National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) - Experts & Thought Leaders

The US federal government passed a new legislation called the ‘Tax Cuts & Job Act’. This legislation includes incentives for businesses that install new fire sprinkler systems. As fire sprinklers are the quickest way to extinguish a fire, it’s important to incentivize businesses to install one. Money should never be seen as a deterrent to keeping your employees and patrons safe. ‘Tax Cuts & Job Act’ US Congress has added fire protection as an eligible expenditure under Section 179 of the tax code US Congress has added fire protection as an eligible expenditure under Section 179 of the tax code. The Congress has also increased the cap to US$ 1 million (up from US$ 500,000) as the amount that a small business can deduct in a single year. This provision applies only to commercial structures and cannot be used for retrofitting sprinklers into residential structures. However, critical occupancies such as entertainment venues could easily be done under this provision. This change is also a permanent law and unlike section 13201 is not gradually phased out over time. Best time to install new sprinkler system With tax incentives now in place, combined with one of the best economic growth in recent times, there has never been a better time to install a new sprinkler system. When speaking with a tax professional about these tax breaks, make sure to reference the changes in Section 179 of the recently passed tax reform legislation (P.L. 115-97), for up to US$ 1 million in fire protection. What’s included in Section 179? This includes: Roofs Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Fire protection and Alarm Systems Security Systems What types of Building Types are listed in Section 179? They include: Local, Small Businesses Nightclubs Restaurants/Diners (local owner) Bowling Alleys Locally Owned Movie Theatres Main Street America-type Shops High-Rise Commercial Buildings Residential Occupancies Condos Inclusion of fire sprinklers in tax reform The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) spent many years working with the government to ensure this tax reform was completed. Vickie Pritchett, the Director of Outreach and Government Relations at the NFSA stated, “The successful inclusion of fire sprinklers in tax reform is a result of years of steadfast work to educate. Our fire service allies and others were difference makers.” She adds, “The advocate voices made a difference as we worked to bring the stories to life, so legislators would understand and support fire safety inclusion in the incentive package.”

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 design of a fire sprinkler system. Luther made it all the way to the prestigious Jeopardy Round, which pits the top 10% of the competition field in a test of sprinkler design knowledge and expertise. NFSA’s Design Technician Competition pits engineers from around the country against one another Luther works as an Engineer at the AFPG Monroe, LA office. What makes Luther’s achievement in this competition even more impressive is that he has only been in the Life Safety industry for two years. AFPG Monroe’s Division Leader, Wade Jones, said “I have had the great pleasure in watching Luther grow in the fire protection industry, it was no surprise for him to achieve this and we look forward to him doing even better next year.” Sprinkler Design Competition The Sprinkler Design Competition has become a staple of the NFSA conference. The goal of the competition is simple – the NFSA (National Fire Sprinkler Association) is looking for the best Fire Sprinkler Design Technicians in the country. Contestants who go far in the competition are ones who know the NFPA 13 Handbook inside and out. They can competently and efficiently calculate optimal spacing for rooms with unusual dimensions in their head, or they have memorized what size suction pipe needs to be used with each size fire pump. AFPG is very proud of Luther Pringle’s achievement in this competition and looks forward to watching his expertise grow each year.

Effective November 1, 2020, Robert (Bob) Caputo became the new President of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). Bob is a sprinkler industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience, ranging from owning a fire sprinkler installation company in San Diego, California to teaching technical seminars for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Fire sprinkler industry veteran Bob most recently served as Vice President for training and technical support for Fire & Life Safety America, based in Richmond, Virginia. He has held fire sprinkler contractor licenses in 23 US states, has served on numerous NFPA technical committees and currently chairs the committee responsible for NFPA 16 - Installation of Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems. The new appointment provides an opportunity to review the history of the various fire sprinkler associations based in the United States. The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) traces it’s founding to 1905 and in 2016 moved its headquarters from New York to Maryland. National Fire Sprinkler Association As ‘the voice of the fire sprinkler industry’, NFSA prides itself on being a broad-based association As ‘the voice of the fire sprinkler industry’, NFSA prides itself on being a broad-based association, controlled by a board of directors that is comprised of both union and open shop (non-union) contractors and sprinkler manufacturers, with an additional board member elected from a Supplier and Manufacturers Council made up of product distributors and manufacturers of system components other than sprinklers. In 1981, the National Fire Sprinkler Association was approached by some of its open shop member contractors with a request to initiate a fitter training program. However, since collective bargaining with sprinkler fitter unions was already one of the services that the association provided for its union contractors and to avoid bargaining in bad faith, NFSA suggested that a separate organization be formed for this purpose.  American Fire Sprinkler Association The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) was formed to be such an organization, based in Texas and specifically geared towards the needs of the open shop contractor. Although manufacturers and suppliers support the efforts of the organization, AFSA’s Board of Directors continue to be comprised solely of open shop sprinkler contractors. International Fire Suppression Alliance The International Fire Suppression Alliance (IFSA) was formed in 1999 by the NFSA, in order to help promote the fire sprinkler concept globally, but now operates totally separate from that organization. With its headquarters located in Ohio, the IFSA Board of Directors consists of representatives of companies committed to the IFSA mission. IFSA seeks to have positive relationships with all organizations around the world that promote the use of properly designed, installed and maintained fire sprinkler systems, and wishes Bob Caputo much success in his new position of leadership with the AFSA.