Fire safety engineer

Fire safety engineers make sure that buildings are designed to keep people, property and the environment safe from the dangers of fire.

Also known as: Fire engineer

• Starter salary£26,000 a year
• Experienced£70,000 a year
• Typical hours40 to 42 a week

What you'll do

As a fire engineer, you could:

• use computer modelling to investigate how fires start and spread
• make recommendations about building design and fire-resistant construction materials
• advise companies on fire risks, safety systems and emergency procedures
• write fire investigation reports
• keep up to date with product developments, fire regulations and laws
• work with local authorities, construction professionals and architects on fire safety

Working environment

You could work in an office or on a construction site.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• analytical thinking skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• knowledge of building and construction
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• complex problem-solving skills
• knowledge of physics
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to become a fire safety engineer

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

University

You can do a foundation degree or degree in fire engineering.

You can also do an engineering degree, for example civil or structural engineering. You can then take a postgraduate course in fire safety engineering or fire engineering science.

Some courses offer a work placement. This will give you relevant work experience and can help you to make useful industry contacts.

Your university careers service will be able to advise you about this.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

College

You can take a higher national certificate (HNC) or higher national diploma (HND) in an engineering subject at college. This might help you find work as a trainee fire engineer.

You'll then do further training on the job to specialise in fire safety.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Fire Safety Inspector Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship or a Fire Safety Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

These can take between 2 and 5 years to complete and combine workplace training with study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work

If you're already working in a fire safety or firefighting role, you may be able to take professional qualifications offered by The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) , such as:

• Level 3 Certificate in Fire Engineering Science
• Level 4 Diploma in Fire Science and Fire Safety
• Level 5 Award in Fire Investigation

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• have a full driving licence

Career path and progression

With experience you could become a:

• senior fire engineer
• fire safety instructor
• self-employed consultant

You could also specialise in working on particular types of buildings, for example commercial, residential or retail.

With continued training, you could apply for professional registration as an engineering technician, or incorporated or chartered engineer. This is a way to demonstrate your skills and expertise in the industry.

Career tips

Many fire safety engineers work in the construction industry for engineering consultancies and house building companies.

There may also be opportunities in the insurance industry, or in local authorities, to work in risk assessment or fire investigation.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join The Institution of Fire Engineers for professional development and networking opportunities.

Guides for this industry

• Engineering: pay, interviews and getting started →

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