Having recently added a careers section to our website, we thought it would be appropriate to write our next blog based on…
GETTING INTO THE INDUSTRY: FIRE PROTECTION
Have you ever wondered about fire protection and the different fields associated with it? Did you know that fire protection is a whole lot more than just dealing with fires? It’s actually the background work to preventing a fire, protecting individuals and safeguarding information and equipment within a building. Below is a list of some more familiar careers within the industry.
Fire Alarm Technician Trainee– As a fire alarm trainee you will have completed a fire alarm program, which is offered through most major colleges. You’re fresh out of school and looking for opportunity. Opportunity can be found by researching various fire protection companies and looking on their website. You can also go straight to the CFAA website where they have up to date job postings. Once you’ve landed a job with a company, you’ve become part of a team, and you will learn the basics of testing, programming and troubleshooting.
Fire Alarm Technician– You are CFAA certified, and over your time as a trainee you have gained much knowledge in most areas of fire protection. You would now have the ability to test and inspect fire alarm panels and equipment, and install new panels with programming. You will have gained experience having worked in various buildings and with different panels. As a fire alarm technician you are also given the role of a customer representative. You will be dealing vendors for materials, as well as dealing with clients old and new maintaining an everlasting relationship.
Fire Protection Engineer– As an engineer you are more involved with CAD drawings, and engineer drawings and design of fire alarm panels, fire department approvals, commissioning systems, auditing systems and life safety and code compliance consulting.
Sprinkler Apprentice – The most common path to become a sprinkler fitter is through apprenticeship. During this time you will be accompanied by a journeyman or foreman that will guide you through new buildings and get you acquainted with piping, parts, and equipment. You have to complete 1800 hours per year which equals to 7200 hours over a 4 year span. Apprenticeships are available through a union such as the Local 853. You must be at least 16 years of age with a grade 12 education. The union can also provide further advice on job requirements for fitters in the area.
Sprinkler Fitter– As a sprinkler fitter you will take on the task of installing, testing, inspecting, and certifying of automatic fire suppression systems in all types of structures.Sprinkler fitters specialize in piping associated with fire sprinkler systems. The piping within these types of systems are required to be installed and maintained in accordance with strict guidelines in order to maintain compliance with the local building code and the fire code. A sprinkler fitter builds, and maintains sprinkler systems in buildings.
Sprinkler Journeyman/ Foreman– As a journeyman or foreman you take on more of a supervisory role. You will look over your crew and assist in areas when needed but in most cases you will be doing more installing of the sprinkler systems and working on larger projects.
If you would like to know more about these fields and current happenings in the industry please visit the links below.
National Fire Protection Association
www.nfpa.org
Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association
www.casa-firesprinkler.org
Canadian Fire Alarm Association
www.cfaa.ca