In response to the pressing industry requirement for fire sprinkler designers, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is launching a new scholarship initiative aimed at designers employed by AFSA Category 1-3 members.

The 2023 scholarship program is set to reward dedicated participants from both AFSA’s Beginning and Intermediate Design Schools.

The scholarships will include the full coverage of registration fees and travel expenses such as airfare, hotel accommodations, and meals for one of the AFSA’s 2023 educational schools.

To apply, applicants must complete an online form, which will include questions for both the contractor and the designer. The retail value of each scholarship is $4,500.

A specialised subcommittee from AFSA’s Public Education & Awareness Committee will meticulously review applications and select the scholarship recipients.

Bob Caputo, CFPS, President of the AFSA, said: “The AFSA Technical Services and Engineering team has revamped and revised our Design School offerings and we’re proud to have this new scholarship program in the hope of helping to deliver more layout technicians to our members.”

A practical approach

AFSA’s Beginning Design School provides a comprehensive, practical approach to the creation of fire sprinkler system blueprints. This program is primarily targeted at trainees and entry-level technicians with a minimum of six months of experience, or seasoned professionals looking to transition to system layout.

For seasoned layout technicians, the AFSA’s Intermediate Design School offers a deep-dive into their utilized tools, and an in-depth understanding of layout standpipe, fire pump, seismic protection, and the design requirements for general storage. This program is aimed at proficient trainees and technicians with at least one year of system layout experience. Prior experience with Hydratec or Autodesk Revit is not required, but computer literacy is essential.

To learn more about AFSA’s Beginning Design School, please visit firesprinkler.org/design. For additional details on AFSA’s Intermediate Design School, please visit www.firesprinkler.org/nextlevel.