Trends in the Sprinkler Fitter trade
Installation Environments
There is a demand for residential sprinkler systems due to increased life safety awareness and insurance requirements. This will continue to expand work outside the typical industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sectors. This necessitates more communication with non-tradespeople and end users.
Increasing concerns regarding the protection of life and property has resulted in new, more stringent legislation regarding installation, maintenance, inspection and testing of fire protection systems. These new requirements increase the need for building retrofits.
Safety and Environmental Considerations
Safety has become more important in the workplace. Compliance with safety regulations and practices is mandatory, and non-compliance is met with severe penalties for workers, employers and contractors.
Water usage is a growing consideration for the trade, and the trade needs to be cognizant of this during testing, retrofitting and installation.
Technology and Code
The advances in technology and changes to code require sprinkler fitters to upgrade their skills and knowledge to adapt to the increased complexity of fire protection systems and to seek access to manufacturer specific training. For example, wet sprinkler systems that use early suppression fast response (ESFR) and control mode specific application (CMSA) technology are increasing in use because they provide more cost-efficient fire control and allow the elimination of in-rack sprinkler systems in storage occupancies. Specialty fire protection systems, including hybrid and clean agent systems, are becoming more common in areas with sensitive electronic equipment such as office areas and server/network rooms.
Components such as small valve stations and riser manifolds are being manufactured with the option of pre-assembly. There are new specialized sprinklers available; more models deal with specific applications.
Due to authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements and advances in technology, devices require more frequent and scheduled maintenance, inspection and testing to ensure proper operation of fire protection systems.
Tools and Equipment
Use of tools such as laser levels, laser plumbs and cordless tools is increasing in the trade. Due to the complexity of the trade and more frequent testing, there is an increase in the variety of diagnostic equipment. Digital technology such as smart phones and tablets are more common and assist with ongoing learning, communication and record keeping.