Originally founded as American Automatic Sprinkler Company, American Fire Systems (AFS) was founded in 1976 by the late Mr. Austin M. Saffer, Jr. From a humble beginning grew an enterprise involved with more than 1,000 commercial projects each year! The Company was first started in the dining room of the Saffer home, in Arlington. Their first project was a limited-area, wet-pipe sprinkler system in an apartment building located in Washington, D.C. The late Mr. Saffer designed the projects and worked in the field while his wife, Barbara, maintained the financial data and paperwork. Saffer had a construction storage trailer, which served as their shop. Today AFS operates more than 90 service vehicles and employs more than 180 quality individuals. In 1996, AFS moved to a 2,000 SF building in Merrifield, where the company began doing its own fabrication. Since then, the company has greatly expanded in both service offerings and office locations throughout the region.
The change to the name American Fire Systems represents the company’s continuing evolution, striving to build upon its reputation while expanding. Through technology and collaboration, AFS is taking on more projects in more places. The company has developed a partnership paving the way for multiple new industries.
A large part of the company’s success is the ability to observe and collaborate through every process. While designing the current AFS offices, the cohesion between the Fabrication shop and the Designers was of utmost importance. Our fabrication shop allows the company more freedom in timelines and ensures that the product will be up to our standards.
Our Fabrication shop is assisted by the use of four automated welding machines. Our welders are one of the assets that allow us to increase our production. The integration between the shop and office allows seamless collaboration between the two departments. Through the use of the software Procore, we are able to complete jobs more quickly and track jobs more effectively, giving the end user a better experience with the highest quality results.
Our office backs up to our fabrication shop, allowing effortless collaboration between both departments. At AFS, we ensure that our employees have the best tools, whether they are in the field or at their desks. Our office is an extension of that philosophy and is continuously updated to reflect our investment in ourselves.
