The 31st Annual National Apprentice Competition (NAC) at the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s AFSA43: Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition in Denver, Colo., September 18-21, 2024, was a showcase of top apprentice talent in the fire sprinkler industry. Nearly 1,500 spectators gathered in a crowded exhibit hall to observe as the apprentices constructed and pressure-tested a mini fire sprinkler system.

Dylan Whitaker, Summit Fire & Security, Sanford, Fla., won first place at this year’s Competition and received a cash prize of $5,000. Daniel Kohler, Western Fire Protection, Poway, Calif., won second place and a $3,000 cash prize. Aron Cook, Coastal Fire Protection Co., Chesapeake, Va., took home third place along with a cash prize of $2,000.

Honorable mentions and $1,000 cash prizes were awarded to: Kacey Clark, Titan Fire Protection, Vista, Calif.; James Doss, Allied Fire Protection, LP, Pearland, Texas; Samuel Ohyama, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Timothy Shinn, Aqueduct Fire Protection Systems, Williamstown, N.J.

The competition began in June with proctored online examinations throughout the United States. The Phase I exam was available to all apprentices currently enrolled in AFSA’s Sprinkler Fitting courses. Over 250 apprentices enter the competition by taking the Phase I exam! The top seven scoring apprentices won expense-paid trips to compete in the national competition held at AFSA43. During the competition finals, participants took another, more thorough written examination and installed a steel and CPVC sprinkler system with pendent and sidewall heads. The systems were pressure-tested, and participants were graded on accuracy, craftsmanship, and safety.

"This year's Apprentice Competition was very competitive from top to bottom," says Brett Heinrich, president of Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., Inc., who oversaw the competition this year. "It was as complete of a group as I can recall in recent years and there have been some good ones. Great job to the apprentices and their companies!"

Started in 1994 by the late Robert L. (Bob) McCullough, then chair of AFSA's Apprenticeship & Education Committee, the Annual National Apprentice Competition was created to promote apprentice training and give recognition to the apprentices who are actively enrolled in the AFSA Apprenticeship Program. The competition continues to bring fire sprinkler apprentices from AFSA local chapter and member training programs from all corners of United States together in the association's foremost showcase of excellence in training among future industry leaders.

ools, materials, and support for this year's competition were provided by AllSouth Sprinkler Company; Alwest Fire Protection; AFSA Florida Chapter; Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co.; Core & Main Fire Protection; Crawford Sprinkler Co. of South Carolina, Inc.; Driven Fire Consultants; Eastern Fire & Safety; Ferguson Fire & Fabrication; Fire Tech Systems, Inc.; Foothill Fire Protection, Inc.; Fortis Fire & Safety; JFV Engineering, LLC; Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Company; RIGID Tools; Sammy/ITW; Spears Manufacturing Co.; Victaulic; Viper Tradeshow Services; Viking Group, Inc.; VSC Fire & Security, Inc.; and Winsupply, Inc.

Think you or someone you know has what it takes to be the next AFSA National Apprentice Competition champion? Entry forms for next year's competition at AFSA44: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Washington, D.C., October 15-19, 2025, will be available Spring 2025 at www.firesprinkler.org/competition.

To see photos of this year’s event, visit AFSA’s Flickr page, flickr.com/afsa/.