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Northwest Automatic Fire Alarm Association

Upcoming events

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025
    • 08:00
    • Wednesday, November 05, 2025
    • 17:00
    • Mohawk Business Park Training Center 7991 SW Mohawk St Tualatin, OR 97062
    Register

    Join us for afaa's newest class!

    Fire Alarm Design and Layout Practices

    Course Description

    This two-day class provides attendees with the fundamental knowledge necessary for fire alarm design and layout practices in accordance with the International Building/Fire Code and NFPA 72. Using classroom theory, design examples and applied design exercises, attendees can combine their existing knowledge with the new skills to prepare design documents and layout systems in the field.

    Target Audience:

    - Fire protection or electrical engineers doing alarm design
    - Fire alarm designers
    - Fire alarm sales professionals
    - Technicians conducting site layout and installation


    Instructor

    Deborah Shaner is the owner of Shaner Life Safety and a practicing Fire Protection Engineer with special expertise in fire alarm design. Her company, Shaner Life Safety, was formed in 2001 and is located in Salida, Colorado. Ms. Shaner is registered as a Fire Protection Engineer in Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico and Nebraska. As a consultant, Ms. Shaner has participated in a wide range of projects including schools, casinos, military bases, high rise buildings, hospitals and resorts. She is a member or various NFPA code committees including 72, 101, 1141, 1142, and 1144. She previously served as a member of the AFAA Board of Directors.  
    • Thursday, November 06, 2025
    • 08:00 - 17:00
    • Mohawk Business Park Training Center 7991 SW Mohawk St Tualatin, OR 97062
    Register

    Fire Alarm Plan Development, Submittal and Review

    Course Description

    This one-day program provides an in-depth look at the elements needed for developing or submitting fire alarm plans for review and approval. This application course describes the common problems associated with the plan review process and offers suggestions for improvement by providing plan review and acceptance test checklists, spreadsheets to determine battery and voltage drop calculations, exercises to determine proper spacing of smoke detectors, exercises to determine proper audibility of fire alarm notification appliances and proper sizing and placement of visible notification appliances.

    This program utilizes design requirements from NFPA 72 and includes a review of common system elements, discusses submittal issues and how to avoid these, as well as discussions for checklists to make the submittal process for all parties.

    This seminar is intended for:

    -authorities having jurisdiction involved in fire alarm system plan review
    -contractors providing submittal documentation for plan review 
    -fire alarm system designers.  


    Instructor

    Tim Knisely is the Training Manager for the Automatic Fire Alarm Association. In this role he is responsible to plan and coordinate all training programs that are offered by the Association, both classroom and on-line offerings. Prior to joining AFAA, Tim spent 23 years as an AHJ in Pennsylvania. There, he supervised the plan review and inspection of life safety systems in new and existing buildings. He also managed the fire safety inspections of commercial and high-rise properties and the organization’s fire prevention programs. 

Past events

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 2025 Northwest Fire & Security Expo
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 May 2025 Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, April 08, 2025 April 2025 Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 March 2025 Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Member Meeting and Training
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 NWAFAA February Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 January 2025 Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, November 07, 2024 NWAFAA Fall Training Day 3 - Fire Alarm Inspection & Testing
Wednesday, November 06, 2024 NWAFAA Fall Training Day 2 - Fire Alarm Fundamentals
Tuesday, November 05, 2024 NWAFAA Fall Training Day 1 - Understanding the Fire Alarm Requirements of the 2021 IBC
Tuesday, November 05, 2024 NWAFAA 2024 Fall Training
Tuesday, October 08, 2024 Member Meeting and Training
Tuesday, October 08, 2024 NWAFAA October Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 Member Meeting and Training
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 NWAFAA June Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 Northwest Fire & Security Expo
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 NWAFAA May Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, April 09, 2024 NWAFAA April Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 All Member Meeting and Training
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 NWAFAA February Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, January 09, 2024 NWAFAA January Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 NWAFAA December Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 NWAFAA November Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 All Member Meeting and Training
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 NWAFAA October Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 Northwest Fire & Security Expo
Tuesday, November 01, 2022 NWAFAA Fall Training

The NWAFAA is a chapter of the Automatic Fire Alarm Association serving the Pacific Northwest. This organization brings together Engineers, AHJ's, Vendors, Installers, Manufacturers and End Users in the fire alarm industry to further the industry.

Address:
16869 SW 65th Ave #216
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

  Northwest Automatic Fire Alarm Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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