engtech application guidance

Engineering Technician (EngTech) registration application guidance

Contents

1. Introduction2. Application routes to registration3. UK-SPEC and Initial Professional Development (IPD) objectives4. Application form5. Continuing Professional Development (CPD)6. Supporting documentation7. Referees8. Initial Professional Development (IPD) objectives9. Examples and suggestions10. Final checks and submission11. The process from then – what to expect

1. Introduction

This guidance document provides information to assist in the preparation, completion and submission of IFE Engineering Council Engineering Technician registration applications.

The application and contents will be treated as confidential by the IFE Registrant’s Group Membership Committee (IFERG MC) and any other persons authorised to see it. However, the applicant must ensure that they have obtained any necessary clearance from employers or others to whom information contained in the application may be considered confidential or commercially sensitive.

Applying for professional registration to the Engineering Council through the IFE is recognition of the applicant’s attainment of professional knowledge and skill, as well as their professional practice; the way they conscientiously use their knowledge and skill, for the benefit of others. This makes the process distinctly different to obtaining a qualification. Whether the applicant’s knowledge and skill were attained through formal qualifications or a wealth of experience, or a mixture of both, makes no difference. All applicants will be expected to demonstrate the same level of achievement and professional practice.

Issued 09/15 of 11 File 12.7 Application Guidance for EngTech registration v3

2. Routes to EngTech Registration

There are two routes to registration – Standard route and Individual route. The initial application process is the same for both routes.

a. Standard Route

Applicants who hold an exemplifying qualification listed on the Engineering Council’s Technician’s Database or ACAD course search will follow the Standard route to registration. Qualifications can be checked on the Engineering Council’s Technician’s Database or ACAD course search by following the link: www.engc.org.uk/education-skills/course-search/.

Please note some applicants may be required to attend a Professional Review Interview as part of the registration process.

b. Individual Route

All other applications will follow the Individual route to registration. Applicants without exemplifying qualifications or no formal qualifications may still apply to become EngTech registered via this route. An initial assessment of the application and discussion by the IFERG MC will determine the next stages of the process that the application will follow. The requirements may take the form of a Professional Review Interview, a written technical report, qualification equivalence assessment or other options that allow the applicant to demonstrate they meet the required professional standard. Applicants who hold academic qualifications that are not listed on the Engineering Council’s Technician’s Database or ACAD course search are encouraged to supply a transcript of their course modules studied to assess qualifications for equivalence. The individual route to registration may be a longer process than standard route applications and after the initial assessment and IFERG MC decision, further information and guidance will be provided in order to progress the application through to a final outcome.

Your route will be confirmed during the desk top review process.

3. UK-SPEC and IPD Competency Criteria

The UK-SPEC is a guidance document set out and provided by the Engineering Council which outlines the competency criteria and standard by which all application assessments are based as meeting the professional standard. A copy of the current edition UK-SPEC can be downloaded from the Engineering Council’s website by following the link: http://www.engc.org.uk/standards-guidance/standards/uk-spec/. Please read the relevant EngTech section (pages 10 to 13) of this document and refer to it as you prepare and complete the application. The IFE is a Professional Engineering Institute specialising in the fire engineering and fire sciences fields of the industry and licensed by the Engineering Council to assess the competency and professional standards of applicants. It is a requirement for applicants to formulate responses and to demonstrate competence in their application within the context of fire engineering and fire sciences.

4. Application form preparation

All applicants need to prepare and complete an Engineering Technician Application Form which can be downloaded from the bottom of our website page www.ife.org.uk/Join/EngineeringTechnician.

Where possible, the form should be completed electronically and then printed. A hand written signature is required on the completed document – a typed name is not acceptable.

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http://www.ife.org.uk/Join/EngineeringTechnician

http://www.engc.org.uk/standards-guidance/standards/uk-spec/

http://www.engc.org.uk/education-skills/course-search/

All sections of the form must be completed with accurate and appropriate information. Please do not feel you must fill the entire information box space provided or be restricted by the size of the information box space. Remember to provide clear detailed responses that satisfy the requested information or demonstrate the required competency has been met.

5. Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

It is a requirement of all applicants to supply a CPD log within the application form. The log must contain evidence of specific CPD for the last 2 years with a minimum of 25 hours per year. This can comprise of both formal and non-formal CPD activities. Non-formal CPD study time equates to half the actual time spent. Below is a table for guidance on IFE recognised CPD activities. This is by no means an exhaustive list.

Recognised CPD ActivitiesActivity (fire related) Formal/Non-

formalEvidence required

Training provided by local IFE branch

Formal Details of the branch and the course must be provided in your CPD portfolio

Reading relevant articles (in the International Fire Professional journal or other reputable sources including internet)

Non-formal The article title, publication and/or website address must be provided in your CPD portfolio.

Attendance at a course/ seminar Formal The details of training provider must be provided in your CPD portfolio.

Distance learning courses to include e-learning.

Formal The details of the training provider and the course must be provided in your CPD portfolio.

In house training by employer Formal The employers’ details and information about the course must be provided in your CPD portfolio.

Academic or professional s tudy Formal Full details of the qualification (subjects covered), the provider and the year of study must be provided in your CPD portfolio. Where study for qualification spans more than one year, this activity can be claimed for CPD purposes during each year of the qualification.

Production of a dissertation Formal The title of the dissertation and the qualification details must be provided in your CPD portfolio. Where research and writing of a dissertation spans more than one year, this activity can be claimed for CPD purposes each year.

Research Formal Full details of the topic for the research and, where applicable, the organization which has commissioned the research.

Preparation and delivery of training courses

Formal Full details of the course being delivered must be provided in your CPD portfolio

Work shadowing Non-formal Full details of aims and outcomes of the work shadowing sessions to be provided in your CPD portfolio

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Coaching or mentoring (delivered face to face or at a distance with clear aims and objectives for professional development)

Formal Full details of aims and outcomes of the sessions to be provide in your CPD portfolio.

Participation in development of specialist areas of fire engineering by attending meetings of special interest groups/ committees or relevant organisations undertaking such work

Formal Details of the committee/organisation, the area of fire engineering being considered to be provided in your CPD portfolio.

Writing on fire engineering (to include material written for journals, publications, magazines, internet)

Formal Full details on the subject of the piece of writing and, where applicable, the publication / website / organisation for which the material is being produced must be provided in your CPD portfolio.

Once you are registered, it is a requirement of the IFE and Engineering Council that you keep CPD up to date. After registration, random CPD checks are being gradually introduced.

6. Supporting Documents

These are documents that are additional information which accompany the application form but are not contained within the form. These may include certificates of academic achievement, transcripts of course modules for qualifications not listed on the Technician’s Database, CV and any other essential documents. All supporting documentation must be initialled or validated by referees.

7. Referees

Referees must be suitably qualified senior individuals, for example your line manager, who have knowledge of the applicant’s professional involvement in fire engineering. It is preferable that referees be IFE registrants or members but not essential. Referees must sign the form, initial the relevant sections on the form, initial supporting documentation and validate copies of certificates. By agreeing to be a referee they are indicating that the information provided is correct and that they have seen all relevant original supporting documents. Where separate continuation sheets are used, all such sheets must also be initialled. Two referees are required on the application. Referees will be contacted and required to complete a reference request form.

8. Initial Professional Development (IPD) Objectives

This section of the form must be completed to demonstrate that you can fulfil the objectives / competency criteria and meet the standards required by a professional engineer. The five key competencies with subsets are labelled ‘A’ through to ‘E’ and correspond directly with the UK-SPEC. It is recommended that you have the UK-SPEC EngTech competency criteria available to refer to while completing this section within the context to the fire engineering and fire sciences fields.

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We suggest:

- Starting with the ’B’ competencies working through all competency sections and finally finishing with the ‘A’ competencies.

- The space provided on the application form is not indicative of expectations for length of responses required. There is no minimum or maximum word count.

- Make your point clearly and concisely ensuring that it demonstrates meeting the competency criteria.

- You may use examples/career episodes from different periods through your career to demonstrate meeting the criteria.

- One or two examples/career episodes will be sufficient for each competency. - Use first person perspective (‘I’ not ‘we’) to demonstrate your personal involvement and

understanding.- Include details of British Standards, Codes of Practice and Building Regulations that are relevant.- Include within career episodes detail of relevant positions held and responsibilities.- Once completed this section requires the initials of both referees on each competency.

9. Examples and Suggestions for IPD Objectives

For each competency listed below, please see some examples to provide guidance into areas or disciplines in which you may have experience. It is not an exhaustive list.

‘A’ Competencies provide the opportunity to demonstrate the underpinning knowledge and understanding for the application of technical and practical skills within the fire engineering and fire science field. Complete A1 and A2 on the application form.

‘B’ Competencies provide the opportunity to demonstrate how you utilise your skills to implement practical application within you day to day work environment. Complete B1 and B2 on the application form.

Both ‘A’ and ‘B’ competencies cover similar materials from different perspectives and so are listed together. A number of different disciplines are covered in the examples below.

For example: I was responsible for:

Fire and Rescue Service Operations in:

Command and Control:- Communications and mobilising- Resource and people management- Logistics and planning- Hydraulics and water management- Generic, dynamic and analytical risk management

Compartment Firefighting:- Combustion, ventilation and fire dynamics- Extinguishing media and methods of delivery- Fixed installations and fire engineered buildings- Elements of structure and signs of collapse

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Environmental Protection:- Hazardous materials, including controlled chemicals- Transportation of materials hazardous to heath- Radiation- Decontamination- Legislation and the Environment Agency

Extrication:- Heavy cutting, spreading and lifting techniques- Large animal rescue and welfare management- Scene management and vehicle stabilisation/access/cutting- Pulleys, chains, cables and winches- USAR techniques

Swift Water Rescue:- The anatomy of fast water- Natural and manufactured hazards- Casualty recovery techniques- Scene and people management

Line Rescue:- Working at height regulations- Dangerous structures- Working in sewers- Dangerous atmospheres- Level 2 and level 3 working

Fire Investigation for example:

- Determining the nature and scope of the investigation- Setting up working arrangements to carry out an investigation- Recovering and preserving physical and documentary evidence- Collecting witness evidence- Compiling and providing available evidence- Evaluating the results of an investigation- Reporting the conclusions of an investigation- Prepare for Court and other hearings- Present evidence to Court and other hearings

Fire and Rescue Service Personnel for example:

- Knowledge and implementation of Fire Safety guidance, National Occupational Standards (NOS), codes of practice, British Standards and legislation- Consultations with professionals, such as Building Control Officers, Architects, fire engineers etc- Inspection and re-inspection of premises, including fire safety audits- Preparing technical reports and statements- Issuing notices of work- Presenting fire safety subjects as technical seminars or at Community Fire Safety events

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Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm Systems for example:

- Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – design, installation, commissioning and maintenance- Design of areas to be protected and category of system- Wireless detection (radio detectors) layout design- Air sampler / aspirating design (detail of support brackets, pipe work runs, holes size, etc)- Battery calculations- Calculating the spacing of fire detection devices and sounders- Use of matrix chart (cause and effect)- Design and use of gas detection system- Design and use of fire telephone system- Design and use of CCTV System- Design and use of intrinsically safe equipment (eg detection and sounder circuits) in explosive gas or dust atmospheres (eg petrochemical refinery)

Voice Alarm and Public Address Systems for example:

- Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of voice alarms- Design of areas to be covered based on use of building- Voice Alarm and Public Address layout design (speakers, microphones, etc)- Standby battery calculations- Sound pressure calculations (spacing of speakers)- Ambient noise and effect on design- RASTI sound intelligibility test and report- Microphones (firefighters ANS and paging, etc)- Ambient noise sensing microphone (locations, etc)- Pager system (radio transmitter / receiver system)- BGM unit (background music system)- Induction loops design (panel location, loops run, etc)

Installation of Fire Detection and associated Equipment for example:

- Installation design showing general requirements specification or site specification (eg provision of plans and marked up drawings to show, layout, position of fire devices, equipment and cabling, etc)- Installation (voltage drop calculations)- Wiring and fire resistances recommendations- Cables requirements (screening, segregation and separation of circuits, etc)- Mains supply and electrical safety- Disabled refuge alarm system- Disabled system (vibrating pillow pad and socket, etc)- Automatic fire and smoke containment system (fire curtains, fire roller shutters, fire / smoke barrier, etc)

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Fire Extinguishing (fire suppression / gaseous) Systems for example:

- Fire suppression design (details of support brackets, layout of pipe work and heads, etc)- Argotec agent gaseous extinguishing systems- FM200 agent gaseous extinguishing systems- ARGON agent gaseous extinguishing systems- Volume calculation (flooding factors, cylinder fill rates, etc)- Pressure relief calculation (graph to determine flow factor)- Fire protection system incorporating fire hose, foam concentrate and firefighting equipment- Room integrity test

Automatic Sprinkler (Protection) Systems for example:

- Sprinkler design (installation types, size and details of support brackets, layout of pipe work and heads)- Hydraulic calculations and pipe sizing- Sprinkler coverage and water density calculations- Calculating the spacing and array- Water fog (water mist system, etc)- Control valve (main stop valve, test valve, drain valve, etc)- Correct type of sprinkler heads (conventional pattern, spray pattern, ceiling / flush pattern, etc)- Sprinkler heads type use of sensitivity (glass bulb, fusible link, etc)

Smoke Control System (Ventilation) and Pressurisation Systems for example:

- Smoke control design (the spread of smoke and / or spread of fire)- Ventilation design (installation types, size and details of support brackets, layout of ductwork, fans, etc)- Smoke dynamic calculations- Heat and smoke growth using fire modelling software- Smoke movement modelling and management- Taking account of smoke cooling within units prior to the flowing layer entering a rising plume- Fire curtain (smoke control)

Emergency Lighting Systems for example:

- Emergency lighting design (detail of support brackets, layout of conduct, layout of emergency lighting and signage, etc)- Emergency lighting calculations (photometric data, travel distance, illumination (lux), battery cells, etc)- Energy efficient lighting (lamps or the use of controls to switch lights off when not required)- Maintenance and testing of emergency escape lighting- Escape routes and emergency escape lighting (carrying out a fire risk assessment, etc)- Management system (emergency plan and tailored to the premises)

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Commissioning for example:

- Site inspection and survey (provide a report or programme of the inspection and survey)- Testing (wick or pellet test, etc)- System audibility test and report- RASTI sound intelligibility test and report- Software- Witness test- Acceptance demonstration- Staff training of the fire alarm system- Handover (documents, etc)

Fire Risk Assessors, Auditors, Inspecting Officers and Fire Safety Consultants for example:

- Fire risk assessment (unacceptable risk)- Fire safety audits and surveys- The design and management of fire safety in a building (any design assumptions, etc)- Fire safety law- Risk to the safety of people as a result of fire, explosions or similar energetic events- Issuance of certificates (where applicable)- The risk management policy to be developed with all members of the client’s project team to ensure that any risks identified are programmed and actioned accordingly.

Insurance Assessors for example:

- Site initial inspection (investigation) and / or re-inspection of premises- Providing further impetus to the desired reduction in fire deaths and financial losses- Means of escape difficulties associated with occupant capacity (staff, public and disabled people, etc)- Classification of occupancies and hazards- Carrying out risk analysis on the structure- Evacuation modelling in design and means of escape (including human behaviour in fire).- Insurance inspection reports- Issuance of certificates (where applicable)

Maintenance of Fire Systems for example:

- Planned preventative maintenance (management / maintenance was it satisfactory?)- Fire alarm detection and sounder testing must be carried out under Risk Management Policy- Carrying out a fire test on existing fire detection system to British Standards.- Co-ordination planning with appropriate third parties- Determining suitable measures to ensure fire detection systems and fire warning systems, sprinkler systems, fire suppression systems, smoke control systems, emergency lighting systems, signage (suitable fire-safety signs)- Provision of firefighting equipment- Establishing and implementing a Health and Safety Management System to manage the risks associated with the premises and activities

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‘C’ Competencies provide the opportunity to demonstrate the acceptance and exercise of personal responsibility. Complete C1 through to C3 on the application form.


- Using performance management techniques to monitor performance against targets and the job control system- Identifying and dealing with any financial and / or budgetary (estimate, query and tender) issue(s)- Ensuring compliance with health and safety strategy- Control of main contractor to ensure technical content maintained at a high level and budget and programme are kept within previously defined limit

‘D’ Competencies provide the opportunity to demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills. Complete D1 and D2 on the application form.


- Seeking advice from other engineers, experts, etc- Written reports, statements, operating and maintenance manual, etc (preparation of technical manual or reports)- Developing a close working relationship with the client / customer- Liaison with Architects, Fire Engineers, Building Control, Approved Inspectors, NHS Trusts, Health Authorities, Commission for Community Care Inspections, Enforcement and Local Authorities- Participating in and promoting community fire safety activities including talks and instruction to outside bodies and the public

‘E’ Competencies provide the opportunity to demonstrate professional commitment to the industry, society and the environment. Complete E1 through to E5 on the application form.


- Managing effective use of my time and workload.- Arranging for the accurate recording of all data to meet management requirements- Working closely with peer (groups) to maintain up to date knowledge on latest technologies and equipment- Complying with the codes and rules of behaviour of the Institution of Fire Engineers.- Complying with code of practice for design, communication and installation, etc- Ensuring reference is made to codes and standards eg British Standards; Codes of Practice; and Guidance Documents- Complying with British Standards and testing of fire detection and emergency lighting systems to British Standards (BS 5839 Part 1, 2, 8 and 9, BS5266, BS 5306 Part 2, etc)- Complying with the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB)- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – on a separate sheet

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10. Final Checks and Submission

A completed application should consist of an application form plus supporting documentation. Before submitting an application to the IFE for processing, please ensure that you have:

- Signed the application form with hand written signature- Completed each section of the form- Had your referees sign, initial and validate the appropriate sections of the form and supporting

documentation- Included application fee payment details- Included validated academic qualification certificates- Included any additional supporting documentation- Included a validated copy of one form of photographic ID- Kept a copy of all documents to be sent

Submission of your application can be made by scanning and emailing to [email protected] (preferred method) or by posting to the following address:

IFE Membership and Registration TeamIFE House, 64 – 66 Cygnet Court

Timothy’s Bridge RoadStratford-upon-Avon CV37 9NW

United Kingdom

We wish you the best of luck with your application.

11. What to expect after you have sent in your application:

Applicants will receive an acknowledgement email confirming receipt of their application. Their application will proceed through to a desk top review to ensure all required information has been submitted. After this it will be sent to peer reviewers who are current registrants, experts and experienced within the fire engineering and fire sciences field for assessment and then onto the IFE Registrants Group Membership Committee (IFERG MC) for discussion.

The IFERG MC convenes once every two months to discuss applications. There are cut-off dates by which submissions are required to be received in order to be processed and prepared for discussion at the meetings. This will partially govern the time it will take to proceed through the registration process.

You will be contacted at any stage where we require further information or clarification. If no further information is required then we will contact you with the outcome after the relevant IFERG MC meeting.

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