Fire Sprinklers Supplement: Why Join the NFSA?

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The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), founded in 1905, is proud to support members who have championed our mission of “protecting lives and property through the widespread acceptance of the fire sprinkler concept” for more than 110 years. Our members form a strong coalition of the fire sprinkler industry as well as fire and life safety advocates who have come to depend on NFSA for networking, training, education, best practices, industry news and information, and for an unparalleled dedication to our mission.

Membership in NFSA benefits you in every state across the country as your communities change and evolve in regards to fire protection. The NFSA has a representative ready to assist you wherever you are and whatever the issue related to fire sprinklers. Do you have an extremely large warehouse being built in the community or are you building a fire station or new house? Reach out to us, and we will be glad to provide information and assist with technical support for fire sprinklers.

NFSA departments

There are several NFSA departments, all intended to help you.

Engineering

NFSA’s Engineering Department is one of the most respected teams of professionals in the industry. The NFSA engineering staff is unmatched in personnel and ability in its services to the fire sprinkler industry. The NFSA is internationally known and widely recognized as the preeminent spokesperson on technical issues for the sprinkler industry. The Engineering Department coordinates the NFSA representation on the committees that write the standards and codes that affect the fire sprinkler industry. The members of the department assist members in the application of these codes to specific situations, and provide training and education to keep everyone in the industry familiar with the most recent changes to these codes and standards. Members of the Engineering Department also coordinate research to further the understanding of the design and installation of water-based fire protection systems.

Field Operations

The NFSA’s “Boots on the Ground,” our nationwide network of Field Operations personnel are focused on serving you as members. This is our group of professionals, from sales executives to former fire officials, who are committed to serving local fire and building officials, fire sprinkler contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, engineers, designers, government officials and citizens. Field Operations personnel are your local connection to national resources, and they are prepared to assist you in regards to fire sprinkler issues.

Labor Relations

The NFSA has multi-employer collective bargaining relationships with 16 local unions across the country. The Labor Relations/Legal Staff serve as chief spokespeople for hundreds of fire protection employers nationwide, collaborating with various local and national committees to negotiate all of NFSA’s labor contracts.

Membership

The NFSA has represented the fire sprinkler industry for more than 110 years. NFSA members include contractors, suppliers, engineers, architects and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). This department stands at the ready to help our members derive the most value out of their membership.

Outreach & Government

The Outreach and Government Relations Department serves as the primary liaison to fire and public policy organizations. One or more members of the department serve as representatives for the NFSA to the Congressional Fire Services Institute, National Advisory Council, Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Steering Committee, Board of Trustees of the Phoenix Society, and the Fire & Life Safety Section Board of the IAFC. All member and non-member communications are handled by the department, including social media, SQ (our award-winning member magazine), e-communications, press releases and Association announcements.

Public Fire Protection

The Public Fire Protection Department helps NFSA achieve its goals by assisting AHJs, building owners and other stakeholders in understanding the value of fire sprinklers nationwide. Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (ITM) training is available.

Training & Education

Nobody does training like NFSA! Training and education requires the blended talents of many other NFSA staff members. In this blending, the NFSA is the premier resource for training and education in the fire sprinkler industry. No other organization provides as many training opportunities in as many subjects in various formats taught by well-known sprinkler industry leaders. Training is done on a worldwide basis and is available in class, online or on site. Our Training and Education Department is internationally known for working with individual companies and organizations to deliver custom training programs that fit specific needs or wants. We are especially excited about our new blended learning format, which combines online and real class time.

Member benefits

Following are just some of the benefits available to our members.

NFSA’s Expert of the Day program handles more than 2,000 requests each year, providing technical assistance that saves members money, often enough to pay for a year’s dues.
NFSA members save on training and education programs, both online and in the classroom. Our training curriculum sets the technical and enforcement benchmark for the nation.
NFSA provides its members with the opportunity to represent the fire sprinkler industry on important code- and standards-making committees and NFSA committees.
NFSA’s extensive chapter network provides members with nationwide peer networking opportunities.
NFSA maintains a presence on Capitol Hill where relationships are built with national, state and local fire protection organizations to move public fire protection legislation.
NFSA members save money on valuable resource center publications. NFSA’s NFPA 25 inspection forms are the industry standard.

SQ Magazine, published six times a year, is the NFSA’s four-color magazine that’s packed with articles, opinions and information from the leading experts in the industry.

TechNotes, published on Tuesdays when there is no live technical online seminar, is the NFSA’s newsletter that keeps members up to date on the changes and proposed changes to the fire sprinkler codes and standards, as well as rapidly developing fire protection technology.

There are special NFSA member discounts offered with Budget Car Rental, Single Source, Wyndham, Partnership and more!

NFSA chapters/affiliates

NFSA chapters provide members with a means to network within the industry and to unite as a single voice on local issues of common interest. These chapters are comprised of member contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, architects, engineers and AHJs who are committed to working together to improve local acceptance of the fire sprinkler concept.

Chapters

Arizona
Boston
Capital Region Fire Sprinkler Association
Columbia-Willamette, OR
Connecticut
Empire Chapter, NY
Florida Fire Sprinkler Association
Illinois
Los Angeles
Minnesota
New Jersey
North Texas
Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware
Puget Sound, WA
San Francisco Bay Area
Tennessee
Western Pennsylvania
Wisconsin

Affiliates

Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board of Puget Sound
Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board
St. Louis Fire Sprinkler Alliance

Member categories

Ready to join? NFSA has several member categories. Finding the right one for you is easy! Following is a list and short explanation of each member category.

Subscriber

Subscriber membership is available to the fire service and code officials. This category of membership is for AHJs and other interested parties, such as insurance loss control managers, provided they are not eligible for any other category of membership. This is an individual membership. A company that installs or inspects is NOT eligible for this category of membership. The NFSA is offering a free six-month membership to all Subscriber members. Visit nfsa.org and look for the Firehouse Magazine cover to sign up.

Professional

Professional membership was created for architects, engineers and other professionals. It is intended for people who are self-employed or members of small firms. This is an individual membership. A company that installs or inspects is not eligible for this category of membership.

Contractor

Contractor membership is open to any firm or corporation that installs, inspects or repairs fire sprinkler systems in the United States. If any of these criteria are done by your company, you MUST join as a contractor. You are not eligible for any other category of membership. This is a company membership; any employee of the company is eligible for the member benefits. There are three options:

Open shop
Union locals 669, 692 & 699
All other union locals

Supplier & Manufacturer (SAM)

SAM membership is open to any firm that sells or distributes materials or services whose end use is intended for inclusion in fire sprinkler systems but is not eligible for membership as a Sprinkler Manufacturer or Contractor. This is a company membership; any employee of the company is eligible for the member benefits.