Welcome to The American Fire Sprinkler Association, VA Chapter

 AFSA Virginia ChapterFire Sprinklers Save Lives  

Directory
Home
Contacts
Topics
Web Links
FAQ
Downloads
Feedback
Recommend Us

Your Website Statistics
Who's looking at us? How many? How often? When?

Here are the answers.
Updated 05.06.09

Newsletter Information
We need content for the AFSA VA Chapter Newsletter.

If your company or organization has a Fire Sprinkler Industry related news release or article, please contact Howard Summers hhsummers@cox.net


Content may be submitted as ".PDF", ".RTF", ".TXT" or ".DOC".
Please, no Microsoft Publisher or Microsoft Works files.


Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls
·Aqua-Leisure Industries Recalls Inflatable Baby Floats Due to Drowning Hazard
·Simplicity Drop Side Cribs Recalled by Retailers Due to Risk of Death from Suffocation
·Intermatic Recalls In-Wall Timers Due to Shock Hazard
·Lamps Recalled by LTD Commodities LLC, ABC Distributing and the Lakeside Collection Due to Fire Hazard
·Polaris Recalls Snowmobiles Due to Loss of Control Hazard
·Tabletop Rope Cutters Recalled by MarineTech Products Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
·CPSC Announces Drop in Fireworks-Related Injuries; Consumers Still Urged To Celebrate Safe This July 4th
·Violation of Federal Mattress Flammability Standard Prompts Recall by Loyal Bedding of Mattress Sets
·Big Muddy Motor Sports Recalls Generators Due to Fire Hazard
·DEWALT Recalls Framing Nailers Due to Serious Injury Hazard

read more...

Fire Sprinklers Save Lives

Travel Information

$$$ Savings

  
Please note!

The 13/13R/13D report on Proposals is available on the NFPA webpage under Codes and Standards. To view this information, please follow this link.

Golf Tourney Registration

AFSA Virginia Chapter
16th Annual Golf Tournament
September 16, 2009
Hunting Hawk Golf Course in Glen Allen, VA

Benefiting the Central Virginia Burn Camp and the Old Dominion Professional Firefighters Burn foundation/Evans-Haynes Burn Unit at the VCU Medical Center.

** Hole-in-One prize on all Par 3’s incl. a $10,000 Cash Prize on Hole 6 **

NOTE:
  • No Mulligans for the Tee Shots on Holes 3, 6, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16 and 17.
  • Must Tee Off on the “Black Hawk” tees on Holes 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16 and 17.
  • Players 55 years or older may use the “Gray Hawk” tees / Ladies may use the “Red Hawk” tees.
INDIVIDUAL PRIZES:
  • Closest to the Pin on Holes 6 and 17
  • Longest Drive on Holes 3 and 16
  • Par 3 50/50 on Hole 12 (pay $5, Hit the green, and receive a ticket for drawing of raffle/cash prize)
TEAM PRIZES:
  • Longest Drive and Longest Putt on Hole 9
  • Good Sport Award

(All three provided by FirePro, Inc.)


To download the complete rules and the registration form as an Adobe Acrobat Reader (.PDF) file, please follow this link.

Newest Stories on the Site

· The Cost of Fire in the Commonwealth[ 0 comments - 24 reads ]
· Review of the AFSA VA Constitution and ByLaws[ 0 comments - 34 reads ]
· A Thank You Letter from Sam Osterhout[ 0 comments - 45 reads ]
· AFSA VA Chapter Announces 2008-2009 Essay Contest winners[ 0 comments - 162 reads ]
· Tee It Up for Burn Survivors[ 0 comments - 89 reads ]

[ More in News Section ]

AFSA Calls for Support of Center for Medicare and Medicaid

CMS Proposal Seeks to Mandate Fire Sprinkler Systems in All Long-Term Care Facilities

DALLAS–The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) endorses a proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that aims to equip an estimated 2,500 older long-term care facilities with life-saving fire sprinkler systems and end an exemption in existing law that mandates sprinklers for new nursing homes but not older facilities.


Virginia Legislature Contact Info

House Senate

Sprinkler Age Online

·Texas Fire Sprinkler Debate Should be Left to Towns
·Mexico Probes Daycare Fire, Death Toll Hits 44
·Register Early and Win Free Stuff!
·Fort Wayne, Ind., Factory Flames Fended Off by Sprinklers
·Richland, S.C., Store Fire Put Out by Sprinklers
·Sprinklers Save a Pennsylvania Bus Fleet
·Des Moines Airport Adds New Sprinkler System

read more...

News: The Cost of Fire in the Commonwealth
Saturday, June 13 @ 04:23:50 PDT by howard (24 reads)
Virginia Chapter
Virginia's 2008 fire season statistics

619,559 Incidents called in (fire, EMS, car wreck, entrapment, hazmat, etc.)
Average response time from receiving call to arriving was 6.9 minutes

  • 5% were fires or 30,972 fires
  • $325 million lost in fires

June had the most fires while March had the fewest fires

  • Cooking was 31% of the fires
  • Only 28% had a actual smoke detector working
  • (This goes along with the study conducted recently and published that showed detectors installed 10 years ago are failing to operate, had no batteries, were no longer installed, or for other reasons did not work anymore to the rate of 68%)
  • A fire occurred every 17.9 minutes in the Commonwealth
  • A casualty occurred every 15.8 hours

Fire loss broke down to:
$890,428 per day
$37,101 per hour
$618 per minute



(Read More...)

News: Review of the AFSA VA Constitution and ByLaws
Thursday, June 11 @ 03:34:12 PDT by howard (34 reads)
Virginia ChapterThe Board of Directors will be reviewing the AFSA Virginia Chapter Constitution and By-Laws in the near future. Therefore, we have put them the Website to give you, the Members , an opportunity to review and submit comments.

To download the AFSA VA Chapter Constitution and ByLaws as an Adobe Acrobat Reader (.PDF) file, please follow this link.


(Read More...)

Contests: A Thank You Letter from Sam Osterhout
Monday, June 01 @ 07:16:42 PDT by howard (45 reads)
Virginia ChapterWe received a letter of thanks this week for the Scholarship awarded to Sam Osterhout. He sent us a picture and a very heart-felt "Thanks". We wish Sam and all of the other winners the best in their journey through higher education. Please follow this link to read the letter.

You can read all of the essays that were winners and honorable mentions. You can follow this link to read all of the winning essays.

(Read More...)

Contests: AFSA VA Chapter Announces 2008-2009 Essay Contest winners
Saturday, May 23 @ 10:35:12 PDT by howard (162 reads)
Virginia ChapterEach year, the AFSA Virginia Chapter awards scholarships to the top three winners in our statewide essay contest.  First place receives $1500, second place $750, and third place $500. Only open to high school seniors, the Virginia Chapter also offers three Honorable Mention prizes of $100 each. The purpose of the contest is to help educate people about fire sprinklers and how they save lives and property, and to help students continue their education.  The essays must be from 700 to 1000 words, and include a bibliography.  Essays are judged on accuracy, content, punctuation, and with an emphasis on creativity.  Judges come from Chapter members in the sprinkler industry, fire and building code officials, and others.  This year scores were combined from 19 different judges.

This years’ topic was “Why Residential Automatic Fire Sprinklers Should Be Installed in Every New Home.” The target audience was the Construction Industry, Politicians, and the General Public. The topic is particularly relevant this year as Virginia has the opportunity to adopt the new 2009 International Residential Code which mandates residential sprinklers in one and two family homes.  The mandatory inclusion of these life protecting safety systems is being opposed by some groups in many states, including Virginia.

We received 135 entries, and the majority of them were very well done.  As usual, it was extremely difficult to pick the winners, but winners were picked, and they are as follows:




(Read More...)

News: Tee It Up for Burn Survivors
Tuesday, May 12 @ 10:20:07 PDT by howard (89 reads)
Virginia ChapterAnnouncing the 16th Annual AFSA /Virginia Chapter Burn Survivors Golf Tournament

There's no shortage of reasons why golf tournaments make great fundraisers What's not to enjoy? It's a day away from the office. There's food , drinks,prizes, and then of course there's the golf. As you look forward to the next AFSA Burn
Survivors  Golf Tournament, we'd like to give you more reasons to feel good about your participation.

ASFA Virginia chapter holds their annual golf tournament to support the burn center. To read more information about this important work, please follow this link to  download an Adobe acrobat reader (. PDF) document.

(Read More...)

AFSA Teams with ExxonMobil
Friday, May 08 @ 03:52:28 PDT by howard (75 reads)
Members save up to 5 cents a gallon!

DALLAS - 5/07/2009

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), North America's largest organization of fire sprinkler contractors, has announced a new fuel card program as a benefit for its members. Now AFSA members can get a nickel per gallon rebate when they enroll in AFSA's new Exxon/Mobil Fleet Card Program!

Yes, gas is expensive, but those nickels can add up. In an industry where time is spent each day driving to the job site, fuel costs directly affect the bottom line on a daily basis. Saving money and tracking your fleet expenditures is critical. That's why the ExxonMobil Fleet Card offers one of the most generous rebate programs in the industry - saving you up to 5 cents per gallon - and a powerful, state-of-the-art tool to help you manage the cost of fueling your vehicles. It's an ideal combination to help make your job easier and save your business money.

When you and your employees use your AFSA Exxon/Mobil fleet card, your monthly statement will reflect the reduction, saving you money right off the top! Plus, the $50 enrollment fee is WAIVED for AFSA members. There's no risk or obligation, and this program is exclusively for AFSA members.

Whether you have 5 vehicles or 500, the ExxonMobil Fleet Card can help you manage your business expenses. Visit www.ExxonMobilFleetOffers.com/AFSA or call (214) 356-8325 to learn more about this program.

(comments?)

Contests: AFSA's 16th Annual National Apprentice Competition Announced
Monday, February 16 @ 02:43:23 PST by howard (310 reads)
National OrganizationFinalists to Compete in San Diego, October 14-18

DALLAS - 2/11/2009 - The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) will host its 16th Annual National Apprentice Competition, October 16, 2009 in San Diego. Seven of America's finest fire sprinkler fitter apprentices will face off in an intense, one-day, head-to-head skills contest in the national competition held at AFSA's 28th Annual Convention and Exhibition, October 14-18 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego.

The national competition finals consists of two parts: a three-hour written examination and a practical examination in which the apprentice must cut, thread and install a steel and plastic piping system with sprinklers and perform a pressure test. Participants will be judged on their accuracy, craftsmanship and safety.


(Read More...)

News: Homebuilders Trying to Preempt Adoption of State and Local Sprinkler Regulations
Tuesday, January 27 @ 13:04:18 PST by howard (282 reads)
Legislative IssuesIAFC MEMBER ALERT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Edie Clark, Director of Communications
Office: 703–896-4827 • Cell: 571-221-5268 • www.iafc.org

Fairfax, Va., Jan. 23, 2009
The IAFC has learned that the homebuilders are starting an initiative to prevent local adoption of national standards that require residential sprinklers, by introducing state legislation that would block new code adoptions mandating residential fire-sprinkler requirements.

According to a message from the IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition, such bills have just been filed in Arizona (HB2267) and North Dakota (SB2354). The Coalition reports that fire service groups in Arizona are already engaged to fight their state’s bill, and the Coalition is preparing to initiate a similar response in North Dakota.

(Read More...)

News: 2009 Beginning System Planning School
Thursday, November 20 @ 06:18:39 PST by howard (543 reads)
Training Opportunities

AFSA Announces

2009 Beginning System Planning School Dates


Reserve Your Spot Today - They're Going Fast!
DALLAS - 11/17/2008 - The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) announces the schedule for its 2009 Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School. Designed to train a beginner to be productive immediately upon returning to work, this class is geared toward those with no experience or those who need assistance with design. Eight classes have been scheduled for 2009 including: January 12-23, March 9-20, May 11-22, July 13-24, and November 9-20.


(Read More...)

News: New DOL Apprenticeship Regulations
Tuesday, November 04 @ 15:01:04 PST by howard (455 reads)
National OrganizationThe Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration recently released updated regulations for the National Apprenticeship System (CFR 29 Part 29).  The new regulations will become effective on 12/29/08, or later if an Apprenticeship program is registered in a SAC state.


(Read More...)

  
Welcome to the AFSA Virginia Chapter Website
If you are a member of the Virginia Chapter of AFSA and would like to participate in the content of this site. We need stories and articles about the work that you do in your community.

If you have sprinkler related items of interest, employment opportunities or press releases, please contact Howard Summers hhsummers@cox.net


Meeting Dates for 2009
  • June 2nd
  • September 15th - meeting and vendor trade show
  • September 16th - Golf Tournament
  • Nov 10th

Watch for the details for each meeting as the meeting time approaches.

Meeting information will be posted in the center column of this page and will be available for download as it becomes available.

2008 Golf Tourney Results

Scientific American Magazine
Currently there is a problem with headlines from this site

Mission Statement

Low Cost Standard ??
ICC files notice with ANSI of intent to create low-cost Sprinkler Standard

ICC has filed a public notice through the ANSI Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) to create a low-cost Sprinkler Standard.

The notice states, "The objective of this standard is to provide technical design and performance criteria that will facilitate and promote the design, construction, and installation of safe, reliable and economical multipurpose piping systems for combination plumbing and fire sprinkler systems in one- and-two family dwellings."

Anyone with comments on this activity, pro or con, is encouraged to contact Dave Bowman, ICC Manager of Standard Development, by dbowman@iccsafe.org.


All Things Defective

VA Chapter Winners of the 2007-2008 Essay Contest
American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) Virginia Chapter
Winners of the 2007-2008 Essay Contest
Read all of the entries in this years contest ... here are the winning essays.

April 2009 Meeting Minutes
To read the minutes of the last meeting please follow this link.

All Rights Reserved. © 2003-2009 by AFSA Virginia Chapter. and afsavirginia.com .This site was created by, and is maintained by Skip Summers of Swift Creek Consultants, LLC. for The American Fire Sprinkler Association Virginia Chapter. The American Fire Sprinkler Association Virginia Chapter provides information to the fire sprinkler industry at all levels. The AFSA Virginia Chapter also sponsors a scholarship contest for high school seniors as well as a Burn Survivors golf tournament. The URL for the National organization is http:// www.sprinklernet.org

PHP-Nuke Copyright © 2005 by Francisco Burzi. This is free software, and you may redistribute it under the GPL. PHP-Nuke comes with absolutely no warranty, for details, see the license.
Page Generation: 0.86 Seconds