Fire Safety Practice (P.Grad.Dip.)

Overview

Course Overview

The P.Grad.Dip. in Fire Safety Practice is an exciting one-year course that will greatly enhance your knowledge of fire safety in buildings and help you progress in your career in the area.

The whole area of Fire Safety Practice has never been more relevant. In addition to changing building design practices, evolving and fire regulations, there are a range of societal and global issues challenging our approach to the built environment and that will demand innovative thinking, including the need to carefully consider building material and egress in all buildings; rethinking towns and cities, more working from home, conversion of office blocks to residential and other uses; climate chaos, natural disasters, and other climate impacts that will affect the built environment; ageing population who may be more vulnerable in terms of fire or emergency egress.

These issues and any other challenges coming down the line will require highly educated fire safety experts, and your journey can start with this course.

This course is supported by the Chief Fire Officers Association, recognised by the Institution of Fire Engineers for membership of the IFE and approved by Engineers Ireland for continuing professional development (CPD). The course lecturers include acknowledged experts in design against fire from engineering consultancies, contractors, government departments and local authorities.

Is This Course For Me?

This course is designed for postgraduate students who hold a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or a related field, and are interested in pursuing a career in fire safety design or engineering, fire risk assessment, or related fields.

The programme is suitable for those who want to develop their knowledge and skills or for those interested in understanding the regulatory framework for fire safety, including building regulations and fire safety legislation.

This programme is also ideal for professionals who are already working in the field of fire safety design or engineering or related areas, and who are seeking to upskill or change their career path towards fire safety practice.

Career Opportunities

This course enables engineers, architects, fire prevention officers and other suitably qualified professionals working in the construction industry to acquire a sound knowledge and understanding of fire in buildings, the safety requirements in the design of buildings and the various design options available for minimising the risk of fire in buildings.

Course Structure

The Fire Safety Practice programme is worth 45 ECTS, with students taking two taught modules, each worth 15 ECTS, and a coursework module worth 15 ECTS.

Lectures are normally held on Friday evenings 7pm-10pm and Saturday morning 9.30am-12.30pm each week throughout the two semesters (September to April). Coursework, which is an integral part of the course, consists of two assignments carried out in the students’ own time.

Course Content

This part-time course is comprised of three modules taught over two semesters: Fire Safety Engineering; Fire Safety Legislation and Regulations; and Fire Safety Practice Coursework Assignments.

The topics covered include: the Fundamentals of Fire science; fire safety engineering; fire protection systems; legal principles; fire, safety and health legislation, insurances; The Building Control Act, 1990 and Building Regulations (TGD B); and The Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003.

The lectures and projects are delivered by experienced practitioners and academics, which include a Fire Safety Engineer; Structural Engineer; Local Government Fire Officer; Fire Advisor from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government; Architect; Legal profession; Electrical Engineer; Health & Safety Authority; Fire Safety Consultant; Building Services Engineer; Universal Access/Egress Designer; and an Fire Investigator.

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