051 Flight Risk: Maintaining Complex Fire Risks

Send us Fan MailThe fire protection division was struggling, and closing it was on the table. Randy Mongiovi asked for the opportunity to turn it around.On this episode of AFSA’s K-Factor Podcast, Randy shares his journey with Mongiovi & Son Fire Protection, from learning an unfamiliar industry to leading a growing operation within his family’s business.We discuss fire sprinkler project management, learning from field crews, finding mentors, AFSA training, and the customer relationships that help a contracting business grow. Randy also shares his perspective on recruiting, employee benefits, construction pressures, and the value of connecting with people who understand the work.A candid conversation for contractors, business owners, project managers, and anyone building a career in fire protection.Explore the resources and connect:Mongiovi & Son Fire Protection:https://www.mongioviandson.com/fire-protectionConnect with Randy Mongiovi on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-mongiovi-cet-cwbsp-9578609aAFSA Education & Training:https://firesprinkler.org/education-training/More K-Factor Podcast episodes:https://firesprinkler.org/podcast/Follow the K-Factor Podcast from the American Fire Sprinkler Association for more industry conversations.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailFormer AFSA staff member Nate Williams joins The K-Factor Podcast for a relaxed catch-up about his time with the American Fire Sprinkler Association, what he misses most, what he has been doing since, and where his career has taken him.This nontechnical conversation looks back at memorable experiences, industry relationships, and the people who made Nate’s time at AFSA meaningful.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailJonathan Hart of NFPA joins The K-Factor Podcast for a conversation about the NFPA standards development process and how thought experiments can help professionals examine complex fire and life safety questions from a different perspective.The discussion also explores healthcare facilities and the roles of NFPA 99, NFPA 3, and NFPA 4, including healthcare fire and life safety, system commissioning, integrated testing, and the importance of ensuring that connected systems work together as intended.This episode offers an inside look at NFPA standards for contractors, engineers, designers, inspectors, AHJs, and healthcare facility professionals.As a bonus, viewers can watch Josh slowly lose pressure as the convention catches up with him in real time.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailThe K-Factor Podcast and The Fire Sprinkler Podcast come together for a special crossover episode featuring one of the OGs of the sprinkler podcasting space. We talk about his career, the changes he has witnessed, lessons learned along the way, and the people and experiences that shaped his journey. It is an honest conversation about the history, growth, and future of the fire sprinkler industry.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailAfter Melanie Diaz died in a high-rise apartment fire, her family turned their grief into action. We discuss their efforts to improve safety in residential buildings through sprinkler retrofits, tenant protections, and legislation in Maryland. We also recognize the Diaz family as AFSA’s 2026 Fire Sprinkler Advocates of the Year.Melanie’s story is a reminder of why the work we do in fire protection matters: behind every system, standard, and inspection is someone’s life.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailStephen Bitely and Scott from Stokes Plumbing and Trenching join The K-Factor Podcast to discuss expanding from plumbing into the fire sprinkler industry, including the challenges and opportunities of adding fire protection services. The conversation also explores where NFPA 24 and NFPA 13 meet and what contractors need to understand when navigating the transition between underground fire service mains and building sprinkler systems.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailRobert Korpacki from Hush Office joins the K-Factor Podcast to talk about office phone booths, modular workspaces, and the fire protection concerns surrounding enclosed office pods. We also operated fire sprinklers inside the booth to observe sprinkler discharge and discuss what it means for modern office design, NFPA compliance, and fire protection system performance.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailJames Casey from Eastern Fire joins the K-Factor Podcast to discuss human interaction with the built environment, maintaining multiple fire protection systems inside airports, and how human behavior impacts life safety in unpredictable spaces. This episode explores the challenges of protecting dynamic environments through engineering, maintenance, and real-world system performance.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailCole Abbott from Petcosky Fire Protection joins the K-Factor Podcast to discuss his transition from firefighter to fire sprinkler apprentice. From the challenges of changing careers to learning the fire protection trade, this episode explores the opportunities, training, and mindset needed to succeed in the fire sprinkler industry.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!

Send us Fan MailKevin Hall, M.Eng, PR, ET from AFSA joins the K-Factor Podcast to talk about future changes and ongoing discussions surrounding NFPA 14 and NFPA 20 within the AFSA Technical Advisory Council. From standpipe systems to fire pump requirements, this episode explores how upcoming code revisions could impact the fire protection industry.VIPReach out with questions and topics you would like covered at [email protected] more training opportunities visit: www.firesprinkler.orgTikTok: @firesprinkler.orgLinkedIn: American Fire Sprinkler AssociationFacebook: firesprinkler.orgInstagram: @firesprinklerorgDon't forget to like, subscribe, & review!