The American Fire Sprinkler Association believes that education is essential to the sustained growth of fire sprinkler businesses and advancement of the fire sprinkler industry’s professionalism overall. We offer a variety of apprentice training curriculum, an inspector training program, beginning fire sprinkler system planning school, educational webinars, seminars all designed to develop the knowledge of the fire sprinkler industry and to develop technical best practices.
This three-day, in-person workshop provides a deep dive into advanced hydraulic principles for standpipe systems, fire pump assemblies, and water storage tanks. Students will receive classroom instruction, work through examples, and complete practice exercises.
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
This apprentice program is written from a contractor’s point of view. Each level of the series includes photographs, drawings, and tables to provide instruction on proper installation techniques and the use of tools. Test materials are provided to allow student testing periodically.
The four levels are divided into modules. Each module includes a series of lessons that cover a particular topic within the scope of that module. Convenient online testing is included to assess learner knowledge periodically. For security purposes, a proctor password can be set up (and is strongly recommended) at your request to 1) ensure the integrity of student testing and 2) prevent the student from testing without proctor approval or supervision.
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Features Include
- Hiring recommendations
- Applicant screening tips
- Training record keeping
- Pay scale suggestions
- Progressive training guidelines
- Candidate sample promissory note
AFSA’s ITM Inspector Development Program utilizes on-demand and live training courses combined with a robustly-structured on the job training (OJT) and mentoring program with the goal for candidates to pass NICET Level II water-based inspection certification exams in less than two years.
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Overview
- Hybrid (Virtual and In-Person) – AFSA’s Beginning Design School is re-designed for a hybrid approach with (6) live webinars offered first, followed by (1) week of in-person instruction.
- Traditional (In-Person Only) – This learning approach includes ten days of in-person training over the course of two weeks
Learning Objectives
- Accelerate the comprehension of plans and various types of building construction for proper sprinkler spacing applications.
- Determine the proper sprinkler system layout and installation requirements and methods.
- Interpret sprinkler specifications, plans (shop drawings), manufacturer’s technical data sheets, and flow tests.
- Identify sprinkler types, system types, pipe types, hangers, fittings, system components, etc.
- Explain the coordination with other trades — plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and structural.
- Prepare hand sprinkler drawings and hydraulic calculations and identify the hydraulic inputs to explain computer outputs.
The Beginning Design School presents a comprehensive, practical approach to preparing fire sprinkler system drawings. Over a three-week period, students will attend six live webinars studying and reviewing the installation and design approach requirements of NFPA 13 (2019) while completing self-paced exercises and module assessments. Q&A sessions and open discussions will also be included as part of the online instruction. The second part of the class will be a week of in-person training, preparing fire sprinkler system layouts, shop drawings, and hydraulic calculations by hand. The course concludes with a comprehensive exam of the class content, including the installation requirements and hydraulics. There is no CAD or third-party software taught in this class.
Prerequisites
This class is designed for trainees and entry-level technicians with at least six months of experience and those with experience in the sprinkler trade looking to transition to system layout.
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Experienced layout technicians will find this blended learning course useful to understand the tools they utilize in-depth and gain a deeper knowledge of layouts for standpipe systems, fire pumps, seismic protection, and the design requirements for general storage. In addition to mastering requirements in NFPA 13, NFPA 14, and NFPA 20, students will utilize computer modeling software to apply design requirements learned throughout the course, becoming familiar with the BIM process. This course begins with an orientation and two 3-hour webinars followed by five days of in-person instruction.
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Courses Include
AFSA’s correspondence courses offer some great skills for fire sprinkler professionals. Courses offer practical, experience-based learning and provide a solid foundation to work across a variety of fire sprinkler skills. Flexible learning, lots of options, and great support.
Features Include
Continuing education helps inform contractors of upcoming changes, innovations, code issues, and industry standards. Technology is advancing and contractors need to know how to install and service all systems as new technologies are being introduced.
Remain competitive by keeping up to date regarding issues that impact the dynamic and challenging construction industry through continuing education.
This three-day, in-person workshop provides a deep dive into the principles of hydraulics including the different types of pressure, calculating changes in pressure (elevation and friction loss), and node analysis. Students will receive classroom instruction, work through examples, and validate the work through hydraulic calculation software.
This 3-day, hands-on course is a review of the ITM requirements for various systems and components designed for technicians with at least 1 year of relevant work experience.
Features Include
- How Unions Affect Companies and Supervisors
- How To Make Unions Unnecessary
- How To Stop Cardsigning
- How To Communicate to Employees During a Union Campaign
- Getting “NO” Votes
Simply the best Labor Relations training for Supervisors and Managers. Your Supervisors and Managers know the company’s union-free philosophy and what it means – but do they know how to put that philosophy into action? “Supervisors Can Keep You Union Free” provides the supervisory training and the tools they need to make unions unnecessary.
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Although there are other organizations that certify individuals as being competent in the inspection and testing aspects of NFPA 25, ASSE International developed the ASSE 15000 certification program to raise the bar for fire protection industry personnel and ensure public safety. Individuals who are certified to ASSE 15010 have the ability to knowledgeably and skillfully inspect, test, and maintain water-based fire protection systems to the satisfaction of the fire protection industry and beyond the minimum requirements of NFPA 25.
AFSA Technical Review
The experience of the Technical Services Department is an excellent resource for answering questions on the codes and standards.