Understanding the Victaulic Fire System Couplings

The owner and president of Response Fire Supply since 2013, Newport Beach, California resident Devin Doyle oversees four branches, with three in California and one in North Las Vegas. He is in charge of overall sales and strategic planning. One of the products the Newport Beach-based Devin Doyle’s company offers is Victaulic fire system couplings.

Invented during World War 1 to quicken water delivery to troops, the Victaulic coupling consists of a metal housing, fasteners, and a rubber gasket. The user grooves both receiving pipe ends to join and places the coupling gasket over the two. The metal sleeve is then placed on the gasket and fastened with the nuts and bolts. Over the tightening, the coupling keys fit into the grooved edges. The gasket seals the joint under outer coupling pressure and inner pressure from the internal application fluid, whether water or slurry.

Users prefer the coupling as the grooving eliminates the need for welding and other permanent joinery methods, making for faster assembly and disassembly. This is a crucial variable in fire protection systems.

Other uses include various industrial and commercial applications, such as slurry conduits, moderate and high-pressure systems, abrasion pipes, and gas to steam conduits for various piping materials. This includes metals, high-density polyethylene fiberglass, and plastic sorted types. The versatility explains the widespread applications and preferences by engineers and contractors.

Origin of the Fire Sprinkler System

Devin Doyle is an executive-level business leader in Newport Beach, California. With a degree in business, Devin Doyle is the owner of Response Fire Supply, a company that supplies quality fire protection products to contractors. Its products include fire sprinkler systems.

A fire sprinkler system detects fire and suppresses it with water. The origin of the fire sprinkler systems dates back to the 15th century when Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci attempted to install a sprinkler system in a kitchen with an oven and conveyor belt. This combination caused the oven to overheat and activate the sprinkler system. In turn, the sprinkler system proved too effective, damaging the food and the kitchen interior.

Three centuries later, architect William Congreve installed the first modern fire sprinkler system. The system was a series of pierced pipes linked to a large container of water that would be released in the event of a fire. Seventy years later, the first automatic sprinkler system was created by Philip Pratt and improved by Henry S. Parmalee, who introduced the sprinkler head to the system in 1874. Finally, Frederick Grinnell perfected Parmelee’s automatic fire sprinkler system.

AFSA’s ITM Inspector Development Program

A Newport Beach, California resident, Devin Doyle is the former vice president of Reaction Supply where he oversaw all vendor negotiations and sales initiatives. Devin Doyle of Newport Beach California serves as the president and owner of Response Fire Supply. To stay current in the industry, he maintains membership with the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA).

A non-profit organization, the AFSA supports contractors working in the fire sprinkler industry and provides education on the value of automatic fire sprinkler systems. The AFSA also operates the ITM Inspector Development Program for professionals who want to advance their knowledge of the fire alarm industry and potentially obtain NICET I and NICET II certifications with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies.

Developed by experts in the fire protection industry, the ITM Inspector Development Program combines in-class and virtual training with supervised on-the-job experience and mentoring. Participants in the program must dedicate at least three hours per week to studying while enrolled in the program, complete assessments, and pass the exam.

About Victaulic Piping Solutions

Working out of Newport Beach, Devin Doyle is the owner and president of Response Fire Supply, a California-based supplier with an additional branch in Nevada. In this role, Devin Doyle oversees all sales activities and drives the growth of the enterprise, which currently works with over 20 vendors, including System Sensor, Lenox, MCC, and Victaulic.

Headquartered in Easton, Pennsylvania, Victaulic is a worldwide manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining methods (couplings and fittings) and fire protection and flow control systems. Also the originator of the grooved pipe coupling, Victaulic is devoted to creating innovative products and also provides engineering services that solve complex piping requirements faced by architects, engineers, and construction firms. Victaulic products are utilized for some of the most challenging channeling applications.

In addition to being a product solutions provider, Victaulic is open to partnering with any builder or engineering firm by offering custom solutions to enhance their project. Victaulic services, systems, and mechanical joining methods are designed to enable faster completion of projects while enhancing safety and reliability.

Fire Sprinkler Association Hosts Apprentice Competition at Convention

As the owner of Response Fire Supply, Devin Doyle of Newport Beach, California, oversees sales of fire-protection products to contractors through three branches in California, as well as one in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, Devin Doyle belongs to the American Fire Sprinkler Association, an organization dedicated to the advancement of contractors in the fire sprinkler industry.

Established in 1981, the American Fire Sprinkler Association provides an opportunity for fire sprinkler contractors to increase their knowledge about the fire sprinkler industry. To achieve this goal, the group hosts the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s National Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition. In 2021, the association will host its 40th such event in San Antonio, Texas.

Scheduled for September 18 through 21, the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s National Convention, Exhibition, and Apprentice Competition offers attendees the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and attend training sessions. The event also features a live apprentice competition.

In order to qualify for the competition, an apprentice must work for an active member of the American Fire Sprinkler Association. Additionally, the apprentice needs to be a participant in the organization’s apprentice program and meet several other criteria. After apprentices earn entry into the competition, they complete an exam. Seven finalists advance to the live competition, where they compete in practical tests by performing a number of tasks in front of an audience.

An Overview of AFSA Henry S. Parmelee Award

Devin Doyle is a Newport Beach executive-level business professional who has been at the helm of multiple companies. For close to a decade, he has operated Response Fire Supply and established three branches in California and one in Las Vegas, Nevada. Devin Doyle maintains membership with the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA).

The American Fire Sprinkler Association is a non-profit association that brings together members who are committed to spreading awareness and promoting the advancement of fire sprinklers. Representing the interests of fire sprinkler contractors, AFSA has numerous awards to recognize outstanding achievements. Henry S. Parmelee Award is AFSA’s most prestigious honor given to outstanding individuals who’ve dedicated themselves to promoting fire safety using automatic sprinklers and generally advancing the fire sprinkler industry.

Launched in 1983, the award is named after Henry S. Parmelee who was a successful pioneer in the fire sprinkler industry and was also credited for inventing the first commercial closed sprinkler. To be nominated, an individual needs to be an employee of a good standing AFSA member company. At the time of the award presentation, nominees must be current employees of an AFSA member company. A nominee should be an individual with a demonstrated track record of a long-term commitment to improving the standards of the fire sprinkler industry.