Course Description

AFSA Florida Fire Con Conference 2025

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Sprinklers in Combustible Concelased Spaces

Type:
Technical
Location:
Conch
CEUs:
2
Date:
Sep 17th
Time:
8:00am - 10:00am

This presentation will review the installation and discharge requirements for
sprinklers located in (or omitted from) combustible concealed spaces. In addition to
a basic overview of types of construction and combustibility, this presentation will
focus on the installation requirements for concealed spaces not requiring sprinkler
protection including the sixteen (16) construction arrangements that permit
sprinkler omission. This presentation includes a discussion on the application of
standard spray and special sprinklers installed within combustible concealed spaces
and a review of the discharge requirements where the participant will learn how to
properly apply the 3,000 sq. ft rule.

Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this presentation, you should be able to:

  1. Identify the construction components of a pitched roof
  2. Apply the installation and discharge requirements for standard spray sprinklers
  3. Apply the installation and discharge requirements for special sprinklers
  4. Identify and apply all construction arrangements that permit the omission of
    sprinklers
  5. Correctly use and apply the 3,000 sq. ft rule
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John Denhardt
AFSA

John August Denhardt, P.E., ET, CWBSP, FSFPE, is the vice president of engineering and technical services for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). He is responsible for strengthening AFSA’s engineering and technical approaches to meeting member, industry, and operational priorities, with an emphasis on service, quality, and integrity. Denhardt is a registered professional engineer (P.E.) in the District of Columbia and the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He is NICET Level III certified in water-based systems layout, NICET Level III certified in inspection and testing of water-based systems, and a certified water-based system professional through NFPA. Denhardt is a member of the NFPA 13 technical committee on sprinkler system discharge criteria, a fellow in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), a member of the SFPE Board of Directors, a member of the Board of Trustees for NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation and sits on the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering’s Board of Visitors. A native of Maryland, Denhardt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland College Park in fire protection engineering. Prior to this role, Denhardt was employed by Strickland Fire Protection in Forestville, Maryland, since 1994, overseeing large-scale projects and assisting with design and installation technical issues.