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The American Fire Sprinkler Association, (AFSA)
is a non-profit, international association representing
open shop fire sprinkler contractors, dedicated to the educational
advancement of its members and promotion of the use of automatic
fire sprinkler systems. AFSA was organized in 1981 to provide
the open shop fire sprinkler contractor with training, consulting,
communication, representation and many more services, all
of which have expanded over its existence.Membership is
open to contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, designers
and Authorities Having Jurisdiction. Currently, AFSA represents
approximately 750 companies and individuals in the United
States and throughout the world.AFSA believes that the installation
of fire sprinklers could save thousands of lives and billions
of dollars lost to fire each year. Increasingly, public
officials are realizing this.
AFSA acts as a liaison
with other national associations involved in fire safety.
Working together with government agencies, such as the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Fire
Protection Association, the Residential Fire Safety
Institute, and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, AFSA
helps to create an awareness on the dangers of fire.
Convention and Exhibition
AFSA holds the largest fire sprinkler industry convention and exhibition in the
world. Besides presenting the latest in products and technology, the convention
includes a variety of industry-related seminars.
Publications
AFSA publishes Sprinkler Age, the most widely read and respected
monthly magazine covering the fire sprinkler industry. The
SprinklerNEWS weekly email newsletters covers current news
about fire sprinklers around the country. ContractorNetwork,
an email newsletter for contractors, brings labor and legislative
news to your inbox each quarter.
Technical Services
AFSA provides technical services to members,
including representation on all applicable codes and standards
committees, informal interpretations of codes and standards,
and TechTalk/SprinklerNOTES fax and email newsletters covering
technical issues.
Training
To assist fire sprinkler contractors in maintaining a quality workforce, AFSA
offers the Contren Learning Series© of correspondence
courses. This four-book series is designed specifically for training apprentices
in the fire sprinkler trade.In addition, AFSA offers the following specialized
schools: a two-week Fire Sprinkler System Planning School offers a comprehensive
practical approach to preparing a fire sprinkler system drawing; an Advanced
Fire Sprinkler System Planning School assists the experienced planner with
the comparison of system planning using ESFR heads and extended coverage heads;
the newly developed Hydraulic Calculations Seminar teaches students how to
prepare hydraulic calculations the old-fashioned way; and the Fire Sprinkler & Standpipe
System Plan Review and Inspection Seminar was recently developed to update
fire department personnel, building officials, architects and engineers on
the latest technology in fire sprinklers.
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