Guide to Promoting Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems: Forming an Advocacy Group

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“Be the worldwide center for information on automatic water-based fire suppression systems and the leader in advancing the widespread use of such systems.”

That’s been the IFSA vision statement since being founded in 1999. The first tenet in achieving this vision calls for “fostering the development of national and regional organizations with similar objectives.” What does that mean? It recognizes that local groups are best positioned to drive the demand for improvements in building regulation and codes to protect the public, which in turn drives the demand for all types of fire protection systems.

Because this is such a high priority, IFSA continues to work to find individuals, groups and companies in various parts of the world who are interested in forming national or regional associations, and providing seed money needed to get such organizations up and running.

Since 1999, the IFSA has helped organize and establish multiple fire-sprinkler organizations while also providing funding to support programs and projects of existing organizations that share IFSA priorities, including encouraging broader use of automatic fire sprinkler and water mist systems. These programs have included research programs demonstrating the effectiveness of water-based fire protection systems, side-by-side burn demonstrations showing how systems operate in fires, and training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of enforcement authorities and building professionals.

To help further this vision, the IFSA created the Guide to Promoting Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems: A Road Map for Advocacy.

The Guide is filled with information to serve water-based fire suppression system advocates with a body of historical context, evidence of successful strategies and lessons learned. It is divided into 13 chapters, with chapter two focusing on “Forming an Advocacy Group.”

Six Steps to Forming a Local Advocacy Group

What are the key steps needed to form a local advocacy group and help ensure success? Following are highlights from chapter two of the Guide of six best practices you can take to form an advocacy group. To view the full chapter contents and the other chapters, download the full Guide.

1. A small number of individuals must first agree that a group focusing on fire suppression will provide the greatest opportunity for success.
   
   Organizations focused on general fire protection are more common than those specifically advocating for automatic water-based fire suppression systems. While these broader groups provide an important public service by raising fire safety awareness, their wide-ranging support for multiple fire protection interests often limits their ability to strongly promote sprinkler systems. That’s because they need to balance active fire protection methods with passive ones, like fire-resistant construction. Even related sectors, such as fire alarms, may unintentionally hinder greater adoption of sprinkler systems. Those who take on the focused task of advocating for automatic suppression systems are considered the true founders of this specialized movement.

2. An initial decision must be made as to the geographic scope of the proposed new organization.
   
   Advocacy groups, especially trade associations, are most effective when their geographic area of influence aligns with the jurisdiction of the regulators who set building safety standards. In the fire sprinkler industry, this often means forming national advocacy groups, as regulatory authority is typically national. However, in regions where regulations span multiple countries, such as Europe, regional groups can also be effective. In countries like the U.S. and Canada, where both national and state/provincial regulations exist, separate local associations may operate independently or alongside national bodies. In Europe, the European Fire Sprinkler Network (EFSN) was established through collaboration between IFSA and the Sprinkler Section of the European Committee of the Manufacturers of Fire Protection Equipment and Fire Fighting Vehicles EUROFEU, aiming to support national organizations where they existed and to assist in developing advocacy efforts in countries without such representation.

3. An initial meeting must be convened to assess the level of interest and commitment on the part of potential members.
   
   The initial meeting of a fire sprinkler advocacy group is the most important to future success. It should include a wide range of industry stakeholders—such as manufacturers, contractors, design professionals and fire authorities—to ensure broad support. At this meeting, the group’s founders should present their vision, highlight potential goals and encourage active involvement. A successful outcome is marked by consensus to move forward, with plans to establish a draft membership, dues basis and officer elections at a subsequent meeting.

4. A follow-up meeting must be held no more than a few months later.
   
   Timely follow-up after the initial meeting is essential to maintain momentum. The second meeting plays a key role in finalizing foundational elements like the organization’s name, membership structure, fees and officer elections. It also serves as a test of genuine member interest. An effective governance model typically includes a board of 8–10 representatives from various industry sectors—large enough for diverse input but small enough to function efficiently. If legal registration is required, all related decisions should be made during this meeting, along with setting a plan for future meetings.

5. Engaging a staff person may well make the difference between success and failure of the new organization.
   
   Founding members of local fire sprinkler advocacy groups are often busy with their own responsibilities, making it important to hire dedicated staff as soon as financially possible. The IFSA strongly encourages this and often requires it for continued funding. A full-time staff member is ideal for ensuring consistent progress and maximizing impact, though even a part-time hire can significantly enhance the organization’s effectiveness and image. When hiring, communication, leadership, writing and public speaking skills should be prioritized over technical fire protection experience. For larger national or regional associations, hiring regional representatives should be a long-term goal, as they have proven effective in advancing strategic objectives at the local level.

6. Committees or task groups must be established to reflect priorities.
   
   A new fire sprinkler advocacy organization should identify and prioritize goals and assign small groups to lead efforts in each area. These task groups should be open to all interested members, but ideally led by governing board members to ensure alignment with the organization’s leadership. Advocacy efforts may include promoting code changes, improving industry competency programs, and educating the public or regulators.

At the IFSA, we are here to assist all advocacy groups in their efforts to promote the fire sprinkler concept around the world.

To read the complete content of chapter two, download the full Guide.

Watch for the next blog post in this series about the Guide to Promoting Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems: A Road Map for Advocacy. It highlights contents of chapter three, “Limitations of Insurance Incentives for Sprinkler Systems.”