Fire engineering qualifications

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By , and - , Build 180

There are many different roles in building fire safety. To smooth the career pathway, various educational options are available to suit different careers.

FIRE ENGINEERING-RELATED careers in New Zealand are in high demand, and for those interested in getting into, or progressing in these roles, several qualification options are available.

Range of qualifications available

Qualifications include:

  • University of Canterbury (UC) postgraduate fire engineering qualifications
  • the new New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) (Fire Engineering) offered by the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST), (see Diploma paves the way in Build 180)
  • fire protection engineering qualifications from Competenz
  • Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) qualifications.

While the programmes sound similar, there are key differences that distinguish them.

UC postgraduate fire engineering

The UC postgraduate fire engineering programme is growing with new lab facilities and a bigger faculty. There are currently three programme options:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Fire Engineering (PGCertEng) – can be completed in 6 months of full-time study.
  • Master of Engineering Studies in Fire Engineering (MEngSt) – can be completed in 1 year of full-time study.
  • Master of Engineering in Fire Engineering (MEFE) – typically completed in 16 to 20 months of full-time study.

It is also possible to do a PhD in fire engineering at UC. This takes at least 3 years fulltime and targets researchers more than fire safety practitioners, although the number of practitioners with PhDs is growing.

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Trade qualifications

For those wanting to work in the fire industry at the trade level, Competenz offers certificates for:

  • passive fire protection systems
  • hand-operated firefighting equipment
  • fixed fire protection systems with an optional strand in special hazards systems
  • fire detection and alarm systems.

There are entry-level and advanced qualifications for most Competenz options except for hand-operated firefighting equipment. The entry-level qualifications train graduates to operate under technical supervision. Advanced-level graduates are able to work independently without technical supervision.

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IFE qualifications

The IFE qualifications range from a certificate in fire science, operations and safety to a diploma in fire engineering design. These are internationally recognised qualifications regulated by the UK’s Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. The New Zealand IFE branch can provide support for those wanting to pursue these qualifications.

Different options and related careers

The programmes are targeted at different competency and practice levels.

The UC postgraduate fire engineering programme options position graduates for the Chartered Professional Engineer designation.

The NZDE (Fire Engineering) and the IFE diploma put graduates on the path to the Chartered Member (Engineering Technician) designation.

Registration for chartered engineers, incorporated engineers and engineering technicians is available through

Engineering New Zealand and the UK Engineering Council via the IFE. Achieving chartered status requires 6 years of work experience after graduation.

The Competenz trade qualifications do not lead to a designation without further higher-level study such as a diploma.

Washington Accord and Dublin Accord

The difference between UC postgraduate and diploma qualification levels is best described by agreements that set international equivalency levels for engineering qualifications and allow for mobility. These are called the Washington, Sydney and Dublin Accords, signed by nations including New Zealand, that cover engineers, engineering technologists and engineering technicians respectively.

Generally, a Washington Accord-equivalent undergraduate degree is required for admission into the UC postgraduate programme. The NZDE programmes comply with the Dublin Accord.

Table 1 summarises the difference between the Washington Accord and the Dublin Accord.

Table 1 Summary of differences between competencies and practice levels for engineers and engineering technicians

Engineer-level programmes such as the UC postgraduate fire engineering programme provide the competencies needed to address complex and more ambiguous engineering problems. These tools include fundamental knowledge of science, maths and engineering principles, the ability to apply reasoning and judgement to ambiguous problems and a focus on emerging research in the discipline.

Engineering technician programmes meeting the Dublin Accord, such as the NZDE, train graduates to address well-defined engineering problems.

Washington Accord undergraduate degrees are available through UC and the University of Auckland. As they are not available specifically in fire engineering in New Zealand, a related discipline such as civil, mechanical or electrical engineering is typically chosen by those intending to advance to the UC postgraduate fire engineering programmes.

These degrees take a minimum of 4 years. A new initiative by UC fast-tracks applicants with relevant technical backgrounds, allowing them to complete their engineering undergraduate degree in 3 years. Potential candidates include pilots, air traffic controllers and technician-level engineers.

It can be difficult to boil career path options down for the different qualifications because a qualification only forms one part of an individual’s competencies. Experience and further informal study are also important. However, as a generalisation, the qualifications can be thought of as aligning with the roles in Table 2.

Table 2 Typical roles targeted by fire engineering qualifications in New Zealand

Find out more

While there are several fire engineering related qualifications and their names sound similar, they are targeted at different roles. Ultimately, people are needed in all of the programmes as all roles are critical to achieving fire-safe buildings.

To read more about the qualifications, visit:

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