Fire Engineering

Graduates of the Micro-credential in Fire Protection Systems – Active will be well-prepared for roles within the fire protection, building compliance, and construction sectors. The skills developed in this programme are highly valued across industries that install, inspect, and maintain active fire safety systems.

Graduates of this micro-credential will be prepared for employment in roles that involve the inspection, operation, or support of active fire systems, including:

• Fire Systems Technician Assistant or Junior Installer, working with fire protection contractors or system integrators on detection, alarm, sprinkler and smoke control systems.
• Regulatory Compliance Support Officer in councils or with private certifiers, assisting with building inspections and compliance reports.
• Fire Safety Administrator or Technical Support Officer, managing documentation and system maintenance records for property or facilities management firms.
• Entry-level roles in companies supplying, testing, or servicing fire alarm, sprinkler, or smoke management systems.

For entry to this programme, applicants are required to have:

• NCEA Level 2; and
• A minimum total of 48 credits at Level 2 in four subjects, including mathematics; or
• Equivalent qualifications (e.g., International Baccalaureate or Cambridge); or
• Equivalent credits from appropriate trades training and/or demonstrated skills and experience.

Indicative content:

• Understanding of fixed fire systems – basic principles of operation and the pros and cons of differing systems.
• Smoke management; sprinkler and deluge systems; gas and foam flood systems; water mist; oxygen depletion systems; fire detection and alarm systems; first-aid firefighting equipment, extinguishers, hose reels and hydrant systems.
• Water supplies for building systems and Fire Service use.
• Awareness of the principles of operation of: photoelectric and ionisation smoke detectors; aspirating smoke detection; heat detection (point type, linear and rate of rise); multi-criteria detection and operational modes; addressable and analogue addressable systems; beam and video smoke detection; flame detection; UV and IR systems; design calculations for smoke detection and sounder locations.
• Awareness of complex detection and warning strategies for evacuation of complex and large-population buildings, including application of Emergency Warning and Intercommunication Systems (EWIS).
• Basic hydraulic calculations for the purposes of sprinkler system design.
• Determination of adequate water supply.
• Methods that can be used singly or in combination to modify smoke movement for the benefit of occupants or fire fighters, or for the reduction of property damage.
• Understanding of smoke control system components and awareness of the parameters governing design systems.
• Documentation required on completion of installation of a fire safety system.

This micro-credential is one of three NZQA-listed fire-related micro-credentials offered by FutureSkills. It can be taken on its own, or as part of a planned pathway toward the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Fire Engineering).