Fire engineering competence gaps addressed with Level 6 certificate
Fire engineering competence gaps addressed with Level 6 certificate
Structural engineers and other construction professionals can now gain a Level 6 certificate in fire engineering principles.
The Level 6 qualification has been created in direct response to one of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report recommendations which called for government to work with industry and professional bodies to develop a course in the principles of fire engineering for both construction professionals and fire and rescue services.
The course has been developed by LABC in collaboration with specialists in fire engineering from the University of Edinburgh, CROSS-UK, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), and the Smoke Control Association (SCA), as well as fire engineering consultancies Design Fire Consultants, The Fire Surgery, OFR Consultants, and Part B.
Delivered via 11 half day virtual workshops, it covers a range of topics including: an overview of BS 7974, the British Standard that provides the framework for applying fire safety engineering principles; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD); PAS 8700 and modern methods of construction; structural fire engineering; smoke ventilation and clearance; accessible means of egress (MOE); and working with existing buildings.
Lorna Stimpson, CEO of LABC, says:
“There is a continued emphasis on improving the competence of all construction professionals to drive up safety standards across the industry. This course has been put together to ensure that anyone interacting with fire engineering has the knowledge to confidently assess and challenge the information that is given to them. We need the industry and professionals within it to reach a place where they can ensure safer outcomes for every person in every building.”
Originally launched in October, LABC has recently had its course accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) so that attendees gain a Level 6 certificate upon successful completion of the final assessment.
Speaking about his experience of attending the course, Matt Canham from the NFCC says:
“I have been taken on a fire engineering journey based on competent and ethical practice. I have taken so much from this course that will inform how I carry out my regulatory role on a daily basis, giving me the confidence and knowledge to ask those fundamental questions.”
This latest offering from LABC adds to its existing suite of award-winning training courses created specifically for the wider construction industry including Safety at Sports Grounds and other Events, Building Regulation Compliance, Building Regulation Application and Building Regulation Inspections.
