Fire sprinkler systems protect people and property. They are an important part of the prevention and risk reduction matrix protecting not only building occupants but also the first responders. Fire sprinklers are the single most effective way to stop fires anywhere. There are systems designed for houses, high rises, existing buildings, campus housing and every other building where people live or work.
The Wisconsin Chapter of the National Fire Sprinkler Association is here to help consumers, fire safety professionals and builders understand and benefit from fire sprinklers.
The chapter is managed by Marty King, State Coordinator for Wisconsin. Marty works closely alongside fire officials, legislators, and the public to promote and advocate for the widespread acceptance of fire sprinklers. For more information on chapter events, training, and membership benefits, contact Marty King at king@nfsa.org, or telephone 414-531-9542.
Chapter Officials
President | Steve Sferra, USA Fire Protection |
Vice-President | Scott Beres, Design Build Fire Protection of WI |
Secretary/Treasurer | Matt Berth, J.F. Ahern Company |
NFSA WI IP Board:
Chair: Matt Berth, J.F. Ahern Company
Steve Sferra, USA Fire Protection
Scott Beres, Design Build Fire Protection of WI
Ron Bergquist, Viking SupplyNet
Blair Fire Protection Contact: Blair Burkette (414) 460-4006 | 13111 West Silver Spring Drive Butler, WI 53007 | www.blairfireprotection.com |
Complete Fire Solutions, Inc Contact: Dave Dewhurst (920) 722-1280 | 2630 West American Drive Neenah, WI 54956 | www.completefireinc.com |
Decker Fire & Safety Contact: Curt Decker (262) 654-3589 | 4928 Green Bay Road Kenosha, WI 53144 | www.deckerfire.com |
Design Build Fire Protection Contact: Scott Beres (262) 784-7900 | 17055 West Victor Road New Berlin, WI 53151 | www.designbuildfire.com |
Fire Control Inc Contact: Jesse Bentley (847) 459-4570 | W228 S7055 Enterprise Drive Big Bend, Wi 53103 | www.firecontrolsprinklers.com |
Flannery Fire Protection Contact: Jerry Flannery (262) 653-1517 | 4810 52nd Street Kenosha, WI 53144-4307 | www.flanneryfire.com |
Freedom Fire Protection, LLC Contact: Terry Luedke (262)253-9300 | N118 W18531 Bunsen Drive Germantown, WI 53022 | |
Grunau Company Contact: Hans Spielmann (414) 216-6900 | 1100 West Anderson Court Oak Creek, WI 53154 | www.grunau.com |
H.J Pertzborn Plumbing & Fire Protection Contact: Joseph Pertzborn (608) 256-3900 | 802 John Nolan Drive Madison, WI 53713 | www.hjpertzborn.com |
Hooper Corporation Contact: Steve Millmann (608) 249-0451 | 2030 Pennsylvania Avenue Madison, WI 53704 | www.hoopercorp.com |
Integrity Fire Protection, Inc Contact: Jeffery Olcott (715) 359-4261 | 5906 Prairie Street Schofield, WI 54476 | |
J. F. Ahern Company - Appleton Contact: Van Fitch (920) 954-8242 | 2111 North Sandra Street Appleton, WI 54911 | www.jfahern.com |
J. F. Ahern Company -Eau Claire Contact: Van Fitch (715) 233-1841 | 5315 Freitag Drive Menomonie, WI 54751 | www.jfahern.com |
J. F. Ahern Company – Fond du Lac Contact: Van Fitch (920) 921-9020 | 855 Morris Court Fond du Lac, WI 54935 | www.jfahern.com |
J. F. Ahern Company - Madison Contact: Craig Carlson (608) 216-0283 | 3821 Anderson Road DeForest, WI 53532 | www.jfahern.com |
J. F. Ahern Company - Marinette Contact: Van Fitch (888) 347-3778 | 2910 Angwall Drive Marinette, WI 54143 | www.jfahern.com |
J. F. Ahern Company - Milwaukee Contact: Matt Berth (414) 921-7580 | 3201 West Canal Street Milwaukee, WI 53208 | www.jfahern.com |
J. M. Brennan Company Contact: Kurt Nowak (414) 342-3829 | 2101 West St. Paul Street Milwaukee, WI 53223 | www.jmbrennan.com |
Monona Plumbing & Fire Protection Contact: James Sawyer (608) 273-4556 | 3126 Watford Way Madison, WI 53713 | www.mononapfp.com |
Pace Corporation Fire Protection & Mechanical Contact: Dale Chapman (920) 731-5281 | N694 County Highway CB Appleton, WI 53713 | www.pacecorporation.com |
Precision Fire Protection Contact: Joshua Wendt (715) 253-2700 | N4710 Mavis Road Wittenberg, WI 54499-8615 | |
Reeke-Marold Company Contact: Kirk Goretski (920) 435-5377 | 1337 South Broadway Green Bay, WI 54304 | www.reekemarold.com |
United Mechanical Contact: James Colwell (262) 632-6131 | 1500 12th Street Racine, WI 53403 | www.united-mc.com |
USA Fire Protection - Appleton Contact: Steve Sferra (920) 836-3344 | 1080 N. Perkins Street, A Appleton, WI 54914 | www.usafireprotectioninc.com |
USA Fire Protection – Madison/Milwaukee Contact: Steve Sferra (262) 782-3311 | 15775 W. Schaefer Court New Berlin, WI 53151 | www.usafireprotectioninc.com |
C-Aire Compressors Contact: Jason Hedeen (651) 462-3440 (800) 762-2247 | www.cairecompressors.com |
Chicago Backflow Contact: Megan Demereckis (708) 202-0033 | www.cbmarketing.com |
Core and Main Fire Protection Contact: Mikayla Pigozzo (708) 728-9793 | www.coreandmain.com |
Ferguson Fire & Fabrication, Inc Contact: (262) 956-6050 | www.ferguson.com |
Fox Sprinkler Supply Company Contact: Troy Kole (847) 524-8250 | www.foxsprinkler.com |
Tyco Fire Protection – Johnson Controls Contact: Kody Karch (715) 412-2887 | www.jci.com |
JG Innovations Contact: Jack Grice (608) 314-8710 (888) 933-2248 | www.jgius.com |
Key2Act Contact: Emily Tigert (262) 821-4100 (866) 539-2228 | www.key2act.com |
Perimeter Solutions Contact: Dave Pelton (920) 593-9445 | www.perimeter-solutions.com |
Potter Roemer Fire Protection Contact: Jim Henry (262) 853-6397 | www.potterroemer.com |
Reliable Automatic Fire Sprinkler Company Dave Rosso/Dave Fisher (800) 228-6274 | www.reliablesprinkler.com l |
TLX Technologies Contact: Jason Busalacchi (262) 372-2165 | www.tlxtech.com |
Titus International Contact: Joe DaDan (312) 203-6529 | www.titusindustrial.com |
Victaulic Contact: Mike Jordan (262) 825-6913 | www.victaulic.com |
Viking SupplyNet Contact: Ron Bergquist (262) 893-5680 | www.vikinggroupinc.com |
Chapter News:

Fire Sprinkler System Controls Fire from Spreading to Adjacent Units in La Crosse WI
The fire sprinkler system and fast-acting firefighters prevented a fire from spreading in a downtown condo unit Monday morning.
Read MoreOctober 2017 Glendale Fire at Apartment Building Home to Many Elderly and Disabled Firefighters responded to a report of a fire on the second floor of the Parkside Commons Apartment building at 1400 W. Custer Avenue in Glendale. Upon arrival, firefighters reported that smoke was coming from the second floor. Crews then located the fire coming from an apartment. Residents were already evacuating when the fire crew arrived. The fire department noticed a number of the residents required assistance. Many were elderly or disabled.
A sprinkler system activated already putting out most of the fire, so firefighters were able to quickly bring it under control. The fire was contained to the second floor. There was moderate smoke damage to some areas such as stairways.
The fire remains under investigation. It is not determined to be suspicious or intentionally-set fire
(Appeared in June 2017 issue of The Dispatcher)
There have been some recent questions and confusion regarding fire flow calculations for water supply. Fire flow calculations are made to assure there is enough available water for firefighting at specific structures. While there are five separate mathematical formulas to estimate the amount of water needed, there is no single “correct” method for establishing fire flow in the structural fire protection world. The overall objective is to provide enough water to effectively control and extinguish the fire. Most of the formulas were developed as quick use for an Incident Commander confronted with an emergency. So, which formula is the best to use?
Both NFPA 1 – Fire Code and the International Fire Code reference a fire flow formula calculated by construction type and square footage of the structure. These methods utilize a chart for the various square footage ranges and construction types, resulting in an amount for gallons per minute and duration needed. This information helps fire prevention officials determine whether there is sufficient water available to control and extinguish a fire in the building. Both code organizations, the National Fire Protection Association and International Code Council, see the benefits of fire sprinkler systems and give credit when a building is protected by them. The credit equates to a seventy-five percent reduction in the amount of the water needed by emergency response crews since the fire sprinkler system will activate early in the fire, thus requiring less water from the responding fire department.
The other fire flow formulas, however, do not credit for fire sprinkler systems and thereby require larger amounts of water to be available. Part of the argument for those formulas is that they treat all structures the same, as if they were not protected. By doing so, it is supposed to help the incident commander determine immediate resources (staffing, equipment, and water) to effectively control the fire and reduce further damage to the structure or neighboring buildings.
An example of two of the fire flow calculations: A building is a 200-by-300-foot, mixed-used building of type II (non-combustible) construction provided with a fire sprinkler system designed for the occupancy classification. The NFPA fire flow formula (Table 18.4.5.2.1 from NFPA 1) determines the building would require a fire flow of 3,500 gallons per minute (gpm) for three hours before the reduction for fire sprinkler protection. With the reduction, the gpm would be lowered from 3,500 to 1,000 (actual reduction results in 875 gpm, but we must use the code’s minimum required fire flow of 1,000 gpm). In sharp contrast, the National Fire Academy’s formula simply multiplies the length and the width of the building and divided that number by 3. This would result in a required fire flow of 20,000 gpm. The difference is substantial for the property owner who must provide the required fire flow for the fire department.
The NFPA 1 and International Fire Code calculations, though not scientific, provide a reasonable approach to fire flow determination when planning new construction. Once the fire flow requirements are determined, the next step is looking at fire department access. Access should be assured first to fire protection devices (hydrants, fire department connections) onsite for vehicles and staff. The access lanes for vehicles and equipment to assure access for firefighting are next most important. This information will assure fast, effective response by emergency response agencies.
Ensuring adequate water supply and fire department access reduces risk, both risk of occupant injury or death and risk of property loss. These are important components of the fire prevention bureau to assure business continuity.
For information on how fire sprinklers save lives and property, please email me or visit National Fire Sprinkler Association – Wisconsin Chapter, National Fire Sprinkler Association, and Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition.
What’s in the box?… A fire sprinkler to assist your fire department with public education and media outreach efforts.
The Home Fire Sprinkler’s Coalition’s fire sprinkler display box shows how home fire sprinklers work. HFSC is raising funds to offer this powerful new educational display to the fire service – at no cost – as a way to talk to the media, residents and others.
The first production run is a limited supply, but if you donate and your fire department is registered as one of HFSC’s Built For Life Fire Departments (sign up for the free program), you’ll be among the first fire departments that are given an opportunity to request the educational display.
Help HFSC meet its goal and donate today.