High School Students Make History Learning about Fire Sprinkler Trade Careers

By Lorraine Carli

According to a recent report by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the construction industry needs to attract about a half a million new workers this year to balance supply and demand. The number of tradespeople aging out of the workforce coupled with younger people not choosing to enter trade occupations, are driving this skilled labor shortage.

Henrico High School in Virginia has deployed a smart strategy to address that problem. The school is introducing high school students to the trades, with a focus on fire sprinkler installation. That’s making history.

RELATED: Read about Home Fire Sprinkler Week 2024

Twenty-eight 10th-grade students are participating in the Henrico Career & Technical Education’s House Building Project, which will ultimately construct 20 single-family homes. It’s the first high school program in the state that will install fire sprinklers in a single-family home. The project is part of a Summer Building Trades Program for students who are exploring potential trade career pathways. The Virginia Chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is partnering with the high school on the groundbreaking project.

This program is a win-win opportunity for so many reasons. As with other trades, the fire sprinkler industry wants and needs to increase a trained workforce. Programs like Henrico’s introduce the entire community to the importance of fire sprinkler protection while helping to increase the number of trained workers. Henrico students are learning through a true hands-on approach with professionals in the field. The AFSA Virginia Chapter facilitated some training and secured contributions for the project from their contractor, vendor, designer, and other members.

This replicable program also provides an opportunity for students to learn how dangerous home fires are and how fire sprinklers are the only technology that can stop a fire from becoming deadly. By installing sprinklers in new homes in their community, the students are playing an important role in improving the safety of residents as well as the firefighters who respond to home fires. They are also gaining valuable experience that will help them make decisions about their career path. Many will recognize that not only can they secure a good job in the fire sprinkler workforce, but they will also be able to protect their communities from home fires. And as future homeowners themselves, they’re learning to ask for the best protection against fire, too, when they build or buy a home.

Kudos to the AFSA Virginia Chapter for stepping up with this program, and congratulations to the 28 participating Henrico 10th-graders for being a part of history. I encourage fire sprinkler advocates and schools around the country to explore the possibility of replicating this smart strategy. It’s not only a good way to help our country fill the workforce gap but an important step forward in our efforts to provide more homes with fire sprinkler protection, saving lives.

SOURCE: NFPA