| 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.
|
| |
| Fire Sprinklers Save Lives |  | |
| Travel Information |  | |
| $$$ Savings |  | |
 | |
Golf Tournament Notice ... more to come!!
|
|
HB 227 Contractors, Board for; applications for licensure. Read The Bill
HB 333 Automatic sprinkler systems; tax credit for initial installation. Read The Bill
HB 406 BPOL tax; proof of state licensure for contractors. Read The Bill
HB 575 Contractors, Board for; prohibited acts. Read The Bill
HB 1298 Illegal immigrants; grounds for disciplinary action for employment thereof. Read The Bill
SB 167 Uniform Statewide Building Code; use of noncombustible materials in certain structures construct Read The Bill
SB 363 Automatic sprinkler systems; tax credit for initial installation. Read The Bill
SB 689 Biofuels production incentives; biodiesel fuel. Read The Bill
HJ 164 Contractors, licensed; Commission on Immigration to study hiring of undocumented workers & impact Read The Bill
|
|
Legislative Results
Virginia Legislature 2008
Action taken on Bills of Interest
HB 926 Illegal aliens; corporate existence terminated involuntarily for employing.
Kathy J. Byron | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
Summary as passed: (all summaries)
Business entities; employing illegal aliens. Provides that the authority of certain business entities, including foreign and domestic corporations, limited liability companies, business trusts, and limited partnerships, to operate in the Commonwealth may be terminated involuntarily or revoked upon the conviction of the business entity for a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(f) (hiring or continuing to employ illegal aliens). A business entity whose authority to operate in the Commonwealth is terminated or revoked is not eligible to have that authority reinstated for a period of not less than one year. The business entity shall immediately report any such conviction to the State Corporation Commission and file with the Commission an authenticated copy of the judgment or record of conviction. This bill incorporates HB 227 (Cosgrove). This bill is identical to SB 782.
HB 333 Automatic sprinkler systems; tax credit for initial installation.
Jennifer L. McClellan
Summary as introduced:
Installation of automatic sprinkler systems; tax credit for initial installation. Requires that all buildings that (i) are more than 75 feet high or more than six stories high, (ii) are being used to house individuals or to provide guest rooms for occupancy, and (iii) are not equipped with an automatic sprinkler system would be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system by December 31, 2017.
Bill was left in General Laws
HB 406 BPOL tax; proof of state licensure for contractors.
G. Glenn Oder
Summary as introduced:
BPOL tax; proof of state licensure for contractors. Requires certain contractors to provide proof of valid state licensure before being issued a local business license.
Status: Continued to 2009 in Finance by voice vote
HB 575 Consumer Protection Act; prohibited acts by a contractor.
Vivian E. Watts |
Board for Contractors; prohibited acts; penalties. Provides that any person who undertakes work without any valid Virginia contractor''s license or certificate when a license or certificate is required shall also be guilty of a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.) provided the violation involves a consumer transaction as defined in the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.
Passed and signed by Governor
HB 1298 Contractors; shall not knowingly employ unauthorized alien.
Jeffrey M. Frederick
Summary as passed: (all summaries)
Public body contracts; illegal alien employment. Requires that all public bodies provide in every written contract that the contractor does not, and shall not during the performance of the contract for goods and services in the Commonwealth, knowingly employ an unauthorized alien as defined in the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This bill is identical to SB 517.
Passed and signed by Governor
SB 167 Uniform Statewide Building Code; use of noncombustible materials in certain structures construction.
Harry B. Blevins
Summary as introduced:
Uniform Statewide Building Code; use of noncombustible materials in the construction of certain structures. Requires the Board of Housing and Community Development to promulgate regulations establishing standards for requiring the use of noncombustible materials in the construction of assisted living facilities, residential dwelling units designed or developed and marketed to senior citizens, nursing homes, and nursing facilities.
Subject matter referred by letter to Housing Commission pursuant to
Senate Rule 20 (L)
SB 363 Automatic sprinkler systems; tax credit for initial installation.
John C. Watkins
Summary as introduced: Same as hb333
Continued to 2009 in General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)
HJ 164 Contractors, licensed; Commission on Immigration to study hiring of undocumented workers & impact.
John A. Cosgrove
Summary as introduced:
Study; Virginia Commission on Immigration; report. Requests the Virginia Commission on Immigration to study the pervasiveness of licensed contractors in Virginia hiring undocumented workers or otherwise violating the federal Immigration and Reform Act and the impact of such activities on Virginia''s workforce and economy.
House: Left in Rules |
|
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.
|
|
News: Part Two of AFSA’s New Hydraulic Calculations Series Released
Monday, April 14 @ 08:25:38 PDT by howard (120 reads) |  Latest Affordable, Convenient Training for Fire Sprinkler Layout Technicians
DALLAS – The second in a four part series focusing on hydraulic calculations for automatic fire sprinkler systems, Fire Sprinkler Systems Hydraulic Calculations – Part Two, is now available through AFSA's e-learning courseware portal eCampus.
Written by well-known industry expert Russ Leavitt, S.E.T., and produced by AFSA, this second installment in the hydraulic calculations series focuses on giving layout technicians and others seeking NICET certification, as well as Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), the foundations in key subjects of calculation models and applications, and working knowledge of NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
| | (Read More...) |
|
News: The International Association of Fire Chiefs - Position Statement
Sunday, March 23 @ 07:45:09 PDT by howard (144 reads) |  Fire Sprinklers in New Construction
The International Association of Fire Chiefs adopts the position that all new construction,
including one- and two-family dwellings, should be built with fire sprinklers installed to
protect the public, fire service personnel, the structure, its contents, the economy and the
environment.
In an effort to reduce the number of deaths from an average of 3,000 citizens and 100 firefighters
annually and to avert billions of dollars annually in property loss to the effects of fire, we must
include fire sprinklers as an integral part of a community’s fire protection. The increased demands
made today on local fire departments, usually without increased staffing or funding, and the changes
in building materials and home contents, all increase the risk to firefighters and the public. It’s time
to add active fire protection as a baseline in all new construction.
| | (Read More...) |
|
News: AFSA VA Chapter poll overwhelmingly indicates specialty certification is necessa
Tuesday, March 04 @ 15:43:25 PST by howard (200 reads) |  An online poll conducted by the AFSA Va. Chapter consisting of 37 respondents indicates many individuals believe specialty certification is necessary. The poll received 37 votes of which 62.16% of respondents voted yes that certification is necessary, 16.22% responded no, 13.51% voted no, with exceptions and only 8.11% feel certification is irrelevant to the industry.
The Virginia Board of contractors also agrees that certification is necessary and requires all class A and B sprinkler contactors have a qualified full-time employee or member of management who is at a minimum NICET III certified. Various training courses are available through AFSA. NICET certification is available via NICET test centers around the country.
| | (Read More...) |
|
News: Chesapeake City Council appoints AFSA, VA Chapter member to Fire Code Appeals Bo
Monday, March 03 @ 09:49:39 PST by howard (217 reads) |  Chesapeake City Council has appointed AFSA, VA Chapter member Ron Foster, Sr. to the Fire Codes appeals board. The term will begin Feb. 2008 and will continue through Feb 2011. The fire codes appeal board is responsible for reviewing complaints regarding the improper interpretation and enforcement of Fire Codes.
| | (Read More...) |
|
Contests: AFSA’s 15 Annual National Apprentice Competition
Friday, February 01 @ 14:52:43 PST by howard (405 reads) | With Increased Prize Monies, Seven Finalists Compete for Capital in Our Nation’s Capitol
DALLAS – The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) will host its 15th Annual National Apprentice Competition, Oct. 17, 2008 in Washington, D.C. 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 27th Annual Convention and Exhibition, October 15-19, 2008 at the Marriott Wardman Park.
Newly increased cash prizes will be awarded: $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, $2,000 for third place, and $1,000 fourth-seventh place. In addition, the first place winner will receive an expense-paid trip to Honolulu to compete at the Associated Builders & Contractors’ (ABC) Craft Championship, February 25 - March 1, 2009.
| | (Read More...) |
|
News: AFSA’s eCampus Offers New Hydraulic Calculations Courses
Wednesday, January 30 @ 07:49:29 PST by howard (302 reads) | Latest Affordable Training for Fire Sprinkler Layout Technicians
DALLAS – AFSA has developed and hosted via its e-learning courseware portal eCampus, the first of four one-hour courses focusing on hydraulic calculations for automatic fire sprinkler systems, Fire Sprinkler Systems Hydraulic Calculations, Part 1.
Created by fire sprinkler expert Russ Leavitt, S.E.T., president and CEO of Telgian, Inc., this first installment in the hydraulic calculations series focuses on giving layout technicians and others seeking NICET certification as well as Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) the foundations in key subjects of calculation models and applications, and working knowledge of NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
| | (Read More...) |
|
News: GOVERNOR KAINE APPROVES EMERGENCY REGULATION ON MRSA
Friday, October 26 @ 03:55:27 PDT by howard (550 reads) | Requires labs to report confirmed cases of MRSA
RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today approved an emergency regulation by the State Health Commissioner that requires laboratories to report Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The regulation is effective today, and will assist public health authorities in the effort to compile data on the prevalence of MRSA for surveillance and investigation.
Today’s action was prompted by concerns among citizens and health care professionals following the recent death of a Virginia teenager due to invasive MRSA, as well as the recent release of a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control identifying MRSA as a major public health problem in the United States.
| | (Read More...) |
|
Contests: AFSA Virginia Announces the 2007 - 2008 Eassy Contest
Monday, September 24 @ 03:13:30 PDT by howard (2796 reads) | The Virginia Chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is sponsoring a scholarship contest for high school seniors. Students could receive up to $2000 in national tuition assistance, and additional Virginia prizes of $1500 for lst place, $750 for 2nd place, and $500 for 3rd place
The requirement is to write a 700 to 1000 word essay on the topic:
Residential automatic fire sprinklers.
The deadline to postmark entries is March 1, 2008.
| | (Read More...) |
|
News: Water System Extinguishes Sprinkler Fees
Tuesday, July 31 @ 15:24:11 PDT by howard (660 reads) | By Tony Bartelme
The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Officials hope move will encourage businesses to retrofit their buildings
The Charleston Water System on Tuesday axed its hefty impact and connection fees for customers who install automated fire sprinklers in the first significant policy change by a local government agency since last month's deadly fire at the Sofa Super Store.
| | (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 2008 |
- June 3
- September 9
- September 10 Burn Survivors Golf Tournament
- November 11
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.
| |
| April Meeting Minutes | | To read the minutes of the last meeting please follow this link.
| |
| AFSA presents 90-minute virtual seminar on Contractor Manage | The Popular “Contractor Management and the 21st Century” seminar offered again.
Dallas, TX - A huge success at the AFSA Annual Convention in September, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) will again offer the popular seminar entitled “Contractor Management and the 21st Century” on Thursday, December 7, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The 90-minute virtual seminar will be presented by Charles "Charlie" Brown, CIO of Telgian Inc and its subsidiary companies, and Russ Leavitt, President and CEO of Telgian, Inc.
| |
| 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. | |
|
