John August Denhardt, vice president of engineering and technical services for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), has been announced as the newest trustee of the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF or Foundation), the research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Denhardt’s three-year term will run through 2024.

Denhardt is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) registered in the District of Columbia as well as the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. In his current role at AFSA, he is responsible for strengthening engineering and technical approaches for the benefit of members, the industry, and operational priorities.

Denhardt is a NICET Level III in Water-Based Systems Layout and in Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems; an NFPA Certified Water-Based Systems Professional (CWBSP); and a member of the NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems Sprinkler Discharge Committee. He is also a fellow in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE); sits on the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering Board of Visitors; and is a member of the SFPE Board of Directors. A native of Maryland, Denhardt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland in College Park.

The FPRF is a separate, independent, nongovernmental organization with its own officers and nine trustees. The Foundation’s team of five effectively plans and manages more than four dozen projects at any given time and communicates findings in support of the NFPA mission. Over the last 40 years, FPRF research reports have been downloaded by safety-focused practitioners in more than 160 countries. Projects cover everything from fire suppression systems, emergency response, public policy, public education, detection and signaling, industrial hazards, wildfire, electrical, and building safety.