Fire Engineering

Graduates of the Micro-credential in Fire Protection Systems – Passive will be well-prepared for roles within the building compliance, fire safety, and construction sectors. The skills developed in this programme are highly valued across industries focused on the built-in fire safety performance of buildings.

Graduates of this micro-credential will be well-prepared for employment in roles that require an understanding of passive fire protection, including:

• Compliance Technician or Assistant Building Surveyor, supporting Building Warrant of Fitness inspections and fire safety audits.
• Fire Protection Compliance Officer, working within local or territorial authorities.
• Fire Safety Advisor or Support Officer in engineering consultancies, property firms, or construction companies.
• Technical support roles in passive fire system supply or installation companies, focusing on documentation and regulatory compliance.

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 and the principles of fire cells.
• Fire resistance ratings and their determination.
• Comparison of fire and smoke separations.
• Behaviour and use of timber, brick, stone, reinforced concrete, cast iron, steel, aluminium and glass; gypsum, concrete, timber and block / masonry wall and floor systems; smoke and fire doors.
• Smoke and fire windows; smoke and fire curtains; smoke barriers and baffles.
• Fire testing background, history and development; various fire testing procedures and time-temperature curves.
• Collars, wraps and sealants.
• Intumescent properties of materials; intumescent paint for steel and timber.
• Cementitious sprayed-on coatings and board protection.
• Inherent fire-resisting properties of natural building materials.
• 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).