NFSA 2004 News Archives
Jan
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January 2004 Top of Page
 
Two New Professional Engineers at NFSA
The number of PE’s on the NFSA headquarters technical staff doubled at the end of 2003 as both Victoria Valentine and Kevin Kelly passed their examinations and were licensed as professional engineers.  Both took the specialty examination for fire protection engineering, but Victoria took it in the State of Connecticut and Kevin in New York, meaning that they will initially be licensed in those different states.
Vicky has been with the NFSA since her graduation with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in June of 2000, and serves as the Manager of Product Standards. She completed her master’s degree in fire protection engineering at WPI while working for the Association.
Kevin is a 1993 graduate of the fire protection engineering program at the University of Maryland. He came to the Association in September of 2000 as Manager of Installation Standards and was appointed Manager of Codes in 2003 following the retirement of Gene Endthoff.
Congratulations to both Vicky and Kevin on a significant professional accomplishment, one that will enhance the value of their services to the NFSA membership.
Board of Directors Election Results Announced
Jan. 4, 2004 - It was a good year for incumbents as three NFSA member contractors ran unopposed for new terms as Area Directors.Their election means that they will be able to represent contractors from their respective geographic areas for an additional three years on the NFSA Board of Directors. The re-elected Directors are:
Claude Chafin of Security Fire Protection in Memphis, Tennessee, representing NFSA members contractors in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Dennis Coleman of Engineered Fie Protection in St. Louis, Missouri, representing NFSA member contractors in the states of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Noth Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri and Wyoming.
Ed Elek of Cosco Fire Protection in Los Angeles, California, representing NFSA member contractors in the states of California and Hawaii.
Berkelhammer, Cabral and Kitts Re-Elected to SAM Council
In a very tight race involving eight candidates, three incumbents were re-elected to the NFSA Supplier and Manufacturer (SAM) Council.  Their new terms will keep them on the Council through the end of 2006.  Mike Berkelhammer of United Brass Works, Inc. is the only remaining charter member of the SAM Council, having served as its past Chairman and representative to the NFSA Board of Directors.  The other re-elected members are Mike Cabral of Potter Electric Signal and Chuck Kitts of System Sensor, both of whom are active on various committees of the Board.  The elections were conducted during the month of December.
Congratulations to Mike, Mike and Chuck on their election, and to all the SAM members who indicated a willingness to serve the Association in this way.
President John Viniello Says Recent Tragedies Mandate Change
Jan. 26, 2004 - "The grizzly news that a motel fire in Greenville, SC had claimed six lives Sunday morning because fire sprinklers were not installed due to a code "grandfather" clause is a chilling reminder of the need to continue our efforts to ensure that existing and future laws are not allowed to endanger lives and property" noted NFSA President, John Viniello in a statement issued today.
He reflected on the six deaths in the Chicago high-rise office building, the eleven lives lost in a Nashville elderly facility and the five lost in a Maryville, TN elderly care center and this tragedy, all barely within a three month span,  and noted, "State and local governments have to review the justification for exempting buildings from fire codes and these events emphasize the need for action on the legislation pending in Congress that would provide tax relief for retrofitting older buildings with automatic fire sprinklers.  The time has passed for permitting interest groups to try to hide behind inflated cost estimates while ignoring the cost and value of losing human lives."
Engineering Society Responds Supporting Passage of Fire Sprinkler Legislation
Jan. 27, 2004 - Fresh on the heals of NFSA President John Viniello's call for action, the American Society of Safety Engineers through their President, James "Skipper" Kendrick, CSP, announced ASSE's support for the 'Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003,' S. 1566 and HR 1824, being considered by Congress.
     In letters to U.S. Senator Jon Corzine (NJ) and Representative Curt Weldon (PA), sponsors of the bills, Kendrick stated, "Without doubt, fire sprinklers save lives, and, when they are not present in structures, needless deaths occur. A sprinkler system will help control a fire, if not extinguish it, in its earliest stages."
     The occupational safety, health and environmental professional members of ASSE are committed to protecting people, property and the environment. They work day in and day out identifying hazards and implementing safety advances in all industries and at all workplaces to ensure that the millions of people who go to work every day return home safe and healthy.
     "By allowing businesses to take a five-year instead of the current 39-year depreciation for their investment in fire sprinkler systems under the Internal Revenue Code, the 'Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003' will encourage businesses to make this investment in safety, especially those businesses in older buildings typically not required to meet more modern building and safety codes," Kendrick stated. "This incentive will help our members do their jobs, which is to help save lives and prevent injuries in workplaces."
     Kendrick closed the letter by writing, "thank you for taking the necessary leadership in bringing this life-saving issue forward, we look forward to working with you to help ensure its passage in the 108th Congress."
A Tale of Two Cities - Life or Death Determined by Fire Sprinklers
Jan 28, 2004 - Exactly one week after five lives were lost in a Maryville, TN elderly care facility fire, an automatic fire sprinkler system proved once again its ability to save lives in an eight story assisted living building in Clackamas, OR. “Though the fire was small, the outcome could have been horrifying with multiple fatalities and extensive fire damage if it was not for the building’s sprinkler system,” said Jamie Karn, spokesperson for the Clackamas County Fire District. A single sprinkler head activated in a seventh floor kitchen area and doused the fire even before the arrival of firefighters.
Initiative For Fire Sprinkler Tax Break - Get Involved!
     The NFSA is calling for support of the passage of critical legislation that will provide a substantial tax benefit to building owners who install or retrofit property with fire sprinklers.  Rep.  Curt Weldon (R-PA) and Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) introduced HR 1824 on April 11, 2003. The bill  would amend the 1986 Internal Revenue Code to classify automatic fire sprinkler systems as five year  property for the purpose of depreciation. The shorter period of depreciation will encourage the retrofit of existing depreciable property by offering a quicker "pay back." For instance, a sprinkler system  that costs $100,000 can, if this legislation is passed, be depreciated at $44,000 in the first year with the remainder deducted over the balance of the five years as opposed to the current tax treatment which can take up to 39 years for the full depreciation in some cases.
     You can download a copy of the Bill as well as the white paper and executive summary prepared  by the Ad Hoc Industry Committee from the link on the top of this page.  In addition, you will be able to connect to the NFSA website that will enable you to send a letter of support directly to the House Ways and Means Committee.  Now is the time to get involved and support your industry!! 
Write Your Congressman - Get Bill Information 

February 2004Top of Page

Viniello Letter Prompts Editorial
Following a dorm fire at Purchase College that, fortunately, did not result in any fatalities, NFSA President John Viniello wrote a letter to the Editor of the Gannett News Journal urging parents to demand fire sprinkler protection in residence facilities located at the nation's colleges and universities.  This past week, the paper printed an Editorial strongly supporting sprinkler installation in dormitories and unequivocally laid the obligation on the schools to undertake the installations.
Read the Editorial
Read the Letter

RELIABLE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TO RELOCATE
Feb. 19, 2004 – Seeking enhanced operating efficiencies to remain globally competitive, especially in light of the recessionary period of the last three years, and to provide efficient capacity for anticipated future growth. The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc. today announced it will consolidate and relocate its manufacturing, product development and several support functions from Mount Vernon, N.Y., to a new industrial plant to be built in Pickens County, South Carolina toward the end of 2004. 
“Reliable has become a global leader in the manufacture of fire sprinklers in part due to the hard work and dedication of the excellent employees we have been blessed with since locating in Westchester County in 1937,” said President Frank J. Fee III, whose grandfather, Frank J. Fee, founded the company in New York City in 1920. 
Read the press release here!
NFSA Spearheads Support for the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act
Working in conjunction with staff of Congressman Weldon, Langevin, CFSI and the lobbying firm of Fierce and Isakowitz, the NFSA/Labor Fire Sprinkler Alliance has intensified it’s efforts to secure federal legislation to provide a tax incentive for the installation of fire sprinkler systems. As a result of the stepped up activity, significant new advances have been achieved this week as follows:
This week we were notified by staff of Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), of his intention to introduce a new Senate version of the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003 that was introduced in the House by Congressman Curt Weldon last spring. We are very excited to receive this news, as Senator Santorum is himself a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which is the committee that the bill will be referred to. We have been working with staff of Senator Santorum since back during the holiday recess and a lion’s share of the credit should go to Wayne Miller, Business Manager for Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 692 of Philadelphia, who was instrumental in brokering the arrangement.
Through the efforts of Fierce and Isakowitz, NFSA Comptroller Jeanne Kozlowski and myself, along with Josh Dozor of Congressman Weldon’s office and Bill Webb of CFSI, met on Thursday, February 19, with Mr. Greg Nickerson, Tax Counsel for the Committee on Ways and Means, to discuss House Bill HR 1824. As a result, we will be seeking a meeting with the member of the Joint Tax Committee who originally scored HR 1824 to discuss a possible re-scoring of the bill’s effect on federal revenue. In light of the recent intense focus on the national deficit, achieving a new score could be extremely important in efforts to move HR 1824 through the Ways and Means Committee.
With the addition of three new cosponsors this week, the total of cosponsors of HR 1824 has climbed to 109.
Summary of Recent Activity


March 2004 Top of Page

NFSA to host “Steel Pipe Crisis” Seminar On-line
Thursday, March 4, 2004, Patterson, New York – The steel industry is experiencing shortages in supplies and as a result it is causing a crisis situation for the sprinkler industry bordering on epic proportions. Fire sprinkler contractors from around the country are reporting unprecedented hikes in the cost of steel pipe. The situation is so bad in some areas that contractors are being told that orders for steel pipe will not be taken after April. Whether is it fierce demand from foreign markets, mine fires at the source of raw materials or combinations of factors, manufacturers simply are not able to meet supply demands.
To address the issue, the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) has announced it will host a special on-line seminar on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Entitled “Steel Pipe Crisis,” the seminar will address issues affected by the uncertain cost and supply of steel pipe such as; bidding new work, backlog management, material escalators, contract language, and what other trades are doing in response to the crisis.
To deliver the seminar, NFSA has pulled together a forum of experts including Bob Bussiere from Allied Tube & Conduit and Mike Berkelhammer from United Brass Works – both are members of NFSA’s Supplier and Manufacturers (SAM) Council.
Obviously, due to the urgency of the subject matter, demand for this seminar will be very high. 

Endthoff to Receive Golden Sprinkler Award
Mar. 8, 2004 - The Board of Directors of the NFSA has announced that Gene Endthoff will be this year's recipient of the prestigious Golden Sprinkler Award to be presented at the Association's Annual Seminar in Maui, Hawaii on May 6, 2004.
Gene, who served as the NFSA Director of Codes until his retirement last year, is the author of The Fire Sprinkler Guide and is well known for his tireless work on the model building codes leading to unparalleled gains for the fire sprinkler industry.  He coined the term "Trade-Ups" in his presentations nationally educating the fire protection community on the cost benefits of sprinkler protection in all types of construction. 
 The widely acclaimed program Design Advantage was developed by Gene and he has brought this critical information to fire departments, AHJ's and students at architectural schools across the country.
Co-sponsorship of Fire Sprinkler Tax Incentive Legislation Continues to Grow
Mar. 18, 2004With the addition this week of five (5) more co-sponsors, including Ways and Means Committee member Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), support for HR 1824, the Fire Sprinkler Tax Incentive Act of 2003, continues to grow.
The new co-sponsors bring the total of congressional member support to 114 with nine (9) of those members serving on the House Ways and Means Committee. As reported in our last update, the NFSA/Fire Sprinkler Alliance has intensified its efforts to secure the passage of this monumental piece of fire protection legislation. Watch this sight for continuing information on further developments.
House Minority Leader Signs On As Cosponsor Of HR 1824
Mar. 31, 2004-House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi (CA-8th), this week signed on as a cosponsor of HR 1824, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003. Representative Pelosi’s support, in addition to the co-sponsorship last week of Representative Deborah Pryce of Ohio, the fourth leading Republican in the House and Chairman of the Republican Conference Committee, signals a new awareness on the part of House leadership concerning the importance of this landmark fire protection legislation. Representative Pelosi’s support brings the total number of cosponsors to 118 and like Representative Pryce, it is anticipated that recent support of House leadership will spur other Congressional Representatives to sign on as cosponsors.
Read the full story here!
Influential Member of House Republican Leadership Cosponsors HR 1824
On Wednesday, March 24, Representative Deborah Pryce, Republican, Ohio 15th District, signed on as a cosponsor of HR 1824, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003. Representative Pryce is the fourth ranking member of the House Republican Leadership and is the Chairman of the Republican Conference. 
Speaking on behalf of the NFSA/Fire Sprinkler Alliance, Jim Dalton, NFSA Director of Public Fire Protection and NFSA’s fire sprinkler tax incentive project coordinator said, “We are pleased and excited that such an influential member of the House Republican Leadership has chosen to throw her support behind this most important piece of fire protection legislation. 
Read the full story here!


April 2004 Top of Page

Co-sponsorship of HR 1824 Continues To Grow
April 23, 2004-With the addition this week of five (5) new cosponsors, support for the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003, HR 1824, continues to grow. The five new cosponsors bring the total co-sponsorship to 124. In addition, among the five new supporters is Representative Fortney Pete Stark of California’s 13th District, who is a member of the Ways and Means Committee where the bill currently resides. The addition of Representative Stark brings the total of Ways and Means Committee members to ten (10), a significant show of support from among committee members. Now is the time to step up our efforts to secure additional cosponsors, especially among Ways and Means Committee members. Remember, each new cosponsor is another step toward a possible hearing on the Bill. Also, watch this sight for the announcement of some anticipated exciting news regarding a possible new Senate Bill. 

SFPE Joins Support for Sprinkler Tax Incentive Legislation


April 24, 2004 – The Society of Fire Protection Engineers issued a press release announcing their support of the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (HR 1824).  Kathleen Almand, SFPE Director noted, “The installation of a fire sprinkler system in a building significantly improves the chances of survival in a fire…The incentives that are provided by the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act will motivate building owners to install these live saving systems.
Organized in 1950, the SFPE was formed to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering, to maintain a high ethical standard among its members, and to foster fire protection engineering education.
Commenting on the news, NFSA President John Viniello said, “We are extremely pleased about the SFPE support for this important legislation.  They are a highly esteemed organization and this should enforce our efforts to deliver the message to the Congress that the tax incentives offered in HR 1824 will promote the installation of these life and property saving systems in both new and existing buildings.”

5th International Fire Sprinkler Conference & Exhibition - Berlin, Germany
The International Fire Sprinkler Association will be hosting the 5th International Fire Sprinkler Conference & Exhibition 8 – 9 July, 2004. Such that this will be the first international fire sprinkler exhibition sponsored by the International Fire Sprinkler Association, two hotels will be used for this landmark event. The conference, for which a full schedule of speaker events has been planned, will be held at the Marriott Berlin. The exhibition, due to space limitations at the Marriott, will be held at the adjacent Berlin Ritz-Carlton. Both hotels are brand new and fully protected with automatic fire sprinklers.
Download the brochure here!
NFSA Makes Sprinkler Industry Training History
The National Fire Sprinkler Association has unveiled its newest on-line training initiative for the fire sprinkler industry.  Answering the call for a quality distance learning program, NFSA introduced the NFSA Academy.  With 80 modules to pick from, dealing with beginner to advanced, the Academy has something for everyone!  Save on lost billable hours and travel expenses by getting your continuing education needs right from your own desktop. Click on the banner below and sign up for the NFSA Academy, your competition is!

Viniello Letter Published in Chicago


April 26, 2004 - Yesterday’s edition of the Chicago Daily Herald published a Letter to the Editor from NFSA President John Viniello chastising the City officials for their failure to act on a requirement for retrofitting Chicago’s high rise buildings with fire sprinklers. The letter mentions the two recent fires including one which claimed six lives in a County-owned building and focuses on the six months of inaction on proposals to require fire sprinklers.  Mr. Viniello pulled no punches noting, “The Mayor promised that the safety of the people living and working in high-rise buildings was his primary concern.  Unfortunately, almost six months have passed….The political bureaucracy is, one again, putting people who work and live in high-rise buildings in the City of Chicago at risk.  Is this just another example of irresponsible leadership and empty promises on the part of the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen?”


May 2004 Top of Page

NFSA Annual Seminar "The Best Yet!!"
May 11, 2004 - The more than 500 attendees at last week's Annual Seminar are unanimously echoing that sentiment as they return to their normal routines.  Hosted at the Five-Star Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Maui, this year's event drew a standing room only crowd to the opening day session on Thursday which featured the annual State of the Industry address by NFSA President John Viniello, the presentation of the Golden Sprinkler Award to Gene Endthoff and the induction of Ray Casey and Jan Dembinski into the NFSA Hall of Fame.  A reception that evening for the group featured a fabulous buffet of native and traditional foods and to be certain that there were no divided loyalties, the final episode of "Friends" was broadcast on the big screen.
On Friday, the registrants had the choice of a number of seminar presentations by industry experts on topics such as project management, fire pumps, insurance, tort reform, CPVC piping, and health care coverage, among others.  This was one of the finest programs we have ever compiled and it was received with uniform praise by the attendees.
The formal program closed on Saturday with two economic addresses and the always awaited presentation by NFSA Executive Vice President Russ Fleming on the technical developments in the sprinkler industry during the past year and those that are looming on the horizon. 
A luau was held on Saturday evening on the lawn overlooking the beach and the beautiful Pacific Ocean.  The sunset was as spectacular as the rest of the event and the food and entertainment equaled the quality of the balance of the Seminar.  There is a rumor that some attendees joined the native Hawaiians in some closing dances but not even this reporter would disclose any of those details.
Click the links below to view pictures from the seminar.
Around Hawaii Main Session Luau
Reception Miscellaneous Workshops

Congressman Jerry Weller of Illinois Becomes Cosponsor of HR 1824 - New Senate Bill Expected
May 12, 2004 - HR 1824, The Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003, remains in the House Ways and Means Committee. However, through the constant efforts of the team of Josh Dozor, Congressman Weldon’s office, Jon Atlas, Congressman Langevin’s office, the lobbying firm of Fierce and Isakowitz and Jim Dalton, with additional assistance from CFSI and our coalition of other advocate organizations, support among Congressional Representatives and House Ways and Means Committee members increases almost daily.
With the notification on Tuesday, May 11 of the addition of Congressman Jerry Weller of Illinois, a very influential member of the Ways and Means Committee and Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, the total of cosponsors of the legislation will grow to 128 with 12 of the cosponsors being members of the committee where the bill resides.  We continue to work to add cosponsors and Ways and Means Committee members with special efforts directed at Kevin Brady (TX), Jim McCrery (LA), Rob Portman (OH) and Clay Shaw (FL) all of whom are committee members.
Our list of advocacy groups also continues to grow with the recent additions of the American Society of Safety Engineers, Underwriters Laboratories, the American Health Care Association and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
In the coming weeks we will be attempting to schedule a meeting with the staff member of the Joint Tax Committee who originally “scored” HR 1824 to provide additional information on the fire sprinkler market in hopes of getting a reassessment of the original score.
In our last report, we indicated we had met with the office of Senator Rick Santorum (PA) regarding his possible submittal of a new Senate version of HR 1824. We are pleased to report that Senator Santorum has agreed to sponsor a new Senate bill, which has been drafted and is ready for submittal. The only hold up is securing a primary Democratic cosponsor and we are talking to Senator Max Baucus (MT) about his willingness to do so. If Senator Baucus agrees to cosponsor the new Senate bill, it will go to the Senate Finance Committee with both sponsors members of the committee where the bill will reside which will be a huge advantage.
Continue to monitor this site for news regarding future developments.
St. Louis Fire Marshals Join Support for HR 1824
May 18, 2004 - Wally Miller of the St. Louis Fire Sprinkler Alliance informs us that the three Fire Marshals with jurisdiction over the metropolitan St. Louis area have written letters of endorsement for the passage of HR 1824 which are being forwarded to the Missouri congressional delegation.  It's grassroots support and activity such as this that is so critical in our efforts for the enactment of this historic legislation.


June 2004 Top of Page

Industry Mourns Passing of Bill Clark, Pioneer and Friend
June 28, 2004 - Bill Clark, former President of the Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association, passed away this weekend after an extended illness at the age of 85.  Bill retired in 1990 but his contributions to the sprinkler industry in North America will always be remembered. Those who work in this industry recognize that much of the success we enjoy in Canada can be traced to his efforts.
Even in retirement, we enjoyed his presence, insight and smile at our annual seminars and the International Golf Competition was renamed several years ago to The Clark Cup in his honor.  Bill's wife, Mari, has requested that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to a Foundation that will be established in his honor. Details will be available shortly.

Cosponsor Support of Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act Grows to 135
With the addition this week of Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard of California, co-sponsorship support for the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003 totals 135. Also, with the recent addition of Ways and Means Committee member Representative Philip Crane of Illinois, we now have 15 committee members supporting the legislation. These totals represent approximately one third of the members of the House of Representatives and over one third of the Ways and Means Committee.
We have a draft of a new Senate version that is ready to be submitted by Republican Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania as soon as a Democratic Senator agrees to be the primary cosigner. We are presently in discussions with Senator John D. Rockefeller of West Virginia, who like Senator Santorum is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and hope to receive an affirmative answer any day.
NYC Law Mandates High Rise Retrofit
June 25, 2004 - New York City Mayor Bloomberg today signed Intro 126A into law which affects all office buildings of 100 feet in height or more. It takes affect 120 days from June 25, 2004.
     The amendments to the Building Code were originated by Council Member Provenzano at the request of the Mayor to address numerous New York City safety concerns including fire sprinkler systems. Fire Sprinkler systems in all affected occupancies need to be operational no later than July 1, 2019. 
     Many fire professionals including NFSA Northeast Regional Manager Dominick Kass gave testimony in February of this year and voiced concerns as to why a 100 foot threshold and not 75 feet as with other building codes.
     Several reports will have to be filed by building owners, certified by an architect or engineer, to comply with the law. They include a 1-Year report due Jan., 2005. Subsequent reports of plans and progress are due July, 2011 and July, 2018 with the final report and project completion by July 2019.
Visit the Northeast Regional News web page for a copy of Intro126A and other background information.
Sprinkler Coalition Receives $600,000 Federal Grant
June 25, 2004 - The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) has been awarded a 2003 U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention and Safety Grant for its national residential fire sprinkler awareness program, "Built for Life."The nearly $600,000 grant will be utilized by HFSC over the coming year to conduct its two-part, national strategic initiative designed to generate interest in home fire sprinkler system installations.  The expanded education outreach will improve knowledge about home fire sprinklers and ultimately increase the number of sprinklered homes. "Built for Life" is the first national sprinkler education effort directed at the tens of thousands of contractors/developers who build homes in the U.S. HFSC Chair Gary Keith noted in a statement, "At last, with 'Built for Life' we have within arm's reach what the America Burning report and its updates have recommended over and over again - an aggressive national strategy to put fire sprinkler systems in the places where people are at greatest risk of fire: their homes." 
Nursing Home Sprinkler News
June 28, 2004 - Alabama today adopted amendments to the State's nursing home rules that will require fire sprinklers in every facility.  Depending on the type of facility, the rules phase-in the requirements from January, 2006 through February, 2007. On June 17, Tennessee adopted the legislation that will require nursing homes to install fire sprinklers following a fire that claimed a number of lives. Similar legislation has been passed in Connecticut, again, tragically following a fire that claimed more that a dozen lives.
NFSA Announces Technician Certification Program
June 9, 2004 - The NFSA announced today a major addition to its training courses in the form of a program that will provide certification for design technicians.  It will take place over a two-year period and will guide the student along a career path that offers individuals and employers the opportunity to develop knowledgeable and efficient layout and detail professionals. The six-phase program will include 24/7 web based study, on-the-job training with a selected mentor, live chat and email with the instructors and classroom training.  It is expected that during this period that the students will qualify for both NICET 2 and NICET 3 Certification.  NFSA Assistant V.P. of Engineering Ken Isman commented, "We are proud to lead the industry once again in training and expect that this program will expand the depth of professional qualification of the technicians in the fire sprinkler industry". Complete Program Description and Registration Form


July 2004 Top of Page
Massachusetts Sprinkler Bill Signed by Governor
     On the heals of an announcement Thursday that the Massachusetts legislature had passed a bill requiring fire sprinklers in nightclubs with an occupancy of 100 or more, news has broken that the bill could be so poorly drafted that it applies to no one.
     It appears that hastily drafted amendments adopted to pass the bill before the legislature adjourned contained skewed references to the current law with the result that the legislation may be totally ineffective to bind anyone.  Gov. Romney has signed the Bill into law while on top of a fire apparatus at the sight of the deadly 1942 Coconut Grove Fire. We are following this news to see what fixes are in place to be able to enact this law in 90 days from 17 Aug.

Illinois Fire Chiefs Push Dorm Sprinkler Bill 
July 30, 2004 - The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association announced today that it is stepping up its support and efforts on behalf of HB 4361.  Robert M. Buhs,Executive Director, called on the Association's members and other interested parties to contact the Governor's office and urge him to sign the bill that is in his office.  The legislation would require the installation of fire sprinklers in dormitories over an eight year period and would establish a fund supported by bond issues to help defray the costs.
GAO Report Criticizes Nursing Home Safety and Supports Fire Sprinkler Installation
July 15, 2004 - The Government Accounting Office has issued a report on fire safety in the country's nursing homes that is harshly critical of the federal governments inspection process and the level of protection offered to the occupants of these facilities.  The report found that 59 percent of the homes were cited for deficiencies in fire safety in their most recent inspections and that many had refused to install fire sprinklers claiming they could not afford the cost. 
     The investigation was prompted by the fire in Hartford and Nashville that claimed a total of 31 lives.  It found that only 871 homes were inspected last year out of the more than 17,000 operating and only 40 were cited for fire safety issues  The report said sprinklers were "the single most effective fire protection'' measure, and it observed that "there has never been a multiple-death fire'' in a home fully protected by sprinklers. But, it said, 20 percent to 30 percent of nursing homes lack such devices.
     The American Health Care Association issued a statement supporting a requirement for fire sprinklers in all homes but claimed that the federal government must help pay the cost.

August 2004 Top of Page
Rockefeller Agrees To Cosponsor New Santorum Senate Bill
Aug. 11, 2004 - As you are aware from our prior briefings, we have been working with Senator Rick Santorum (PA) for some time now on a draft of a new Senate companion Bill to House Bill HR 1824. The new Senate Bill, “The Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2004,” authored by Senator Santorum, has been held in abeyance for lack of a primary Democratic cosponsor. 
    Several weeks ago we contacted Senator John D. Rockefeller (WV) regarding his willingness to cosponsor the Bill. It gives us great pleasure to announce that we have now received confirmation from the office of Senator Rockefeller that he will cosign this landmark piece of fire protection legislation. Senator Rockefeller’s agreement to cosign now clears the way for Senator Santorum to submit the Bill when the Senate returns to session after Labor Day.
   Take a minute to contact the offices of Senator’s Santorum and Rockefeller to thank them for their leadership in the interest of improved fire safety for our citizens.
Senator Rick Santorum (202) 224-6324
Senator John D. Rockefeller (202) 224-6472
Please continue to monitor this web page for information on how to advocate for additional cosigners when the Bill is submitted in September and is assigned a number
Illinois Governor Signs Sprinkler Legislation
August 11, 2004 - In one of the strongest and most progressive public safety actions in the state's history, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed a bill today requiring the installation of fire sprinkler systems in all public and private college and university dormitories by 2013.
   "With his approval of this legislation, the Governor has demonstrated his commitment to protecting the lives of college students on campuses across the state," said Tom Lia, executive director of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. "The bill's sponsors and the Governor are to be commended for the roles they each played in taking this giant step forward in campus safety."
    The Governor affirmed his support of fire sprinklers by saying, "Quite simply, sprinkler systems save lives. As parents, we shouldn't have to worry that our college students might be killed in a dorm fire when something as simple as a sprinkler system could save their lives."
    Rep. Daniel Burke (D-Chicago) and Sen. Lawrence Walsh (D-Joliet) co-sponsored HB 4361. "This is a proud day for our lawmakers, and a great day for Illinois," Lia said. "Students here and all over the country now have another excellent reason for choosing a college or university in Illinois for their education."
NFSA Backing New Federal Nursing Home Fire Sprinkler Legislation
August 25, 2004 - Today, the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) participated in a media conference call held by Congressman John Larson (D-CT) and the American Health Care Association (AHCA) to discuss legislation that would require nursing homes to be retrofit with automatic fire sprinkler systems.
    In response to the fatal nursing home fires in Hartford, Connecticut where 16 people died, and Nashville, Tennessee where 15 lives were claimed, Rep. Larson has introduced the Nursing Facility Fire Safety Act of 2004. Speaking in support of the bill in addition to Rep. Larson were AHCA President and CEO, Hal Daub and AHCA Chairman Steve Chies.
    The bill, identified as HR-4967, would provide reimbursements to facility owners equal to the capital expenditure to retrofit with automatic fire sprinklers. The major provisions are:
         -    All nursing homes must be fully equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems within five years of the legislation's enactment;
         -    Parallel Medicare and Medicaid funding for fire sprinkler protection in nursing facilities, to be amortized over five years;
         -    After five years, facilities not in compliance with federal law would be subject to strict penalties including closure.
    AHCA has already approached the National Fire Protection Association about including mandatory requirements for fire sprinklers in nursing homes in the 2006 edition of the Life Safety Code, which will be under committee review during its next revision cycle.
    There are approximately 4080 nursing homes, an estimated 25% of the total across the country, not protected by fire sprinklers. AHCA estimates that the total cost of compliance could be as high as one billion dollars.
Rep. Larson's Website Press Release
Three Die in Ole Miss Frat House Fire - When Will They Learn?


Aug. 27, 2004 - A fire that broke out at approximately 4:30 a.m. at the Alpha Tau Omega Frat Houseclaimed the live of three young students at the University of Mississipi.  Twenty-one other residents were safely evacuated and the fire was declared under control at 12 p.m. The University has yet to release the names or comment on the fire or offer any explanation for the lack of fire sprinklers.
    Commenting on the tragedy, NFSA President John Viniello noted, "This slaughter of innocent young lives, the future of this country, beloved sons and daughters, has got to stop.  Fire sprinklers in residential facilities at educational institutions have got to be made 100% mandatory throughout the country!"


September 2004Top of Page
Founder of Scottsdale Rural Metro Fire Department Dies
Sept. 2, 2004 - Louis A. Witzeman Jr., the founder and patriarch of the private Rural/Metro Fire Department, died Thursday in Scottsdale after a long bout with cancer.  Witzeman launched the company in 1948 and retired from the in 1981, while remaining chairman emeritus of Scottsdale-based Rural/Metro Corp., one of the nation's largest private fire and emergency providers.
    During its 56-year history, Rural/Metro earned a national reputation for its innovations including pioneering a Scottsdale ordinance to make fire sprinklers mandatory in new-home construction.  "He was really one of the founders, the pioneers of Scottsdale," Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross said. 
NFSA President Forecasts Industry Growth
Sept. 6, 2004 - NFSA President John Viniello reported today that the Association is receiving very favorable reports of robust bidding activity all over the country. There is optimism that the balance of 2004 will see a strengthening of backlogs. He expects to see an increase in capital expenditures for business expansion and new projects.
    Viniello believes the southern states will see the biggest increase in sprinkler installations with the adoption of  IBC and or NFPA 5000 and while college dorm work may slow with classes starting that sector will continue to be a source of new business. 
    In his report, Viniello noted, “2005 will set new records for the industry.  Our biggest concern is manpower shortages at all levels and I am urging all contractors to take advantage of NFSA's Sprinkler Academy to train their people now before it is too late."
SFPE Annual Meeting and Professional Development Conference
The Society of Fire Protection Engineers is hosting its 2nd Engineering Technology Showcase in Conjunction with its Annual Meeting on September 20-24 in Chicago, IL.  The event will be held in the Palmer House Hilton Hotel with complimentary but required registration.  There will be nine different presentations covering fire sprinkler and alarms system design, smoke management and other fire protection topics.  Exhibitors include NFPA, SipmlexGrinnell, ICC, The Protectowire Co., Inc., Edwards Systems Technology and Schirmer Engineering Corporation.
You may register at www.sfpe.org or by contacting SFPE at 301-718-2910.
Congressman Weldon Testifies On Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act

Sept 23, 2004 - Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA), author of HR 1824, The Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003, testified before the Committee On Ways And Means, Subcommittee On Select Revenue Measures, Chaired by Congressman Jim McCrery (R-LA) regarding the merits of the bill that he and Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) introduced in April of 2003 shortly after a night club fire in Rhode Island left over 100 patrons dead. Mr. Weldon provided an overview of the legislation and it’s intent to accelerate cost recovery by reducing the depreciation schedule of fire sprinklers and in doing so praised the exemplary historical record of fire sprinklers while stressing the need to retrofit fire sprinklers in various critical occupancies such as nursing homes, nightclubs, high-rise buildings and student housing. In addition to his oral testimony, Mr. Weldon’s office will be submitting written testimony to the subcommittee.
     Of the nine subcommittee members who were in attendance, five are presently cosponsors of HR 1824. They include, Ranking Member Congressman Michael McNulty (D-NY), Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH), Congressman Max Sandlin (D-TX), Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL) and Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI). During the question period after Mr. Weldon’s presentation, Congressman McNulty, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, and Congresswoman Tubbs-Jones reiterated their support of the bill and Congressman Paul Ryan told Mr. Weldon that he thought they were finally reaching some consensus regarding the issue.

Senator Santorum Introduces Bipartisan Fire Sprinkler Legislation
Wednesday, September 29, 2004, Patterson, New York - U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today introduced the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2004 (S.2860), which significantly improves the tax incentive for the installation of automatic fire suppression systems. Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) is an original co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation.
    As members of the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) who have been following updates on the subject already know, Bill HR 1824, also titled the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (2003), previously introduced by Representatives Weldon and Langevin, is gaining great support in the House and to-date has over 130 cosponsors.
    Both bills call for an amendment to the tax code to classify automatic fire sprinklers as 5-year property for purposes of depreciation as opposed to the current 27.5 or 39 year periods for installations in residential or commercial properties.

October 2004Top of Page

NFSA Launches Programs Highlighting National Fire Prevention Week
Fire Sprinkler Messages to Air on Imus
NFSA is pleased to announce that it has again this year contracted with WFAN and the Imus in the Morning radio show to bring fire sprinkler messages to the public during Fire Prevention Week, which officially runs from Sunday, October 3rd thru Saturday, October 9th.
    Beginning on Monday, October 4th and continuing throughout the week, popular morning radio talk-show host, Don Imus, will “live-read” a 60-second fire sprinkler message promoting fire sprinkler protection in student housing. The message will also be more widely broadcast on MSNBC. It is expected that 8 – 12 million listeners and viewers will be reached with each message.
    As a highlight, wrapping up Fire Prevention Week, on the morning of Friday, October 8th at 8:29 a.m. ET, Imus will conduct a phone interview with Ed Comeau, Director of the Center for Campus Fire Safety.  The interview will be broadcast live on WFAN and affiliates as well as MSNBC. “Comeau is an articulate spokesperson for campus fire safety and a strong advocate of automatic fire sprinkler systems for all student housing,” said John Viniello President of NFSA, adding. “The interview on Imus will provide the sprinkler industry with an outstanding opportunity to reach millions of people with a powerful sprinkler message.”
NIE Newspaper Inserts in Local Markets
   A number of the NFSA Regional Managers have been successful in arranging for the publication of special inserts in local newspapers promoting awareness of National Fire Prevention Week as part of the Newspapers in Education Fire Safety Project.  These inserts will include specific information supporting the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems for the preservation of lives and property and the special sections will also be delivered widely to thousands of elementary schools.  The NFSA Sprinkler Manufacturers Industry Fund committed $100,000 to support this program nationally.
Sprinkllerman(TM) Coloring Contest
    Following on the huge success of last year's publication of the SprinklermanTM Coloring Book and the distribution of hundreds of thousands of copies nationally, the NFSA is sponsoring a coloring contest with $50 Savings Bond prizes in each of three age categories.  Copies of the picture to be colored and the Contest Rules can be found on the following links and the picture will also be published in the next issue of the Sprinkler Quarterly.  Entries must be received by November 15, 2004.
Contest Rules
Contest Picture

ABC'S Good Morning America Features Fire Sprinkler Segment
Oct. 29, 2004 -  The ABC-TV morning show, Good Morning America, featured a segment on home fire sprinkler systems this Wednesday, October 27 in the 8 a.m. time period (EDT).  The segment featured Ron Hazelton, a nationally known home improvement expert who has been a staunch advocate for residential sprinklers.
     This appearance was originally scheduled several weeks ago but was postponed due to the need to broadcast news concerning one of the hurricanes that ravaged Florida recently.  One of the highlights was a demonstration burn in a trailer to show the tremendous level of safety that fire sprinklers provide to lives and property.

Fire Sprinkler Story Shelved
 On the heels of Monday night's devastating fire in a Chicago high rise building, ABC-TV national evening news with Peter Jennings was scheduled to include a segment on fire sprinkler retrofit in Chicago.  Congressman Curt Weldon, sponsor of H.R. 1824 which would provide tax incentives for building owners who install fire sprinkler systems, was interviewed.  However, as is often the case in the news reporting business, as each day passed the show's producers delayed the airing in order to cover other late-breaking events.  It now appears that the decision has been made to totally forego using the story that was prepared; within the industry, we can only hope that the Chicago City Council will finally adopt meaningful regulations that will require sprinkler retrofit in all high-rise buildings to provide their occupants with the protection from fire that only fire sprinklers can provide.
Want to voice your opinion?  Send a message to Mayor Daley by voting in the poll on your feelings with regard to fire sprinklers in high rise buildings.
Fire Sprinkler Opinion Poll


November 2004Top of Page

St. Paul, MN Fox TV Performs Dorm Room Fire Test
Nov. 9,2004 - The FOX 9 Investigators surveyed every college in the state and asked whether they had sprinklers and what kind of materials go into dorm beds and furniture. We also set up a test. Using an old building used to house medical offices in Coon Rapids, we furnished two rooms. One, like a prison cell with non-combustible materials. We also installed a sprinkler because 75 percent of the Minnesota's prisons have sprinkler systems. The other we set up like a dorm; wood furniture, a mattress that isn't flame retardant and no sprinkler. That's because the FOX 9 Investigators discovered many of the state's dorm rooms don't have sprinklers. Jamie Novak, the fire safety educator for St. Paul's fire department, sets the mattress in the cell on fire. In the dorm room, he puts a blanket on a halogen light. In just a short time, fires are burning in both rooms. 7 minutes and 50 seconds after the cell is lit on fire, the sprinkler goes off and the damage is very small. At the same time, the dorm is an inferno. Before long, it is some 1600 degrees and the room is destroyed.

Sprinkllerman(TM) Coloring Contest
    Following on the huge success of last year's publication of the SprinklermanTM Coloring Book and the distribution of hundreds of thousands of copies nationally, the NFSA is sponsoring a coloring contest with $50 Savings Bond prizes in each of three age categories.  Copies of the picture to be colored and the Contest Rules can be found on the following links and the picture will also be published in the next issue of the Sprinkler Quarterly.  Entries must be received by December 15, 2004. Following on the huge success of last year's publication of the SprinklermanTM Coloring Book and the distribution of hundreds of thousands of copies nationally, the NFSA is sponsoring a coloring contest with $50 Savings Bond prizes in each of three age categories.  Copies of the picture to be colored and the Contest Rules can be found on the following links and the picture will also be published in the next issue of the Sprinkler Quarterly.  Entries must be received by December 15, 2004.
Contest Rules
Contest Picture

“Burning Issues: Is Your Family Safe?”  Wins International Acclaim
Nov. 8, 2004 -  We are proud to announce that Peg Paul & Associates, Wisconsin & Northern Illinois NFSA Chapter Publicist, and the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety are the recipient of a MarCom Creative Gold Award.   The outstanding video "Burning Issues: Is Your Family Safe" was entered into the international awards competition.  The mission of the MarCom Creative Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the creativity and hard work of marketing and communications professionals. 
    Oftentimes, the success of a marketing or communications program is difficult to measure in terms of return on investment, so the MarCom Creative Awards gives winners the opportunity to show that their work is highly regarded within the creative industry. Winning a MarCom Creative Award gives recognition to the creative talent, firms, departments and/or clients that collaborate on outstanding marketing and communications projects.   Entries are judged by industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. 
    The video is a half-hour presentation highlighting the theme of the U.S. “America Burning Reports” of 1973, 1986 and 2000.  Ron Hazelton, “Good Morning America’s” House Doctor, hosts the program.  Ron walks the viewer through a home identifying potential fire hazards and how to make one’s home fire safe.  He then highlights the importance of early warning in case of fire.  He guides viewers through a process to help the entire family understand the means of escape.  His piece on fire sprinklers is last piece of the fire safety equation.  Ron finishes with a flurry by spreading the word that a dedication to fire prevention and a combination of early warning, evacuation planning and an automatic fire sprinkler system will create a successful formula to eliminate fires and fatalities in our nation’s homes.   Funding to get this project off the ground was jump-started by the Burn Center Golf Invitational (the granddaddy of industry outings) and the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Fire sprinkler Association.

St. Louis TV Station Reports Missouri Schools Failing Princeton Review Test
Nov. 15, 2004 - Television station KSDK aired its investigation of the fire safety of Missouri colleges and universities last week.  The result found that a shocking number of these schools failed the Princeton Review fire safety rating and a number had received recent fire hazard notices as a result of fire department inspections.  The report noted how often potential students and their families ignore fire safety at schools or just assume they are protected with fire sprinklers.  In the segment, the station interviewed St. Louis Fire Alliance Director Wally Miller, a former fire marshal and retired Captain of the St. Louis Fire Department.  Miller commented, "There has never been a multiple death fire from a building that has a properly installed sprinkler system.  It's like playing Russian roulette. We know there is another bullet in the chamber out there."
     In presenting the dramatic facts, the story was punctuated with an interview of Donna Henson whose son Dominic was killed in a frat house fire at the University of Missouri in Columbia.  On the station's website, they detailed the fire safety questions recommended by the Center for Campus Fire Safety for parents to ask when selecting schools for their children and they provided step-by-step instructions for using the Princeton Review website to check on the fire safety rating of schools.
     In a follow-up story aired today, the station covered the topic of home fire sprinklers and described them as being the difference between life and death in a home fire.  This story can be found on their website at www.ksdk.com.
Read the Story
 Watch the Report


December 2004Top of Page

Chicago Board Finally Takes Action Passing Sprinkler Requirements
Dec. 15, 2004 - At a dramatic yet almost anti-climatic session, the Chicago City Council Building Committee today passed an ordinance that will require existing commercial high-rise buildings to be equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems.  Various proposals and studies have arisen since the fire more than a year ago in a Chicago high-rise office building that claimed 6 lives and at times it seemed like political in-fighting and lobbying by landlord interest groups would delay action forever.  

     The final ordinance adopts the provisions and concepts proposed by Mayor Daley and it provides for sprinklers to be retrofitted into high-rise commercial buildings that were built pre-1975, and have been exempt from modern sprinkler requirements, in a three stages.  One third of each such building must have sprinklers installed by 2009, one third by 2013 and the system must be completed by 2017.

     Additional safety requirements including filing a Life Safety Data Sheet, installation of two-way voice communications systems and a life safety evaluation by a licensed engineer or architect for both commercial and residential buildings are contained in the new ordinance.  Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board Director Tom Lia issued a statement saying, "It has been a long and challenging task but today we see the result that will provide the citizens and workers in this great city with greater safety in the workplace.  Fire sprinklers provide the best protection against fires."

Sprinklerman Coloring Contest
     During Fire Prevention week of 2004 The National Fire Sprinkler Association held our first Sprinklerman Coloring Contest for children 12 and under to color on both the NFSA website and in the Fall 2004 Sprinkler Quarterly. Winners have finally been selected.
     All entries were outstanding. The entries were divided into three age categories, 3-5, 6-9 and 10-12. The winner of each category receives a $50 savings bond. Thanks go to all of our participants. 
    All of us at NFSA would like to congratulate:
Erin Wyse, Age 4, Maryland
Rachel Waffle, Age 9, Indiana
Dustin Nelson, Age 10, Tennessee

Comeau Elected to International Fire Chiefs Position

December 8, 2004 - Ed Comeau, Director of the Center for Campus Fire Safety, has been elected to the Life Safety Section Board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.  Comeau has been active for a number of years in promoting the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in dormitories as part of an overall fire safety program.  The NFSA is one of the Founding Members of the Center and President John A. Viniello serves on its Board of Advisors.

NFSA Adds NFPA 13 Update Seminars to Sprinkler Academy
The NFSA has added two new seminars to the offerings in the Sprinkler Academy for sprinkler contractors and Authorities Having Jurisdiction that are just beginning to adopt and enforce the 2002 edition of NFPA 13. 
     Each of the seminars, “What’s New In NFPA 13 Installation Criteria” and “What’s New in NFPA 13 Discharge and Support Criteria” explain the major changes between the 1999 and the 2002 editions of NFPA 13.  These seminars are a big help to people that are familiar with the 1999 edition of NFPA 13 and want to know what is new in the 2002 edition.
    For a detailed description, visit the NFSA Academy at www.nfsaacademy.org.  Have questions? Call Dawn at 845-878-4200 x133 or by email at dawn@nfsa.org.
License Application for Illinois Fire Sprinkler Contractors
The Office of the Illinois State Marshal will begin issuing licenses for fire sprinkler contractors performing work in Illinois on October 1, 2004. Illinois requires any person, partnership, corporation or other business entity that installs or repairs any fire sprinkler system in Illinois to be licensed by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. The Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act [225 ILCS 317/1 et seq.] establishes the minimum standards for licensure of fire sprinkler installation contractors for the purpose of protecting the public health and general welfare of the citizens of Illinois.
   An Application Package containing a copy of the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act, the rules and application, will be available from the Office of the State Fire Marshal after August 16, 2004. The Application Package may be requested by calling 217-785-0969 or downloaded at www.state.il.us/osfm. The agency will begin issuing licenses on October 1, 2004.
Please call 217-785-0969 for further information.
Wisconsin Accredits NFSA Online Seminars
Regional Manager Dan Gengler has completed an agreement with the State of Wisconsin to approve the NFSA's online seminars for CEU credit that is required for license renewal.  In making the announcement, NFSA President John Viniello said, "I am pleased that once again we have proven to be the leader in the industry in providing education and service to our membership.  This is a unique opportunity to ensure that sprinkler contractors and fitters have the best available training in the most cost effective manner.  The State of Wisconsin is to be applauded for recognizing the need for this type of training and it is a credit to our staff that their work has been approved for state licensing requirements.  We will continue to pursue obtaining similar accreditation in other states."  For further information, contact Dawn at (845) 878-4200 ext. 133 or dawn@nfsa.org. 
Florida Adopts Certification of NFSA Electronic Seminars
The State of Florida has just advised NFSA Regional Manager Steve Randall that it has approved the Association's series of self-study seminars for its CEU requirements for fire sprinkler contractors.  The NFSA has been working on this project for more than a year and it is a credit to Steve that we will now be able to offer Florida contractors this convenient and economical method of meeting the State's annual training requirements.  We will also be submitting the entire series of future online seminars for approval later this year and expect that they will be added to the approval for CEU credit. For more than three years, the NFSA has been the leader in providing the highest quality of technical training to the industry with its innovative program of live, online seminars that deliver educational materials direct to participants at their computers with the additional feature of being able to interact with the instructor via email.  Recently, the program has been expanded to include specific topics that are available for study on a 24/7 basis that allows industry professionals the opportunity to maintain and improve their skills when it is most convenient for them. Additional information on the Florida approval can be obtained from Steve at randall@nfsa.organd registration information for both the self-study and live programs can be obtained from dawn@nfsa.org.