Provide specialist, fire-related information across the built environment to protect people and property from the destructive effects of fire by applying science and engineering principles.
This occupation is found in the construction sector and across the built environment.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide specialist, fire-related information across the built environment to protect people and property from the destructive effects of fire by applying science and engineering principles. Fire Safety Engineers identify risks and design safeguards to aid the prevention, control and mitigation of the effects of fire. Their role is to provide technical advice to develop design solutions within the built environment at various stages of projects.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation will work as part of an integrated team of engineers and other construction or regulatory professionals through all stages of development, design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, modification and decommissioning of the built environment infrastructure. A Fire Safety Engineer may be required to have a broad knowledge base to work across a diverse spectrum of built environment projects including high rise, residential buildings; shopping centres; multi-storey commercial, healthcare buildings; or road and rail tunnels. A Fire Safety Engineer might work in public or private sector organisations, including local authorities, fire and rescue services, central government departments and agencies, engineering consultancy firms, contracting firms, or construction companies. A Fire Safety Engineer will be required to use professional judgement and research-based knowledge to justify and apply guidance or accept departures from recognised guidance documents and to be able to use mathematical and scientific skills to measure and evaluate risks from fire to people, structures and the environment. A Fire Safety Engineer will also contribute towards making improvements to the professional fields of fire safety and fire engineering.
An employee in this occupation will typically have management and supervisory responsibility for a team of technicians, including apprentices.
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 60 months. The EPA period is typically 6 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
For the fire safety engineer, the qualification required is:
Fire Safety Engineering degree (Bachelor of Engineering accredited by the Engineering Council)
Presentation with questions
You will produce and deliver a presentation to an independent assessor. You must submit your presentation slides and any supporting materials to the EPAO by the end of week 0 of the EPA period. The presentation and questions will last at least 0 minutes. The independent assessor will ask you at least 0 questions.
Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
You will have an interview with an independent assessor. It will last at least 75 minutes. They will ask you at least 6 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a professional review report before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.
Test
You will complete a test with some multiple-choice questions and some long written answer questions. You will complete a test with some multiple-choice questions and some short written answer questions. You will complete a test requiring long and short written answers. It will be open book, meaning you can have access to some books or reference materials.
The test will have 34 multiple-choice and long response written questions. You will have 180 minutes to complete it.
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
This apprenticeship aligns with Institution of Fire Engineers for Associate or Member (depending on experience)
Please contact the professional body for more details.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Occupational standard and end point assessment plan revised. | 11/09/2024 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 01/07/2021 | 10/09/2024 |
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