In this second installment of The Riser Report, we bring you fresh conversations straight from the AFSA44 convention floor — highlighting the advocates, educators, champions, and rising leaders shaping the future of the fire sprinkler industry.

We kick things off with Peg Paul of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, who shares insight into national residential sprinkler advocacy, education efforts, and the ongoing push to improve home fire safety across North America.

Next, we catch up with Dylan Whittaker of Summit — the AFSA43 National Apprenticeship Champion — to talk about his apprenticeship experience, the path to becoming a top competitor, and what the next generation of sprinkler fitters is bringing to the industry.

We then connect with Rob Stewart, Director of Training at Fire Tech Productions, who dives into the evolving world of fire protection training, online learning, and the skill-building required to support a fast-changing industry.

Finally, Madison Wolf, VP & Regional Sales Representative at Victaulic, joins us to discuss her career journey, leadership in the industry, and what it means to be named the AFSA44 “Joe Heinrich Young Professional of the Year.”

Fast, focused, and recorded live on the expo floor, The Riser Report 2 delivers the conversations driving today’s fire sprinkler industry forward.

Peg Paul – Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (www.homefiresprinkler.org)
Dylan Whittaker – Summit Fire & Security, AFSA43 Apprenticeship Champion (www.summitfiresecurity.com)
Rob Stewart – Fire Tech Productions (learning.firetech.com)
Madison Wolf – Victaulic & AFSA44 Young Professional of the Year (www.victaulic.com)

AFSA’s Hands-On NFPA 25 Workshops take inspection, testing, and maintenance training beyond the classroom—giving fire protection professionals the opportunity to work directly with live systems in a controlled, real-world environment.

Each workshop is designed to build confidence, skill, and understanding of the NFPA 25 standard:

• 💧 NFPA 25 Essentials Workshop – Master the core inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for water-based fire protection syst

  Reach out with questions and topics you would like covered at podcast@firesprinkler.org.

  For more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.org

  TikTok: @firesprinkler.org

  LinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler Association

  Facebook: firesprinkler.org

  Instagram: @firesprinklerorg

  Don't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

In the Riser Report convention-series episode, we catch up with two standout voices from the AFSA44 expo.

First, we sit down with Martin Workman, Senior Vice President at Viking, to talk about his journey in fire protection, what he’s learned along the way, and how product development continues to evolve within one of the industry’s most innovative companies.

Then we connect with Mariana Barrios, General Manager at EnginZone, for a powerful conversation on expanding fire sprinkler training and support throughout Latin America — and what it means to bring AFSA’s mission to a global audience.

Quick, candid, and packed with convention-floor energy, this episode captures the heart of AFSA44 one conversation at a time and brings it to your speakers.

AFSA’s Hands-On NFPA 25 Workshops take inspection, testing, and maintenance training beyond the classroom—giving fire protection professionals the opportunity to work directly with live systems in a controlled, real-world environment.

Each workshop is designed to build confidence, skill, and understanding of the NFPA 25 standard:

• 💧 NFPA 25 Essentials Workshop – Master the core inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for water-based fire protection syst

  Reach out with questions and topics you would like covered at podcast@firesprinkler.org.

  For more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.org

  TikTok: @firesprinkler.org

  LinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler Association

  Facebook: firesprinkler.org

  Instagram: @firesprinklerorg

  Don't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

The future of fire protection codes and standards is taking shape — and the time to prepare is now.

In this episode of The K-Factor Podcast, Kevin Hall, Director of Engineering & Technical Services at AFSA, joins us to share insights on the upcoming 2028 edition of NFPA 13 and the 2026 edition of NFPA 25.

From sprinkler system design updates to inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements, Kevin highlights the key changes that will impact contractors, engineers, and the entire fire sprinkler industry.

👉 If you want to stay ahead of NFPA standards and understand how these updates affect your work, this episode is a must-listen.

AFSA’s Hands-On NFPA 25 Workshops take inspection, testing, and maintenance training beyond the classroom—giving fire protection professionals the opportunity to work directly with live systems in a controlled, real-world environment.

Each workshop is designed to build confidence, skill, and understanding of the NFPA 25 standard:

• 💧 NFPA 25 Essentials Workshop – Master the core inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for water-based fire protection syst

  Reach out with questions and topics you would like covered at podcast@firesprinkler.org.

  For more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.org

  TikTok: @firesprinkler.org

  LinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler Association

  Facebook: firesprinkler.org

  Instagram: @firesprinklerorg

  Don't forget to like, subscribe, & review!