Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers — Tasks

Task statements

• Advise architects, builders, and other construction personnel on fire prevention equipment and techniques and on fire code and standard interpretation and compliance.
• Design fire detection equipment, alarm systems, and fire extinguishing devices and systems.
• Inspect buildings or building designs to determine fire protection system requirements and potential problems in areas such as water supplies, exit locations, and construction materials.
• Review building plans to verify compliance with fire code.
• Prepare and write reports detailing specific fire prevention and protection issues, such as work performed, revised codes or standards, and proposed review schedules.
• Consult with authorities to discuss safety regulations and to recommend changes as necessary.
• Evaluate fire department performance and the laws and regulations affecting fire prevention or fire safety.
• Direct the purchase, modification, installation, testing, maintenance, and operation of fire prevention and protection systems.
• Attend workshops, seminars, or conferences to present or obtain information regarding fire prevention and protection.
• Determine causes of fires and ways in which they could have been prevented.
• Develop training materials and conduct training sessions on fire protection.
• Study the relationships between ignition sources and materials to determine how fires start.
• Develop plans for the prevention of destruction by fire, wind, and water.
• Conduct research on fire retardants and the fire safety of materials and devices.