Ron,
Attendees:
Bryce Benham Security Solutions Chris Russell Security Solutions Kevin Kane Viking SupplyNet Ashton Wolfe Wolfe Fire & Plumbing Randy Knighton Knight Fire Roger White Knight Fire Bill McKay Advanced Fire Jim Stewart Advanced Fire Mike Balsey Advanced Fire Chuck Bamford Bamford, Inc. Steve Ike Talco Steve Muncy AFSA Chuck Duffy WSFM Ron Greenman Bates Technical College
Randy opened the meeting at 6:30.
Randy reported that insurance rates are rising.He reported that fuel prices are also rising.Bill commented that the number of private money jobs was still very low.Ashton, on the other hand, says the plumbing side of his business is seeing private money for multi-family is up and that the contractors are typically using subs they are familiar and comfortable with. How this will translate to sprinklers remains to be seen.Bill then talked about how he has set up his own in-company recovery (target money) funding with the cooperation of his fitters.
Steve Muncy, President of AFSA, discussed the card check issue and said that it looks dead as legislation although it may return as regulation. Steve went on to comment:“The good news is that the economy has hit bottom.”“The bad is that there‘s not much upturn.”California is seeing a little upward movement in the residential market.Not too many companies have failed. (Bill interjected that he thinks this is because companies are still working on the increased revenues from the preceding good years.)AFSA is going to see a big deficit this year but was strategically placed with good reserves to weather it.Webinaires are going to continue to be free to members until further notice.AFSA has been partnering with NFSA and the Union in splitting the costs getting pro-sprinkler legislation passed.The Convention is looking to be a big success. As of the meeting on 10 August there were only three vendor booths left.Steve finished up talking about the high response to the AFSA scholarships. Both the traditional high school one and the newer “Second Chance” scholarship for students in higher educational institutes.
For more details on all of the above check out the AFSA website: http://www.firesprinkler.org
And I just wanted to remind you AHJs that you are welcome at our meetings and that we have a special flat rate of $25.00 for  any AHJs in attendance.

The following article link is a very positive statement from a fire marshal about the effectiveness of sprinklers:
http://www.c-dh.net/articles/2010/08/10/affiliate/advertisernews/news/12fire.txt
Although unable to attend Chuck Paradis from Sprinx had some questions for Chuck Duffy, the new Washington State Fire Marshal. I stood in for Chuck P. SFM Duffy briefly answered the questions at the meeting  and then asked that I send him an email and he would answer them in more detail. I sent the following:
1. Fitter testing was scheduled to commence on August 1, 2010. What is
the current status of testing? What about existing temporary
certifications if testing is delayed?

2. There’s language in the WAC that requires Level 3 CoCs to be
present as supervisors on job sites. You answered this question
somewhat differently than Anjela (I had previously talked to Anjela St. John about this issue) although I believe you meant the same
thing. In her response she used the term “ignored” in reference to
enforcement of the WAC while your more detailed answer stated that the
”language was poor” and that your office would be “looking into
changing that language with input from the TAG” and that “enforcement
would be in abeyance until that work was completed.”
3. At the TAG the Union offered to move and man the sprinkler trailer
for venues where your office lacked sufficient manpower. You had
answered that, “there were lots of issues regarding liability and
appropriateness regarding State activities and private sector input.”
If you could would you phrase that better for me so I don’t publish my
interpretation that may not be what you meant.
This was the response:
1. The Journeyman and Residential Fitter test, Level U Test and Level 1 Test are available to be taken, they will need to schedule the exam with Mr. Humberto Rodriquez. Test scores from previously taken test are no longer valid and will require the candidate to retest.
2. The language in the WAC that requires Level 3 COC’s to be present as supervisors on job sites comes from WAC 212-80-043 which is titled: Qualifications for preparation of layout drawings, installations, inspections, testing, or maintenance.
“Only licensed fire protection sprinkler system contractors shall execute contracts for the design, installation, inspection, testing, or maintenance of fire protection sprinkler systems or any part of such a system in the state of Washington.”
Under the exemptions parts (6, 7, 8 and 9) it list the different type of Certificate Holder with the same clause “achieved State Level ___ certification shall supervise and/or certify…” the work to be done by the different type of COC.   The intent of this language was to require the sprinkler contractor to have a COC on staff and not one that is out of state doing the design work and not having the ability to readily available if there was a question about the installation or if a change to the installation would be needed.
The intent was never to have the COC at every job site supervising the work.  This language will be rewritten during the next update of the Fire Sprinkler WACS to reflect the intent of what the fire sprinkler was looking for.  Webster’s II Dictionary defines “supervise” as “to look over”, “to direct and watch over the work performance of” and “to direct and watch over the work and performance of others”.   We are going to look at this from the position of the COC provides a drawing for the installer to work from and upon completion of the installation receives confirmation that the work was approved by the local AHJ. Thus the COC did provide direction and has watched over the work performance.
3. The issue regarding the use of the sprinkler trailer at venues where the SFMO lacks sufficient manpower is being researched for options that will permit outside use, while still complying with our labor agreements and limiting our liability. We hope to have some options to consider on this issue by the first of the year, if it is possible.
Everyone ate well and the meeting was concluded unusually early. Next meeting will be November 9.
Hope to see you all in Providence in October.