Occupation Details
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
Research causes of fires, determine fire protection methods, and design or recommend materials or equipment such as structural components or fire-detection equipment to assist organizations in safeguarding life and property against fire, explosion, and related hazards.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$74,970.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$105,600.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$127,410.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
1,600
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
1,900
+30 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
138
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Degree Needed - Four-year college
Experience Requirements
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
New York State requires workers in this occupation to hold a license or certification.
Professional Engineer
Learn MoreSkills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Collection hoods
- Cone calorimeters
- Counter-flow slot burners CSB
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Floor-ceiling furnaces
- Flow tunnels
- Furniture calorimeters
- Heat flux transducers
- Heat sinks
- Helium-neon lasers
- Horizontal furnaces
- Intermediate scale calorimeters
- Load cells
- Mass flow controllers
- Methane burners
- Notebook computers
- Optical filters
- Orifice-plate flowmeters
- Oxygen analyzers
- Oxygen depletion calorimeters
- Oxygen meters
- Photoelectric cells
- Propane diffusion flame burners
- Radiant heaters
- Room calorimeters
- Sampling probes
- Silica-carbide fiber sensors
- Silicon photodiodes
- Smoke density testers
Technology
- Atria smoke management engineering tools ASMET
- Autodesk Revit
- Available Safe Egress Time ASET
- Bentley MicroStation
- CESARE Risk
- Computational Dynamics STAR-CD
- Computational fluid dynamics CFD software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Mean time to failure MTTF software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- test equipment as part of engineering projects or processes
- prepare technical reports or related documentation
- direct and coordinate fire prevention and suppression activities
- conduct training for personnel
- design electronic equipment
- explain complex mathematical information
- record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
- advise clients regarding engineering problems
- recommend action to ensure compliance
- communicate technical information
- make presentations
- write product performance requirements
- understand engineering data or reports
- analyze effectiveness of safety systems or procedures
- evaluate engineering data
- evaluate manufacturing or processing systems
- analyze technical data, designs, or preliminary specifications
- determine fire causes
- use intuitive judgment for engineering analyses
- resolve engineering or science problems
- use chemical testing or analysis procedures
- use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques
- use government regulations
- use hazardous materials information
- use pollution control techniques
- use scientific research methodology
- follow safe waste disposal procedures
- use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities
- use technical regulations for engineering problems
- read blueprints
- read schematics
- read technical drawings
- adhere to safety procedures
- conduct fire hazard inspections
- evaluate governmental regulations or laws
- perform safety inspections in industrial, manufacturing or repair setting
- inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Advise architects, builders, and other construction personnel on fire prevention equipment and techniques and on fire code and standard interpretation and compliance.
- 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.
- Design fire detection equipment, alarm systems, and fire extinguishing devices and systems.
- 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.
- Direct the purchase, modification, installation, testing, maintenance, and operation of fire prevention and protection systems.
- Determine causes of fires and ways in which they could have been prevented.
- Develop plans for the prevention of destruction by fire, wind, and water.
- Develop training materials and conduct training sessions on fire protection.
- Attend workshops, seminars, or conferences to present or obtain information regarding fire prevention and protection.
- Evaluate fire department performance and the laws and regulations affecting fire prevention or fire safety.
- Study the relationships between ignition sources and materials to determine how fires start.
- Conduct research on fire retardants and the fire safety of materials and devices.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Engineers (Intro)
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreIndustrial engineers, including health and safety
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More