pockets trapped in wet pipes during system filling.

Trapped air pockets end up in high points of the system, like the highest branch lines or roof peaks. If corrosion deposits build up in these areas, they may not be discovered or adequately flushed during a five-year internal obstruction investigation.

Some degree of corrosion is inevitable, but with proper monitoring a facility can know to take action before lives or property are put at risk. Many corrosion monitors are on the market, including necessary power or coupons to be sent for analysis. Another option is a corrosion monitor that would require no power or analysis and could be installed on wet or dry systems. By monitoring the progress of corrosion in a system, building owners can better understand when it needs attention.

ACTING AGAINST CORROSION Corrosion has the potential to put building occupants and property at dangerous risk during a fire, but it doesn’t have to get to that point. By installing an air vent, test water recirculation system, and corrosion monitor, a facility can help to reduce and monitor corrosion along with following the scheduled procedures for inspection, testing, and maintenance on their system. To find a distributor of AGF products, visit agfmfg.com. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: George McHugh serves as the vice president of AGF Manufacturing. AGF is a family-owned, American manufacturer of innovative, reliable, and code compatible fire protection products for commercial and residential fire sprinkler systems worldwide.

REDUCING THE OXYGEN IN A SYSTEM The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found through long-term studies that trapped air in wet pipe sprinkler systems is a major factor of corrosion. They also found that venting any amount of trapped air can significantly reduce the amount of corrosion in a system, so NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2016 edition added a new requirement that air vents be included on all wet pipe systems made with metallic pipe. The benefits of including air vents on wet systems should not be limited to jurisdictions that have adopted this new code edition because they can be easily added to any new system or retrofitted into existing systems with easy installation options.

Manufacturers, like AGF, have air venting valves on the market to help reduce corrosion while offering flexible installation options. In fact, installing them during the five-year internal obstruction investigation can help to combat the corrosion that would be caused by the fresh oxygen introduced when refilling the system after that investigation.

But what about the oxygen that’s in the water? The scheduled testing of fire sprinkler systems involves flowing water through the system, which introduces fresh, oxygen-rich water. A system from a manufacturer like AGF for recirculating the water from your system during testing means fresh water isn’t being introduced. It also means that you save thousands of gallons of water during system testing that would otherwise be drained into the public water system.

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 19

VIRTUAL GENERAL SESSION JOIN AFSA ONLINE OCTOBER 7

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oming soon to a computer screen near you! Join the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, for the first-ever virtual general session!

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced AFSA to cancel its in-person event at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida, members and staff were disappointed. However, AFSA’s Board of Directors decided to bring members together online for a virtual general session to celebrate the association and its members.

“During this unprecedented time, the health and safety of our members is our top priority, and one of our greatest strengths is our ability to adapt and reinvent ourselves when needed the most,” says Chair of the AFSA Board Ted Wills, president of Anchor Fire Protection in Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania. “While we are disappointed that we cannot meet in person, we are excited to bring everyone together virtually.”

The online general session will feature guest speakers including Wills; 2020 Convention Co-Chair Chris Johnson, president & CEO of Piper Fire Protection in Clearwater, Florida; and AFSA’s vice presidents, who will give updates on the association’s activities.

A highlight of the session will be presenting two association awards: the 2020 Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year award to Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci and the 2020 Young Professional of the Year award to Jamil Shamoon, Symons Fire Protection, San Diego, California.

“We cannot wait until we can gather together in person one day,” comments AFSA Vice President of Program Operations & Education Services Marlene Garrett, CMP. ‘But for now, we are grateful to have the technology available to present a virtual general session. It also gives us an opportunity to record it and make it available on our website for those who cannot join us on October 7.”

AFSA is pleased to announce that the association will be returning to Orlando and the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort in 2023 for AFSA42, September 5-9.

“The Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort is central to all the best Orlando has to offer,” notes Johnson. “I am excited that we will have the opportunity to return to Orlando and welcome everyone to our great state. This event will be very family friendly to our contractors and industry partners throughout the country.”

The virtual general session will be aired via YouTube. Look for incoming coming via email from AFSA and visit firesprinkler. org/afsa39 for more details. n

Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci (left) and Jamil Shamoon, president of Symons Fire Protection, San Diego, California, (right) will be honored during AFSA’s first-ever virtual General Session on October 7, 2020.

20 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

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SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 21

NITROGEN GENERATORS ARE NOT RIGHT FOR EVERY DRY OR PREACTION SYSTEM HOW DO YOU KNOW IF ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOUR SYSTEM?

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RAY FREMONT, JR. | GENERAL AIR PRODUCTS, INC. itrogen generators are currently the fire sprinkler industry’s best defense for corrosion in dry and preaction systems, but they are not without their drawbacks. Like any piece of industrial equipment nitrogen generators have pros (like corrosion mitigation at 98-percent purity) and cons (like perilously low flow (CFM—cubic feet per minute) as compared to a fire protection air compressor). Fire sprinkler contractors today must be aware of the positive and negative attributes if this equipment to decide if a nitrogen generator is the best fit for their customers’ sprinkler systems.

When installed in a system that is a good fit, a nitrogen generator will run as seamlessly as a standard air compressor, and with vigilant maintenance it will provide the system with 98-percent nitrogen, creating an environment inside the piping that does not allow for aggressive corrosion to take place.

When installed in a system that is not a good fit, a nitrogen generator will run itself into alarm as leaks in the system quickly surpass the unit’s capacity to deliver 98-percent nitrogen. Then your customer gets frustrated with regular visits from your service department to isolate system air leaks, or maintenance lapses cause damage to the mem-

22 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

brane and a costly part replacement is required.

SO HOW DO YOU TELL IF A SYSTEM IS A GOOD FIT FOR A NITROGEN GENERATOR OR NOT? Every system is different. The honest answer is that not all sprinkler systems will be best served with a nitrogen generator. More often than not, filling solutions like standard compressed air or dry compressed air make more sense.

Here are some practical questions you can ask yourself and others associated with the job at hand that you can use to help zero-in on a good application for a nitrogen generator versus a bad one: • Is this system prone to leakage over time?

• How much corrosion do we expect to take place in a sprinkler system for this application?

• What is the intended life of the structure?

• Is maintenance routinely performed?

IS THE SYSTEM PRONE TO LEAKAGE OVER TIME? All dry and preaction systems are prone to leakage over time—98-percent nitrogen or not. Corrosion is one reason why a dry system will grow leaks. In those cases, nitrogen is the best answer the industry has today.

However, there are many other

reasons for leaks—dry-rotted gaskets, cross-threaded connections, building use and movement­­—the list goes on and all the nitrogen in the world won’t make a difference to those leaks.

A traditional fire sprinkler air compressor, sized for a 30-minute fill time, has more than enough flow (CFM) to keep up with these leaks.

In fact, the way compressors are sized makes them capable of keeping up with system leaks of hundreds of PSI per day without overrunning the unit. A nitrogen generator, in nitrogen mode, has a fraction of that flow because of the filtration process in the membrane. In fact, several manufacturers call out a 6-psi-perday system leak as “standard” in regard to the flow capabilities of the generators. This is an extremely low leak rate for existing dry and preaction systems and it is a factor that contractors should understand well.

If the existing system that you are considering for a nitrogen generator has significant leaks, you should take the time to measure those leaks so that the generator is correctly sized. Further, because you know that eventually the system will grow non-corrosion related leaks, they, too, should be factored into your decision about the use of a generator. One way to determine this is to see how often the compressor is running on the existing system or dry systems with similar attributes.

Think of this—an air compressor running once per hour is not uncommon on an existing system. If a compressor has a pressure switch with a 10 psi differential and that compressor runs once an hour that means the system has roughly a 240-psi-per-day leak rate.

HOW MUCH CORROSION DO WE EXPECT TO TAKE PLACE IN A SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR THIS APPLICATION? This isn’t a question you answer by looking up a chart—the answer requires you to rely on your experience as a contractor in a given area.

When you are looking at an air compressor on an existing system that is running once an hour ask: What is causing it to run with that frequency? Temperature swings?

Corrosion leaks? Dry-rotted gaskets?

Valves not seated properly?

If it is corrosion, then nitrogen is often the best solution. If it is corrosion in one building, it stands to reason that similar buildings in that area will face the same corrosive issues. These could occur because of a particularly corrosive water supply, a building manager’s lack of maintenance and many other reasons.

Conversely, if there is little corrosion taking place in the systems you are dealing with in a given area or with a certain customer who implements good maintenance practices, then you may be able to avoid the expense of a nitrogen generator.

The clearest example of this scenario is refrigerated spaces or freezer rooms where water is very rarely introduced into the piping system and corrosion is not typically a major issue. In these cases, the use of dry air is the obvious choice.

WHAT IS THE INTENDED LIFESPAN OF THE BUILDING? Is your building intended to be around for the next 60-100 years? If your answer is no, does an investment in maintaining 98-percent nitrogen make the most sense? It may be time to consider other, less-expensive alternatives. A Starbucks is going

to be a Starbucks for a few years before it’s knocked down and something else is put in its place. Sixtyyear piping solutions are not going to offer the return on investment (ROI) that one would expect by using nitrogen when the building will only be standing for a fraction of that time.

That said, an airport will be an airport for a long time. A hospital will be a hospital for a long time.

Nitrogen can be a great way to increase the longevity of those piping systems and realize the ROI.

IS MAINTENANCE ROUTINELY PERFORMED? This is the most important question. Nitrogen generators are much more fragile than conventional air compressors and are in no way a substitute for rigorous system maintenance. If a facility owner or manager neglects their sprinkler system to the point that it’s unusually leaky or problematic—to the point that they are regularly burning through air compressors—the situation will only get worse by adding a nitrogen generator to the mix. Nitrogen generators are not a miracle cure. Maintaining 98-percent nitrogen on a dry or preaction sprinkler system requires diligent maintenance on the unit and the sprinkler system as a whole.

If your customer is ready to do that maintenance, a nitrogen generator can be incredibly beneficial. If not, you can be facing a lot of expensive problems.

Again, nitrogen generators are great technology for addressing corrosion, but make sure that you and your customers are fully prepared to deal with all of the pros and cons that are involved with their use. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ray Fremont, Jr. is the marketing director for General Air Products, Inc., Exton, Pennsylvania, and a member of AFSA’s M/S Council. He can be reached via email at rmfjr@ generalairproducts.com.

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 23

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Each level of the series includes photographs, drawings and tables to provide the relevant representations as well as written instruction on proper installation techniques and use of tools.

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SAFETY ON A PROJECT KNOW THE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE THE JOB STARTS TRACY HADWIN | FIRE TECH SYSTEMS, INC.

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hen you think about safety on a sprinkler project, you tend to think of the crew doing the installation, but safety for each project should start the day the bid request comes in. This means everyone from the estimator, designer, project manager, and superintendent need to be aware of the current safety requirements for construction.

Requirements differ greatly depending on the general contractor involved and the type of project itself. Some projects request Site Specific Safety Plans, OSHA 10 Hour or 30 Hour, safety certifications, designated Competent Person on site, and weekly safety meetings. If the management team is not aware of the time and cost for meeting some of the requirements, then the project could end up being very costly, in more ways than one.

Below is a list that can help with the ever-increasing safety cost and requirements.

Safety requirements continue to become more stringent, with subcontractors being asked to provide more and more proof of training and site-specific policies and plans. The earlier in the project we can identify the requirements, the easier the project will go, and the more money the project will make. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tracy Hadwin is the project manager/ safety director at Fire Tech Systems, Inc. in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is NICET Level II certified in Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems, a certified occupational safety manager, and an OSHA outreach trainer. Hadwin is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, National Association of Women in Construction, National Health and Safety Committee, and Shreveport Association of General Contractors. In 2011 and 2015, Hadwin was a finalist of the National Association of Women in Construction’s National Safety Award.

ESTIMATORS • Is there any unusual safety request?

• Is this a typical install?

• Are they requesting additional written policies?

• Are they requesting certifications?

• Is a safety orientation required?

DESIGNERS • Are there areas that will be difficult to safely get to?

• While doing a survey, did you notice any safety issues?

PROJECT MANAGERS • Will the installation crew need to attend an orientation?

• Are an Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA), Tool Box Talk (TBT), and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) required?

• What are the specific safety requirements for this project?

• What is the timeframe for completion compared to safety requirements?

SUPERINTENDENTS • Review the plans and safety requirements.

• Match the project with the installation crew.

• Make regular appearances onsite to assist with any unexpected safety issues.

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 25

EATING AWAY AT THE CORROSION PROBLEM NEW SOLUTIONS TRANSCEND THICKER PIPE SCHEDULES TO PROTECT AGAINST CORROSION FINDS

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SUSAN SCHIERWAGEN | VICTAULIC ire protection systems must be reliable and perform as designed. Their primary purpose is to save lives so there is no room for error. These integral systems provide a window of time during which people can safely evacuate a building or structure in the unfortunate event of a fire. They are also specially engineered to help protect an asset, building, or facility from incremental fire damage until the fire can be contained and extinguished. System performance and reliability are critical; therefore, significant effort should be invested in selecting, evaluating, and specifying the materials and joining methods to ensure the system performs as designed.

Perhaps the biggest risk to the reliability and performance is corrosion, especially on segments of the system with smaller diameter piping due to how the pipe is joined.

Corrosion typically comes in the form of gradual destruction caused by rust, which takes place in the presence of water, iron, and oxygen. While it’s possible to drain systems of water, there will always be a minuscule amount present, even in dry systems.

Another common type of corrosion is known as microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), which is exacerbated by the presence of bacteria. Regardless of the form it takes, corrosion causes buildup of material within the pipe and thinning of the metal, which in turn can cause leaks that can lead to temporary shutdowns, the need for system replacements, or in worse cases, personal injury or an entire system failure.

Historically, to help mitigate corrosion, owners and engineers have preferred black steel or galvanized pipe, which can be coated with zinc to enhance protection, and have used thicker pipe schedules, especially when threading is used to join the system piping together. Threading reduces pipe wall thickness and increases the pipe susceptibility to corrosion. Using a thicker pipe schedule helps maintain pipe integrity after fragments of metal are removed and the pipe wall thickness is reduced during the threading process.

To help fire protection professionals navigate decision making, safety consulting and certification company, UL, publishes a Corrosion Resistance Ratio (CRR) that shows the relationship between pipe wall thickness and corrosion susceptibility. Calculating the CRR based on pipe wall thickness by manufacturer and the associated joining method allows an engineer to assess the potential

26 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

Grooved-piping systems allow for fast installation of small- or largediameter pipes in the field.

corrosion resistance. For reference, the pipe wall thickness under the first exposed thread on 1-in. Schedule 40 pipe has a CRR of 1.00. A CRR greater than 1.00 means the wall thickness of the pipe is greater than the wall thickness of Schedule 40 steel pipe under that first exposed thread demarcation. A CRR less than 1.00 means the wall thickness of the pipe is less than the wall thickness of Schedule 40 steel pipe under the first exposed thread demarcation.

By utilizing the CRR, fire protection professionals can make better decisions about which pipe materials and joining methods to use that will maximize performance, reliability and economics of an installation.

MECHANICAL JOINTS RATE HIGH ON THE CRR SCALE There is no disputing the prominence and preference of threading hard pipe joints on fire protection systems, but alternative, stronger and more reliable solutions with a better CRR for small diameter 1-in. hard pipe are gaining ground—namely mechanical couplings. Grooves are cold formed or machined into the pipe end using a grooving tool. The coupling housings, fully surrounding a gasket, are assembled around two grooved pipe ends, and the key sections of the housings engage into the grooves. The bolts and nuts are tightened with a socket wrench or impact wrench. This method removes no metal, so the pipe wall thickness of Schedule 5 pipe is thicker than the Schedule 40 pipe under first exposed thread demarcation. This approach actually increases corrosion resistance. In fact, grooved Schedule 40 pipe has a CRR ratio that is 18.5 times greater than threaded Schedule 40 pipe.

More impressively, roll grooving small-diameter 1-in. pipe opens the door to the simplicity of using Schedule 10 pipe on an entire system without sacrificing corrosion resistance. Roll grooved 1-in. Schedule 10 pipe even has a CRR 10.1 times greater than threaded 1-in. schedule 40 pipe.

INNOVATION AND ECONOMICS The ability to use roll grooved Schedule 10 pipe instead of threaded Schedule 40 pipe on small diameter 1-in. hard pipe has an appreciable effect on the economics of system installation.

Schedule 10 pipe significantly reduces material and handling costs, simplifies ordering, installation and labor, and improves system hydraulics by increasing the inside diameter of the pipe.

The difference in weight alone is substantial. A suppression system constructed with grooved 1-in. Schedule 10 pipe could be up to 17 percent lighter than a system constructed with Schedule 40 pipe, which not only makes installation easier, but considerably reduces material costs. While the reduced weight and materials illustrate that roll grooving small diameter 1-in. hard pipe improves corrosion resistance, the solution must also be commercially viable.

INSTALLATION AND IMPROVEMENT Viability of roll grooved, small diameter hard pipe is no longer a question due to innovations in the industry. There are now product lines that provide reliability and ease of installation with grooved solutions that are commercially available for everything from 1-in. piping down to Schedule 5.

Field tools that allow for fast, precise pipe preparation are also available for grooved solutions. Some systems are mounted on power drives and are portable for simple installation processes. They allow users to cut, ream and groove pipe in less than 35 seconds, and provide a one-touch actuation to form a groove. The traditional hands-on process of oiling and cutting thread is not only more complicated and error prone, but takes twice as long. New roll

Roll-grooved piping systems eliminate the oil drippings and shaving typically produced during the threading process and improve the safety of fitters by removing the use of pipe wrenches that can cause injury from repeated strenuous motion.

grooving methods eliminate the oil drippings and shaving typically produced during the threading process, allowing contractors to use portable tools on jobsites without having to be concerned about cleanup. These roll grooving tools also improve the safety of fitters by eliminating the use of pipe wrenches that can cause injury from repeated strenuous motion.

REVOLUTIONIZING FOR SAFETY Corrosion has been a plague to the fire sprinkler industry, which prides itself on performance and reliability. However, embracing new technology allows for designers and fitters to increase the credibility and durability of fire protection systems while also optimizing economics and installation. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Susan Schierwagen is engineering vice president for coupling & suppression systems at Victaulic. In this role, she drives business growth through management of a broad product portfolio. In 2014, she was honored with a Women of Influence Award from Lehigh Valley Business. Schierwagen serves on the Industry Board for National Systems Contracting Association, the Board for McGraw-Hill Building Product Manufacturers, the board of directors for Syracuse University Sales and Marketing Program, and the Women’s Leadership Council, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. She is also a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society, the Strategic Account Management Association, and the Society of Women Engineers. Schierwagen enjoys mentoring young women interested in engineering and leads fundraising efforts for scholarships for women studying engineering. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Tufts University.

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 27

ASK THE ATTORNEY DETERMINING WHETHER COVID-19 ILLNESSES ARE WORK-RELATED BRIAN M. WALLEN & MICHAEL J. WIETRZYCHOWSKI | SCHNADER HARRISON SEGAL & LEWIS LLP

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he Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has issued revised guidance regarding how employers can determine whether a COVID-19 case is work-related and, thus, recordable.1 The new guidance addresses workplace exposure issues expected to occur as shelter-in-place orders are being eased across the country and employees return to work. OSHA published the guidance on May 19, 2020, and it was effective May 26, 2020. The new OSHA policies update the guidance originally issued on April 10, 2020, which required certain frontline employers to determine whether known cases of COVID-19 among their workforces were recordable work-related illnesses.

Given the large fines that can result from OSHA recordkeeping violations, employers should be familiar with the updated guidance.

GENERAL RECORDING OBLIGATIONS AND PRIOR COVID-19 GUIDANCE OSHA requires most employers to maintain a log detailing employees’ work-related illnesses and injuries—more commonly referred to as an OSHA 300 log.2 Assuming an employer is covered, all work-related illnesses except common colds and the flu must be recorded on the log and maintained for five years.3 The above obligations notwithstanding, all employers must record OSHA work-related illnesses that result in a fatality or in-patient hospitalization and report them to OSHA.4 Deaths must be reported to OSHA within eight hours, and in-patient hospitalizations must be reported to OSHA within 12 hours.

OSHA’s prior guidance, issued on April 10, 2020, mainly addressed the recording obligations of frontline employers whose employees contracted work-related COVID-19 illness. Nonfrontline employers were specifically excused from being required to determine whether an employee’s COVID-19 illness was a recordable work-related illness subject to one exception. Nonfrontline employers were required to determine whether an employee’s COVID-19 illness was work-related if there was objective evidence that the case in question was work-related and the evidence of work-relatedness was easily available.

REVISED OSHA GUIDANCE REGARDING RECORDABLE COVID-19 ILLNESSES On May 19, 2020, OSHA published updated guidance, which went into effect on May 26, 2020. This guidance unequivocally states that COVID-19 illnesses are potentially

28 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

recordable illnesses for nearly all covered employers.5 Covered employers will be responsible for recording COVID-19 cases on OSHA 300 Logs if the case: (1) is a confirmed case of COVID-19 as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”); (2) is work-related as defined by OSHA’s regulations; and (3) involves one or more of the general reporting criteria outlined in OSHA’s regulations. Nearly all employers, even those exempted from maintaining OSHA 300 Logs, will continue to be required to record and report to OSHA work-related COVID-19 illnesses that result in a fatality or an employee’s in-patient hospitalization.6 CONFIRMED COVID-19 ILLNESS Under OSHA’s updated guidance, in order for an employee’s COVID-19 illness to be recordable, an employee must have a “confirmed” COVID-19 illness as defined by the CDC. A CDC-defined confirmed COVID-19 illness is one that is substantiated by laboratory testing.7 Accordingly, employers can cease this analysis when an employee has all the symptoms of COVID-19 but is otherwise unable to obtain a test to confirm. Once the employee has a confirmed COVID-19 illness, employers then must engage in the more complicated analysis of whether a COVID-19 illness is work-related. It should be noted that employees who have a “presumptive positive” test likely do not meet the definition of “confirmed,” although employers are permitted to do the subsequent analysis for “presumptive” positive tests and may even record the illness as work-related.

WORK-RELATED With respect to work-relatedness, this is typically defined with reference to OSHA’s regulations. OSHA’s revised guidance recognizes that many employers will find it difficult to isolate the cause of an employee’s COVID-19 illness to the worksite. Therefore, employers should undertake a reasonable and good faith inquiry into whether an individual’s COVID-19 illness was contracted in the workplace. To do this, the staff member charged with workplace safety should speak with employees who test positive for COVID-19 to understand where the employee believes the COVID-19 case occurred, including any out-of-work activities that could have led to the COVID-19 illness.8 Similarly, personnel responsible for workplace safety should review whether there was a potential COVID-19 exposure in the workplace. Ultimately, an employer must review all available evidence in making a determination that a COVID-19 illness is work-related.

Factors that weigh in favor of finding that a COVID-19 illness was contracted at work are: • Several cases of COVID-19 developing in the workplace with no alternative reasonable explanation; • COVID-19 illness subsequent to close and prolonged exposure to a particular customer or coworker who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 without an alternative explanation for the illness; • The employee’s job duties include having frequent, close exposure to the general public in a locality with ongoing community transmission without an alternative explanation.

On the other hand, a COVID-19 illness is likely not work-related if: • The employee is the only worker to contract COVID-19 in the work location and job duties do not include frequent contact with the general public, regardless of the rate of community spread; • An employee closely and frequently associates with someone (e.g., a family member, significant other, or close friend) outside of work who (1) has COVID-19, (2) is not a coworker, and (3) exposes the employee to COVID-19 during the period in which the individual is likely infectious.

If, after the inquiry described above, the employer determines it is more likely than not that exposure in the workplace played a causal role in a particular COVID-19 illness, then the employer must record a COVID-19 illness as a work-related respiratory illness on its OSHA 300 Log. GENERAL REPORTING CRITERIA Assuming the case is a CDC-confirmed case of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 illness is more likely than not work-related, covered employers will almost always meet OSHA’s general reporting criteria. An employer generally must record work-related illnesses on its OSHA 300 Log in two scenarios: • Those that result in death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness; and • Those that involve a significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional, even if it does not result in death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness.

A confirmed COVID-19 illness via lab testing likely meets the general reporting criteria, at this time. Looking ahead, given the expedited research on treatments and vaccines, it is possible that COVID-19 could eventually be treated like the common cold, which is caused by other coronaviruses.

TAKEAWAYS AND BEST PRACTICES OSHA’s revised guidance represents another step towards the “new normal.” Just like everything else involving COVID-19, this guidance could be subject to change if there is a significant new outbreak on a regional or national basis. OSHA could also revise its guidance to focus more on symptoms-based case evaluation as

opposed to testing, if supply shortages akin to those that have already occurred in several places become prevalent.

Regardless of the “what ifs,” OSHA’s May 19, 2020, revised guidance is clear. When a covered employer learns of a confirmed positive COVID-19 illness among its employees, the employer should undertake a good-faith and reasonable analysis of whether the COVID-19 illness is more likely than not work-related as outlined above, and, if so, the employer should record the illness on its OSHA 300 Log. For those illnesses that an employer ultimately decides not to record, the employer may still want to memorialize the decision-making process in case this decision is later questioned by OSHA and the employer needs to demonstrate its justification to avoid penalties. n REFERENCES: 1. Revised OSHA Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Covid-19 - https://www. osha.gov/memos/2020-05-19/revised-enforcement-guidance-recording-cases-coronavirusdisease-2019-covid-19.

2. Employers with fewer than 10 employees, self-employed individuals, as well as employers in certain industries may be partially exempt from reporting work-related illnesses. See 29 CFR § 1904.1-2.

3. In contrast, only some workplace injuries need to be recorded on the OSHA 300 Log. See 29 CFR § 1904.7.

4. Although not relevant to this article, nearly all employers must additionally report incidents of amputations or loss of an eye. See 29 CFR § 1904.7.

5. See 29 CFR 1904.39.

6. Although less likely, all employers also have to record and report COVID-19 illnesses that result in amputations or loss of an eye.

7. A confirmatory lab case requires detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ribonucleic acid (SARS-CoV-2 RNA) in a clinical specimen using a molecular amplification detection test. See CDC Case Definitions - https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/conditions/ coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/case-definition/2020/.

8. Employers should be mindful of protecting employees’ privacy during these inquiries.

Should an employer learn of a recordable COVID-19 illness, employees may voluntarily request that an employer remove the employee’s name from the OSHA 300 Log. See 29 CFR § 1904.29(b)(7)(vi).

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Brian M. Wallen, associate, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, bwallen@schnader.com, is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department. He focuses his practice on labor and employment law.

Michael J. Wietrzychowski, co-chair, Labor and Employment Practices Group, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, mwietrzychowski@schnader.

Wietrzychowski com, has extensive national experience with all Wallen types of labor and employment matters—focusing his practice on representing corporations and select professionals before various federal, state, and local courts, as well as administrative tribunals such as the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Department of Labor, and various state agencies. Wietrzychowski represents clients in many industries, including healthcare, automotive, housing, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

AUTHORS’ NOTES: This article is based on information available at the time of publishing. It is subject to change. Business leaders should consult with counsel and refer to government websites and publications for the most up-to-date information.

For more detailed analysis on a wide range of legal issues, please see Schnader’s COVID-19 Resource Center at www.schnader.com/blog/covid-19-coronavirusresource-center.

This summary of legal issues is published for informational purposes only. It does not dispense legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship with those who read it. Readers should obtain professional legal advice before taking any legal action.

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 29

ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM LESSONS LEARNED FROM MY FATHER

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MINDY MCCULLOUGH BUCKLEY | ALLSOUTH SPRINKLER COMPANY ’ve always believed that the American dream is to own your own business or, in most cases, to be promoted to the highest rank of management within a company.

While this was my dream, I was quick to find out that this was much more than a promotion, and there are many unforeseen obstacles and challenges I would soon face as a new leader, especially at my age and with how quickly it happened.

In April of 2019, my father and owner of Allsouth Sprinkler Company, John J. McCullough, unexpectedly passed, leaving my two younger siblings and me to inherit our family business. While grieving the loss of our role model and fearless leader, we slowly adjusted into our new positions. Luckily for us, my father—and his father before him— built a great team who supported us mentally and professionally and helped pick up the pieces and assist in a seamless transition.

The new role didn’t feel anything like I had imagined, and although the transition was seamless for the company, it wasn’t for me. It was overwhelming and confusing without having my father to lean on. I imagine it is similar to becoming a new parent. It’s a whole new outlook and world that I couldn’t imagine, nor was I confident I was even ready for. The responsibilities were more than I ever imagined. Being involved in decisions that affect some of the best humans I know is stressful. Managing day-to-day operations of my “normal” job and compounding executive responsibilities on top of that, I lost a lot of sleep. I am still transitioning into it after a year. I don’t believe it is something that happens instantaneously.

Transitioning the next generation into a leadership role should be a process with

30 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

several years of training, learning, and self-development. While I am thankful for the several years of working with my father, we did not have the time we needed. I am thankful to have been blessed with observing my father for the time I could and believe I have taken the best parts of his leadership skills and incorporated them into mine. Here are some of the lessons I learned from him.

1. Gain respect. One of the challenges I was not prepared for was transitioning from a co-worker and, in most cases, a friend of my colleagues to becoming one of their leaders.

At Allsouth, we are not fans of titles nor superiority; we are a team. But, as in any business, there is a chain of command, and I was now taking on a leadership role and had to adjust to the changes and position ahead of me. Gaining respect from people who have watched you grow up, are older than you, more experienced than you, or have been employed at the company longer than you, has been a challenge in some cases. I believe each has faith in me, but it would be naive to think they hadn’t questioned the company’s future. So, instead of wielding authority, I have chosen to demonstrate my intentions to support them and help them grow.

2. Build relationships. Over the past year, I have been growing into my professional identity and discovering my leadership style. One of the most important parts of leadership is creating a team by building relationships and providing them with the resources and support that they need that will allow each person to achieve their full potential. Building these strong relationships of mutual respect and trust while encouraging growth through education and training is what I trust for

our future, and it may have been the best piece of my father’s leadership style I inherited.

3. Learn by doing. I’m thankful I had such a powerful, influential mentor who has shaped me into the person I am and the leader I am becoming. Learning to lead is a process of learning by doing. I know I will make mistakes. I know I will experience many more challenges as and I have no doubt that I will spend the rest of my life learning and improving myself.

4. Ask for help. I wish I could offer more advice and be more helpful to those who will inevitably join me in this experience, but I can’t. It will be different for everyone, and I am still learning myself. That is why we must lean on the leaders before us. Ask for help.

Ask why. If you don’t have someone you feel like you can achieve this with, reach out to AFSA and join its mentorship program. It can be intimidating but ask for help. Nothing compares to experience. I encourage our industry leaders to reach out to your next generation of leaders and open the lines of communication. Imagine how much more effective they would be if they were more informed, and the transition was more comfortable. Contributing to their success is the best investment for the future of your company. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mindy McCullough Buckley is the CFO for Allsouth Sprinkler Company in Buford, Georgia. She is a member of GFSA and AFSA National’s NextGen Initiative, a 40-andunder professional group. To find out more details and get involved, visit firesprinkler.org/nextgen.

When it comes to your business, rely on the players who contribute to your winning team TRAINING CONSIDER THIS THE ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF AFSA ARE TEAM PLAYERS WITH EVERY OPEN SHOP CONTRACTOR — PARTICULARLY THOSE CONTRACTORS WHO BENEFIT FROM AFSA MEMBERSHIP. THESE MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS CONTRIBUTE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO YOUR COMPANY’S WINNING EDGE. HOW?

AFSA ALL STARS: BUY FROM THE BEST

The Contren fitter correspondence courses, the most effective and popular of AFSA’s training programs, provide AFSA’s “training camp” for your fitters of the future. This program would not be what it is without the input of AFSA Associate members. Manufacturers and suppliers provided hundreds of photographs, drawings, charts and tables to give the students a visual understanding of what they are studying. Associate members also contributed valuable information included in the text of these lessons — technical input and details on the latest innovations within the fire sprinkler industry. And, they donated many hours to review the lessons prior to publication.

CHAPTERS Most Chapter Chairs will acknowledge that without local participation of Associate members, effective local programs and meetings would be nearly impossible.

Associate members play on your team at the local level, supporting your legislative and charitable efforts. They also provide educational chapter programs to coach contractors on the newest equipment and techniques used in this business. In many chapters, Associate members sponsor local golf tournaments, provide facilities in which the chapters meet, and provide administrative assistance to maintain chapter records, etc. your legislative and charitable efforts. They exhibit at chapter vendor fairs and trade shows. Associate members are vital to chapter success.

THINK ABOUT IT All of these activities contribute to a winning game plan for your company. There is a history of winning when contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers join forces — we all win. Associate members serve on — and provide important input for — many AFSA committees. The Manufacturers/Suppliers Council, comprised of 14 Associate members who represent their peers in all major segments of the industry, serves in an advisory capacity to the AFSA Board of Directors. One-third of AFSA’s total membership dues are contributed by Associate members. All of these activities contribute to a winning game plan for your company.

CONVENTION When you enter AFSA’s Annual Convention, Exhibition, & Apprentice Competition, you’ll realize that, in almost every case, the exhibitors who are making their products, services, and technology available to you are members of AFSA. These exhibitors cover the field for your continued success. They support the AFSA convention with their booth fees and attendee registrations, and, in some cases, spend thousands of dollars to ship equipment to the exhibition, so that you may see it firsthand.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS & YOU: AN UNBEATABLE COMBINATION All of your benefits as an AFSA member are enhanced by the participation of our Associate members. Next time you’re ready to purchase equipment or services, look through AFSA’s Membership Directory online or the Ultimate Fire Sprinkler Buyer’s Guide (published online at firesprinkler.org). Purchase from a company that supports your efforts by supporting your association — the American Fire Sprinkler Association. The next time a salesperson calls you, ASK if their company is an AFSA member! Continue to build on AFSA’s winning tradition.

SPRINKLER AGE MAGAZINE Many of AFSA’s Associate members are advertisers in Sprinkler Age magazine (indicated by boldface in the Associate member listing). Their advertising keeps you informed of the newest products and services on the market. It also helps to support the cost of publishing our Association’s official publication so that we can bring you helpful technical and business management articles to enhance your company’s game plan. Besides contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers, Sprinkler Age is read by hundreds of Authorities Having Jurisdiction, architects, engineers, fire protection consultants, and building facilities managers who are responsible for purchasing systems that meet their companies’ fire protection requirements. As a result, Sprinkler Age helps to sell the services of the fire sprinkler contractors; and, these advertisers help support that sales effort — for contractors as well as manufacturers and suppliers!

WE'RE ON YOUR TEAM Purchase from a company that supports your efforts by supporting your association. and suppliers benefit AFSA.

Support these team players, your associate members.

Accu-Fire Fabrication, Inc. ACT Pipe & Supply, Inc. Aegis Technologies, Inc.

AGF Manufacturing, Inc. American AVK American Backflow Products Co. American Tank Ameripipe Supply Company, Inc. Ames – A Watts Brand

Anvil International ARGCO

Armstrong Pumps Inc. Asurio, Inc. Backflow Direct BlazeMaster® Fire Protection Systems Blue River Underwriters Brooks Equipment Company, Inc. Buckeye Fire Equipment

BuildingReports.Com Bull Moose Tube Company C-Aire Compressors, Inc Cla-Val Company Clarke Fire Prot.Products Inc.

Core & Main Fire Protection Croker Div.Fire – End & Croker Corp.

CRS Insurance Brokerage CST Industries DecoShield Systems, Inc. Dewalt Driven Fire Consultants Dyne Fire Protection Labs Eastern Sprinkler Supplies Ltd.

Easyflex

Eaton Engineered Corrosion Solutions EnSYNC Corporation EnSYNC Two ETNA SUPPLY

Ferguson Fire & Fab

Fire Defense Equipment Fire Tech Productions First Service Insurance Agent & Brokers Fivalco, Inc. DBA Aleum USA Foster Engineering

Gast Manufacturing Gecco, Inc. General Air Products Inc. Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation Guardian Fire Equipment, Inc.

Harrington, Inc.

HRS Systems, Inc. Huguenot Laboratories Hydratec, Inc. Independence Tube, a Nucor Company Inspect Point Island Industries Inc. ITW Buildex Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC Jenny Products, Inc.

JFS Consulting

JG Innovations, Inc.

Job Gmbh John M. Bolinger Company

Johnson Controls Kennedy Valve

Leonhardt Pipe & Supply, Inc. Loos & Company, Inc. M.E.P. Cad Mechanical Sales, Inc. Milwaukee Valve Co., Inc. Noble Company NVent Pace Machinery Group, Inc. Pace Supply Corp.

Peerless Pump Company Permabond PHD Manufacturing, Inc. Phoenix Pacific, Inc. Pittsburg Tank & Tower Co. Polymer Molding Inc. Potter Electric Signal Company

Potter Roemer

Quality Fabrication & Supply

Reed Manufacturing Company Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. Response Fire Supply Ridge Tool Company (Emerson) RJB Wholesale Rocky Mountain Fire Sprinkler Supply Senju Fire Protection, Corp.

ServiceTrade, Inc Shield Fire Safety & Security Ltd Sigma Piping Products Smith-Cooper International SOLBERG / Perimeter Solutions

South-Tek Systems

Spears Manufacturing Co. SPP Pumps, Inc. SprinkGUARD Sprinkler Innovations System Sensor/Honeywell Security and Fire Talco Industries Inc. dba Talco Fire Sys Texas Manufacturing Company

The Hose Monster Company The Metraflex Company The Viking Corporation

Titus Industrial Tornatech International, Inc. United Fire Safety Company, Ltd. United Industries Group, Inc. Uponor – USA Vail Alarm Inc DBA Meridian Intermountain

Victaulic

Ward Manufacturing, Inc. Wheatland Tube Company Wheeler Mfg. Div. Rex Int’l U.S.A. Inc. Winsupply

Xylem – AC Fire

OCTOBER IS “CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION” MONTH HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN CONSTRUCTION

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ith a projected one million craft professionals needed by 2023, the construction industry is facing both a shortage of skills and personnel. The National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER) and its outreach initiative Build Your Future (BYF) designated October as Careers in Construction Month (CICM) to raise awareness about the lucrative career opportunities in construction and to recruit the next generation of craftspeople.

Contractors, schools, associations and other construction organizations can plan career days, field trips, speaking sessions, and other events and activities to showcase construction as a viable career path and an industry of choice. The industry can also get involved online by sharing myth-busting blogs and articles, professional success stories, eye-opening statistics and other content and by using the hashtag #CICM. Visit www.byf. org/cicm/ for details.

Coinciding with Careers in Construction Month is NCCER and BYF’s annual I BUILT THIS! video contest. Students and instructors in secondary and post-secondary craft programs can submit videos of their building projects for a chance to take home some incredible prizes. The I BUILT THIS! Video Contest is BACK in 2020. The sixth annual I BUILT THIS! video contest, presented by NCCER and Build Your Future, is returning this October. Designed to promote the value of craft skills and construction as an industry of choice, the contest encourages secondary and postsecondary students and trainees to showcase their building projects.

For the first time, the I BUILT THIS! Contest has a special theme for 2020: “Construction is Everywhere!” This year has brought some unique circumstances into the lives of students, trainees and instructors. But while education and training may look and feel different, the building skills remain critical to our future. The contest will be open for entries Beginning October 1, 2020. Start preparing now! For more details, visit www.byf.org/i-built-this/.

As part of the movement, U.S. states and territories are asked to officially proclaim October as Careers in Construction Month. Thus far in 2020, eight states and territories made official proclamations, and requests were filed in an additional 31 states. Visit https://www.byf.org/ wp-content/uploads/2020/03/State-Proclamation-Guidelines_2020. pdf/ to learn how to file a proclamation request in your state.

NCCER provides eye-catching BYF graphics to use in social media campaigns during Careers in Construction month.

NCCER is asking companies to pledge their commitment to use either virtual or in-person classroom visits to share BYF resources and by doing so, the companies will be entered into a $5,000 scholarship for a school of their choosing, gain access to exclusive resources, and be promoted on the page and in other marketing pieces. Visit www.byf.org/cicm/#pledge-jump/ for more information.

BYF has created “how-to” guides for planning, organizing, and celebrating Careers in Construction Month. Materials are available from suggested community activities to sample press releases to social media graphics. Each is designed to help make celebrating even easier! To learn more, visit www.byf.org/event/ careers-in-construction-month/. n SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 35

CONTINUE TRAINING AMID THE PANDEMIC? YES! THREE KEY REASONS WHY

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RACHEL BURRIS | NATIONAL CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION RESEARCH

istorically, companies will do two things when times get tough: They will curtail their training departments and sales departments. The world was not prepared for the coronavirus, and there is no denying companies are facing hard decisions. Some companies have been required to do a reduction in the workforce because projects have been delayed.

Although halting training may be fiscally understandable, it’s short-sighted and hurts your program and the construction industry as a whole in the long run.

This is the time to really focus on projects that are going and ensure people are working at their maximum capacity.

Proactive, successful companies have historically managed to maintain training through difficult times. It may not look the same and may be adapted, but progressive companies will not quit training. Why?

1. THE SKILLS SHORTAGE WON’T DISAPPEAR. Before COVID-19, the construction industry was already facing an estimated shortage of 1 million skilled workers by 2023.

The Associated General Contractors of America found back in August of 2019 that 80 percent of contractors were having difficulty finding qualified craft professionals.

Training and retaining our workforce must remain a priority or we’ll be facing

Train with AFSA/NCCER The AFSA/NCCER Contren® Learning Series Sprinkler Fitting curriculum, written from a contractor’s point of view, has been developed through combined efforts of technical experts and AFSA contractor members. Each level of the series includes photographs, drawings, and tables to provide the latest graphic as well as written instruction on proper installation techniques and use of tools.

The curriculum’s levels are divided into modules. Each module includes a series of lessons that cover a particular topic within the scope of that module. Convenient online testing is included to assess learner knowledge on a periodic basis. Other features Include: • Online testing for 24/7 access • Modules for customizing your own program • Visual aids to assist with learning • Online access to student history and grades Enrolling in AFSA’s apprentice training program not only offers an excellent education and a fulfilling career, but also is the gateway to competing in the AFSA National Apprentice Competition (NAC). Visit firesprinkler.org/education for more details and to register. Learn today, earn tomorrow with AFSA! n

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an even more extreme shortage after the crisis. ManpowerGroup reports that skilled craft professionals and construction laborers remain in the top 10 most difficult roles to fill.

“If you stop your recruiting or apprenticeship programs, it’s like turning off the faucet. A quality workforce program includes recruiting, training and retaining,” says Katrina Kersch, NCCER Chief Operations Officer. “Stopping these activities stops the pipeline of people coming into your organizations that are getting trained, becoming experienced and becoming valuable, skilled craftsmen and women.”

Understanding the importance of continued training, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) launched a new online learning platform in April of this year. The innovative platform, AFSA On-Demand provides fire sprinkler contractors with access to specialty education to earn CEU and CPD credit at their convenience.

AFSA Director of Education Services Leslie Clounts shares that AFSA On-Demand offers “access to a complete library of educational offerings online, delivered by leaders in the field.”

2. TRAINING INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY. Doing targeted, job site-specific training helps get workers reengaged and increases productivity. Concerns about job security and the industry are prevalent across the workforce—training helps combat those feelings of apprehension.

“It sends a powerful message to the individual that you’re investing in them

because they are part of the success of the organization,” shares Kersch. “It’s just intrinsically such a part of making your employees feel valuable.”

Continued training during this time also builds your sense of community in your workplace culture. The McKinsey Engineering, Construction and Building Materials Practice points out that “balancing performance and health is critical at any point in time—and it’s that much more important in these turbulent times.”

3. IT’S STRATEGIC. To be an employer of choice in construction is all about training and retaining your workforce. Although the industry is being impacted by the pandemic, it is more of a dip for construction compared to other harder hit industries like hospitality and leisure, retail and health services such as dentistry. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report that July residential construction building permits were 9.4 percent above the July 2019 rates. In

addition, housing completions increased 1.7 percent when comparing July 2019 to July 2020.

Instead of “turning off the electricity to save on electricity when times get tough,” it is an opportunity to be more strategi. The most progressive companies will explore how to leverage the downtimes by dynamically allocating talent. In addition, companies have typically already invested significantly in establishing workforce development programs to recruit. During times when companies are not bringing new people in, trying to maintain the employees that you may have already invested in with a year or two in training is tactically important.

“It’s becoming clear that the world will be different as we move beyond the COVID-19 crisis to the next normal.” In their article, “How Construction Can Emerge Stronger After Coronavirus,” the McKinsey Engineering, Construction and Building Materials Practice calls for five stages of action as companies plan their path forward: resolve, resilience, return, reimagination, and reform.

Don’t delay training, even in a pandemic.

The industry has an opportunity to reimagine and reform the future while remaining resilient. This momentary slump cannot affect the construction industry’s vision for the future. As an essential business, the world needs construction, from quickly building hospitals to donating personal protective equipment. We remain the industry that builds America. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rachel Burris is communications manager for NCCER.

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NITROGEN GENERATORS: THE RIGHT SOLUTION? SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ANDREW LOEFFELMAN | ENGINEERED CORROSION SOLUTIONS

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ere we are, yet again, facing resistance to a proven technology that all but ensures blockages will not form in fire sprinkler piping over time and system piping will last for the life of the building. One must ask­— why? Like many newer technologies, nitrogenbased corrosion control for fire sprinkler systems has had its fair share of resistance, including challenging chemical biocides aimed at treating microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). It has been quite a long road to proving the effectiveness of the use of nitrogen generators for dry and preaction sprinkler systems, and now that the effectiveness of this technology has been proven, new myths have been created to cast doubt on the practical application of the technology. These myths must be addressed with facts based in science so that this technology can be used effectively to protect the investment of a sprinkler system long-term, and, more importantly, ensure the sprinkler system can effectively protect lives and property when called upon.

MYTH #1: NITROGEN GENERATORS CANNOT KEEP UP WITH SYSTEM LEAK RATES This myth is easily addressed; nitrogen generators are sized appropriately to maintain system pressure in a dry/preaction system leaking 1.5 psi per hour, (i.e., the maximum allowable

38 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

leak rate per NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems).

Most nitrogen generator manufacturers size the units to fill over 2.5 psi per hour at their maximum capacity, which is quite a bit over NFPA 25 allowance.

If a nitrogen generator cannot keep up in a given application, then the leak rate of the sprinkler system should be brought into compliance with NFPA 25 requirements.

MYTH #2: LIFESPAN OF THE BUILDING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN CONSIDERING A NITROGEN GENERATOR This logic is deeply flawed; this way of thinking suggests that corrosion of the fire sprinkler system is acceptable and can be allowed if the intended useful life of the building is short. Keep in mind corrosion does not always just result in selective pipe replacement later on; it can result in loss of life and property if the fire sprinkler system is impaired due to corrosion byproducts, (e.g., plugged sprinklers and/or decreased hydraulic performance). It is irresponsible to think in this manner, and one should rather consider why the sprinkler system is installed in the first place when considering a corrosion mitigation solution.

MYTH #3: NITROGEN GENERATORS ARE EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN Nitrogen generators are not expensive or cumbersome to maintain.

Typical filter replacement kits range from $150 - $400 depending on the size of the nitrogen generator, and filter replacement procedures typically require less than 10 minutes to complete. While this is a little more expensive than a traditional air compressor, it is much less expensive and cumbersome than other solutions such as compressed air dryers.

MYTH #4: COMPRESSED AIR DRYERS CAN BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE AT CORROSION CONTROL AS NITROGEN GENERATORS It is now well-known throughout the fire sprinkler industry that the main cause of corrosion in fire sprinkler systems is the chemical reaction of oxygen, water, and steel to form rust.

This is backed by many agencies including FM Global (Data Sheet 2-1), the U.S. General Services Administration (Standard P100), United Facilities Criteria (UFC 3-600-01), and many more. The only practical way to control corrosion in a fire sprinkler system is to control the driving reactant which is oxygen. Compressed air dryers supply the same amount of corrosive oxygen gas as a traditional air compressor and thus do not control corrosion. The suggestion that a properly maintained air dryer can control corrosion by not introducing moisture into the dry/ preaction system is flawed science.

There is always moisture in a dry/ preaction system due to the initial hydrostatic test as well as any subse-

quent system trip events regardless of piping system pitch. It is well known that any level of moisture in a dry or preaction system will support corrosion of steel in the presence of oxygen gas.

Compressed air dryers do not address the root cause of the issue—oxygen gas—and therefore, do not make a material difference in controlling corrosion.

the optimal method of corrosion control, best achieved by use of a nitrogen generator, and 2) Yes, nitrogen generators have plenty of capacity to meet the demands of your application. n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andrew Loeffelman is the vice president of sales at Engineered Corrosion Solutions (ECS). ECS offers products ranging from nitrogen generators to wet system air vents, as well as testing/ evaluation of existing sprinkler systems. Loeffelman can be reached at (314) 956-7928, or aloeffelman@ecscorrosion.com.

MYTH #5: THE UPFRONT COST OF NITROGEN GENERATORS IS NOT JUSTIFIABLE Do nitrogen generators add upfront cost to a fire sprinkler system versus a traditional air compressor? Absolutely.

Are they more expensive than compressed air dryers? The answer to this question might surprise you: in a lot of cases, the answer is no. Compressed air dryers have limitations to the numbers of fire sprinkler zones that can be served, while nitrogen generators are not limited by the number of zones they can serve but by the total cumulative volume of pipe in the facility. Most installations exceed the number of zones a single air dryer can serve, so in these cases the cost of a single appropriately sized nitrogen generator most often is less than multiple air dryers.

The cost of a nitrogen generator is easily justified when compared to the incurred cost of selective pipe replacement, or total system replacement, five to 20 years later. It simply does not take many leak repairs to add up to the initial cost of a nitrogen generator.

Further, the NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, Technical Committees are preparing to vote on final ballot changes that will likely include increased C-Factors when performing hydraulic calculations for dry or pre-action systems that use Listed nitrogen generators.

So, we return to our original question—why the resistance to nitrogen technology? When objectively evaluating the use of a nitrogen generator through a scientific lens, it becomes very clear: 1) Removal of oxygen gas from a sprinkler system is SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 39

GET FITTERS “IN THE ZONE” WEBINAR SERIES FOCUSES ON SPRINKLER FITTER TRAINING

A

NICOLE DUVALL | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

new webinar series focused on fitters’ continued workforce development has been prepared by American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) in collaboration with its four California chapters to educate fire sprinkler contractors across the nation on installation issues. These webinars, which are recorded for on-demand learning, are part of the expanded online training opportunities offered by AFSA. AFSA’s new Fitter Zone features live webinars, designed specifically for fire sprinkler fitters with CEUs, CPDs, and many offer CAL-FIRE approved CEUs. These live presentations are held on Saturdays whenever possible, so contractors don’t have to take their fitters out of the field during the workweek. And if you or your employees are unable to attend live sessions, these webinars will be recorded and can be purchased for on-demand access.

“There is a lot of interest by AFSA members in educating the field personnel, especially in states like California that have specific training requirements,” said Marlene Garrett, CMP, vice president of meetings & program operations. “As an association founded on the tenets of training, AFSA cannot overlook this vital portion of the industry—especially in the current economy. We encourage all AFSA members and potential members to participate.”

The first webinar in the series “NFPA 13, Technical Changes from 2013 to 2016 Edition,” presented by Travis Mack, CFPS, CWBSP, was held Saturday, August 29, 2020, and is available for purchase in AFSA’s on-demand library at firesprinkler.org/ ondemand. Raymond Vidler, Red Pony Company, Paso Robles, California, participated in the presentation and commented: “The speakers were down-to-Earth, clear, and effective. I appreciated a number of good points brought out.”

DON’T MISS FUTURE FITTER ZONE EVENTS Sign-up the whole field team to attend these upcoming webinars—each offering CEUs, CPDs, and CAL-FIRE CEUs. (Note: All webinars are geared toward certified fitters and are CAL-FIRE approved.)

October 24, 2020 - Understanding NFPA 20, 2016 Edition Presented by John Denhardt, FPE, SFPE, this webinar will focus on the installation of stationary fire pumps and the requirements of the 2016 edition of NFPA 20. This lecture-based seminar will discuss pump types, electric motor, and diesel engine drivers along with their associated controllers. The installation requirements for fire pumps will also be reviewed.

40 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

Are your sprinkler fitters “in the zone”? Tune in to AFSA’s monthly webinars designed specifically for fitters.

November 21, 2020 - Ambiguities in NFPA 13, 2016 Edition There are criteria within NFPA 13 that leave many to wonder what is required. Whether it’s a tortured sentence or simply poor directions, you must figure it out. For example, when the aisles between racks are too narrow, we are to treat it as a multiple row rack. What does that tell us regarding the placement of in-rack sprinklers? Other installation topics will include obstruction rules for CMSA, concealed spaces with TJIs, and floating clouds. A discussion on design topics will include when the definitions for commodity classification do not apply, going up the design curves, and the owner’s certificate.

Fitter Zone webinars qualify for continuing education training as approved by the International Code Council (ICC) and are recognized by NICET for professional development.

Many are approved by CAL-FIRE for CAL-FIRE-approved CEU credit to help fulfill the state’s requirements for the training, certification, and ongoing education of technicians working on water-based fire protection systems. Certificates will be issued to attendees following the webinar.

Register to attend these upcoming events online at firesprinkler. org/zone. While it may vary by length of the individual program, most current offerings are two hours and cost $35 with certificate for AFSA members and $70 for non-members.

REGISTER ONLINE TO RECEIVE UPDATES Visit AFSA’s new Fitter Zone to sign up your AFSA account to receive upcoming webinar information and ease future registration. AFSA will continue these presentations on Saturdays for fitters’ convenience, whenever possible. Sign up at firesprinkler.org/zone to be notified of new offerings or contact AFSA’s Education Department at training@firesprinkler.org or at (214) 349-5965. n

NFPA 13 PROPOSED CHANGES SECOND DRAFT MEETINGS FOR THE 2022 EDITION

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JOHN AUGUST DENHARDT, P.E., FSFPE | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

FPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, has just completed the Second Draft virtual meetings, and balloting of the Technical Committees is occurring.

The changes for the 2022 edition of the standard appear likely to include new language, which will allow utilizing an increase in the C value for hydraulic calculations involving dry or preaction sprinkler systems that use pressurized nitrogen in lieu of air. For black and galvanized steel piping systems, the revised C value would be C equals 120.

Second revision number 1136 will add a new section 8.2.6.9 with proposed language as follows:

• 8.2.6.9* Nitrogen Supply for Increased C Value. o A.8.2.6.9 Nitrogen systems are equipped with an air compressor capable of restoring system air pressure within 30 or 60 minutes. It is not the intent of this section to require a 98-percent concentration of nitrogen within the 30 or 60 minutes as required in 8.2.6.8. • 8.2.6.9.1 Where nitrogen is used to allow for increased C value in accordance with Table 28.2.4.8.1, the nitrogen supply shall be in accordance with 8.2.6.9.2 through 8.2.6.9.6. • 8.2.6.9.2 Nitrogen shall be from a Listed nitrogen generator permanently installed.

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• 8.2.6.9.3 The generator shall be capable of supplying and maintaining at least 98-percent nitrogen concentration throughout the system at a minimum leakage rate of 1.5 psi per hour. • 8.2.6.9.4 A means of verifying nitrogen concentration shall be provided for each system where increased C value is used. • 8.2.6.9.5 The nitrogen generator shall be installed per the manufacturer’s instruction. • 8.2.6.9.6 The nitrogen generator shall be maintained in accordance with Chapter 32.

Second revision number 1212 proposes to modify section 28.2.4.8.1 to add (11) and modify the table to allow a C of 120: (11) Where nitrogen gas is used for the purposes of increasing the C Value of the pipe, the nitrogen supply shall be listed and installed in accordance with 8.2.6.9.

Second revision number 1102 modifies section 29.6.2 (20) to require the requirement of adding the notation of a nitrogen generation system on the “General Informationâ€? sign: • (20) Indication of presence of nitrogen where used to allow for increased C value in dry or preaction systems.

So, what do these likely changes mean to the sprinkler contractor? In the near future, when a project is designed and installed in accordance with a listed nitrogen generation system, the hydraulic calculations for the sprinkler system supplied with nitrogen can be calculated utilizing a C value of 120 in lieu of 100. This could result in smaller pipe system sizing due to decrease in friction loss. The increase in the C value is an approxi-

mate a 40-percent reduction in the friction loss per foot assuming all other variables are unchanged. The Technical Committee did discuss allowing sprinkler systems supplied by highpressure nitrogen tanks to receive the credit. It was decided to only allow Listed nitrogen generator systems to receive the credit.

As I stated above, these changes are still pending final actions in the NFPA standard update process. Similar language was first proposed in 2014 for the 2016 edition of NFPA 13 but was not accepted. For the 2019 edition of NFPA 13, no changes were proposed.

The current editions of United Facilities Criteria (UFC), Fire Protection Engineering Facilities, 3-600-01Change Number 5 and FM Global currently allow similar allowances for increases of the C value. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE is vice president of engineering & technical services for AFSA. He is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) registered in the District of Columbia as well as the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. In

Table 28.2.4.8.1 Hazen–Williams C Values Pipe or Tube

C Value*

Unlined cast or ductile iron

100

Black steel (dry systems including preaction)

100

Black steel (wet systems including deluge)

120

Black Steel (dry system including preaction) Using Nitrogen as Supervisory Gas1

120

Galvanized steel (dry systems including preaction)

100

Galvanized steel (wet systems including deluge)

120

Pipe or Tube

C Value*

Black Steel (dry system including preaction) Using Nitrogen as Supervisory Gas1

120

Plastic (listed) all

150

Cement-lined cast- or ductile iron

140

Copper tube, brass or stainless steel

150

Asbestos cement

140

Concrete

140

*The Authority Having Jurisdiction is permitted to allow other C values.

1Nitrogen supply shall be installed in accordance with 8.2.6.9. addition to his P.E., he is a NICET Level III in Automatic Sprinkler System Layout and Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems as well as NFPA Certified WaterBased Systems Professional (CWBSP). Denhardt has a bachelor of science degree in fire protection engineer-

ing from the University of Maryland. He is a member of the NFPA 13 Sprinkler Discharge Committee, NFPA, and is an SFPE fellow. Denhardt can be reached via email at jdenhardt@firesprinkler.org.

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SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 43

MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH THE RED CROSS DONATIONS HELP DURING DISASTERS AND TO RAISE SPRINKLER AWARENESS REBECCA HERRING | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

I

n 2018 the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) partnered with the Red Cross for the first time to include fire sprinkler information in its Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. Since then, AFSA has continued this annual partnership with the Red Cross to continue to spread life-saving fire sprinkler information to millions annually through the campaign.

Launched in 2014, the Red Cross’ Home Fire Preparedness campaign has installed more than one million smoke alarms in homes across the country.

Through the partnership with AFSA, this campaign also began educating the public on not only having life-saving measures (such as smoke alarms) in place in the home but also educating them on the role home fire sprinklers play as the ultimate protection of their lives and property.

A critical part of the Home Fire Preparedness campaign is “Sound the Alarm,” a series of home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events across the country. Together with fire departments and other community partners, the Red Cross volunteers to canvas at-risk neighborhoods, install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms, and valuable emergency educational information, including information on fire prevention and safety education, which includes fire sprinklers!

Annually AFSA’s Public Education & Awareness Committee works to raise $10,000 to include fire sprinklers in this campaign, reaching the Red Cross’ over 4.4 million social media followers as well as thousands of volunteers, homeowners, and disaster victims each year.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY DISASTER WHILE SUPPORTING FIRE SPRINKLERS

Each year, the Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters, the vast majority of which are home fires. So, the Red Cross set a goal to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries in the United States by 25 percent in five years. To date, Red Cross has documented 779 lives saved. On average: • Seven people die every day from a home fire—that’s more than 2,500 people a year.

• Thirty-six people suffer injuries as a result of home fires every day—that’s more than 13,000 people a year.

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

As you know, the Red Cross does much more than just this annual campaign. It strives to be there to respond to disasters and always be there in times of need. Currently, with many natural disasters having ravaged the United States in only just the past few weeks, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Red Cross is working harder than ever before responding across the country to those in need. Actively it is responding to the emergency situations in both California, due to recent wildfires, and to the areas impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Marco, as well as those in the Midwest

44 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

who were impacted by the recent and uncommon derecho, an intense and damaging windstorm.

With so much facing the U.S., the need is great. A donation to the Red Cross can provide life-saving aid to these areas in need while having the added benefit of supporting home fire sprinkler awareness.

Any donations made through its unique giving page counts toward AFSA and the Red Cross’ annual partnership. So while all funds are directly used on the chosen cause such as “Disaster Relief,” “Home Fires,” “Your Local Red Cross,” or “Service to the Armed Forces,” the money also counts toward the annual commitment that keeps fire sprinkler messaging in the “Sound the Alarm” campaign. You can support the causes close to your heart while also supporting fire sprinkler messaging and supporting the fire protection industry!

More than 90 percent of every dollar donated to the Red Cross is invested in humanitarian services and programs such as disaster relief and home fire aid. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters as well as spread the fire sprinkler message across the country.

Please consider donating by visit redcross. org/afsa-pub. n

ENSURING A STRONG ASSOCIATION BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

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D’ARCY MONTALVO | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION

ome of the most important functions of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) are done behind the scenes, and members often don’t hear or see from these groups. But dedicated volunteers give of their time and expertise to ensure the Association’s continued success. One such group is the Budget & Finance Committee, which meets four times a year to delve into the intricate details of the AFSA financials and keep AFSA’s foundation strong while looking towards future growth.

Led by AFSA Region 7 Director and Treasurer Paul DeLorie, Hampshire Fire Protection, Inc., Londonderry, New Hampshire, this committee meets in January of each year to establish the annual budget, which is approved by the full Board of Directors.

Committee members also make decisions on investments, approve spending for special projects, and decline to spend on projects that are not beneficial to AFSA or its members.

They also review and approve the annual audit and 990 tax returns.

“I am pleased and honored to be a member of AFSA Budget & Finance Committee,” comments DeLorie. “This committee and its predecessors over the many years have all worked with the same goal of ensuring a sound financial position so AFSA may provide strong training and education programs for our members. Each committee member brings years of financial awareness through the running of their businesses. The committee promises to be good financial stewards on behalf of our members.”

He continues: “AFSA is fortunate the Board of Directors has chosen to work with trusted and proven financial investment

advisors from The Strange Group at Janney Montgomery Scott. Their expertise and counsel helps to protect our financial reserves so we may provide member services far into the future.”

Each week DeLorie meets with AFSA’s Vice President of Finance & Administration LaVerne Davis to discuss financial issues.

Some of these weekly discussions can and do become agenda items for the committee. In addition, each month, the treasurer and the executive committee members review the Association’s financials, which also generates agenda items for the Budget & Finance Committee.

“AFSA has a strong financial foundation and is able to continue to provide excellent services to our members due primarily to the financial acumen of the members of this committee,” says Davis, staff liaison to the committee.

The Budget & Finance Committee is a closed committee, which means the only attendees are the members of the committee due to the sensitivity of the financial matters discussed.

The committee members work hard to make decisions that are in the best interest of every member. The 2020 budget & finance committee consists of six volunteers. In addition to DeLorie, they are AFSA Chair Ted Wills, Anchor Fire Protection Co., Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania; AFSA First Vice Chair Jack Medovich, P.E., Fire & Life Safety America, Hanover, Maryland; AFSA Second Vice Chair Linda Biernacki, Fire Tech Systems, Inc., Shreveport, Louisiana; AFSA Secretary Jeff Phifer, Crawford Sprinkler Co. of the South Carolina, Lugoff, South Carolina; and AFSA Immediate Past Chair

Wayne Weisz, Cen-Cal Fire Systems, Inc., Lodi, California.

“I am very grateful to the members of this committee who work diligently to ensure financial longevity, integrity, and rock-solid spending and saving practices that benefit the Association and its members,” comments Davis. “Each committee member is always available when called on to assist with AFSA financial matters. They are insightful and dedicated financial experts.” n

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 45

TESTING THE WATERS SOMETIMES EVALUATING WATER SUPPLY TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING JASON WEBB | POTTER ELECTRIC SIGNAL COMPANY, LLC

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n water-based fire protection systems, there’s one consistent factor... water. The sprinkler industry has long had a love/hate relationship with water. The whole concept around what we do is based on getting the right amount of water to the right place at the right time. But when water is in the wrong place, or even when it’s not, sometimes the water we depend on to make our systems function can be the source of problems. One of the biggest problems? Corrosion.

Water inside the sprinkler system comes from several different sources. In a wet-pipe sprinkler system, we expect to see water. As a matter of fact, it would be better if the entire system was filled with water but that’s rarely the case due to trapped air. In a dry pipe or preaction sprinkler system, we don’t often think of there being much water downstream of the valve, but unfortunately, that’s not the case either. Water can remain behind after testing, either coming from condensation caused by changing temperatures, improperly drained or pitched piping system, or entering the system via the compressed air used to maintain required air pressure.

By now, we’re all familiar with the three elements needed for corrosion to take place, which are water, oxygen, and iron. And we know that the conditions inside a sprinkler system are the perfect environment for the three of these to come together. Remove one of these elements, and the corrosion slows to near nothing. In a wet-pipe sprinkler system, with the pipe system completely filled with water, there’s little oxygen to support the corrosion process unless we keep putting new water in. We use nitrogen in dry and preaction sprinkler systems to replace the oxygen and help dry the piping system. But, in dry pipe sprinkler systems without nitrogen, and where water is present, we can expect to see corrosion problems sooner rather than later. So, what are the first steps needed towards mitigating or preventing those problems? Testing and evaluation.

EVALUATING THE WATER SUPPLY BEFORE SYSTEM INSTALLATION The concept of evaluating the water supply for conditions that contribute to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) has been in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, since the 2002 edition. Since we first learned about the negative effects of certain bacteria in sprinkler systems, the issue of MIC and its effects on sprinkler systems has been studied in great detail. We know that most corrosion is generalized and oxygen-based, but MIC still plays a role in 10 to 20 percent of cases and where it does occur, its effects can be devastating.

The annex language associated with this NFPA 13 requirement states that the intent is not necessarily to require a laboratory analysis of

46 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

Taking water samples for analysis from an existing system is a straightforward process, but following guidance on timing and location are important. the water supply, but does require a knowledge of long-term conditions of sprinkler systems in a similar environment. Finding someone with that knowledge is often difficult. When that’s the case, having the water supply evaluated by a qualified laboratory is a good option.

As we learn more and more about the types of corrosion found inside sprinkler systems, additional requirements for water supply evaluation have changed. NFPA 13 began requiring water supplies be evaluated for corrosive properties with the 2007 edition. Like with evaluating for MIC, this requirement doesn’t necessarily trigger a laboratory analysis. However, with the low cost and easy access to these tests and results, this is often the simplest and most accurate choice. In the 2019 edition of NFPA 13, section 4.2 requires the owner(s) of a building or structure where the sprinkler system is going to be installed or their authorized agent provide the water supply information required by section 5.2.2. Any special knowledge of the water supply, including known environmental conditions that might be responsible for corrosion, including MIC must be reported to the designer of the sprinkler system as well. The Owner’s Certificate, figure A.27.1(B), must be completed, signed, and be included in the submittal process to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). These requirements should be met by the owner (not the contractor) as required by NFPA 13.

EVALUATING EXISTING SYSTEMS NFPA 13 has addressed the evaluation of the water supply itself, but what about the properties of the water inside existing systems? The ongoing inspection, testing, and maintenance of these systems are governed by NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection,

Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.

Since it was first developed and published as the 1992 edition, NFPA 25 has recognized the risk that corrosion, specifically as it relates to obstructions, can pose. In the 1992 edition, the standard listed “heavy discoloration of water during drain tests” as one of the triggers for an obstruction investigation.

As NFPA 25 has evolved over the years, the requirements for a frequency-based internal inspection (every five years) have made their way into the standard. Those requirements initially contained prescriptive language for physically opening the pipe and looking inside. More recent editions of NFPA 25 have seen those prescriptive requirements change to more conceptual in nature, now calling for an “assessment of internal condition.” The prescriptive rules can now be found as annex guidance. One of the means of compliance listed in the annex is a laboratory analysis of water samples taken from the system.

COLLECTING SAMPLES AND TAKING ACTION Collecting water supply samples for a new system is a fairly straightforward process. There are numerous readily available sources from which water can be removed, such as fire hydrants.

Once a sample of the source water has been collected, the sample need to get to the lab in a timely fashion to ensure accurate results.

This time frame is usually within about 72 hours.

Collecting water from inside an existing system can be more challenging. The inspector’s test is the most common location for collecting the sample but may not be the best representation of the conditions found throughout. This is especially true when the inspector’s test is near the riser. The closer the sample water is to the source, the more likely you are testing the water supply rather than the water found inside the system. Collecting samples from areas of slime found during maintenance is also strongly recommended.

Timing is also important. It’s common for samples to be taken immediately after the system has been flushed. But, like with samples taken from too near the water source, this water may not be a good representation of the actual conditions inside the system.

It’s best to take the samples before the flushing procedure begins.

After the samples have been analyzed, the lab will provide a report which indicates the types of corrosion and bacteria present (if any), and the severity of the problem. Once corrosion has been identified, the next steps are the most critical. Corrosion occurring inside the system is not going to go away on its own.

For wet pipe systems, its important to remove as much air as possible. This is accomplished through the use of vents. The key is identifying the areas of trapped air and proving venting for each.

Wet system inserting, or filling the pipe with nitrogen before filling with water, is also an excellent option. This replaces the trapped air pockets with trapped nitrogen thereby reducing or even stopping the corrosion process.

Nitrogen is the preferred option for dry or preaction sprinkler systems with corrosion found during water testing. Replacing the oxygen rich air inside the pipe with an inert gas like nitrogen not only drastically slows the generalized corrosion taking place, but also limits the activity of bacteria inside the system. Replacing the

Any slime discovered during internal inspections or maintenance should be tested for the presence of MIC. air supply on an existing system with a nitrogen generator will not repair the damage already done but will significantly slow the corrosion process and extend the life of the system. n ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jason Webb is the director of industry affairs for Potter Electric Signal.

Since retiring from a 25-year fire service career in a suburban Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department, he has spent the past seven years working on behalf of the fire sprinkler industry in various roles. He is a member of NFPA 13, 72, and 241 technical committees, is active in AFSA, FSSA, ICC, NFSA, and SFPE, and serves on the board of directors of the Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA).

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 47

BALDWIN RECEIVES DE CAMARA SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS THE FUTURE OF FIRE PROTECTION

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D’ARCY MONTALVO | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION he Center for Life Safety Education (CLSE) and the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) are pleased to announce the 2020-2021 Philip L. De Camara, Jr. Scholarship recipient is James (Jimmy) Baldwin. The scholarship was established to honor a man who was dedicated to the fire sprinkler industry and awards $3,500 to an exceptional junior or senior studying fire protection engineering (FPE) at the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park, De Camara’s alma mater.

“I was overjoyed when I learned that I’d been selected for this scholarship,” De Camara Scholarship Waller Scholarships 2019 Contributors AFSA thanks the individuals and companies listed below for their contributions to the Center for Life Safety Education’s efforts and the De Camara and Waller Scholarships, as well as the donors who chose to remain anonymous.

Cen-Cal Fire Systems, Inc. Andrew De Camara Teresa De Camara Fire Design, Inc. Fire Tech Systems, Inc. Hampshire Fire Protection Hub City Sprinklers Richard Matsuda Meridian Fire Protection Liz Messner, AFSA Network for Good Strickland Fire Protection Sunland Fire Protection Superhero Fire Protection Western Fire Protection

48 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

comments Baldwin. “I feel genuinely honored that the scholarship committee would choose me out of all the applicants, and I intend to do my best to continue developing myself professionally and personally throughout the rest of my time at UMD to make the most of this opportunity.”

Baldwin is currently a senior who will graduate in May 2021. “I chose to study engineering, and specifically fire protection engineering because I have a strong desire to help both individuals and society in any possible way I can,” says Baldwin. “In my opinion, engaging in a field where I can help protect the public from one of the most destructive and prevalent global catastrophes is extremely fulfilling and provides a great outlet for me to both realize my professional goals as well as to truly make a difference in the world.”

Baldwin has been very involved in the FPE department. He has been involved in several research groups, specifically in projects focused on the thermally-induced failure of lithium-ion batteries, the inexpensive creation of low-temperature diffusion flames as a part of the “Chair’s Sophomore Research Experience” program, and the development of a pyroterrorism response seminar for law enforcement professionals in the D.C. Metro Area. He also works in the laboratory facilities as a member of the department’s FireTEC program, where he conducts fire tests for clients as well as assists in maintaining the department’s lab spaces and testing apparatuses.

Baldwin represents the FPE department as a recruitment ambassador, where he conducts lab tours and information sessions,

visits local high schools, and facilitates other recruitment events in order to bolster enrollment. He is also a teaching fellow for several courses.

Baldwin is busy in scholastic extracurriculars as well. He has held several internships: the Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.; Bechtel on the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Richmond, Kentucky; and Burns & McDonnell’s Denver-based Fire Protection Engineering group.

“In all of these positions, I have had the opportunity to develop myself technically as a fire protection engineer, as well as confirm my desire to both pursue a career in this profession and make an impact on the overall industry,” says Baldwin.

He is a member and board member of Engineers Without Borders and vice president of the Salamander Honorary Society. He was also a camp counselor for the Engineering Design Virtual Summer Camp.

Baldwin was a recipient of the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar distinction in Spring 2020, and has been on the Dean’s List for the School of Engineering every semester since he started at the university.

He plans to pursue a master’s degree in the FPE program immediately following graduation. Ultimately, Baldwin plans to pursue a career as a consultant engineer in the fire protection industry.

“My short-term goal is earning my Professional Engineering license. Beyond that, one thing that’s really important to me is contributing to the overall FPE community through activities such as getting involved with my local chapter of SFPE, joining an NFPA code development

committee if the opportunity presents itself, participating in the UMD FPE Department’s Alumni Club, etc.,” says Baldwin.

FUNDING THE FUTURE OF FIRE PROTECTION The Philip L. De Camara Jr. Memorial Fund was established in 1984. For over three decades, scholarships were provided to the FPE department, helping deserving students pursue their FPE goals. Now those students have now joined the workforce and are making a positive impact on the fire protection industry. In 2018, CLSE joined with the University of Maryland in College Park to endow the scholarship.

The award is based on the student’s character, leadership, and academic excellence with a demonstrated personal commitment to the area of fire safety. The recipient is selected by a committee, lead by De Camara’s widow, Terry, that will evaluate each application.

De Camara was dedicated to the fire protection industry. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1962, his career progressed with him assuming the position of executive vice president of Central Sprinkler Corp. in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and later

Left photo: James Baldwin is the 2020-2021 recipient of the Philip L. De Camara, Jr. Scholarship.

Right photo: De Camara was dedicated to the fire sprinkler industry and very involved in AFSA.

president of De Camara Fire Protection Products in Ivyland, Pennsylvania. Widely known and respected in the fire sprinkler industry, De Camara became involved in AFSA in the early 1980s and later helped establish its first Manufacturers/Suppliers

Council, giving these members a voice within the association. In October 1983, De Camara, 44, died of a heart attack, leaving his wife, Terry, and their five children: Philip III, Andrew, Matthew, Nancy, and Joseph. n

SEISMIC SOLUTIONS FOR FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

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Aegis Fire Systems, Inc., Pleasanton, CA Hampshire Fire Protection, Londonderry, NH Aegis Technologies, Inc., Pottstown, PA Hampshire Fire Protection, Westfield, MA Allstar Fire Protection, Inc., Madison, TN Houston Fire Systems, Lockford, CA Anchor Fire Protection, Perkiomenville, PA J & J Fire Protection Co., Inc., Butler, PA Atlanta Winsupply, Lithonia, GA JB Fire Protection, Fullerton, CA Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., Inc., Salina, KS Jimco Fire Protection, Inc., Au Gres, MI Carolina Fire Protection, Inc., Dunn, NC JSM Fire Pro, Oak Ridge, TN Andrew De Camara, Sherman Oaks, CA Richard Matsuda, Dallas, TX Terese De Camara, Dresher, PA Noland, Mechanicsburg, PA Extinguish Fire Corp., Fredricksburg,Ensure VA Protection Design & against Consulting, full-rated protection seismic Fire & Safety Systems Co., Ocean,activity NJ San Diego, CA with Metraflex Fire Protection Division.

Fire Tech Systems, Shreveport, LA Sawyer Illinois, Sprinkler Service, Milton,has VT the Manufactured in Chicago, Metraflex Firestop, Inc., Bethel, CT sizes you need, theWillie Templin, Fort Worth, TX movements you require, and Freedom Fire Protection, Longmont, CO United Sprinkler Co., Inc., Fredricksburg, VA custom solutions for the perfect fit.

1-855-FIRELUP General Underground Fire Protection, Universal Fire Systems, Inc., Tampa, FL Orange, CA VSC Fire & Security, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 49

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT MEMBERS CELEBRATE MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES

T

he American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is recognizing members who are celebrating milestone membership anniversaries. The member companies featured here have belonged to AFSA for 15 or more years of continuous membership.

“During this difficult time in our nation, many are evaluating what’s important in their lives and what brings them value,” says AFSA’s Chapter Relations Manager Meda Merritt. “Thank you to our long-time members who appreciate the value of AFSA and see the significance of their continued support and investment. We congratulate and salute you for celebrating this milestone anniversary.”

Several members are celebrating milestone anniversaries in May and June. Sprinkler Age asked those members some questions about their time in the fire sprinkler industry.

Charlie Thoubboron, director of sales—water, Johnson Controls, shared some of his favorite AFSA memories and things he’s learned.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE FIRE SPRINKLER INDUSTRY?

AFSA Milestone Membership Anniversaries September–October 2020

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH AFSA?

35-Year Anniversary Associate Members Johnson Controls — Tyco Fire Products, Lansdale, PA 30-Year Anniversary Associate Members Mechanical Sales, Inc., Columbia, MD Quality Fabrication & Supply, Sanford, FL 25-Year Anniversary Contractor Members Apache Sprinkler Corporation, Lufkin, TX Associate Members Smith-Cooper International, Commerce, CA 15-Year Anniversary Contractor Members Allstate Fire Technologies, Inc., Newark, NJ Coastal Fire Protection Company, Chesapeake, VA Genesis Fire Protection, Inc., Seagoville, TX John L. Carter Sprinkler Co., Inc., Bow, NH Mack Fire Protection, LLC, Middletown, CT Rose Fire Protection, Winter Garden, FL

50 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

“I started in the pipe, valve, and fitting business with Grinnell Supply Sales in the early ‘80s. At that time, Grinnell was separated from the Gem Sprinkler Company until Tyco purchased the company in 1986. I gradually worked from inventory control through inside sales to eventually becoming the operations manager at THOUBBORON Grinnell. Due to a reorganization the company went through, I was put on the road in a sales role handling the Metro New York City market.

My first introduction to sprinkler products was through the Gem Sprinkler line. I found I really enjoyed working with both contractors and distributors on their wide range of applications as well as challenges and helping them find the best solutions.”

“As I developed relationships with contractors, I learned more about local association meetings. Once I started attending them, I could really see a great sense of community where contractors openly discussed issues they faced. The variety of guest speakers at the meetings gave me the opportunity to learn about new topics and products. From Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to lift manufacturers and safety experts— each allowed me to think about fire suppression from a different perspective. Additionally, as a manufacturer rep, it gave me a chance to offer support on our product line—whether new-tomarket or tried-and-true.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OR MOST USED AFSA BENEFIT? “I think the SprinklerFORUM is a great tool. I enjoy reading the questions that are submitted and the feedback that is readily shared by the members. It is a good resource for technical questions or just a place to get advice when you might be stumped. I highly recommend it to all that are involved in our industry. Oh, and a little fun, playful ribbing sometimes makes its way on there, too.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AFSA AND/OR AFSA CONVENTION MEMORY? “The conventions are always enjoyable and valuable. It represents a great opportunity for all of us to catch up with current and past friends, be it contractors, suppliers, and even competitors. I love the way the association pays tribute to the past and those who have made significant contributions to the industry. Because of this, the Awards Party is always a highlight for me.”

Designed to protect.

WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE YOU’VE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? “I think the sheer growth of the association is really impressive. What also stands out to me is the evolution of training in the various forms we are now able to receive and provide support. In addition, the convention exhibits are always impressive. It is great to see the new product innovation that comes along year after year. There continues to be a trend to help speed up the installation process while maintaining and improving product performance.”

WHAT’S THE KEY INGREDIENT TO YOUR SUCCESS? “I have always been cited as a team builder within our company, which is something I’m proud to say. A number of my team members have moved up and on to be great achievers both in and out of our industry. Helping people grow is one of the most enjoyable parts of my job. Of course, that starts with finding the right people in the first place. I’ve been very fortunate in that regard as well.”

IF I WEREN’T WORKING IN FIRE PROTECTION, I WOULD BE... “ ... likely, an architect. I love old building designs, specifically old churches. It seems to me some of the artistry was lost for a couple of decades, but recently it has come back—so now we are seeing buildings of all types with innovative designs that also utilize smart technology. It is a win/win for our eyes and the environment.”

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Ensure it will last.

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AFSA looks forward to celebrating with more members!

Recognition in Sprinkler Age will be done in five-year anniversary increments and is available to all membership types.

Congratulations to these members, and AFSA looks forward to celebrating with more members throughout the year! n

SouthTekSystems.com (888) 526-6284 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 51

AFSA NEWS DENHARDT APPOINTED TO NFPA TECHNICAL COMMITTEES

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to announce that AFSA’s Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE, has been appointed to several additional National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committees: Assembly Occupancies Committee; NFPA 101 and 102; SAF-AXM – Alternate Member; Assembly Occupancies Committee; NFPA 5000; BLD-AXM – Alternate Member; Automatic Sprinkler Systems Correlating Committee; NFPA 13, 13D, 13R, 16, 24, and 291; AUT-AAC – Principal Member; Building Code Committee; NFPA 900 and 5000; BLD-AAC – Alternate Member; Exposure Fire Protection Committee; NFPA 80A ; EXR-AAA – Alternate Member; Finishing Processes Committee; NFPA 33 and 34; FAA-AAA – Alternate Member; Fire Inspector and Plan Examiner Professional Qualifications Committee; NFPA 1030 and 1031; PQU-FIS – Principal Member; Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols Committee; NFPA 170; FIS-AAA – Alternate Member; Industrial, Storage, and Miscellaneous Occupancies Committee; NFPA 101; SAF-IND – Alternate Member; Industrial, Storage, and Miscellaneous Occupancies Committee; NFPA 5000; BLD-IND – Alternate Member; Residential Sprinkler Systems Committee; NFPA 13D and 13R; AUTRSS – Principal Member.

CALENDAR OCTOBER

5 • AFSA-FL Annual Golf Open Davenport, FL afsafl.org 22 • 21st Annual Bob McCullough Memorial Golf Tournament Dacula, GA georgiafiresprinkler.org 23 • LFSA Golf Tournament Baton Rouge, LA lafiresprinkler.org 24 • AFSA Fitter Zone: Understanding NFPA 20, 2016 Edition Webinar firesprinkler.org/webinars 26 • AFSA ITM Inspector Development Program Fall 2020 Virtual Kick-Off firesprinkler.org/itm

NOVEMBER

9-20 • AFSA Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School Dallas, TX firesprinkler.org/schools

Seminars subject to change. Call (214) 349-5965 to confirm locations and times. For information on Chubb and/or OSU programs, visit firesprinkler.org and click on “Training Calendar.

52 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

DENHARDT

HALL

AFSA WELCOMES HALL & JOHNSON

JOHNSON

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is pleased to welcome two additions to its Department of Engineering & Technical Services: Coordinator of Engineering & Technical Services Kevin Hall, P.E., MSFPE, and Manager of ITM Training John Johnson, CFPS. “Kevin is the perfect addition to AFSA’s technical staff. He brings real-world and NFPA technical committee experience to his position. He is an excellent teacher and communicator,” says AFSA’s Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE. “John’s broad experience and depth of knowledge will be an asset to our members. His training skills make him the ideal choice for our ITM program.”

Hall has been in the fire protection industry for nearly 10 years. He is a registered professional engineer in fire protection in Delaware and Maryland and has his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland College Park. Hall previously served as a member of several NFPA committees, including NFPA 30B, 45, 96, 101A , 550/551, 750, 770, and 1031, as a member of the International Standards Organization (ISO) TC21/SC5 committee, and served on UL STP 2901. He is a member of NFPA, ICC, and SFPE. He has developed, updated, and taught training programs and technical courses. Hall also has real-world experience on the contractor side of the industry and in the installation of sprinkler systems.

Johnson has worked in both the fire protection and fire suppression industries for over 30 years. His experience includes roles with fire protection contractors and manufacturers, as well as a firefighter and fire service instructor. Having worked for fire protection manufacturers for 12 years, Johnson’s role has allowed him to excel in many capacities, primarily in the capacity of a senior trainer and a training manager. Experienced in most aspects of fire protection he specializes in the design, operation, and maintenance of waterbased fire protection systems. While working for manufacturers, he represented the organizations on several NFPA standards committees and participated on corporate fire code committees. He also functioned in several capacities on product development and manufacturing projects. In his 16 years as a contractor, Johnson has held roles of increasing responsibility starting in the field as a technician and installer, designer, and project manager. Johnson has national certifications in NFPA 472, 1001, 1021, 1041, 1081, and NFPA 1403.

Contact Hall at khall@firesprinkler.org or at (214) 349-5965 ext. 128 and Johnson at jjohnson@firesprinkler.org or at (214) 349-5965 ext. 137. n

CHAPTER NEWS FLORIDA CHAPTER

From July 30-31 AFSA’s Florida Chapter members met in St. Augustine to lay out the association’s legislative agenda for 2021. While adjustments had to be made to meet safely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the chapter developed a plan to poise itself well looking forward to 2021.

Everything accomplished during the planning conference put the chapter in a position to develop ideas into comprehensive and robust reform efforts on behalf of the fire sprinkler industry. Its lobby team will now take steps to draft bills, develop talking points, collect member anecdotes as needed about the importance of the reforms, etc. Keep up-todate with the chapter by visiting afsafl.org.

GEORGIA CHAPTER

The Georgia Fire Sprinkler Association (an AFSA Chapter) is sponsoring a one-day training seminar on NFPA 25, 2017 edition and NFPA 13, 2019 edition while also focusing on the 2020 updates of 120-3-3 (the State of Georgia Rules & Regulations modifications). This seminar will be offered at three locations across the state on consecutive days: Pooler— Wednesday, October 14, 2020; Perry—Thursday, October 15, 2020; and Cartersville—Friday, October 16, 2020. The seminars will be conducted

by Ray Vance. AHJs are Invited to these seminars free of charge, but you must register! GFSA/AFSA member companies may send employees at the value price of $25 per attendee. Non-member companies may send employees to these seminars at the value price of $50 per attendee.

There is a limit on the number of attendees per class as each location will only allow 50-percent occupancy to practice safe distancing and following the 6-ft rule. Classes will fill quickly register as soon as possible!

Masks must be worn, and temperatures will be taken to ensure the safety of all participants.

Students are encouraged to bring a copy of NFPA 25, 2017 edition, and a copy of NFPA 13, 2019 edition with them. Students are responsible for note-taking devices and personal food and/or drink (a lunch break will be scheduled with time to quickly visit local fast-food restaurants—or bring yourself a packed lunch).

It is important to remember that your 2020 GFSA/AFSA membership must be paid prior to registration. For more information and to register, visit georgiafiresprinkler.org.

VIRGINIA CHAPTER

On July 28, the AFSA Virginia Chapter hosted a chapter meeting at the Four Points Sheraton in Richmond. Billy Marshall, CEO of ServiceTrade, presented “Get Ready for Greedy Growth—Build a Lasting Competitive Advantage During an Economic Downturn.” (See related article on page 16 of this issue.) AFSA’s Vice President, Engineering & Technical Services John August Denhardt, P.E., was also in attendance.

Additionally, AFSA Board of Directors’ First Vice Chair Jack Medovich, P.E., CEO of Fire & Life Safety America, was presented an award by current Virginia Chapter President Bob Beckwith to honor his years of service as the Virginia Chapter president.

Thank you to all who attended and made this meeting a success! Visit afsavirginia.com. n

Photos: 1: Florida Chapter members met to plan their 2021 legislative agenda.

2: Virginia Chapter members met in July for ServiceTrade’s “Greedy Growth” seminar.

3: Virginia Chapter President Bob Beckwith (left) presented an award to Jack Medovich (right) for his years of service to the Virginia Chapter.

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 53

AFSA CHAPTERS AFSA CHAPTERS Alabama alfiresprinkler.org Hunter Brendle – Pres.

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

Colorado afsacoloradochapter.org Roger Wallace – Chair.

719-337-6550 Kim Cook – Exec. Dir. 704-213-4368

Alberta, Canada afsaalberta.org Kevin Mozak – Pres.

780-203-5263

Connecticut afsact.org Rick Russo Jr. – Chair.

203-877-7983

Arizona Bob Caputo – Chair.

864-222-1381 Makenna Leathers – Exec. Dir. 480-464-0509

Dallas-Fort Worth afsadfwchapter.org CJ Bonczyk – Chair.

817-529-1693

Arkansas Randy Gilliam– Chair.

479-646-8934 Coleman Farrar – Exec. Dir. 479-986-9090

Florida afsafl.org Suzanne Saults – Chair.

727-556-2790 Jessica Cox – Exec. Dir. 813-784-3624

Carolinas afsacarolinaschapter.com Bernie Parsons – Chair.

704-782-3032 John Turnage – Exec. Dir. 919-624-3456

Georgia georgiafiresprinkler.org Allen Cagle – Chair.

770-554-5285 Bonnie Pinson – Exec. Dir. 770-310-2754

Chesapeake Bay afsachesapeakechapter.org Jason Martin – Chair.

410-286-3314 Danielle Fowler – Exec. Dir. 410-972-1122

Greater Bay Area afsa-gba.org Dave Karrick – Chair.

925-417-5550 Alicia Karrick – Exec. Dir. 510-398-9185

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

54 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

Texas Affiliate fscatx.org David Stone – Pres.

713-466-9898 Sarah Kiefer – Exec. Dir.

Greater Kansas City Mark McKenzie – Chair.

913-432-6688 Brett Heinrich– Exec. Dir. 785-825-7710 Louisiana lafiresprinkler.org Linda Biernacki – Chair.

318-688-8800 Ellen Ballard– Exec. Dir. 318-688-8800 Michigan afsamichiganchapter.org Doug Irvine, Jr.- Chair 616-784-1644 Minnesota-Dakotas Marc Haug – Chair.

701-232-7008 New Jersey Thomas Bowlby Jr. – Chair.

908-226-5313 Victor Lugo – Exec. Dir. 201-635-0400 New Mexico Ida Peralta – Chair.

505-255-4118 Mark Peralta – Exec. Dir. 505-573-6712 Northern New England Ryan Gadhue – Chair.

802-865-3600

Ohio afsaoh.org Bill Hausman – Chair 937-859-6198 Scott Huber – Exec. Dir. 513-276-3076

South Carolina scfsa.org Stuart Weeks – Chair.

843-442-3346 Taylor Young – Exec. Dir. 980-253-3241

Pacific Northwest afsanw.org Josh Massingale – Chair.

360-794-8621 Ron Greenman – Exec. Dir. 253-576-9700

Southern California socalafsa.com Terry Housholder – Chair.

714-632-8646 Amber Barrios – Exec. Dir. socalafsa@gmail.com

Patriot afsapatriot.org Chad Dubuc – Chair.

508-431-9938

Tennessee afsatennesseechapter.org Casey Milhorn – Chair.

615-349-5278 Leslee Kiser – Exec. Dir. 615-865-5600

Sacramento Valley sacvalleyafsa.org Hal Burton – Chair.

916-332-1266 Paulene Norwood – Exec. Dir. 916-296-0635 San Diego Brian McKee – Chair.

619-971-4015 Rhonda Hill – Exec. Dir. 951-326-4600 Schuylkill afsasc.org Ben Young – Chair.

480-621-5074 Ilyse Shapiro – Exec. Dir. 610-642-7427

Upstate New York afsaupstatenychapter.org Justin Petcosky - Chair 607-296-7969 Utah Rocky Mountain afsautahchapter.org Mark Winder, Jr. – Chair.

385-630-8064 Brent Heiner – Exec. Dir. 801-544-0363 Virginia afsavirginia.com Bob Beckwith – President 540-659-4675 Michael Christensen – Exec. Dir. 352-406-1641

AFSA MEMBERSHIP NEW MEMBERS The following is a list of new contractor members that have joined as of September 1, 2020.

CONTRACTORS

Liberty Fire Sprinkler Company, Inc. Chester Springs, PA

Climatec, LLC Phoenix, AZ

Design Build Fire Protection, Inc. Poway, CA

Lindley Fire Protection Co., Inc. Anaheim, CA

Fire Lines Plus Pearland, TX Industrial & Commercial Fire Sprinklers, LLC New Franklin, OH

DESIGNERS

Neecy Mechanical Chelsea, MA

AVS Ingnieria Quito, Ecuador

ASSOCIATES

Fire Fabrication and Supply Spring Arbor, MI

State Fire DC Specialties Salt Lake City, UT

National Construction Workforce Indianapolis, IN

U.S. CONSTRUCTION REPORTS CONSTRUCTION STARTS SHOW ADDITIONAL GAINS IN JUNE

Total construction starts increased 6 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $641.4 billion. This marks the second consecutive monthly gain in construction starts following the COVID-19 induced declines in March and April. In June nonresidential building starts gained 6 percent and starts in the nonbuilding sector moved 27 percent higher. Residential starts, by contrast, fell 6 percent during the month.

Through the first six months of the year, starts were down 14 percent from the same period in 2019. Nonresidential starts fell 22 percent, nonbuilding starts were down 14 percent, and residential starts dropped 5 percent.

Monthly Summary of Construction Contract Value Prepared by Dodge Data & Analytics

MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, In Millions June 2020 May 2020 % Change Nonresidential Building $198,527 $186,751 6 Residential Building $251,760 $267,886 -6 Nonbuilding Construction $191,065 $150,805 27 Total Construction $641,352 $605,442 6

CONSTRUCTION STARTS LOSE GROUND IN JULY

Total construction starts fell 7 percent in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $631.6 billion. The decline was due to a significant pullback in the nonbuilding segment, which fell 31 percent from June to July. Nonresidential building starts rose 3 percent while residential building starts increased 2 percent.

Year-to-date through seven months, starts were 15 percent down from the same period in 2019. Nonresidential starts plummeted 25 percent, nonbuilding starts dropped 20 percent, and residential starts slipped 4 percent. For the 12 months ending July 2020, total construction starts fell a more modest 5 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Monthly Summary of Construction Contract Value Prepared by Dodge Data & Analytics

MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates, In Millions July 2020 June 2020 % Change Nonresidential Building $202,608 $196,045 3 Residential Building $296,638 $289,763 2 Nonbuilding Construction $132,362 $192,830 -31 Total Construction $631,607 $678,637 -7

THE DODGE INDEX (Year 2000=100, Seasonally Adjusted) June 2020... ..............121 May 2020... ..................130.1

THE DODGE INDEX (Year 2000=100, Seasonally Adjusted) July 2020..................124.7 June 2020................120.5

YEAR-TO-DATE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE Unadjusted Totals, In Millions

6 Mos. 2020 6 Mo. 2019 % Change Nonresidential Building $114,998 $147,763 -22 Residential Building $152,372 $160,825 -5 Nonbuilding Construction $83,864 $98,024 -14 Total Construction $351,233 $406,611 -14

YEAR-TO-DATE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT VALUE Unadjusted Totals, In Millions

7 Mos. 2020 7 Mos. 2019 % Change Nonresidential Building $136,081 $180,273 -25 Residential Building $183,116 $189,763 -4 Nonbuilding Construction $98,267 $123,059 -20 Total Construction $417,464 $493,095 -15

SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 55

DESIGNER’S CHALLENGE CAN YOU RISE TO THE CHALLENGE?

Each issue, AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services Department present one or multiple challenges for designers. Challenge yourself and your co-workers! Working these problems is excellent preparation for professional certification tests and may count as continuing education hours—check with your certification organization. To participate in this month’s challenge, carefully read through each challenge, work the problems, and submit your answers online at firesprinkler.org/designerschallenge by October 31, 2020. One winner will be pulled at random from those who answer correctly and will receive some AFSA swag! Answers will be published in the next issue’s column when new challenges are presented.

JULY/AUGUST CHALLENGE ANSWERS

1. B - 16.9.5.4 – “Check valves shall be installed in a vertical (flow upwards) or horizontal position in accordance with their listing”. Vertical down is not allowed.

2. C - Table 16.10.4.2 – 2” or larger. “Or larger” was added to the 2-in. size during the 2016 revision process. The intent was to al-

low a larger drain size to possibly handle other testing requirements.

3. C – Section 16.14.5.1.1 – Answer “a” is incorrect as this method does not comply with section 16.14.5.1.1. Answer “b” is incorrect since all fire department connections have clappers; sufficient water flow rate will not be achieved. Answer “d” is incorrect since sufficient water flow rate will not be achieved.

4. B – Section 9.5.5.3.1.3.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER CHALLENGE

All questions are based on the 2019 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.

1. In a dwelling unit, closets and pantries: A. Except in hotels and motels, sprinkler protection is required if the area of the space is over 24 ft2.

B. Sprinkler protection is not required if the area of the space does not exceed 24 ft2.

C. In hotels and motels only, sprinkler protection is not required if the area of the space does not exceed 24 ft2.

D. In apartments, college dormitory, hotels, and motels only, sprinkler protection is not required if the area of the space does not exceed 24 ft2.

2. A car stacker with two cars stacked vertically are classified as what hazard?

A. NFPA 13 does not offer any guidance on car stackers.

B. Ordinary Hazard Group 2.

C. Extra Hazard Group 1.

D. Extra Hazard Group 2.

3. The water supply information for a design of a sprinkler system is to be provided by: A. The owner or their authorized agent.

B. The AHJ. C. The sprinkler designer.

D. The water department or supplier.

4. In a museum, library, or places of worship building classified as a cultural resource, which of the following statement is correct?

A. Quick response are required in all areas classified as light hazard.

B. Quick response are required in all areas classified as light and ordinary hazard.

C. Single- or double-interlocked pre-action systems are allowed in compact storage are-as of museums and libraries.

D. Standard response sprinklers are permitted for use in areas classified as light hazard. n

We’re taking our school on the road!

Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School Featuring instruction from John Denhardt, PE, FSFPE At General Air Products in Exton, PA October 5- 16 Enroll Today a t w ww.fi re s pri nkl e r. o rg/design

56 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

ITM CHALLENGE CAN YOU RISE TO THIS CHALLENGE?

Welcome to the September/October ITM Challenge! Each issue, AFSA’s Engineering & Technical Services Department will present one or multiple challenges for technicians. Besides challenging yourself and your co-workers, working these challenges is excellent preparation for professional certification tests and also may count as continuing education hours.

Check with your certification organization to see if this exercise meets their criteria.

To participate in this month’s challenge, carefully read through each challenge, work the problems, and submit your answers online at firesprinkler.org/itmchallenge by October 31, 2020. One winner will be pulled at random from those who answer correctly and will receive some AFSA swag! Answers will be published in the next issue’s column when new challenges are presented.

JULY/AUGUST CHALLENGE ANSWERS

All answers are per the 2017 edition of NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.

1. Correct answer is B, there is no exception for dry valves 13.4.5.1.4, just deluge and preaction system valves have exceptions.

2. Correct answer is C. 3. Correct answers are A and C. 4. Correct answer is A, the deflector or operating element not being in the correct position (e.g. above ceiling) is the difference between being an impairment vs noncritical.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER CHALLENGE All questions are based on the 2017 edition of NFPA 25.

1. The testing of electrically operated sprinklers: a. Are not addressed in NFPA 25, 2020 edition. b. Require sample sprinklers to be submitted to a recognized testing laboratory acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for field service testing. c. Shall be tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements.

D. Sprinklers shall be tested in accordance with NFPA 70B, Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance.

2. How often must vane type flow switches be tested according to NFPA 25, 2020 edition?

A. Monthly B. Quarterly C. Semiannually D. Annually 3. During an inspection you discover sprinklers that are lightly loaded, how would you classify your finding in your inspection report?

A. Noncritical deficiency.

B. Critical Deficiency.

C. Impairment.

D. The finding is not within the scope of NFPA 25.

4. During testing you discover a control valve does not operate through its full range, how would you classify your finding in your report?

A. Noncritical deficiency.

B. Critical Deficiency.

C. Impairment.

D. The finding is not within the scope of NFPA 25. n

SYSTEMS

REQUIRE

THEM NFPA 13 standard requires an air vent on every wet fire sprinkler system that utilizes metallic pipe. AGF PURGEnVENT valves offer installation versatility, the smallest footprint when compared to similar valves, and no vent redundancy or drip pans. PURGEnVENT valves feature an isolation valve with strainer and a purge valve that acts as a vacuum break to help expedite system draining.

www.purgenvent.com SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 57

PRODUCT NEWS JOHNSON CONTROLS ANNOUNCES TYCO RAPID RESPONSE SERIES LFII 4.2K CONCEALED SIDEWALL SPRINKLER

Johnson continues its mission to create new harmonies between people and buildings by launching the company’s first residential concealed sidewall fire sprinkler.

The Tyco RAPID RESPONSE Series LFII 4.2K Concealed Sidewall Sprinkler features a decorative flat-plate cover that conceals the sprinkler within the wall, making it ideal for aesthetically sensitive residential spaces such as homes, apartments, dormitories and hotels. The fast-response fusible link sprinkler provides safe and dependable fire protection that customers expect from Tyco products.

The LFII Concealed Sidewall Sprinkler complements the full line of Tyco fire suppression products. Those offerings, along with other Johnson Controls products and solutions, help make buildings more safe, secure and sustainable. In addition to its sleek design, the LFII 4.2K Concealed Sidewall Sprinkler offers ¼ in. of adjustment and fits in a typical two-by-four stud frame and sheetrock wall structure, allowing for flexible installation.

The sprinkler is cULus Listed for use with wet pipe sprinkler systems per NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R and the residential portions of NFPA 13 occupancies.

Additionally, the sprinkler is certified to all requirements of NSF/ANSI 61. It has a working pressure of 175 psi and a sprinkler temperature rating of 160 °F (71 °C), while the cover plate is rated for 139 °F (38 °C). Visit tyco-fire.com.

LUBRIZOL ADVANCED MATERIALS INTRODUCES FREEZEMASTER™ ANTIFREEZE FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

New and existing fire sprinkler systems now have freeze protection against costly corrosion and severe cold at the lowest temperature of any listed antifreeze meeting the requirements of UL 2901, “Standard for Antifreeze Solutions for Use in Fire Sprinkler Systems.”

Lubrizol Advanced Materials announces freezemaster™ antifreeze, a patent pending factory premixed solution which remains in a protective liquid state to -12°F (-24°C). It can be installed per its listing and serviced in all new and existing fire sprinkler systems for residential, light hazard, ordinary haz-

58 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

ard and storage applications, including at volumes up to 500 gallons for Unoccupied NFPA 13 and 13R light hazard zttics versus listed alternatives limited to 40 gallons. (Refer to the freezemaster™ antifreeze Installation Guide for design parameters and listing limitations.)

NFPA standards require that glycerin and propylene glycol antifreeze solutions used in existing wet sprinkler systems be replaced with a listed antifreeze solution by September 30, 2022. Since 2013, all new systems using antifreeze must use a listed product that also has corrosion resistance properties to protect metallic sprinklers against premature degradation and possible system failure.

Safety concerns over combustion risks when sprinkler systems activate in a fire led NFPA to regulate antifreeze and mandate that it be listed. Products must be premixed and remain in a protective liquid state at below-freezing temperatures. Visit freezemaster.com.

ANVIL INTERNATIONAL® OFFERS VERSATILITY WITH NEW AFCON® SEISMIC BRACING SOLUTIONS

Anvil International has added two new seismic bracing solutions to the industry-leading Afcon® line. The cULus Listed and FM Approved figure AF700 Universal Swivel Attachment and figure AF730 Longitudinal & Lateral Seismic Clamp are designed to provide seismic bracing in fire protection systems.

The figure AF700 is the transitional component of a rigid seismic brace assembly. It swivels to form the angled connection point of a brace to the structure. Due to the figure AF700’s unmatched prying factors, it supports greater design loads in concrete and can reduce the amount of bracing required. It offers flexibility by working with 1-in. through 2-in. diameter brace pipe, allowing distributors to stock one SKU and installers to make last minute changes in the field. The AF700 is available with 1/2-in., 5/8-in. and 3/4-in. fastener holes for use with a variety of anchor sizes. The figure AF730 clamp is the system pipe attachment component of a rigid seismic brace assembly. It can be used to form either a lateral or longitudinal brace, for system pipe sizes from 1 in. up to 12 in. in diameter. It has the same flexibility as the AF700 as it works with 1-in. through 2-in. diameter brace pipe.

Both new items feature break away fasteners that provide a visual indication that torque values have been achieved during installation by tightening until the head shears off. Both products are now available in Anvil’s SeisBrace® seismic bracing design software, which allows for fast, accurate zone of influence calculations. Both of these new products are proudly made in the U.S.A. AF700 and AF730 are cULus listed, FM approved, and comply with these standards, NFPA 13, ASCE 7, ASCE 7; MSS SP-127. Visit anvilintl.com/products/seismic-bracing. n

INDUSTRY NEWS AFSA ON-DEMAND WEBINAR SALE ENDS SEPTEMBER 30

Hurry, the sale ends soon! AFSA is offering up to 50 percent off its On-Demand recorded webinars. These recorded webinars offer fire sprinkler contractors and other professionals access to the best in specialty education any time.

Featuring the most sought-after thought leaders in fire protection, AFSA OnDemand offers a superior learning experience in a unique and user-friendly format. Members benefit from access to AFSA’s extensive library of content as well as the ability to earn CEU and CPD credit online. AFSA On-Demand is available and accessible any time, anywhere, via PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Users can navigate content by type, event ,and topic and use the sortand-search functions to quickly find educational offerings.

These skill-building courses are sold individually with CEUs and/or CPDs, and members have three months from the date of purchase to complete the course. There are 16 unique technical courses available now with plans to add more every month! Visit firesprinkler.org/ondemand before September 30.

HFSC developed the kits with a grant from State Farm, including a material and tools list, instructions and riser designs. HFSC added the display as an option to their stipend program and interest spread nationally and in Canada.

AGF Manufacturing learned about the stipend program and display guides in 2018 and offered to donate their RiserPACK riser manifolds to stipend recipients. During the first year of their involvement, AGF donated over 40 RiserPACKs. AGF then assigned their intern, Ryan Overton, an engineering major, to review HFSC’s display guide and simplify the design and instructions based on fire department feedback.

The NFPA 13D display kit now includes the streamlined instructions and AGF’s RiserPACK with a pressure gauge, drain valve, and Potter flow switch.

Viking, Watts, and Potter also donated Viking sprinklers and CPVC pipe, a Watts backflow preventer, and a Potter alarm. The kits are used to educate builders, local officials, and communities across the nation and advocate for NFPA 13D systems in more residences. Visit agfmfg.com.

AGF DONATES RISERPACKS FOR SPRINKLER ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION

CORE & MAIN COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF WATER WORKS SUPPLY CO.

AGF Manufacturing, Inc. is donating RiserPACKs and other materials for sprinkler advocacy and education. Donations go through the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition’s (HFSC) stipend program, which provides kits to build an NFPA 13D display for fire departments across the country. The displays are used to educate the community on the benefits and simplicity of NFPA 13D residential sprinkler systems and advocate for increased residential sprinkler installation.

Core & Main LP reports it has closed on its previously announced agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Water Works Supply Co. The acquisition marks Core & Main’s 11th transaction since becoming an independent company in August 2017. Financial terms were not disclosed. Water Works Supply Co. is a New Jersey-based waterworks distributor. Visit coreandmain.com. n

YOUR BEST TOOL IS IN YOUR POCKET Learn and Earn CEUS with AFSA’S FITTER ZONE

AFSA’s new website FITTER ZONE offers fitter-targeted webinars with CEUs, CPDs, and CAL-FIRE approved CEUs! Register your fitters now to set up their AFSA account to receive upcoming webinar information.

Sign up at

www.firesprinkler.org/zone SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 59

PEOPLE NEWS IN MEMORIAM: STEVEN R. WORTHINGTON

AFSA was saddened to learn that Steven R. Worthington passed away on September 8, 2020, at his residence in Bay City, Michigan. He was born September 7, 1974, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; he received his International Master’s Degree from the University of Memphis in 1999 and was the president of Globe Fire Protection.

Worthington is survived by his wife, Amy; three children, Theresa Worthington, Patrick Worthington and Liam Worthington; mother, Sharon McGlynn; brother, David Worthington; sister, Kimberly (Billy) Myers and one niece, Juliana Myers and nephew, Caden Myers. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Worthington; grandmother, Mary McGlynn and grandfather, Francis McGlynn.

Funeral and committal services were held September 16, 2020, at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to Arenac Opportunities.

IN MEMORIAM: EDWARD M. FRACZKOWSKI

AFSA was saddened to learn that Edward M. Fraczkowski, age 59, of Forest Hill, Maryland, passed away on September 3, 2020, at his home. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of the late Edward Leonard Fraczkowski and Alice (Bianchetti) and husband of 33 years to Rhonda Leigh (Torrence) Fraczkowski. Fraczkowski was a Principal Fire Protection Engineer for EBL Fire Engineering for over 30 years. He joined EBL in 1990, and served as a fire protection project manager, later becoming a partner in 1997 at which time he managed the Fire Protection and Code Consulting Groups, along with significant and meaningful professional society and national technical committee work where he was highly respect-

60 SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020

IN MEMORIAM: HADEN B. BRUMBELOE

AFSA was saddened to learn that Haden B. Brumbeloe, P.E. of Auburn, California, passed away of kidney failure on August 27, 2020. He was 93.

Brumbeloe was a Fire Protection Engineer with 29 years of experience in fire sprinkler contracting and published the first edition of Fire Protection Contractor magazine in March 1978.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II and attended Georgia Tech before going to work for Grinnell. He was with Grinnell from 1948-1971 and “Automatic” Sprinkler Corporation of America from 1971-1977. He started as draftsman with Grinnell in Atlanta, Georgia, when fire sprinkler designers were called “Engineers” and no codes required fire sprinkler system installations. As a sales-estimator, he learned to sell fire sprinkler systems based on their fire protection merits and on insurance savings. He moved from Atlanta to the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1950s where he eventually managed the Grinnell branch based in Emeryville, California.

At “Automatic” Sprinkler Corporation of America from 1971-1977, Brumbeloe became regional vice president of the 13 Western states and Guam. After leaving “Automatic” he made a list of 11 things he could do. This list included consulting, expert witnessing, and leading seminars. He did all these things, but eventually took to number 11 on the list and started a newsletter that became FPC/Fire Protection Contractor magazine, where one of his sons, grandsons, and granddaughters work today. Many people have given credit to Brumbeloe for helping to create the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) as the founders of that organization communicated through letters, articles, and advertisements in Fire Protection Contractor magazine.

Brumbeloe is survived by his wife of 26 years, Lillian; her three children, Catherine, Dennis, and Donna; and her grandchildren, including Nichole Root, a CrossFit Athlete who was on NBC TITAN GAMES; Nichole’s husband, Bob; and their children, Naomi and Gwen.

Additionally, Haden’s children from his first marriage include Haden Jr., who was killed while serving in the U.S. Army during Vietnam; Denise O’Connor; Richard, Brant; and Bob Brumbeloe; Denise’s son, Liam; Richard’s wife, Marge, and their children, James and Jennifer; Brant’s wife, Lisa, and their children, Joseph and Cheyenne; and Bob’s two children, Wesley and Danika.

There will not be a funeral or memorial service due to the difficulties of COVID-19 restrictions and concerns. In lieu of flowers, please give to your favorite Christian charity, a burn center, and/ or consider buying a beverage for a friend or a stranger and tell them you care about them. For more information visit fpcmag.com. n ed for his energy and contributions to the engineering profession. He was a long-time member of Mountain Christian Church and a proud Alumni of the University of Maryland in College Park.

In addition to his wife, Fraczkowski is survived by his son, Ben Fraczkowski; daughter, Morgan Fraczkowski; and two sisters, Barbara Paul (Wayne) and Deborah Handshoe (Richard); and many loving nieces and nephews and additional family members.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to: Mountain Christian Church, 1802 Mountain Rd, Joppa MD 21085 or online at mountaincc. org. Please indicate it’s for the Eddie Fraczkows-

ki memorial fund/donations for families in financial need going through cancer.

TELGIAN’S RUSSELL LEAVITT NAMED NFPA FIRST VICE CHAIR

Russell B. Leavitt, executive chairman of Telgian Holdings, Inc. was recently elected first vice chair by the board of directors for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA Board Members are selected based on fire industry experience, as well as the respect of peers in the safety

community, a proven commitment to the association’s goals and an appreciation for the relationship NFPA must maintain with society as its needs evolve.

As NFPA first vice chair, Leavitt will work with the association as it delivers information, knowledge and training nationwide. In addition to this leadership position within NFPA, Leavitt also serves as chair of the NFPA 13 sprinkler system discharge criteria technical committee, on the NFPA 13 Installation technical Committee, as well as NFPA 3, NFPA 4, and the Cultural Resources (NFPA 909 and 914) Technical Committees.

With almost four decades of industry experience, Leavitt has long been recognized for his expertise, which he shares as a sought-after speaker and presenter. Leavitt is a senior instructor for AFSA and Fire Smarts and conducts fire and life safety seminars nationally and internationally on a variety of related subjects.

During the course of his career, Leavitt has also authored numerous industry training materials and informational articles including “Fire Safety Codes and Standards: What You Need to Know,” “Understanding Fire Protection Classifications,” “International Fire Sprinkler Opportunity” and AFSA’s ITM Inspector Development Program. Leavitt will hold the position for two calendar years. Visit telgian.com.

POTTER ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT OF FIRE AND SECURITY DIVISION

Potter Electric Signal Company, LLC of St. Louis, Missouri, announces the hiring of Jeff Klein to the position of president of Fire & Security.

Klein is joining Potter after previously working at Chamberlain Group in Chicago as their vice president/general manager of commercial business.

Klein will be taking over for Dave Kosciuk, who will be moving into the role of senior vice president of business development before retiring at the end of 2020. Visit pottersignal.com.

SFPE ANNOUNCES ITS 2020 FOUNDATION AWARDS

SFPE has released the winners of its 2020 Foundation Awards. For information on all the winners and their respective awards visit sfpe. org. The winners are as follows: The Arthur B. Guise Medal: Erica Kuligowski, Ph.D.; The Dr. Guylène Proulx Award: Mary Langridge Button; The Jack Bono Award for Engineering Communications: For their journal submission “A Review of Factors Affecting the Burning Behavior of Woods for Application to Tall Time Construction” Volume 55, Issue 1, January 2019, pp 1-49; Alastair I. Bartlett, Ph.D., Luke A. Bisby, Ph.D., P.Eng., Rory M. Hadden, Ph.D.; and The Student Scholar Award: Matthew Bonner.

TELGIAN ENGINEERING & CONSULTING NAMES WILLIAMS DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS

Telgian Engineering & Consulting (TEC) recently announced the promotion of Melinda Williams to director of government and business affairs. In this role, she will be responsible for business development and sales, with a focus on fire, life safety and security technology and requirement trends within federal, state and local government entities.

In addition to a diverse background, which includes work as a policy advisor and educator, Williams brings over 14 years of fire, life safety and security experience to the new position. She will partner with executives and officials, providing innovative solutions to the specific challenges faced by government entities. Visit telgian.com.

POTTER ANNOUNCES NEW EMEA MANAGING DIRECTOR

Potter Electric Signal Company, LLC of St. Louis, Missouri, announces the hiring of David Adkins to the position of managing director for its Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEA)

AFSA Graduates Lead the Industry

ITM Effective

Up-to-Date

ITM Program graduates achieve a 91% pass rate on NICET Level I & II exams*, exceeding the 66% national average.

All program materials are based on NFPA 25, 2017 Ed., to correspond with current NICET exams.

INSPECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Safe AFSA is committed to the safety of our students.

Find out how AFSA is keeping students safe visit: www.firesprinkler.org/safe

On-Demand The first six months of the program is online and over 90% of the training is remote or on-demand.

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

ENROLL FOR FALL 2020 | www.firesprinkler.org/ITM SPRINKLER AGE | SEP/OCT 2020 61

operations. Adkins is joining Potter after previously serving as Managing Director for Risk Warden in Theale, England. Prior to his time at Risk Warden, Adkins’ experience included Head of International Sales at Firetrace International, and was the Managing Director for UTC’s European Suppression business which included Kidde Products. Visit pottersignal.com.

UL FIRE COUNCIL APPOINTS TELGIAN’S RAMO

Telgian Engineering & Consulting President and fire protection expert Leonard Ramo

was recently invited to join the Fire Council of UL for a three-year term. The Fire Council is one of nine councils whose esteemed members provide support to UL by sharing practical experience on a wide range of engineering and safety topics.

The Fire Council selects members based on their fire protection industry expertise, integrity, and a proven commitment to furthering public safety. Council members include academic experts, building officials, federal government agencies, fire service members, independent fire safety experts, and repre-

You don’t have to be a genius.

sentatives from the insurance industry, all of whom share a collective goal to identify safety challenges arising from new products and innovative technology.

For over 100 years, the Fire Council has provided vital insight and advice on building designs and materials, as well as safety performance requirements for fire suppression, passive fire test methods, and alarm and detection equipment. As a member, Ramo will be instrumental in the development of effective programs, which address fire safety needs throughout the U.S. and abroad. Visit telgian.com. n

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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.

Be a Member

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

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