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Recruiting and TrainingRecruiting and Training

Technicians for a GrowingTechnicians for a GrowingSprinkler MarketSprinkler Market

Kenneth E. Isman, P.E.Kenneth E. Isman, P.E.Vice President of EngineeringVice President of Engineering

National Fire Sprinkler AssociationNational Fire Sprinkler Association

Presented at the IFSA 7Presented at the IFSA 7thth InternationalInternational

Fire Sprinkler ConferenceFire Sprinkler Conference

Copenhagen, DenmarkCopenhagen, Denmark

June 25, 2008June 25, 2008

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Ceiling Jet for Steady State FiresCeiling Jet for Steady State Fires

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Recruiting and Training TechniciansRecruiting and Training Technicians

TerminologyTerminology

HistoryHistory

PresentPresentFutureFuture

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Technician: The person who determines theTechnician: The person who determines the layoutlayoutand detailand detail associated with the location ofassociated with the location of

sprinklers and related equipment and performssprinklers and related equipment and performs

thethe hydraulic calculationshydraulic calculations to verify that the pipeto verify that the pipe

sizes will be sufficient and will work with thesizes will be sufficient and will work with the

available water supply.available water supply.

In other words, they prepare the working plans.In other words, they prepare the working plans.

Note that we do not use the term design.Note that we do not use the term design.

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In most states in the US, the term designIn most states in the US, the term design

is reserved for Professional Engineersis reserved for Professional Engineers

under Engineering Licensing Lawsunder Engineering Licensing Laws

Design is the use of judgment to assignDesign is the use of judgment to assign

hazard classifications to occupancies andhazard classifications to occupancies and

to determine what the available waterto determine what the available watersupply to a property might be.supply to a property might be.

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Unfortunately, most sprinkler contractorsUnfortunately, most sprinkler contractors

use the term designer for theiruse the term designer for their

technicianstechnicians

We prefer:We prefer:

Fire Sprinkler TechnicianFire Sprinkler Technician

Fire Protection SpecialistFire Protection Specialist

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History of Sprinkler TechniciansHistory of Sprinkler Technicians

Sprinkler industry begins in lateSprinkler industry begins in late

1919thth CenturyCentury

Controlled by manufacturersControlled by manufacturers

Do the installation; orDo the installation; or

License installersLicense installers

Insurance companies approveInsurance companies approve

plans before installationplans before installation

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Limited number of choices in the earlyLimited number of choices in the early

daysdays

Not many different kinds of sprinklersNot many different kinds of sprinklers

Not many different kinds of pipeNot many different kinds of pipe

Installation standard relatively smallInstallation standard relatively small

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1975 Insurance Services Office stops1975 Insurance Services Office stopsreviewing plans for approvalreviewing plans for approval

1980 National Institute for Certification in1980 National Institute for Certification in

Engineering Technology (NICET) beginsEngineering Technology (NICET) beginsto certify Fire Protection Techniciansto certify Fire Protection Technicians

Fire Sprinkler Layout and DetailFire Sprinkler Layout and Detail

Fire Alarm System Layout and DetailFire Alarm System Layout and DetailFire Suppression SystemsFire Suppression Systems

Inspection and Testing of Water-BasedInspection and Testing of Water-Based

SystemsSystems

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Growth of Products: 1980 - 2005Growth of Products: 1980 - 2005

Hundreds of new types of sprinklers nowHundreds of new types of sprinklers now

on the marketon the market

Many different types of pipe materials toMany different types of pipe materials to

chose fromchose from

Three different sprinkler standardsThree different sprinkler standards

(NFPA 13, NFPA 13R, NFPA 13D)(NFPA 13, NFPA 13R, NFPA 13D)

NFPA 13 is over 350 pages longNFPA 13 is over 350 pages long

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Growth of United States SprinklerGrowth of United States Sprinkler

Market: 1980 - 2005Market: 1980 - 2005Sprinklers Installed vs. Technicians

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Millions of Sprinklers

Thousands of

Technicians

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Where are we now?Where are we now?

Certified NICET Fire Sprinkler LayoutCertified NICET Fire Sprinkler Layout

Technicians: 5002Technicians: 5002

Estimated total number of technicians:Estimated total number of technicians:10,00010,000

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Where do we find technicians now?Where do we find technicians now?

Fire Protection SchoolsFire Protection Schools

Oklahoma State, Delaware Tech, Seneca Col.Oklahoma State, Delaware Tech, Seneca Col.

Still need some training when they get outStill need some training when they get out

General technical schoolsGeneral technical schools

All over countryAll over country

Need a great deal of training when they get outNeed a great deal of training when they get out

High School (need even more training)High School (need even more training)

Former fitters (need least amount ofFormer fitters (need least amount of

training, but still need some)training, but still need some)

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Where can TechniciansWhere can Technicians

get training now?get training now?NFSANFSA

Two-week technician training seminarTwo-week technician training seminar

Two-year Certificate ProgramTwo-year Certificate Program

Phase 1 Two-week classPhase 1 Two-week class

Phase 2 Internet study modulesPhase 2 Internet study modules

Phase 3 On the job training with mentorPhase 3 On the job training with mentor

Phase 4 Internet study modulesPhase 4 Internet study modules

Phase 5 On the job training with mentorPhase 5 On the job training with mentor

Phase 6 Three-day classroom and final examPhase 6 Three-day classroom and final exam

Various classes ranging from 90 min. to 3-daysVarious classes ranging from 90 min. to 3-days

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Where can TechniciansWhere can Technicians

get training now?get training now?

NFSANFSA

On-line coursesOn-line courses

Self-study textbookSelf-study textbook

700 pages700 pages

Basic material on layoutBasic material on layout

and calculationsand calculations

Other textbooks inOther textbooks inplanning stagesplanning stages

Beyond the BasicsBeyond the Basics

AdvancedAdvanced

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What is the current ageWhat is the current age

demographicdemographic

of the Technician?of the Technician?Age of Technicians from 2006 Surve

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

3540

0 to 20 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 65 Over 65Percentof

TechniciansinAge

Range

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Need for Future TechniciansNeed for Future Technicians

If the information from the 2006 survey is aIf the information from the 2006 survey is a

representative sample, 2500 Techniciansrepresentative sample, 2500 Technicians

will reach retirement age in the next 10will reach retirement age in the next 10

yearsyears

At the same time, the sprinkler industry isAt the same time, the sprinkler industry is

expected to grow to 70 million sprinklers inexpected to grow to 70 million sprinklers inthe U.S. by 2018the U.S. by 2018

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Need for Future TechniciansNeed for Future Technicians

To replace retiring Technicians:To replace retiring Technicians: 25002500

To handle additional growth:To handle additional growth: 50005000

Total new technicians in 10 years:Total new technicians in 10 years: 75007500

Not sure that we can meet this demand withNot sure that we can meet this demand withtraditional methods of recruitment andtraditional methods of recruitment andtrainingtraining

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Potential Idea for TrainingPotential Idea for Training

TechniciansTechnicians

Set up programs with community collegesSet up programs with community colleges

4 semester program4 semester program

English, math, CAD, plus fire protectionEnglish, math, CAD, plus fire protection

classesclasses

Partnership with local sprinkler contractors forPartnership with local sprinkler contractors for

on-the-job trainingon-the-job training

Job placement after graduationJob placement after graduation

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Potential Problems with CommunityPotential Problems with Community

College SolutionCollege Solution

7500 technicians in 10 years7500 technicians in 10 years

15 technicians per year per state15 technicians per year per state

Most people that attend communityMost people that attend community

college will only travel 50 or 60 miles tocollege will only travel 50 or 60 miles to

look for a job after graduationlook for a job after graduation

No single program will be able to sustainNo single program will be able to sustain

itselfitself

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Recruiting TechniciansRecruiting Technicians

Need to make people aware of the fireNeed to make people aware of the fire

sprinkler industry as a careersprinkler industry as a career

High school studentsHigh school students

College students taking general CAD andCollege students taking general CAD and

construction/architecture/engineeringconstruction/architecture/engineering

programsprograms

Guidance counselorsGuidance counselorsParentsParents

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Recruiting TechniciansRecruiting Technicians

Viral VideoViral Video

Sprinklers putting out fireSprinklers putting out fire

Quick basic information on industryQuick basic information on industry

Direct people to a websiteDirect people to a website

WebsiteWebsite

Descriptions of jobs in industryDescriptions of jobs in industry

More videoMore video

Direct people to contractors in their areaDirect people to contractors in their area

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Documents

isman.ppt