Apprenticeship

In a typical year in the United States, over 3,500 people die as a result of fire (more than 80% are children)and more than $7,000,000,000.00 in property is lost. 71% of all businesses that suffer severe fire loss close permanently within three years. These figures are staggering, but even more impressive is the record of automatic sprinklers in the prevention of this loss of life and property.

There has never been a case of multiple loss of life in buildings with full sprinkler coverage!

Automatic sprinkler systems perform satisfactorily almost 97% of the time. In six out of ten cases, they extinguish the fire without human aid.

The fire sprinkler industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the construction industry. This multi-billion dollar industry more than doubled in size between 1988 and 2000, and is continuing this phenomenal rate of growth. Building codes require a large percentage of new buildings to be protected with fire sprinklers, and thousands of existing buildings are also being retrofitted with sprinklers every year.

The extraordinary record of sprinkler performance has been amassed primarily as a result of the high quality of performance of the fire sprinkler industry. Stringent standards of manufacturing, design, and installation along with rigid inspection procedures of components and systems have given the sprinkler industry a reputation for unparalleled excellence.

Its continued excellence depends upon the apprentices entering the trade.

We live in a time of rapid change. Technology advances by leaps and bounds. Yesterday's materials and techniques are suddenly outdated. There are new regulations and new developments in nearly every industry.

Coping with change and keeping up with the fast pace of progress can be challenging, indeed. When it comes to finding and keeping secure, well-paying jobs, the men and women with the best training and the most up-to-date skills have a tremendous advantage. And the need for well-trained men and women in the Fire Protection industry has never been greater.

The Seattle and Vicinity Sprinkler Fitters Apprenticeship Program has given hundreds of men and women the skills needed for job security and advancement. Our graduates find work opportunities locally and across the country. As a graduate, you, too, will have a tremendous advantage over untrained workers. You will find respect, recognition, and a strong sense of pride and satisfaction in your work, and a lifetime of financial stability.

Continuous journey-level training is also available for graduates who wish to update their skills with state-of-the-art technology and new techniques.

Training seminars for Fire Service Personnel, Fire Marshals, and Fire Department Inspectors and Plan Reviewers are available upon request.

Apprenticeship requires a signed agreement between the apprentice and the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), which insures quality training on the job, and in the classroom. You literally earn while you learn during the five-year program.

Apprentices work for a union employer with wages based upon a percentage of the Journey-level pay scale. After the one-year probationary period, they receive predetermined pay increases every six months of satisfactory progress both on the job and in the classroom.

We are seeking men and women of all races who demonstrate the best characteristics, aptitude, motivation, and personality traits conductive to success in our trade. The recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or age. All qualified candidates are interviewed by the JATC to pick the best applicants. Sprinkler Fitters working with union employers are provided fringe benefits unmatched by other employers. Health and Welfare benefits along with national and supplemental retirement plans provide security for you and your family during your working years. Furthermore, these plans allow you to enjoy a dignified retirement following a very productive and rewarding career.

	Full time Training Director
	Instructors hold state credentials and United Association certification and have many years of on-the-job experience in the fields they teach
	Curriculum continually updated
	Training is held from 5:00 until 9:00 pm at the South Seattle Community College
	Associate of Applied Science Degree Available upon completion of apprenticeship training
Courses include: Advanced Drawing Architectural Working Drawing Basic Drawing Basic Mathematics Backflow Prevention and Cross-connection Control Blueprint Reading Drawing Interpretation Economics Fire Pumps First Aid / CPR Human Relations Hydraulics Installation of Sprinkler Systems Introduction to Automatic Sprinklers Job Safety & Health Job Supervisor Leadership Development NFPA 12 Carbon dioxide NFPA 12A Halon NFPA 13 Sprinkler Systems NFPA 13D Sprinkler Systems Dwellings NFPA 13R Sprinkler Systems Residential NFPA 14 Standpipe & Hose Systems NFPA 15 Water Spray Systems NFPA 16 Foam-Water Systems NFPA 17 Dry Chemical Systems NFPA 20 Fire Pumps NFPA 22 Water Tanks NFPA 24 Private Fire Service Mains NFPA 25 Inspection, Testing & Maintenance NFPA 2001 Clean Agent Systems Pipe, Fittings, Valves, Supports and Fasteners Reading Automatic Sprinkler Drawings Related Science Soldering & Brazing Special Application Systems Sprinkler System Calculations System Alarms System Water Supplies Technical Reports The Automatic Sprinkler Types of Fire Protection Systems Use & Care of Tools Your Heritage & Future