Education and qualifications:
BEng (Hons)
Fire Risk Engineering
Job title: Watch Commander / Fire Engineer
Employer: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
What inspired you to become a fire engineer?
Being in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and in the Fire Safety and Enforcement department, I felt this was a new challenge and the next step in expanding my fire safety experience and education.
Please describe your current role.
As a Fire Engineer in SFRS, I am part of a national statutory consultation process between Scottish Building Standards and the Fire Service. I review strategies and plans of buildings that do not comply, in some aspect, with the Scottish Technical Handbooks.
Can you describe a typical working day?
Working in the SFRS covering the East and North of Scotland, I can receive projects from the Scottish Borders to the Shetland Islands. I receive plans and fire engineering strategies from fire engineers, architects and Building Standards and review these strategies against the Scottish Technical Handbooks and the relevant British Standards. I then report any findings and/or issues to the local Building Standards Office. Depending on the issues that arise, I liaise with fire engineers, architects, developers and building standards officers to discuss findings and come to a successful conclusion.
What contributed to your decision to become professionally registered?
Being in the Fire Service, I worked towards being a Member of the IFE whilst in the Fire Safety and Enforcement Department. After the Grenfell Tower fire, some of the highlighted recommendations arose regarding the qualifications and competencies of those within the fire industry. I felt that I had the qualifications and experience to become registered as an Incorporated Engineer and that this would be recognised in the fire sector in demonstrating my level of knowledge and competence.
In what ways has IFE membership and registration benefitted your career?
I think when other professionals see that I am a member of the IFE and an Incorporated Engineer, there is an acknowledgement of the work I have undertaken and the knowledge and competence I have achieved.
What do you find most enjoyable about your job?
When I see changes and developments taking place in the built environment that I have been involved in.
Are there any particular challenges or unusual aspects to your role?
Unfortunately, I can find that the guidance and regulations do not keep up with the pace of innovation and new products being proposed. This can cause issues with acceptance of some products where compliance with Standards is vague.
Is there a great professional achievement that you would like to tell us about?
Achieving a First-Class Honours Degree later in life, while balancing home life and a full time job is an achievement I never thought I would be able to attain. I’m very proud of that accomplishment and achieving professional registration as an Incorporated Engineer.
How does your employer benefit from your professional registration and IFE membership?
SFRS continuously strive to maintain an excellent reputation and invest in their personnel. Being able to demonstrate and support links with professional bodies adds to this.
Is there any advice you would pass on to someone considering joining the IFE?
It is worth the hard work. Keep an updated CPD log and when writing up your personal review report make sure you cover all the steps you have taken to achieve your goals and achievements.