Fire Sprinklers news

American Fire Protection Group (AFPG) is sharing a daily fire protection guideline designed to educate on different aspects of the fire protection system that one may not be aware of. Day 1: Fire Alarm Monitoring Uses Analog Technology A lot of facilities utilize telephone lines for alarm monitoring. Plain Old Telephone Systems lines (POTS) are being sunset very soon, leaving the fire alarm monitoring at risk. This technology will leave thousands of facilities without monitoring capabiliti...

Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci has long been a vocal advocate of residential fire sprinkler legislation in Maryland. Throughout his career in the Maryland fire service, he has excelled in educating about the importance of fire sprinklers from the perspective of the fire service as a life-saving tool that is not only beneficial, but necessary. For all his contributions to the fire protection industry, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is proud to honor Geraci with its 2020...

The American Fire Sprinkler Association is pleased to announce that Jason Williams, C.E.T., manager of ITM technical training, and Tom Noble, C.E.T., technical programs specialist, have been appointed to several 2017 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committees. Jason Williams has been appointed to serve on the technical committee for NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. He has nearly 20 years of extensive han...

The first step to learning about fire sprinkler systems is to understand the different types of sprinkler systems, and what type of facilities each is most efficient for. The type of sprinkler system needed for a facility changes based on several factors: What type of equipment/inventory is stored in the facility? How is the equipment/inventory being stored? Would a sprinkler discharge cause expensive damage to any inventory or equipment? How fast does the sprinkler system need to be activ...

Randy Miller has always had a vested interest in saving lives. From his beginnings as a paramedic with Buck Medical Services in Portland, Oregon, all the way to his current fifteen-year career as Deputy Fire Marshal in the Camas-Washougal Fire Marshal's Office in Camas, Washington, Miller has demonstrated time and again his enthusiasm for fire and life safety. While he has had many impressive accomplishments in his long career, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is proud to honor hi...

There are news articles on fire deaths too many times during any given calendar year. Witnessing this unnecessary pain and suffering in person or through the news media is truly heartbreaking. Most often these fires originate in mobile or permanent homes causing nearly 4,000 deaths and many more disfiguring injuries each and every year in the United States. The larger death tolls occur in nightclubs, motels and factories that are unequipped with fire sprinkler systems. Mandatory installation o...

Congratulations are in order for Luther Pringle of the American Fire Protection Group’s (AFPG) Los Angeles Division, who placed 15th out of 150 total contestants in the Design Technician Competition held at the National Fire Sprinkler Association conference in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Design Technician Competition NFSA’s Design Technician Competition pits engineers from around the country against one another in a competition of skill, accuracy and precision pertaining to the desi...

The commercial and military aircraft are extremely expensive pieces of equipment. From a fire protection standpoint, the aircraft hangars where these high-value airplanes are stored are unique facilities for several reasons. There typically will be a significant amount of flammable liquid aircraft fuel present. The regularly occurring maintenance activities provide several potential ignition sources. Also, the airplanes themselves have large main bodies and wings, which create sizeable obstruct...

American Fire Protection Group, Inc. (AFPG) is the expert when it comes to detecting and identifying Microbiologic Corrosion in fire sprinkler systems. There are several types of corrosion that can form in sprinkler pipe. Microbiologic Corrosion (MIC) When a pipe is leaking, it cannot be automatically assumed that the cause is Microbiologic Corrosion (commonly referred to as ‘MIC’). The following is a list of common corrosions: Galvanic Corrosion MIC Corrosion Localized Corros...

‘Simple and worry-free Life Safety compliance’, this is what American Fire Protection Group, Inc. (AFPG) delivers every single day, even during a global pandemic such as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The current uncertain environment has required everyone to change the way they do business. One thing that has not changed, however, is the requirement to have a licensed Life Safety company conduct annual, quarterly, and other code-compliant inspections of Life Safety systems and equipm...

In March of 2020, the Federal government signed into effect the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. One of CARES’ purposes is to provide relief to businesses affected by the Coronavirus with accelerated tax savings on “qualified improvements” to their business properties. Under Section 168 of the CARES Act, the cost of upgrades to the user’s commercial fire sprinkler, fire alarm, special hazard, or security system may be fully deducted as a busine...

AFPG’s Houston division recently achieved the Champion Level Endorsement from Construction Career Collaborative (C3). The Craft Training Endorsement (CTE) program has rigorous standards that measure a company’s Craft Training Program against a training framework. This endorsement is achieved through the development, implementation, and evaluation of robust craft training connected to career paths for craft professionals. Recognition to Construction firms Launched in 2018, C3&rsqu...

When a fire broke out on site, more than 400 staff were evacuated in less than three minutes from the Hull factory of offsite specialist Walker Modular. Five fire engines were called to the scene after the alarm was raised at the bathroom pod manufacturer. Company owner Shane Walker told the Enquirer: “I’m so proud of my staff and the fire service for dealing so well with a difficult situation. We liaised with the fire service when we designed the factory and all the fire suppressio...

Fire crews with an aerial ladder were to a kitchen fire on the eighth floor of the city center Lindop Court tower block in Stoke on Trent on 22nd May. A total of five crews attended from Longton, Hanley and Newcastle but the fire, believed to be started in a chip pan, had already been put out by a sprinkler system when firefighters arrived at the scene. 1 concealed sidewall sprinkler had activated. The building had been retrofitted and has a BS 9251 tank and pump system. There were no casualtie...

On the morning of 22nd June a fire has destroyed the only supermarket in Holt in North Norfolk. The shop is run by the Baker family and prides itself on stocking food from local suppliers and running a delivery service for the elderly and local people. The shop, where 82 people work, was closed at the time because it’s been shutting early during the coronavirus pandemic. C T Baker thanked emergency services for their efforts and said there were no reports of any injuries. Automatic fire...

Every fire safety professional choosing to register for this one day, free to attend the seminar, organized by BAFSA and hosted by Staffordshire Fire & Rescue at their HQ in Stone on 18th March, will experience a day packed with information regarding automatic water based fire suppression applications and local case studies; design standards and solutions. All presentations will be delivered by fire sprinklers experts and fire safety practitioners.

The UK government announced further changes to the Building and Fire Safety Standards in England following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. The changes include automatic fire sprinklers in high rise housing blocks over 11 meters, together with a raft of other fire safety measures. This marks some considerable success for BAFSA who have campaigned for automatic fire sprinklers in all high rise housing for the last fifteen years.

Crews were called to a five pump fire on the 25th floor of a four roomed flat of a 39 story high rise residential block in Southwark Bridge Road. The alarm was raised by the occupier to a kitchen fire, one sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire prior to the arrivals of crews. Without AFSS the outcome of this incident may well have been more serious with the potential for a full compartment fire which would have seriously compromised the safety of residents and firefighters. No fire...

BAFSA one day, free to attend seminars are attracting record numbers. Working closely with host Fire & Rescue Services the dynamic programs, which have both regional and national relevance, are all delivered by BAFSA advisers – all fire sprinkler experts, Fire Officers, practitioners and end users. Seminars in February and March, in St Ives and Stone respectively sold out 3 weeks before the date of the event, and the third seminar of the year in Poole on the 24th is expected to be ful...

Reflecting their strong commitment to people’s development and growth as well as excellence in their business operations, Alberta’s Engineering and Technical Team, has recently undergone training on the design of sprinkler systems. The qualification, developed by the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA), is aimed at individuals employed in the fire sprinkler industry and is designed to help people employed in installing fire sprinklers to develop the knowledge and co...

Towards the end of 2019, and already in 2020, sprinklers are operating efficiently and effectively saving lives, children’s education, and businesses from fire. Office Block, London Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to reports of a fire in the basement of an office block. The sprinkler system had actuated and helped to suppress the fire which was extinguished in just over an hour. Flat, Croydon A fire in an 8th floor flat in an 11-story building was extinguished...

In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, BAFSA can confirm that all college courses L2 Certificate in Fire Sprinkler Installation (Day Release, Block Release and EWR) are postponed until further notice as colleges avoid face to face tuition.

BAFSA is disappointed to report that, along with Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service & BAFSA, the organizations have made the difficult decision to postpone their joint sprinkler seminars on 18th and 24th March respectively due to the current Covid-19 fears. While disappointing for everyone involved, they have taken this step in line with NFCC guidance as far as reducing the chance of spreading the virus as much as is reasonably practic...

Burnt cooking in the kitchen of a residential block of flats of three floors in Waddon Court Road, was the cause of a fire which, from the limited information provided, was controlled by a Personal Protection system. The fire was all out on arrival with no firefighting action completed by crews. Local enquiries are currently being completed by the local fire safety team. One sprinkler head actuated in the kitchen of a five roomed flat on the 11th floor of a twenty-one story block of flats in Lan...

Automatic fire sprinklers systems are a reliable and effective means of saving lives, protecting firefighters, reducing fire damage and mitigating fire risk, provided the systems are properly designed, installed and maintained. Those responsible for buildings are reminded that even within this challenging situation of COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Critical Fire Suppression Systems/Life Safety Protection Systems must be tested and maintained. Postponing these checks, maintenance and servicing m...

The Government announced the implementation date for a number of changes to Approved Document B (ADB), including the requirement for automatic fire sprinklers in all flats above 11 meters, these changes will be required as from 26th November 2020. The change requiring automatic fire sprinklers in all new built flats over 11 meters will significantly increase the use of domestic and residential sprinklers in this sector which has already seen a large increase since the disastrous Grenfell Tower f...

It’s a fact that a fire sprinkler system can help control fires and reduce injury, deaths, and damages, often by 80% or more. But it’s never just as simple as a quick design and implementation. The quality of the fire sprinkler installation will affect its ability to keep oneself and tenants safe. To such an extent that one might even be better having no system in place than holding onto a false sense of security with a faulty one. Fire Protection Strategy Creating a reliable bui...

Knowing the different types of fire extinguishers available and what they are used for can ensure one is better prepared to have the right one nearby when one needs it. Fire safety is important and many people with homes or businesses already acknowledge that keeping an extinguisher close is at hand is a vital step in making sure their properties are prepared for the worst. But not many people know that there are 5 different versions of extinguishers, each one for a different class of fire. C...

Komtes is consolidated in the Mexican market with its presence in the 3rd edition of EXPO FIRE PROTECTION MEXICO 2018. Grupo Komtes already has extensive experience in the American continent, which has allowed it to grow gradually until it establishes commercial relations in all the countries of South America and North America. Continuing with the trajectory of recent years, Grupo Komtes takes a new step to consolidate and consolidate its presence in the American continent with its subsidiary,...

Just after midnight on Thanksgiving morning, a fire broke out in an occupied apartment building in the 1300 Block of Glenwood Street in Woodland. The fire started when an appliance was accidentally left on and overheated, causing a fire that spread to the cabinets below. Fire crews were notified of the fire by an automatic fire alarm tied to the fire sprinkler system. A single fire sprinkler, ensuring minimal damage and no injuries or loss of life, quickly and automatically controlled the fire.&...