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Our Mission Statement. To protect lives and property from fire through the wide-spread acceptance of the fire sprinkler concept. . NFSA. The nation’s full service fire sprinkler industry trade association: Serves all Contractors - signatory and open shop.
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Our Mission Statement To protect lives and property from fire through the wide-spread acceptance of the fire sprinkler concept.
NFSA • The nation’s full service fire sprinkler industry trade association: • Serves all Contractors - signatory and open shop. • Employees nationally renown and highly respected fire sprinkler and fire safety code experts. • Is leading and recognized as the leader of the fire sprinkler cause throughout the nation.
Brief History • 1905 Organized by contractors to work with organized labor. • 1940’s Formed the Fact Finding Committee (now the Engineering & Standards Committee) to address changing technology. • 1950’s Continued to negotiate labor contracts and participated in the development of installation standards. • 1960’s Became deeply involved in the Model Building Codes. • 1970’s Added staff and became involved in the R & D of fast response sprinkler technology. • 1980’s Added Training & Education Department and increased the number of Regional Managers to better serve members at “grass roots” level. • 1990’s Growing of member services and created the Public Fire Protection and Internet Service positions and a continued expansion of the Regional Manager network. • 2000’s Representing the entire industry, the NFSA continues to be the #1 association for the Fire Sprinkler Industry.
NFSA Membership Representation Suppliers Manufacturers Contractors Signatory and Open Shop Membership Membership Professional Subscribers
Regional Operations Northeast CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. D. LaFond Pacific Northwest AK, WA, OR, ID, MT S. Mayr New York D. Kasmauskas North Central ND, SD, MN, WI D. Gengler Great Lakes MI, IN, OH, KY, WV Ron Brown Mountain CO, UT, WY, NE Eric Gleason Illinois B. Tinucci Mid-Atlantic PA, MD, DE, NJ, VA R. Lonabaugh Tennessee W. Waggoner Central IA, KS, MO Chris Gaut Great Southwest HI, CA, AZ, NM, NV B. Lecair Southeast NC, SC, GA, AL, MS TBA Gulf Atlantic FL, PR L. Bush South Central TX, OK, AR, LA C. Giedraitis 10-31-2013
Examples of Regional Manager Activities • Mitigates conflicts between contractor and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). • Promotes goals and objectives of Regional NFSA Chapters. • Has a strong presence with local & state fire service associations. • Provides public education about sprinklers. • Promotes, protects or defends local and state fire sprinkler initiatives.
Examples of Regional Manager Activities Continued • Arranges local fire sprinkler training programs. • “Watchdogs” for political activity. • Promotes the adoption of current codes and standards. • Prepared to assist in other Regions where specific talents are needed.
Engineering • Expert of the Day Program answers most challenging questions with an average response time of just 4 business hours. • Our interpretations are well respected, and relied upon by AHJ’s. • Earned unparallel respect in the nation’s codes, standards, and regulating bodies as they represent our member companies. • Teach the design, layout, detail and calculation of fire sprinkler systems in a variety of formats to fit our members needs. • Publish regular articles for e-bulletins that keep our members up to date on the latest technical thinking.
NFPA 13D NFPA 25 NFPA 24 Standards Development NFPA 13 NFPA 13R
Codes and Standards Fire Sprinkler markets come mostly from adopted codes; • Building Code Development participation. • Standards-making process participation. • Generating and protecting markets.
Training & Education A Major NFSA Objective
Trainingand Education • NFSA recognizes the importance of highly trained and educated staff and AHJ code enforcement officials. • In addition to a full-time T&E staff, NFSA commits engineering, qualified Regional Managers, and highly qualified adjunct staff to provide a total and complete T&E program. • NFSA has long been recognized as the premier provider of fire sprinkler related T&E.
Training& Education A sample of our programs • Layout Technician Training (2 week course) • Subcontractors Operating Strategies (Designed for Business owners and upper level management) • Sprinkler Advantage (Designed for Building Designers and AHJs) • Plan Review & Standards programs (designed for the AHJs i.e. Building & Fire officials) • Internet Seminars (for contractor employees, design professionals and AHJs)
Training& Education • Delivery modes: • Classroom Seminars. • On-line Seminars. • Combination Classroom and On-line Seminars. • Contract Seminars. • “For your company only” specialized training and education programs. • All NFSA training seminars are approved for continuing education in states where approval is required.
NFSA Annual Seminars Atlantis, Bahamas • Educational Programs • Exhibits (every other year) • Peer Networking • FUN!! 2014 Non-Exhibition Year
InternetServices • NFSA Website (www.NFSA.org) provides timely and interesting updates on “what is happening” in the fire sprinkler world. • NFSA website contains contractor member list and other useful information. • You can now fill out an application on line at NFSA.org. Becoming a member has never been so easy!
SQ Magazine GrassRoots LaborLine TechNotes Technical Tuesdays Business Thursdays e-Tech Alerts and e-Bulletins NFSA Academy Publications & e-Bulletins The Communications Department keeps members up to date on the latest news pertinent to the fire sprinkler industry by daily updates to the NFSA website along with the following;
Resource Center • NFSA’s own Layout, Detail and Calculation of Fire Sprinkler Systems- is authorized by NICET to be used during the certification testing. • NFPA 25 Inspection Reporting Forms; training material; technical reports; the very popular NFSA Safety Handbook;… a large supply of available resources to help you manage your business.
The Truth about NFSA Open Shop or Union? • Organized to negotiate a contract with a local in St. Louis. • In 1981 membership was 96% union signatory contracting companies. • Today, 55% Signatory & 45% Merit shop. • NFSA holds that how you do business, is your business!
Then What does the Labor Relations Division do? • If the business owner is a signatory contractor, there is then the issue of contract negotiations. • The owner has the option of negotiating a contract with the union or allowing NFSA to manage the negotiations. • Thus, Labor Relations assists the business owner through contract negotiations on their behalf.
Industry Promotion Funds Are: • Part of the bargaining agreement, therefore all who are signatory contribute to the I.P. Fund regardless of NFSA membership status. • “Management controlled” funds. The union has no say as to how they are expended. • Funds that may not be used for political lobby or as PAC monies. • Funds subsidize many national programs and support staff positions, stabilizing membership dues. • Funding programs that benefit the entire fire sprinkler industry. • Funds that are used to promote the industry.
Student Housing Fire Safety • NFSA is active in the college community by attending their conferences providing fire sprinkler awareness programs and technical assistance. • The NFSA has been recognized throughout the Greek fraternity and sorority network as the focal point for fire sprinkler information and assistance. • As a result of our efforts many fraternities and sororities have established a five-year retrofit window. • Regional Managers are prepared to provide testimony and technical assistance in support of these initiatives in the campus setting throughout the country.
“Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right To withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.” -President Theodore Roosevelt Help NFSA help you! Take control of your future by supporting and being part of NFSA.
