In each Expert Opinion, Bob Caputo, President of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), shares his insights on a current topic, drawing on years of experience. This time, he explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in the fire sprinkler industry, its potential benefits and risks, and how professionals can prepare for its impact on daily practice.
You recently discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in the fire sprinkler industry. In your view, where can AI genuinely add value for fire protection professionals today?
“As I’ve noted in the past, there is a lot of fear about how AI might replace jobs in the future. I don’t see that happening in the fire and life safety space, but I expect AI will create new opportunities for those who learn to use it and apply it in their everyday jobs. I believe AI can free up time from redundant activities, allowing us to spend more time on human things.
I suspect the roles of estimating and system layout, as well as coordination with other trades in construction projects, will become more automated and much faster than how we have traditionally performed these tasks. However, the trade-off will be more time to verify field conditions, which in turn will make installations easier and better. This will make projects more profitable for contractors and subcontractors alike. That said, when it comes to fire sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems, someone will always have to physically do the actual work.“
When it comes to fire sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems, someone will always have to physically do the actual work
One concern in many engineering disciplines is overreliance on AI tools. What risks do you see if engineers start depending too heavily on AI for fire sprinkler design or code interpretation?
“Fire protection engineering has always been driven by learning from catastrophic events, full-scale fire testing, and computer modeling. AI will most certainly advance the development of design criteria based on the data input, and its ability to predict fire growth, heat release rates, and the amount of water needed to control or suppress fires in these and other challenging environments.
The use of AI may, in fact, mean we will not need to build test facilities tall enough to determine effective prescriptive-based design criteria or even performance-based design expectations with greater levels of confidence. No matter the AI-generated solutions, fire protection engineers will always be responsible for reviewing the recommended outcomes and applying knowledge and common sense before approving a protection scheme. Human interaction can never be eliminated from the equation, regardless of how advanced an AI solution may be.“
From an education perspective, how should the industry prepare the next generation of fire protection professionals for a future where AI becomes part of daily engineering practice?
“AI is not the first technological advancement introduced to mankind. The internet was introduced to the world in October of 1969, but it didn’t become popular until the early 1990’s. Since that time, the rate of technological change has accelerated rapidly. Every stage of development has made life easier, knowledge more available, and the world a smaller place. At every step, people have had to adapt and adopt new technology and new ways of working with it. Why do we think AI will be different?
From the educational perspective, this should be just one more tool in the drawer. AI will infiltrate education at every level, so when today’s ten-year-olds reach the marketplace around 2036, they will have been working with AI for 10 years. Natural attrition should handle any process development.“
From educational perspective: AI should be just one more tool in the drawer
Do you think AI could help address the shortage of experienced professionals in the fire protection industry, or might it create new risks if used without sufficient expertise?
“It stands to reason that if AI can streamline workflows and eliminate redundancies, it will free up time for people to be more productive and, in turn, help address the shortage of experienced professionals in our field. More importantly, AI should accelerate learning and professional development, which will also contribute to the solution.“
Looking ahead ten years, how do you see the relationship between human expertise and AI evolving in the design, inspection, and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems?
“NFPA 915, Standard for Remote Inspections and Tests, already allows for remote testing of some components. This newer document is, in some part, driven by a lack of qualified manpower to perform all required inspection and test cycles for a variety of fire protection systems. Advancements in technology have made this more acceptable and accurate.
This trend will continue to develop, and the scope of what can be performed remotely will continue to expand. My home in Arizona has a swimming pool and a hot tub. I can use an app on my iPhone to turn the lights or the pump systems on or off from anywhere in the world. It stands to reason we could do the same with any fire pump, using internet-connected cameras to monitor the pressure gauges and listen for abnormal sounds or problems…“
What are the biggest opportunities and risks of using AI in the fire protection industry?
“AI can learn and grow rapidly and has applications that surpass the average human’s knowledge base, ability to quickly research topics, and capacity to apply logical conclusions. This technology is limited only by the amount of input provided to the databases. The downside of AI technology is plain to see in the levels of data theft, spam, and disruption caused by those who use the internet for nefarious purposes. One can only imagine how those dark web users might manipulate AI for such purposes.
That aside, again, AI is here, and it’s not going away. I hope to see more and better evaluations of fire behavior, leading our industry to better prescriptive-based design criteria to reduce losses of life and property. I have seen how powerful AI already is, and we should all be learning how to apply it to our daily lives and work so this technology can make the world a better place.
Please note that I am not an employee of NFPA and I do not speak on behalf of NFPA, the NFPA Standards Development Process, or the NFPA Technical Committees. Any opinions shared are my opinion as a member of the association.“
