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January 2006

Fresno Adopts Partial Sprinkler Ordinance for New Homes

JAN 24/2006 - The City of Fresno, California has adopted an ordinance requiring one fire sprinkler in the kitchens of all new homes. After heated debate, the council narrowly passed the rule 4 to 3. Those who are for it say the bottom line is it will save lives for years to come, even though the sprinklers will only be installed in the kitchens of new homes and apartments.

AFSA President Steve Muncy believes the city has made a big mistake in endorsing a partial system. "While more fires start in kitchens than in other locations in the home, most fire deaths do not result from fires starting in kitchens. In order to save lives, you must put sprinklers in those rooms in which fires cause fatalities. This ordinance is clearly aimed at property preservation, not life safety."

Wilson, NC Habitat Home Includes Sprinklers

JAN 24/2006 - According to the Wilson Daily Times (North Carolina), fire inspectors installed a sprinkler system in a Habitat for Humanity home. This is the second one they have put into a Habitat home. "They save lives," said Ben Huston, fire and life safety educator for the department. "Especially for people who are disabled, people who have problems with response, you're going to want something that'll put that fire out and put it out quickly." [read more]

Scottsdale Fire Demo Reaffirms Sprinklers

JAN 24/2006 - According to the East Valley Tribune (Arizona), a recent demonstration of fire sprinklers reaffirms the value of sprinklers in the Scottsdale community. Since Scottsdale’s automatic fire-sprinkler ordinance passed 20 years ago this month, more than 200 sprinkler systems have been activated in the city, at least 13 lives were saved and more than $780 million in property damage was avoided, according Jim Ford, deputy fire chief for the department. [read more]

Deadly Hotel Fire in Georgia

JAN 20/2006 - According to News 11 and the Atlanta Constitution, a January 15 fire in Marietta, Ga. has killed one man and left 20 others injured. The fire started on the second floor of the Holiday Inn in Marietta, Ga. The building did not have sprinklers as it was built before the systems were required. [read more]

Sprinklers Save Children's Museum

JAN 20/2006 - According to the Rocky Mountain News, the Children's Museum of Denver was saved by sprinklers January 11 when a fire broke out in a trash compactor. Sprinklers stopped the fire from spreading and the museum reopened a few days later. [read more]

City Considers Sprinkler Ordinance

JAN 20/2006 - According to the Northlake Herald-Journal, Northlake, Ill. is considering a sprinkler ordinance for multi-family, commercial and industrial buildings. Objections were raised about the original proposal so the city council voted January 9 to table action. [read more]

Tennessee Fire Coalition Wants Dorms Sprinklered
JAN 13/2006 - According to WVLT TV, Knoxville, Tenn., the Tennessee Fire Coalition is supporting a law that would require sprinkler systems in college dorms. The group hopes the law will pass this year. Once approved, funding for the systems will be discussed. [read more]

H.R. 4460 Introduced
JAN 13/2006 - According to SecurityInfoWatch.com, Arlington Heights, Ill., H.R. 4460 the College Life Safety and Fire Protection Act was introduced December 7 on Capitol Hill. The bill would establish an incentive program to promote "the professional installation of fire alarm detection systems or other fire prevention technologies in qualified student housing, dorms and other university buildings." Matching grants would be available. [read more]

Bars/Clubs Required to Retrofit
JAN 13/2006 - According to The Republican in Springfield, Mass., the Holyoke fire chief is requiring nine bars/clubs to install sprinklers. The order is a result of a 2004 state law passed after the deadly Warwick, R.I. fire. All businesses have until May 15 to submit a plan and complete installations by November 15, 2007. [read more]

Stronger Sprinkler Requirements in Delaware?
JAN 09/2006 - According to WBOC TV in Salisbury, Md., the Delaware State Fire Marshal is considering asking state lawmakers to require more buildings to be protected by sprinkler systems. A recent fire in a non-sprinklered restaurant/bar caused two deaths. That building was built before sprinklers were required. [read more]

Sprinklers Contain Disney Fire
JAN 09/2006 - According to RockyMountainNews.com, 35-foot artificial Christmas tree caught fire December 28 in the lobby of Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel, forcing its evacuation. The fire started around 3 a.m. and was extinguished by hotel workers, sprinklers and fire fighters.

Sprinklers Save Buildings
JAN 09/2006 - According to the Hillsboro, Argus, an apartment fire in Tigard, Ore. was squelched by sprinklers December 27. The fire started on a stovetop. The flames were extinguished by the time fire fighters arrived. [read more]

According to the Iowa City Press Citizen, sprinklers controlled a fire at an assisted living facility in Iowa City, Iowa December 30. The fire started in a laundry room. Minimal damage and no injuries were reported. [read more]

According to The Jersey Journal, a fire in a garage next to the Kearny, N.J. Kmart was controlled by sprinklers December 30. The store was evacuated but was reopened later that evening. [read more]

According to Arthur J. Tiroly, SFPEM, CET, a fire broke out on December 25 at an aerosol rack storage warehouse. The building is protected by a wet ESFR system with K=14 sprinklers. Arriving fire fighters found four sprinklers controlling the fire. Water damage to cartons occurred in a 30' x 30' area. [contact for more info]

Historic District Fire Brings Sprinkler Debate
JAN 09/2006 - According to The Capital, Annapolis, Md., a fire destroyed one store and damaged two others in the historic district of Annapolis, Md. The buildings did not have sprinklers. Officials are considering whether to require sprinklers in the historic district, as this is the second fire in less than 10 years. [read more]

February 2006

Residential Sprinklers Make Debut in Grand Forks, Fla.
MAR 07 /2006 - According to HeraldToday.com, the first home in Grand Forks, Fla. to have residential sprinklers will be completed May 1, 2005. The home is being built by Habitat for Humanity, which is working with the Grand Forks Fire Department and AFSA member Dakota Fire Protection to install the system. The owner did not have to pay for the project and volunteers installed the system. [read more]

Landlords Consider Retrofits
FEB 24/2006 - According to Diamondback Online, some "Knox Box" landlords in College Park, Md. are considering retrofitting their basement apartments with sprinkler systems. The thought comes after one university student died in such an apartment, which only had one exit. Since then, fire officials have encouraged added safety features, pushing for sprinkler retrofits. [read more]

Home Fire Threat Unknown to Most
FEB 24/2006 - According to KTEN.com, 80 percent of Americans do not know that home fires are the most common disaster in the U.S. The American Red Cross conducted the poll, which also found that half of families with children are using high-risk methods to heat their homes this winter. The online story points offers prevention and safety tips, including installation of a residential sprinkler system. [read more]

Push for Residential Sprinklers
FEB 24/2006 - According to KBCI.com, the Treasure Valley, Idaho fire chief is calling for sprinklers in homes after the death of two toddlers. Douglas Brown is also the president of the Idaho Fire Chiefs' Association. [read more]

Sprinklers Save Apartment Complex
FEB 24/2006 - According to the West Valley View, an Avondale, Ariz. apartment complex was spared when a sprinkler system quickly extinguished a fire in one unit. All residents except two were able to return to their homes the same day. Avondale voted down a proposition just four months ago that would have required sprinklers in all new homes. [read more]

Indiana Sprinkler Bill for Nursing Homes
FEB 17/2006 - According to Security Sales & Integration, Indiana officials are considering bill H.B. 1315, which would require sprinkler systems in all nursing homes within five years. [read more]

Maryland Releases Fire Death Information
FEB 17/2006 - According to newszap.com, the Maryland State Fire Marshal has released data regarding fire deaths in the state in 2005. Seventy-three people died from fire last year, including 60 people in their homes. The report notes that no Marylander has lost his or her life from fire in a home protected by residential sprinklers. The state fire marshal commented that installing a residential sprinkler system, among other things, will help reduce fire deaths. [read more]

Burn Awareness Week Focuses on Sprinklers
FEB 17/2006 - The American Burn Association's (ABA) Annual Burn Awareness Week campaign theme was Residential Fire Sprinklers. Held February 6-10, 2006, the campaign's goal was to provide information and education about the individual and community benefits of installing fire sprinklers in the home. [read more]

Sprinklers Considered for Historic Buildings
FEB 17/2006 - According to CentreDaily.com, officials in Bellafonte, Pa. are discussing sprinkler systems after a devastating fire in a historic building. Most of the downtown buildings are older and not protected by a sprinkler system. The fire chief is hoping to organize workshops to talk about the systems and ways to pay for their installation. Officials are also considering sprinklers for the county courthouse. [read more]

Fire Destroys Park Visitor Center
FEB 09/2006 - According to the Asbury Park Press, the Thompson Park Visitor Center in Middletown, N.J. was destroyed by fire February 6, 2006. The fire started in a concealed space behind a wall. A $3.5 million renovation was nearly complete at the center, which only had sprinklers in the basement (as required by code). [read more]

Home Sprinklers Featured on Local News

FEB 09/2006 - CBS 11, Dallas, Texas, featured residential sprinklers on a January 26, 2006 newscast. AFSA member Urban Fire Protection of Mesquite, Texas was interviewed for the story. A burn demonstration at Urban was broadcast. [read more & view video]

Poll Shows Residential Sprinklers Valued by Homeowners

FEB 09/2006 - According to RISMedia, a national poll conducted in December 2005 shows that 45 percent of U.S. homeowners believe a sprinklered home is more desirable than an unsprinklered home. The poll was conducted by Harris Interactive for the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC). Other findings: 69 percent believe having a sprinkler system increases a home's value, 38 percent would be more likely to purchase a new home with sprinklers than without, and 63 percent are aware fire sprinklers are available for homes. [read more]

South Carolina Fire Sprinkler Association and AFSA present a week-long seminar series in Columbia, SC, June 19-23, 2006
FEB 02 /2006 - Fire protection contractors, designers, engineers, and AHJs are encouraged to attend this seminar series covering the following topics: Hydraulic Calculations, Storage Occupancies, NFPA 13, Ch. 8, Seismic Bracing, NFPA 14, Project Management, and NFPA 25. Many of these seminars are also approved for Florida CEUs. Contact Leslie Joplin with any questions.

AFSA Presents Two Seminars at the Carolinas Convention, April 19-20, 2006, Myrtle Beach, SC
FEB 02 /2006 - Fire Protection Aspects of IBC (with NC amendments covered on April 19, and SC amendments covered on April 20) will be presented. For more information about the Carolinas Convention or the seminars being presented, please contact Bernie Parsons at (704) 201-7352 or by email: bparsons@waynefire.com

ServPro Responds Positively to AFSA Concerns
FEB 01 /2006 - Responding to concerns from AFSA about misrepresentations of activation and water damage in recent their recent television commercials, fire restoration company ServPro has contacted AFSA President Steve Muncy indicating their willingness to alter television advertising to present fire sprinklers in a positive light. Muncy commented "While we haven't seen any change yet, ServPro's positive response to our concerns is encouraging. If they (ServPro) follow through with suggestions made in our discussions with them, we hope that their message will be that fire sprinklers save lives and property, and that ServPro is there to restore the occupancy in quick order." AFSA responded to the airing of the television commercials with a letter to the ServPro CEO from the AFSA President demanding that the commercials be withdrawn. Muncy wrote "Your (ServPro) fictitious footage depicting multiple sprinklers operating in response to a power strip fire, combined with the accompanying voiceover, 'sometimes putting out a fire can be worse than the fire itself,' is harmful to the fire service and fire sprinkler industry and endangers the safety of television viewers who may believe this travesty.... your continued broadcast of this false advertisement will jeopardize the life safety and property protection of millions of viewers who just by watching your ad may be persuaded that fire sprinklers cause more damage than fires."

Sprinklers Save Hotel, Guests

FEB 01 /2006 - According to The Indianapolis Star, sprinklers saved the Radisson Hotel near the Indianapolis, Ind. airport February 1. Drapes too close to a room's heater caught fire but the room's sprinklers extinguished the flames. Guests were displaced for about one hour. [read more]

Sprinklers Stop Dorm Fire

FEB 01 /2006 - According to the Hartford Courant (Conn.), a January 28 fire in the attic of a University of Hartford dormitory was contained by the building's sprinkler system. A clothes dryer duct ignited and the fire spread from the laundry room, along the length of the building's attic. Most of the dorm's residents were able to return to their rooms. [read more]

Student Dies in Off-Campus Fire

FEB 01 /2006 - According to the Baltimore Sun, a University of Maryland student died January 24 when his off-campus apartment caught fire. The building did not have sprinklers. In April 2005, another student died in a fire in his off-campus house, which also did not have sprinklers. College Park officials are considering changing requirements for sprinklers in off-campus housing. [read more]

AFSA and NICET Partner on FPE Technology Certification Programs

FEB 01 /2006 - AFSA and the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) have approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to mutual cooperation in the redesign and validation of the NICET Fire Protection Engineering Technology certification programs. [read more]

March 2006

Ames requires sprinklers in all fraternities, sororities

MAR 29 /2006 - According to KCCI8, fraternity and sorority houses on the campus of Iowa State University will soon be required to add sprinkler systems. The Ames City Council Tuesday night agreed that saving lives is important, despite the large cost of installing the sprinklers. [read more]

Ambitious fire chief faces challenging issues

MAR 29 /2006 - According to the Fresno Bee, the Fresno City Council is scheduled to begin final action on a Bruegman idea that would require a ceiling sprinkler in the kitchens of all new homes built in Fresno. In a preliminary vote in January, a split City Council supported the sprinkler option, handing Bruegman a victory over the Building Industry Association of the San Joaquin Valley. [read more]

Rhode Island Issues Report on Sprinklered Nightclubs

MAR 22 /2006 - According to ABC 6, 99 nightclubs have complied with the fire code changes made after the deadly Station nightclub fire in 2003. However, more than 20 clubs are still without sprinklers. [read more]

Avondale, Ariz. Builders Offer Sprinklers

MAR 22 /2006 - According to azcentral.com, the Avondale, Ariz. city council has approved an ordinance that will require home builders to offer residential sprinkler systems to home buyers. Homes larger than 5,000 sq. ft. must have fire sprinklers. In January 2005 the council approved a measure that made residential sprinklers mandatory in all new single-family homes. That fall, voters rejected the measure. [read more]

Five-Alarm Blaze in Non-Sprinklered Warehouse

MAR 22 /2006 - According to the Louisville Courier-Journal in Kentucky, a five-alarm blaze March 17 destroyed a downtown warehouse. Officials stated it was the worse fire in decades, compounded by non-functioning sprinklers. The owners had been cited several times about the disconnected sprinkler system. [read more]

HFSC Awarded Grant

MAR 15 /2006 - The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) has been awarded a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Office of Domestic Preparedness. The grant will help fund a one-year targeted expansion of HFSC’s public education outreach in the U.S., including an updated Fire Service Educator Kit to support fire departments in their local sprinkler education campaigns. (AFSA is one of the founding members of HFSC and participates on its Steering Committee.) [read more]

Fire Department Receives Grant for Sprinkler Education

MAR 15 /2006 - Union Colony Fire Rescue Authority in Greeley, Colo. has received a grant from the 2005 Assistance To Firefighters Grant Program, in the category of Fire Prevention & Safety, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Union Colony Fire Rescue will use funds for developing and delivering a Fire Sprinkler public education program. The department received AFSA's "Fire Sprinklers Save Lives" award last August for its ongoing efforts to inform the public about fire sprinklers. [read more]

Retrofitted Mall Protected From Fire

MAR 15 /2006 - According to the Bay of Plenty Times, a Tauranga, New Zealand shopping center was saved March 13 when a retrofitted sprinkler system extinguished a fire. A major fire damaged six shops in the mall in 2002. Afterwards, a sprinkler system was installed. This fire damaged only one shop. [read more]

Olympia, Wash. Considers Sprinklers for Some New Homes

MAR 15 /2006 - According to The Olympian, city officials in Olympia, Wash. are considering narrowing new neighborhood streets and requiring houses on these streets to be equipped with fire sprinklers. [read more]

Forest Leaves, Ill. Requires Home Sprinklers

MAR 15 /2006 - According to Pioneer Press, the village of Forest Leaves, Ill. is now requiring sprinklers in all new construction and renovations which increase the square footage of a home by 50 percent or more. Although urged by a builder to hold a public hearing, village trustees unanimously adopted the new code. [read more]

Village Requires Sprinklers in New Mobile Homes

MAR 15 /2006 - According to the Chicago Tribune, new manufactured homes coming into Justice, Ill. must be equipped with a sprinkler system. Last year the village passed a law requiring sprinklers in all new residential construction but forgot to list mobile homes. [read more]

Governor Calls for Sprinkler Report
MAR 07 /2006 - According to News 12 WPRI, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri has asked for a report listing all nightclubs that have installed sprinklers. Certain clubs are required to do so by law after the Station nightclub fire in Warwick killed 100 people in February 2003. Clubs holding more than 300 people had to have systems installed by last July. Those holding 150-300 people have until this July to comply. [read more]

Arizona County Officials Consider Sprinklers
MAR 07 /2006 - According to Tri-State Online, Mohave County, Ariz. supervisors and planning and zoning commissioners are meeting to deal with current and future master-planned communities in the county. Dist. 3 Sup. Buster Johnson would like to require subdivisions outside of current fire districts to install sprinklers in new homes and commercial buildings. [read more]

Sprinkler Squelch Dorm Fire
MAR 07 /2006 - According to MassLive.com, sprinklers extinguished a fire at the Coolidge dorm at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst February 26. An unattended burning candle ignited a room. All students were evacuated and allowed to return to their rooms that night, except for those on the affected floor. No injuries were reported. [read more]

April 2006

Milwaukee suburb updates its fire and life safety ordinance
APR 26/2006 - According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Butler, Wisc., a suburb of Milwaukee, has updated its new fire/life safety code. The new ordinance specifies fire detection and control measures for new commercial buildings and for existing buildings. The new ordinance applies to new commercial buildings greater than 6,000-s.f., and requires those new buildings to have networked fire alarm systems, smoke detection systems, and sprinkler systems. [read more]

Is Wrightsville Beach ready for sprinkler ordinance?
APR 26/2006 - According to the Lumina News, for Wrightsville Beach, N.C., fire is a prominent concern among public safety officials. "We've been talking to the planning board and the Board of Aldermen about residential sprinklers, and we firmly believe that they are one very valuable tool that is available to us to combat the huge fire potential we have on Wrightsville Beach," said Fire Chief Frank Smith. "We'd like to start by educating folks so they understand that they are available, and potentially down the road we would ask the board to consider the option of sprinkler ordinances." [read more]

Huge blaze exacts large cost
APR 26/2006 - According to the Herald Sun, the biggest fire in more than a decade destroyed three factories, forced over 200 workers to flee and 400+ elderly patients to evacuate a neighboring Rehabilitation and Aged Care Centre. The fire sent a thick pall of acrid black smoke over Melbourne, Australia. MFB deputy chief fire officer Keith Adamson said a range of factors, including the lack of any installed fire protection contributed to the damage. [read more]

Nine escape fire; containment key
APR 26/2006 - According to Journal and Courier, nine people escaped safely when fire broke out at a Lafayette, Ind. group home for the developmentally disabled. "This is just a good example of what sprinklers and smoke detectors can do," assistant chief Jerry Reynolds of the Lafayette Fire Department said. "They did a super job." [read more]

Council votes on sprinkler measure
APR 19/2006 - According to KCCI Des Moines, fraternities and sororities at Iowa State University could soon be required to install sprinkler systems. The Ames City Council approved the first reading of a proposal with a 4-2 vote. It must pass two more readings before the systems are ordered to be installed. [read more]

Sprinkler extinguishes fire in home for elderly
APR 19/2006 - According to The Herald Dispatch, 19 senior citizens and staff of Sweet Run Personal Care Home in Kenova [W.V.] are moving back in a day after a fire forced staff and residents to evacuate due to a motor in the clothes dryer catching fire. "There was some smoke and a decent amount of water damage but the fire was basically put out itself with a sprinkler system," Klu Hardin, public information officer of the Kenova Volunteer Fire Department, said. "But everyone got out safe and nobody was hurt." [read more]

New Hampshire town debates its fate
APR 19/2006 - According to the Nashua Telegraph, the $57.3 million district budget recommended by the school board and budget committee passed, as did all warrant articles. Those articles included $650,000 for a fire sprinkler system at the Mastricola [N.H.] schools. [read more]

Clubs get extension on deadline to install sprinklers
APR 19/2006 - According to the Boston Globe, a number of nightclubs have received extensions on the July 1 deadline for installing sprinklers. Sprinklers and fire alarms are required at many nightclubs in an upgrade of the state fire code following the 2003 Station nightclub fire that killed 100 people in West Warwick [R.I.]. [read more].

Sprinkler system activates during fire, residents escape
APR 12/2006 - According to KATU, a fire suppression system automatically activated at a Vancouver, Washington apartment complex during the early morning hours Wednesday, and firefighters say it probably saved the lives of sleeping tenants. [read more]

UCONN funds sprinkler project in dorm

APR 12/2006 - According to WTNH, the University of Connecticut's board of trustees Tuesday approved money to install sprinklers in the attic of the huge Charter Oak Suites dormitory. The trustees set aside $605,000 to install the attic sprinklers this summer in Charter Oak Suites, a dorm complex that was put on a round-the-clock fire watch for several months this school year because of safety concerns. [read more]

Firefighters are pushing for sprinklers in dorms

APR 12/2006 - According to WNCT, ECU police are still trying to find the cause of last month's fire at Clement Hall. Meantime, some parents are upset there is not a sprinkler system in that building. Although sprinklers are in ECU's newer dorms, many of the older dorms do not have them. According to Greenville Fire-Rescue Chief Mike Burton, sprinklers not only help put out flames, but they eliminate the amount of smoke that spreads through the building. [read more]

Sprinklers Douse Dorm Fire

APR 05 /2006 - According to the Star Ledger, Montclair State University's Bohn Hall was quickly extinguished with the help of the building's sprinklers. No one was hurt, though about 700 students in the 16-floor building had to be evacuated. Firefighters searched the building and roused about 20 students who had never left. [read more]

"Campus Fire Safety Right To Know Act" Attached to H.R. 609; Passes House of Representatives

APR 05/2006 - According to the Congressional Fire Services Institute on March 30th, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act, H.R. 609, which reauthorizes programs under the Higher Education Act. Included in the legislation was a provision authored by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ), the "Campus Fire Safety Right to Know" Act, which amends the Higher Education Act to require colleges and universities to provide prospective and current students fire safety information on campuses. [read more]

Sprinklers Required in Greek Housing

APR 05/2006 - According to KCCI 8 Des Moines, fraternities and sororities at the University of Iowa have five years to install sprinkler systems. The city council approved the measure April 4. [read more]

Free Seminar for Home Builders and Developers

APR 05/2006 - According to Contractor Magazine, Tyco Fire & Building Products will offer training seminars in the installation, use and application of its Rapid Response home fire sprinkler system. Open to any residential builder or developer, the seminars will educate participants about new home sprinkler requirements, installation standards and Rapid Response design features. Two training seminars will take place at the TFBP's Research & Development Center in Cranston, R.I.: April 24-25 and June 26-27. The seminars are free to builders and developers, and food and lodging are provided. The only cost to participants is travel to and from Cranston. [read more]

May 2006

AFSA President Meets with NICET
MAY 31/2006 - AFSA President Steve Muncy has met with leaders of NICET to discuss protocols for implementing the partnership between AFSA and NICET under the Industry Partners Initiative. AFSA is NICET's first industry partner and has committed $100,000 in funds and in-kind services to NICET over the next three years for the redesign and validation of the Fire Protection Engineering Technology certification programs. AFSA will participate in the redesign and validation project, and will be recognized as a preferred training provider by NICET. For more information, see press release.

Florida Bill Extends High-Rise Retrofit Deadline
MAY 30/2006 - Baring a veto by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, recently passed Florida legislation will extend the high-rise retrofit date from 2014 to 2025. The fire service in Florida strongly opposed this legislation and many are urging the Florida Governor to exercise his veto power. For more details and information why this legislation should be vetoed, go to: http://www.firesprinkler.org/chapters/florida/hb391.htm

25th Annual AFSA Convention and Exhibition quickly approaching
MAY 26/2006 - AFSA’s 25th Annual Convention & Exhibition, Celebrating Silver, Going for Gold, is fast approaching. Set for September 6-10 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, this year's convention features: General Session with entertainment by comedian Jon Stetson, the 13th Annual Apprentice Competition, 25th Anniversary Celebration/Awards Banquet and Dance, Circle R Ranch Party and a golf tournament at the renowned Cowboys Golf Club. [Convention Info]

Illinois to require Fire-Safe Cigarettes
MAY 26/2006 - Illinois became the latest state to enhance public safety by requiring that all cigarettes sold in the state be “fire-safe.” Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into law the Cigarette Fire Safety Standard Act, which requires that, beginning in 2008, all cigarettes sold in the state be low-ignition strength. The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, officially launched in March, is coordinated by NFPA. AFSA is a member of that coalition. [read more]

Fire Sprinklers Save House Under Construction
MAY 26/2006 - According to the Rincon Valley (Ariz.) Fire District, fire sprinklers saved a single-family dwelling under construction. During the early hours of the morning, a small fire appears to have started in a construction site trashcan, ignited by spontaneous combustion. The system lacked a secure connection to the water supply and had an estimated five gallons of water left after a recent hydrostatic test. This small amount of water was able to extinguish the fire and prevent excessive damage to a million-dollar home. For more information, contact Steve Mosiurchak, Sonoma County Fire Inspector at 707-565-3474.

Ordinances on Houston suburb’s council agenda
MAY 26/2006 - According to the Herald-Coaster, the first matter to be addressed by the Rosenberg (Texas) City Council will be a proposed ordinance providing for the installation of approved automatic fire sprinkler systems in new and existing buildings, and a fine of up to $2,000 a day for violations. [read more]

Sprinklers urged for smaller buildings in Wisconsin
MAY 26/2006 - According to the Green Bay Press Gazette, a debate over life safety and fire sprinklers is expected this summer as Wisconsin looks at building codes and the possibility of requiring sprinklers in more buildings, including new multifamily residences down to three units. Fire officials say sprinklers can save lives and properties, while builders say new homes are built safer with fire suppression in mind and that sprinkler systems could drive up rent and purchase costs. [read more]

"Extreme Makeover" Home Edition to include Fire Sprinkler System
MAY 19/2006 - AFSA has just learned that a fire sprinkler system was installed in the house that will be featured on "Extreme Makeover/Home Edition" this Sunday. The homeowner lost her original home to fire. A.S. Barlin Associates Inc., Lincoln Park, NJ, an AFSA contractor member, is the sprinkler contractor who designed and installed the system. The home is located in Irvington, NJ. A fire sprinkler demonstration was taped for the show, hopefully it will be used.
Watch for the program: Extreme Makeover/Home Edition, Sundays 8/7central time, on ABC.

Fresno fire sprinkler plan moving forward
MAY 19/2006 - According to KFSN-TV Fresno, Ca., Fresno could soon have a new fire sprinkler law that could affect all new homes built in the city. The city council introduced a plan that would require new homes bigger than 5,000 square feet to have indoor sprinklers. Smaller homes would only be required to have one sprinkler in the kitchen.

Group challenges sprinkler use rates
MAY 19/2006 - According to Michigan Live, about 36 percent of the Michigan's nursing homes had complete sprinkler systems last year, compared with 83 percent nationwide, the American Health Care Association said. Sixteen states require full sprinkler systems in all nursing homes. [read more]

Fire chief sounds alarm
MAY 19/2006 - According to the Edmonton Journal, Fire Chief Randy Wolsey is sounding the alarm over the increasing practice of outfitting new homes with particle board and vinyl siding. Wolsey said Edmonton’s (Canada) building code regulations should be revised to permit the use of particle board only when it is properly protected. That can be done by giving it a fire-retardant coating, finishing the area with drywall or installing a sprinkler system. [read more]

Fire department envisions mandatory home sprinklers
MAY 19/2006 - According to the Mail Tribune, all new home construction in Medford, Ore. would include residential fire sprinklers and ultimately a city ordinance would require it if the Medford Fire Department gets its wish. Dan Patterson, Medford fire marshal, pitched in-home sprinkler systems to the Medford City Council, and invited members to a sprinkler presentation the department is sponsoring today. [read more]

Hotels rate poor on fire safety
MAY 19/2006 - According to the Richmond Review, when it comes to fire safety, local hotels booked themselves a poor grade from Richmond (B.C.) Fire-Rescue. Some cases, sprinkler systems weren’t annually tested for performance. Of Richmond’s 23 hotels, 16 are fully sprinklered, four are partially sprinklered.

Get technical news from AFSA
MAY 19/2006 - AFSA SprinklerNOTES is a special email list for those who do not want to participate in the interactive SprinklerFORUM, but want to receive the electronic version of AFSA TechTalk each month, as well as technical notices and updates. Subscribers can expect to receive five or six messages each month. Anyone interested in fire sprinklers and related issues is invited to subscribe. There is no charge for a subscription to the AFSA SprinklerNOTES. To subscribe, email sprinklernotes-request@firesprinkler.org and put the word “subscribe” in the subject field.

AFSA online buyers guide now available
MAY 10/2006 - AFSA is now publishing the Ultimate Fire Sprinkler Guide, which allows associate members to effectively reach more than 900 AFSA members including over 250 branch offices and contractor members. The Ultimate Fire Sprinkler Guide is the industry's largest, most comprehensive online database of manufacturers and suppliers! The online guide is a free service provided by AFSA and is fully searchable by product category and subcategory. Check it Out »

Sprinklers quell flames in Home Depot fire
MAY 10/2006 - According to the University of Maryland's Diamondback, a fire broke out at the College Park Home Depot, closing the store early at 6:45 pm and causing about $25,000 in damage. About 25 employees and customers were evacuated from the building when the fire was discovered. Prince George's County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady attributed the building's sprinkler system to controlling the fire. "You've got to give credit to the sprinkler system," Brady said. "It certainly did its job containing the fire until firefighters arrived." [read more]

Sprinklers might have saved apartment building
MAY 10/2006 - According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, a man who fell asleep with a cigarette was responsible for a $1 million fire that displaced 47 people. A residential sprinkler system in the building might have saved it, but firefighters weren't able to, Capt. Larry Wilson of the Green Bay Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau said. [read more]

California fire district tackling sprinkler violations
MAY 10/2006 - According to the Tahoe Daily Tribune, enforcement of a California fire code on sprinkler systems has phones at Lake Valley Fire Protection ringing with more frequency. The code states new developments should include a sprinkler system. "It goes with California Fire Code," said Chief Jeff Michael. "It's a life safety issue that we're dealing with." [read more]

Over 10,800 students enter online for AFSA scholarship contest
MAY 10/2006 - AFSA proudly announces its national winners in the AFSA National Scholarship Contest. The winning four contestants, out of 10,882 contest entries, were randomly selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship to be paid to their college/university. The AFSA Scholarship is an online contest with four $5,000 prizes. The four national winners include: Kasey L Arrington, Franklin County High School, Hardy, VA; Leah M Johnson, Lenape High School, Medford, NJ; Jenna Thiel, Flathead High School, Kalispell, Mont.; and Jennifer Way, Sierra Vista High School, Las Vegas, NV. For more information, read the article appearing the June issue of Sprinkler Age.

Inaugural Thomas S. Waller Memorial Scholarship awarded
MAY 10/2006 - The scholarship named in honor of the late Tom Waller recognizes excellence in academics and leadership and will be presented annually to a junior or senior majoring in the Fire Protection and Safety Technology Program at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla. The 2006 winner of the Thomas S. Waller Memorial Scholarship is Matthew Garner. Scholarship applications for the 2007-2008 academic year are available on the Center's Web site (www.clse.org). Visit the website for more information or to make a tax-deductible contribution to this scholarship fund.

Mequon could require sprinklers in homes
MAY 03/2006 - According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mequon is considering an ordinance that would be a first in Wisconsin: requiring fire sprinkler systems inside new homes. Under the ordinance being considered, sprinkler systems would be required in all new one- and two-family homes in Mequon. [read more]

Fire sprinkler douses flames in hospital fire
MAY 03/2006 - According to the Associated Press, a fire at South Austin Hospital (TX) triggered the room's fire sprinkler system that quickly doused the flames. Hospital Medical Director Steve Berkowitz says about 30 patients had to be moved to other rooms, a few were treated for minor smoke inhalation. Most of the hospital's operations continue as scheduled. [read more]

Superintendent grapples with sprinkler issue
MAY 03/2006 - According to the Orlando Sentinel, Clermont (Fla.) Superintendent Anna Cowin said bids for a sprinkler system for their school's portable classrooms are too expensive. A sprinkler system for Cypress Ridge Elementary portables will cost $600,000, Cowin says, but reports say otherwise. Clermont Fire Marshal Paul Anderson said the building needs to be to code before classes begin in August. Otherwise, he said, it is possible the school could be shut down. [read more]

Fires extinguished by sprinklers
MAY 03/2006 - According to the Gilroy Dispatch, fire sprinklers successfully extinguished two potential structure fires this month in Gilroy, Calif. City officials remind residents that sprinkler systems have a proven track record for saving property and lives. [read more]

June 2006

Bill would exempt R.I. churches from sprinkler requirements
JUN 27/2006 - According to the Boston Globe, Rhode Island lawmakers are considering a bill that would exempt places of worship from having to install sprinklers, a requirement most large places of assembly have to comply with. The bill is scheduled for a House vote, almost a week after a fire in Fall River, Mass., killed four people and injured at least a dozen who had gathered at a Portuguese social club to pray the rosary ahead of an annual religious festival. [more info]

Firefighters push for more sprinkler systems
JUN 27/2006 - According to ABC affiliate WBAY 2, the Green Bay (Wisc.) Fire Department says fewer than 500 of the tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the city have fire sprinkler systems. Firefighters are going to set fire to two rooms. One has sprinklers, the other does not. Firefighters hope the demonstration opens some eyes about the importance of installing sprinkler systems in businesses. [more info]

‘Sprinkler system did its job’ says assistant fire marshal
JUN 27/2006 - According to the Fort Dodge Messenger, a woman suffered smoke inhalation when a fire broke out in her Fort Dodge (Iowa) apartment. The fire in her second floor apartment was put out by the building’s sprinkler system. ‘‘The sprinkler system did its job,’’ said Assistant Fire Chief Woody Wolfe. ‘‘That’s what they put them in for.’’ Thanks to the sprinklers, firefighters didn’t need to use any hose to put out the fire at Northridge Apartments. [more info]

Careless smoking displaces Alzheimer's patients
JUN 27/2006 - According to NBC 4 in Washington, D.C., Montgomery County fire investigators say a fire that displaced dozens of Alzheimer's disease patients in Kensington, Md., was started by a careless smoker. No one was injured in the blaze at Manor Care's Arden Courts, but 56 patients had to be moved to other homes. The living quarters were protected by a sprinkler system and were not damaged. [more info]

Only one Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School left in 2006!
JUN 27/2006 - The October Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School is now sold out. This leaves just the December 4-15 class left in 2006 - there are currently 14 spots available as of today. The cost of attending AFSA’s Beginning Fire Sprinkler Planning School is $1200 for AFSA members and $1700 for non-members. Early birds may deduct $200, if paid in-full 30 days prior to beginning date of the school.

CLSE Virtual Seminar Answers Questions for AHJs and Contractors
JUN 27/2006 - On Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time, the Center For Life Safety Education (CLSE), an educational affiliate of the American Fire Sprinkler Association, will present a 90-minute telephone seminar entitled “UL Listings and FM Approvals,” which will benefit fire department and building code authorities who inspect or approve fire sprinkler systems, as well as the contractors and layout technicians who design and install the systems. Presented by experts from Underwriters Laboratories and FM Global, this seminar will help the listener better understand some of the subtle, but critical differences between NFPA 13 and specific requirements of products that carry UL Listings and/or FM Approvals and how that affects fire sprinkler system layout. It will also explain the background behind these two organizations that list and/or approve specific products for the fire sprinkler industry and how the process works. Don’t miss the opportunity to earn 0.15 CEUs. You can also earn 1.5 CPDs if applicable to your skill level as determined by NICET.

Nursing Home Fire Safety Act Introduced in Senate
JUN 20/2006 - Senators Christopher Dodd (D.-CT) and Richard Burr (R.-NC) have introduced the Nursing Home Fire Safety Act (S.3489). Attempting to address the issue that many nursing homes lack the financial capital to install automatic fire sprinkler systems, the bill would provide direct loans for this purpose. The legislation also declares as a "sense of Congress" that (1) within 5 years, every nursing facility in America should be equipped with automatic fire sprinklers in order to ensure patient, resident, and staff safety; (2) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should quickly adopt the 2006 edition of the Life Safety Code, recently issued by the National Fire Protection Association with the support of the nursing home industry, which includes the requirement that all nursing facilities be fully sprinklered; and (3) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in collaboration with Congress, should take into consideration the costs of retrofitting existing nursing home facilities and commit itself to providing facilities with the critical financial resources necessary to ensure the speedy and full installation of life saving sprinkler systems. Similar legislation was introduced in the U. S. House of Representatives as HR 4491 in December, 2005.

Sprinkler Ordinance Approved; Applies to New Homes that Rise Over 20 Feet
JUN 20/2006 - Ocean Springs (Miss.) is trying to stamp out fires before they become towering infernos, and Tuesday the city Board of Aldermen adopted an automatic sprinkler ordinance for certain types of new construction. The ordinance applies to strip malls, office complexes, and comparable developments of more than 12,000 square feet. The rule also would require sprinklers on multifamily housing that has more than three units, among other provisions. [more info]

AFSA Urges Action After Richmond Fire
JUN 20/2006 - Responding to a fatal fire in Richmond on May 29th, AFSA President Steve Muncy has urged the American Retirement Corp. to install sprinklers. In a letter to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Muncy said "If the three preceding fire deaths at the property in 1978 and 2001 haven't yet convinced the American Retirement Corporation to protect its senior residents with fire sprinklers, perhaps this latest tragedy finally will....Sadly, even those who do know history are sometimes destined to repeat it. Are five fire deaths enough? How many more people need to die in fires at the Imperial Plaza to convince the American Retirement Corporation that it's time for sprinklers?" Criticizing comments in a May 30th Richmond Times-Dispatch article on the tragedy, Muncy noted "The Fire Marshal correctly points out that sprinklers are activated by the heat of flames, not smoke. But what wasn't made clear in the attribution is that the sprinkler's quick response to a fire while it is still small not only controls or extinguishes flames, it also helps to control the spread of heat and toxic gases, and that saves lives. Smoke detection and alarm systems are essential; but they can only detect and announce a fire, they cannot extinguish it."

AFSA Reps Elected to NFPA Section Boards
JUN 20/2006 - Roland Huggins, AFSA Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services, and Janet Knowles, AFSA Executive Vice President, have been elected to leadership positions in two prominent NFPA sections. Huggins becomes the new chairman of the Executive Board of NFPA's Building Fire Safety Systems Section, and Knowles has been elected to a new two-year term on the Executive Board of the NFPA Education Section. AFSA President Steve Muncy continues to serve on the NFPA Board of Directors.

First President of AFSA’s Carolinas chapter dies
JUN 20/2006 - Dorrell Wesley Ford, age 83, of Fort Mill, SC died March 9, 2006 in Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC. He was born September 11, 1922 in Paducah, KY.
Mr. Ford was the owner of Queen City Automatic Sprinkler Corp. He was the first President of the AFSA Carolinas chapter and also served in leadership positions with many organizations including the Charlotte Optimist Club, American Sub-contractors Association, Salvation Army Red Shield Boys Council, and Executive Association of Greater Charlotte. Survivors include wife, Patricia O. Ford of Fort Mill, SC; daughters and sons-in-law, Robin and Sam Temples, Gilbert, SC, Laurie and Lee Hemion, Charlotte, NC and Cheryl Duke, York; sister, Elise Bode, Myrtle Beach, SC; grandchildren, Vance, Scott (Chrissy), and James (Shelley) McNabb, Christian and Michelle Hemion and Domonic Buglione; three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, 534 Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC 28206 or Church of the Good Shephard, 108 East Liberty St., York, SC 29745.

Earn $100 just for sponsoring a new member
JUN 20/2006 - Sponsor a new contractor or associate member and AFSA will send you a Visa gift card worth $100 that can be spent anywhere Visa is honored. $100 is DOUBLE the amount that was offered the last several years. For each new contractor and/or associate member you sponsor between April 1 and September 30, 2006, you will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card accepted for goods and services worldwide. Also, for each new contractor and/or associate member you sponsor your name will be entered into a drawing for a $1000 cash prize. The rewards for signing up new members are quick, easy and simple. Sponsor a new member and enjoy the fun you have earned!

AFSA Urges Action After Richmond Fire
JUN 12/2006 - Responding to a fatal fire in Richmond on May 29th, AFSA President Steve Muncy has urged the American Retirement Corp. to install sprinklers. In a letter to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Muncy said "If the three preceding fire deaths at the property in 1978 and 2001 haven’t yet convinced the American Retirement Corporation to protect its senior residents with fire sprinklers, perhaps this latest tragedy finally will....Sadly, even those who do know history are sometimes destined to repeat it. Are five fire deaths enough? How many more people need to die in fires at the Imperial Plaza to convince the American Retirement Corporation that it’s time for sprinklers?" Criticizing comments in a May 30th Richmond Times-Dispatch article on the tragedy, Muncy noted "The Fire Marshal correctly points out that sprinklers are activated by the heat of flames, not smoke. But what wasn’t made clear in the attribution is that the sprinkler’s quick response to a fire while it is still small not only controls or extinguishes flames, it also helps to control the spread of heat and toxic gases, and that saves lives. Smoke detection and alarm systems are essential; but they can only detect and announce a fire, they cannot extinguish it."

AFSA Reps Elected to NFPA Section Boards

JUN 09/2006 - Roland Huggins, AFSA Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services, and Janet Knowles, AFSA Executive Vice President, have been elected to leadership positions in two prominent NFPA sections. Huggins becomes the new chairman of the Executive Board of NFPA's Building Fire Safety Systems Section, and Knowles has been elected to a new two-year term on the Board of the NFPA Education Section. AFSA President Steve Muncy continues to serve on the NFPA Board of Directors.

Key to better nursing home safety is funding
JUN 07/2006 - According to The Detroit News, three congressmen--Rep. Joe Schwarz, R-Battle Creek; Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee; and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia--are the only members of the Michigan delegation to co-sponsor the Nursing Home Fire Safety Act. This important legislation would provide low-interest loans and some grants for facilities to install automatic fire sprinkler systems. [more info]

Fire sprinkler benefits explored by city council
JUN 07/2006 - According to the Delmarva Daily-Times, automatic sprinkler systems maybe mandated in Salisbury (Md.) if Salisbury Fire Chief David See has his way with the city council. See would like the council to support sprinkler systems in all new residential construction. The sprinkler system initiative was launched statewide by the Maryland State Fire Marshals Office, and has been endorsed by the state Sprinkler Task Force. [more info] http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060606/NEWS01/606060325/1002

Fatal fires at Imperial Plaza show need for sprinkler law
JUN 07/2006 - According to the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch, Richmond Mayor Doug Wilder announced that he will seek legislation from the General Assembly enabling localities to require sprinklers in high-rise buildings built before the mid-1970s. Bill Jones, treasurer of the Virginia chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association, thinks it's possible the General Assembly will begin requiring water sprinkler systems retroactively in old retirement homes. [more info]

Sprinkler system saves first house under ordinance
JUN 07/2006 - According their Web site, the Mount Airy (Md.) Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a fire out investigation in the Sterling Glen section of town. Upon arrival, it was found that a candle had been accidentally left burning on a coffee table in the living area of the home. After only a very short burn, the fire as extinguished by a lone sprinkler. This particular home is in the first development that was required to have residential sprinklers in single-family houses under the law adopted in January of 2003. This is the first fire recorded in a sprinklered home required by the ordinance. [more info]

AFSA & NFPA present virtual seminar
JUN 07/2006 - AFSA and NFPA will partner together on June 20 to present a virtual seminar on "NFPA 13R & 13D Major Proposed Technical Changes for the 2007 Editions." NFPA’s Chris Dubay P.E. will present information on NFPA 13D installation, design and acceptance requirements for pumps, NFPA 13D requirements for listed dry pipe residential sprinkler systems, NFPA 13D and NFPA 13R spacing and obstruction rules addressing sloped ceilings, ceiling pockets, ceiling fans and kitchen cabinets, NFPA 13R requirements for utilizing Quick response sprinklers, NFPA 13R requirements addressing architectural features within the dwelling unit and NFPA 13R requirements which are applicable from NFPA 13 to NFPA 13R applications. This very popular seminar already has over 100 individuals registered to participate and is expected to double in registration by June 20. Registration is still open up until the day before the seminar begins.

Record number of apprentices participate in AFSA's Apprentice Competition
JUN 07/2006 - This year, 135 apprentices from all over the country participated in the 13th Annual Apprentice competition Phase I on Saturday, June 3. This breaks an all-time record of participation in this competition. This phase included a written exam covering Levels I, II, and III of the AFSA Sprinkler Fitter Correspondence Course. The top 7 scoring apprentices will go on to the finals held at the AFSA annual convention Sept. 6-10 in Dallas/Fort Worth.

FLORIDA CONTRACTORS' LAST CHANCE TO EARN CEU'S
JUN 06/2006 - AFSA's Florida Chapter has wrapped up its final seminar series offering Florida approved CEUs before the June 30 deadline. If you were not able to attend, and require additional CEU points, make plans to attend the week-long seminar series (June 19 - 23) in Columbia, South Carolina. These seminars are sponsored by the South Carolina Fire Sprinkler Association, presented by AFSA. Each seminar is approved by the State of Florida for various Contractor Categories. Contact Leslie Joplin at (214) 349-5965, ext. 130.

July 2006

Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation Issues Press Release Concerning Counterfeit Fire Sprinkler
JUL 25/2006 - In a letter dated July 20, 2006, Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation Executive Vice President Steven R. Worthington wrote: Recently Underwriters Laboratories issued a press release concerning counterfeited Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation Model GL5651 (5mm1/2" x 1/2" chrome 155°F pendent sprinkler heads). Although we are grateful UL decided to alert the industry concerning the counterfeiting, Globe feels that additional clarification is needed to avoid confusion concerning this matter.
Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation has been working closely with UL and other USA based sprinkler manufacturers concerning the counterfeit sprinklers being produced in China. In Globe's case, the model GL5651 1/2" x 1/2" 5mm 155°F chrome pendent sprinklers were manufactured in China, shipped to India, and then reshipped to Kuwait. It is our belief that the extent of the counterfeit Globe sprinkler heads have only been found in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Spain and parts of Easter Europe. Subsequently, we are not aware of any counterfeit Globe Sprinkler heads entering the United States and /or Canada.
If you have any additional questions concerning the UL press release, please feel free to contact Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation at (989) 846-4583.

Laconia, N.H. Adopting Sprinkler Mandate
JUL 25/2006 - According to the Citizen, in what Fire Chief Ken Erickson described as an action that will protect lives and property, the Laconia, N.H. City Council has passed an ordinance requiring sprinkler systems in some new homes and buildings. The new ordinance requires sprinklers to be installed in residences in excess of 4,000 square feet, in commercial buildings over 8,000 square feet, as well as in new homes of any size that are built on a dead-end street or on a driveway that is longer than 700 feet. [more info]

UL Warns of Counterfeit UL Listed Automatic Fire Sprinklers
JUL 21/2006 - Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is notifying consumers, distributors and property owners of chrome plated automatic fire sprinklers that bear a counterfeit UL Mark for the United States and Canada. Although marked with the word "Globe," these sprinklers are not manufactured by Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation and have not been evaluated for safety by UL. UL Listed sprinklers manufactured by Globe Fire Sprinkler Corp. contain a hex head screw and a Job G5 glass bulb, whereas the sprinklers with the counterfeit UL Mark are manufactured with a slot head screw and a Job F5 glass bulb. UL recommends that the sprinklers be replaced by qualified service personnel and returned to the place of purchase. [more info]

Fruitland, Md. to Require Sprinkler Systems in New Duplexes
JUL 21/2006 - According to the Daily Times, new single-family homes will not need sprinkler systems, but residential duplexes will, after council members unanimously approved the measure. All townhomes and multifamily structures must have sprinkler systems under state law, but only a handful of localities have stricter ordinances. Salisbury, Md. is also considering a similar sprinkler law and is expected to act on it later this year. [more info]

Sprinkler Systems Topic of Workshop
JUL 21/2006 - According to The Frederick News-Post, New Frederick, Md. residences could get more fire protection. In a workshop, Mayor Jeff Holtzinger and the Board of Aldermen discussed creating an ordinance that would require all new one- and two-family dwellings to be equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems–not just townhouses, apartments and condominiums, where they are now required. [more info]

Proposed Height Increases Could Affect Mississippi’s Fire Rating
JUL 21/2006 - According to Mississippi Press, fire officials will meet next Tuesday with the Mississippi State Rating Bureau to better understand what will be required if the 35-foot building height restriction is lifted. Jackson County Supervisor John McKay, a Chevron refinery retiree, wants all options reviewed, such as requiring sprinkler systems and fire-retardant building materials. [more info]

Louisiana Passes Nursing Home Sprinkler Law
JUL 17/2006 - According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed into law House Bill 204 introduced by Rep. Willie Hunter, D-Monroe, requiring all Louisiana nursing homes to install automatic fire sprinkler systems by Jan. 1, 2008. The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates that 69 of the state's 275 nursing homes are out of compliance with the provisions of the bill and will have to install or upgrade their sprinkler systems. [more info]

Sprinklers Spreading
JUL 17/2006 - According to the Arizona Daily Star, some Tuscon-area fire officials have begun requiring residential sprinkler systems, generally in homes larger than a certain size, though other circumstances also can lead to the requirement. In May, one inspector checked 113 homes and 65 commercial buildings and did 28 plan reviews, said John Sullivan, battalion chief for Golder Ranch Fire District. Two other inspectors carried similar workloads, he said. [more info]

Fire Sprinkler Saved Local Business
JUL 17/2006 - According to WTVY Dothan (Ala.), Fire Marshals say the fire occurred at Chinese Buffet was extinguished by the building’s fire sprinkler system. Asst. Fire Marshall Chris Etheredge said, “Sprinkler systems are not just for businesses. They can be for residential areas. Sprinkler System workers say at construction they can cost less that two dollars a square foot. In comparison, it’s a small price in comparison to what it is protecting 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” [more info]

Condos Move Toward Sprinkler Law Compliance
JUL 17/2006 - According to Ocean City Today, in 2005, the Ocean City, Md. City Council adopted an amendment to the fire code that requires all buildings more than 75 feet tall install an automatic sprinkler system. The Fire Marshal’s Office sent a notice to the affected condo buildings in November, granting those sites six months to reply with a letter of intent to comply with the regulation. The condos now have 30 months (36 from the initial notice) to draft a concrete set of plans on what they will do to meet the code and submit it back to the Fire Marshal’s Office. [more info]

Officials Say Sprinkler System Helps Contain Williston, N.D. Store Fire
JUL 17/2006 - According to the Grand Forks Herald, a sprinkler system helped control a fire at the Economart grocery store, officials said. No one was hurt. "The sprinkler system did save the building," Williston (N.D.) Fire Chief Jim Jarland said. [more info]

The Fire Sprinkler Contractors Association of Nebraska and AFSA Present 3-day Seminar in Lincoln, Nebraska
JUL 12/2006 - The fire Sprinkler Contractors Association of Nebraska and the AFSA will present a 3-day seminar series in Lincoln, NE, August 7-9, 2006. Topics will include NFPA 13, Chapter 8 (2002 Ed.), Plan Review, and NFPA 25 (2002 Ed.). Russ Leavitt, S.E.T., will present the seminars at the State Office Building in Lincoln. This seminar is open to all interested parties and is FREE to AHJs who register in advance. Download registration form for details.

Sprinkler law passed over builders' opposition
JUL 07/2006 - According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, North Strabane (Pa.) supervisors approved a mandatory sprinkler ordinance in new houses that are built with a side yard separation of 25 feet or less. The ordinance passed 4-0. Supervisor William A. Brooks abstained from voting because, he said, he did not attend a previous meeting at which objections were raised by home builders. [more info]

California builders are playing with fire by suing
JUL 07/2006 - According to the Fresno Bee, building-industry lobbyists say the new sprinkler law will drive up costs and prevent low- and moderate-income families from purchasing homes. Fresno, Calif Fire Chief says the lawsuit won't slow down new-home construction because the city is training plumbing and construction inspectors on what to look for on sprinklers. The law requires kitchen sprinklers in new houses and full systems in homes larger than 5,000 square feet and multifamily dwellings with three or more residences. [more info]

Buckeye fire official wants rule changed
JUL 07/2006 - According to The Arizona Republic, the Buckeye assistant fire chief recently asked the council to adopt a new ordinance that would take the town's sprinkler ordinance passed four years ago and place it under the fire code. The switch would not change that requirement but would make it possible for businesses to get started on implementing a sprinkler system even if they didn't yet have a water source. [more info]

Maryland city may require sprinklers in new homes
JUL 07/2006 - According to the Daily Times, Salisbury, Md. city officials could pass an ordinance requiring the installation of sprinklers in newly constructed single-family homes and duplexes. One month ago, local fire officials proposed the ordinance to city officials and now they're informing their department and others of the system's benefits. The statewide initiative from the Maryland State Firemen's Association and the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office to install sprinklers in residential construction began in 1980. [more info]

Pets saved by single sprinkler
JUL 07/2006 - According to the Record-Searchlight, a Redding, Calif. pet store caught fire Tuesday, but none of the animals were hurt thanks to an effective sprinkler system. One sprinkler put out the fire by pumping 10 to 15 gallons of water per minute onto the flames before two fire engines and firefighters arrived, Deputy Fire Marshall Bruce Becker said.[more info]

CLSE Virtual Seminar Answers Questions for AHJs and Contractors
JUL 07/2006 - On Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time, the Center For Life Safety Education (CLSE), an educational affiliate of the American Fire Sprinkler Association, will present a 90-minute telephone seminar entitled “UL Listings and FM Approvals,” which will benefit fire department and building code authorities who inspect or approve fire sprinkler systems, as well as the contractors and layout technicians who design and install the systems. Presented by experts from Underwriters Laboratories and FM Global, this seminar will help the listener better understand some of the subtle, but critical differences between NFPA 13 and specific requirements of products that carry UL Listings and/or FM Approvals and how that affects fire sprinkler system layout. It will also explain the background behind these two organizations that list and/or approve specific products for the fire sprinkler industry and how the process works. Don’t miss the opportunity to earn 0.15 CEUs. You can also earn 1.5 CPDs if applicable to your skill level as determined by NICET. [more info]

Florida Governor Jeb Bush Vetoes Increase in Sprinkler Deadline
JUL 01/2006 - According to the Palm Beach Post, Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed a bill that would have pushed back from 2014 to 2025 the date by which condominium common areas must be retrofitted with fire sprinkler systems, an "arbitrary postponement of an already distant timeframe" and an "unacceptable safety risk, especially to Florida's many elderly condominium residents," Bush wrote. [more info]

Discounts Offered for Quincy Buildings Protected by Fire-safety Technology
JUL 01/2006 - According to the Quincy Herald-Whig, the city council agreed to provide fire protection services for Knapheide Manufacturing's facility in West Quincy (Mass.). This marks the first time the city has contracted to provide fire services outside the city limits. Under a plan worked out by fire officials, the department will charge contracted entities 8 cents a square foot for residential properties, 6 cents a foot for commercial and 4 cents for industrial. Discounts will be offered for businesses with sprinkler systems. [more info]

Sprinkler Ordinance Receives Second Public Hearing
JUL 01/2006 - According to the Fort Bend Herald-Coaster, the Rosenberg (Texas) City Council meeting will include a second public hearing regarding an ordinance amendment providing for the installation of approved automatic fire sprinkler systems in new and existing buildings, which would include a fine of up to $2,000 per day for violations. [more info]

Maryland Firemen Hope County Passes Sprinkler Measure
JUL 01/2006 - According to the Frederick News-Post, on July 18, the Frederick (Md.) County Board of County Commissioners will host a public hearing to discuss an ordinance that would require sprinkler systems in all new homes in Frederick County. The sprinkler systems, which must be maintained according to Frederick County Fire Prevention Code standards, must be installed in all new residential occupancies, including one- and two-family homes, mobile homes and modular homes. [more info]

Oregon Counties Have Adopted Sprinkler Rule
JUL 01/2006 - According to The Oregonian, The building codes division adopted a compromise between builders and local fire protection agencies. Local jurisdictions can require sprinklers in new construction of multifamily buildings of more than one level, including basements. Within a couple of years, all nine cities in the Tualatin Valley fire district, which is the largest in the state and serves Washington County and parts of Multnomah and Clackamas counties, adopted local sprinkler amendments. Portland recently adopted the sprinkler rule. [more info]

3-Alarm Blaze Leaves One Dead, 100 Homeless
JUL 01/2006 - According to KOMO-TV Seattle (Wash.), one person was killed and about 100 people were left homeless after a fire destroyed an apartment complex in University Place. Fire department officials at the scene said the building did not have a sprinkler system. [more info] http://www.komotv.com/news/story_m.asp?ID=44083

AFSA Exhibition Spaces is Going Fast! Reserve Your Space Now!
JUL 01/2006 - As of the beginning of June, 130 booths will be occupied with over 100 companies exhibiting. This is more space reserved at this time of the year than ever before. As the most popular fire sprinkler industry exhibition in the country, this number is expected to grow. AFSA receives calls daily from companies interested in displaying products and services at this show.

CLSE and NFPA Present "NFPA 13-Changes for the 2007 Editions"
JUL 01/2006 - On Wednesday, August 9, 2006, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time, the Center For Life Safety Education (CLSE), an educational affiliate of the American Fire Sprinkler Association, in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will present a 90-minute telephone seminar entitled "NFPA 13-Changes for the 2007 Edition," which will benefit fire department and building code authorities who inspect or approve fire sprinkler systems, as well as the contractors and layout technicians who design and install the systems. Presented by Bob Caputo, who represents AFSA on the NFPA 13 Installation Committee, this virtual seminar will be a precursor to the live presentation at the AFSA Convention in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas and will help the listener better understand some of the subtle, but critical differences in the 2007 ed. of NFPA 13. [more info]