The American Fire Sprinkler Association will
host its 16th Annual National Apprentice Competition Oct. 16, 2009, in San
Diego during its annual convention and exhibition, Oct. 14-18 at the Manchester
Grand Hyatt. Seven of America's finest fire sprinkler fitter apprentices will
face off in an intense, one-day, head-to-head skills contest in the national
competition.
The finals consists of two
parts: a three-hour written examination and a practical examination in which
the apprentice must cut, thread and install a steel and plastic piping system
with sprinklers and perform a pressure test. Participants will be judged on
their accuracy, craftsmanship and safety.
To compete in AFSA's national competition, contestants
first must take a written examination June 27, 2009. The top seven contestants
will advance to the national competition. Each of these seven finalists will
receive an expense-paid trip to compete in the national finals in San Diego,
tools and cash prizes ranging from $5,000 for top honors to $1,000. In
addition, the employer of each of the seven finalists will receive one
complimentary registration to attend AFSA's Convention & Exhibition to
cheer on their apprentice in San Diego.
To enter AFSA's 16th National Apprentice Competition, the
apprentice's employer must be a member in good-standing with AFSA; the
apprentice must be actively participating in the AFSA Apprenticeship Courses or
be currently enrolled in the Contren® Learning Series Course for Sprinkler
Fitters; the apprentice cannot have worked in the sprinkler trade, hanging pipe,
for more than five years; and the apprentice must live within the continental
United States to have expenses paid to the competition. Also, an apprentice who
has won first, second or third place at AFSA's National Apprentice Competition
and/or ABC's Craft Championship is not eligible to compete. Employers may enter
as many apprentices as are eligible from their company.
Apprentices interested in participating must submit their
application to AFSA by Friday, April 3, 2009. Application forms and entry
guidelines may be obtained at the "Apprentice Competition" page of
the AFSA Web site,
www.firesprinkler.org; in the pages of
AFSA's official publication,
Sprinkler Age magazine;
or by calling 214/349-5965 ext. 132.
For more information or to
download an entry form, visit the Apprentice Competition page directly
here.
Source: The American Fire Sprinkler
Association
