Three Career Development and Training Courses for UK Based Fire Sprinkler Engineers

The fire protection industry is changing.

Not only are traditional steel sprinkler systems now being challenged by alternative materials and systems, but legislation is changing too to ensure the amount of casualties in the UK, due to fire, falls.

A great example of this change was the Welsh Government's decision in 2015 to enforce new regulations that stipulated that all new and converted houses must include a sprinkler system as standard.

To help you keep health and safety a top priority, and ensure you and your engineers are fully equipped in the changing industry, here are three career development and training courses you should look to register on if you are a UK based fire sprinkler engineer.

BlazeMaster® Pipe and Fittings - Online Installation Course

http://www.blazemastertraining.com/

BlazeMaster Pipe and Fitings fire protection systems meet and exceed global performance and manufacturing standards for CPVC fire protection systems, making it the most specified non-metallic option in the world. As a result, over 2 billion feet of BlazeMaster Pipe and Fittings CPVC fire protection piping systems have been installed.

In this free online installation training program, the BlazeMaster Pipe and Fittings team has put together a seven-stage course that includes regulatory standards, installation best practice and Cut & Join methods. Upon course completion, you will receive an online installation training card and certificate.

This course is a great way to understand the fundamentals of CPVC fire protection systems, as well as helping you to be prepared as you include more CPVC as the material of choice for your installations.

BAFSA - Installation & Maintenance of Fire Sprinklers

The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) now host their own qualifications designed to upskill existing engineers and influencers within the industry. For engineers, the Installation and Maintenance of Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems in Domestic Dwellings course is best served to those who are set to install in domestic properties and are already qualified to Level 3.

For influencers, such as building control, foremen/women and fire officers, a parallel course runs alongside the engineering course to give best practice advice on inspecting the quality of the fire sprinkler installation.

For new engineers into the industry, BAFSA offers training courses through colleges and universities nationwide. Details of which can be found on their website too.

ASFP - CPD Seminars

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) works with a range of organisations to upskill engineers and installers, but also share knowledge within the industry too. Their regular CPD seminars offer fire sprinkler engineers a chance to discuss issues around passive fire protection as well as hear about the technicalities of hardware such as fire-resistant glazing and fire ducts.

As well as offering seminars, and NVQ qualifications through apprenticeship schemes, ASFP have also created a pathway training programme for passive fire protection. Developed alongside the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the course aims to significantly improve overall standards of fire sprinkler installation.

The priority is health and safety

These three courses have put health and safety at the heart of their programmes, in order to protect the public and drive up installation standards. The result for you as an engineer, aside from a better quality installation, is the opportunity to upskill and thus work on more diverse installation projects in the future.

No matter whether the specifier's preference is steel, PEX or CPVC, as a fire sprinkler engineer you should be certified and prepared to work on as many different fire protection systems as possible - and these three courses will offer you the information you need to be successful.