Beginning Design School

Beginning Design School

Member Price: 

Early Bird $2,560; Regular $2,800

Nonmember Price:

Early Bird $3,660; Regular $3,900

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Schedule / Enroll

Course Offering 1: 2025    Closed

Virtual Sessions Week 1Virtual Sessions Week 2Virtual Sessions Week 3In-Person Classroom Week
Feb. 11, Feb. 13Feb. 18, Feb. 20Feb. 25, Feb. 27Mar. 3 – 7
Virtual Sessions are 11:00am – 1:30pm CT
In-person classes are 8:00am – 4:30pm
Early Bird Price: Register on or before 12/11/24
Regular Price: Register on or before 2/1/25

 

Course Offering 2: 2025    Enroll

Virtual Sessions Week 1Virtual Sessions Week 2Virtual Sessions Week 3In-Person Classroom Week
April 22, 24April 29, May 1May 6, May 8May 12 – May 16
Virtual Sessions are 11:00am – 1:30pm CT
In-person classes are 8:00am – 4:30pm
Early Bird Price: Register on or before 2/21/25
Regular Price: Register on or before 4/11/25

 

Course Offering 3: 2025    Enroll

Virtual Sessions Week 1Virtual Sessions Week 2Virtual Sessions Week 3Virtual Session 4
June 24, June 26July 1, July 3July 8, July 10July 14-18
Virtual Sessions are 11:00am – 1:30pm CT
In-person classes are 8:00am – 4:30pm
Early Bird Price: Register on or before 4/24/25
Regular Price: Register on or before 6/9/25

 

Course Offering 4: 2025    Enroll

Virtual Sessions Week 1Virtual Sessions Week 2Virtual Sessions Week 3In-Person Classroom Week
September 9, 11September 16, 18September 23, 25Sept. 29 – Oct. 3
Virtual Sessions are 11:00am – 1:30pm CT
In-person classes are 8:00am – 4:30pm
Early Bird Price: Register on or before 7/9/25
Regular Price: Register on or before 8/25/25

 

Course Offering 5: 2025    Enroll

Virtual Sessions Week 1Virtual Sessions Week 2In-Person Classroom Week
November 17, 19, 21December 1, 3, 5December 8 – 12
Virtual Sessions are 11:00am – 1:30pm CT
In-person classes are 8:00am – 4:30 pm
Early Bird Price: Register on or before 9/17/25
Regular Price: Register on or before 10/31/25

 

 

 

 

 
 

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.

 

Details

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 (2022) 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 layout, 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. 

 

Learning Objectives:

The school will prepare the student to:

  • 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.

Prerequisites:

This class is designed for trainees and entry-level technicians with at least six months experience as well as those with experience in the sprinkler trade looking to make the transition to system layout.

Hybrid Schedule:

Day 1 Webinar:

  • Introduction
  • Knowledge Assessment
  • Industry Terminology
  • Math Review

Day 2 Webinar:

  • Properties of Fire
  • Codes and Standards
  • Hazard Classification
  • Water Supplies

Day 3 Webinar:

  • Underground
  • Characteristics of a Sprinkler
  • System Components
  • System Types

Day 4 Webinar:

  • Types of Construction
  • Sprinkler Installation – Standard Spray
  • Beam and Soffit Rules
  • Sprinkler Installation – Extended Coverage & Residential
  • Residential Sprinklers

Day 5 Webinar:

  • Installation of System Components
  • Installation of Piping, Valves, Appurtenances
  • Hangers
  • Trapeze Hangers
  • Hanging and Support

Day 6 Webinar:

  • Design Approaches
  • Hydraulic Detailed Worksheet
  • Hydraulic Graph Sheet
  • Sprinkler Hydraulics Quick-Reference Sheet
  • Detailed Worksheet Notes

Day 7:

  • Contract Drawing Review
  • Layout Wet System
  • Calculate Wet System

Day 8:

  • System Acceptance
  • Layout Dry System
  • Calculate Dry System

Day 9:

  • 13/13R/13D
  • Layout Residential System
  • Calculate Residential System

Day 10:

  • Exam

Traditional Schedule:

Day 1:

  • Introduction
  • Knowledge Assessment
  • Properties of Fire
  • Codes and Standards
  • Hazard Classification
  • Water Supplies

Day 2:

  • Underground
  • Characteristics of a Sprinkler
  • System Components
  • System Types

Day 3:

  • Types of Construction
  • Sprinkler Installation – General
  • Sprinkler Installation – SSU/SSP
  • Sprinkler Installation – Sidewall

Day 4:

  • Sprinkler Installation – EC P/U
  • Sprinkler Installation – EC Sidewall
  • Sprinkler Installation – Residential
  • Installation of System Components
  • Hangers

Day 5:

  • Design Approaches

Day 6:

  • Hydraulic Calculations (Principles)
  • Hydraulic Calculations (Remote Area, Nodes, and Flow Paths)

Day 7:

  • Contract Drawing Review
  • Layout Wet System
  • Calculate Wet System

Day 8:

  • System Acceptance
  • Layout Dry System
  • Calculate Dry System

Day 9:

  • 13/13R/13D
  • Layout Residential System
  • Calculate Residential System

Day 10:

  • Exam

Credits & Approvals

  • 7.6 CEUs; 76 CPDs
  • 76 Contact Hours

Prerequisites

This class is designed for trainees and entry-level technicians with at least six months experience as well as those with experience in the sprinkler trade looking to make the transition to system layout.

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