Introduction to the FPE Sector
These pages provide an overview of the FPE Sector including:
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Imported units of competency in fire protection equipment qualifications |
Sector workforce
The FPE Sector of the property services industry provides fire protection services to a wide variety of customer situations including shops, factories, domestic premises, offices, mines, airports, oil platforms, drilling operations, etc. The industry is comprised of a small number of large enterprises and a large number of micro to small businesses. There is a degree of fragmentation within the sector, with the majority of businesses providing limited services.
Fire protection equipment includes fire sprinkler systems and hydrants, portable and mobile equipment (fire extinguishers, fire blankets and fire hose reels), special hazard protection systems, fire detection and alarm systems (including warning and intercommunication systems), and passive fire protection equipment (fire doors, penetration seals, fire pillows and boards).
The workforce falls into two broad groups:
1. Individual operators that install and maintain fire equipment such as fire hose reels, fire blankets and fire extinguishers.
2. Companies/organisations, that install fire systems such as sprinklers, fire detectors and alarm systems.
Workforce personnel generally install, inspect and maintain fire protection equipment and fire safety systems monitoring the safety of our community and their buildings and assets. Not only are they responsible for the work they perform but also for advising their customers of any breach of legislative requirements and whether their existing equipment is suitable for the identified fire risk. Typical occupations within the sector include:
§ Service Technician – responsible for service work pertaining to work involving inspection, testing and preventative maintenance of fire systems and portable fire equipment, and the installation and rectification of portable fire equipment.
§ Fire System Technician – responsible for service and installation work pertaining to work involving all facets of inspection, testing, maintenance, rectification, design, installation and commissioning of fire systems and portable fire equipment.
The sector has a low workforce turnover with the majority of personnel employed on a full-time basis, and is dominated by males mainly due to the nature of the work which involves some heavy lifting.
Emerging trends in the sector
The FPE Sector is experiencing greater integration and complexity, with fire systems being more fully integrated into building design along with the impact of technological advances and broader regulation. The sector is moving towards more electronically based technology, such as computer use and electrical programming, requiring the multiskilling of the workforce.
A rise in insurance premiums and the introduction of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation has forced many businesses to install and have maintained suitable fire protection equipment. In some jurisdictions, new building legislation now requires all businesses to have their fire safety equipment serviced on a regular basis. As a result, fire inspection services are anticipating greater demand and some businesses are developing greater competitiveness in a higher demand environment. The introduction of more compliance regulations in the sector will increase the demand for qualified auditors and inspectors.
The FPE Sector is also responding to environmental issues, such as water usage and greenhouse gases. The sector has growing regulatory and (Commonwealth) environmental protection requirements such as licenses associated with the use of synthetic greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances.
Overall, the sector will continue to be affected by demand, new technology for fire protection systems introducing new approaches to active and passive fire protection, and 'green issues' including environmentally sustainable work practices and services.
Training environment
The FPE Sector has an enthusiastic and committed workforce that historically, has not had a strong training culture. Many in the workforce are older workers who have 'worked themselves' into the job role and often lack pre-trade or trade level qualifications.
In recent years the industry has moved from an unlicensed workplace setting to a regulated environment. The introduction of a regulatory framework for handling ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases, including the Extinguishing Agent Handling Licences which came into effect during May 2005, has contributed to an increased uptake of formal training. This has resulted in a shift in focus, with the improvement of training delivery methods to address OHS practices and technical processes, and more skills development requirements for regulatory purposes.
The industry's continuing demand for competent and qualified technicians has seen an increased need for the existing workforce to participate in training and recognition of skills and knowledge. However, even where training is offered, it is limited in scope due to RTO facilities and expertise and can be difficult to access at convenient times and locations. The sector requires more training places in accessible locations to meet the demand for highly skilled personnel.
Normal drivers of training demand for this sector include:
§ permit requirements (such as in installation of some fire equipment)
§ company requirements on use of equipment and products
§ technological change
§ demand within the building and construction sector (which fluctuates)
§ legislative and regulatory change.
New units of competency addressing the important ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gas requirements have addressed many of the immediate needs of the sector, and most importantly, the need to incorporate environmentally sustainable work practices within the sector's qualifications.
Qualifications framework for the FPE Sector
There are two qualifications for the FPE Sector, one at Certificate II level and the other at Certificate III.
The packaging rules of qualifications provide a great degree of flexibility. In general, they allow the selection of elective units from both within the CPP07 Training Package, and other endorsed Training Packages, as well as from one AQF level above and below the level of the qualification.
The individual qualifications structure including packaging rules for the FPE Sector is shown below. Remember to check the NTIS website for the latest version of the qualifications and units of competency they contain.
Qualification Code | Qualification title | AQF alignment |
CPP20509 | 2 | |
CPP30809 | 3 |
Skill sets for the FPE Sector
Skill sets provide additional pathways to recognised training for people wishing to pursue career advancement or skills development without taking up a full qualification. Five Extinguishing Agent Handling Licence Skill Sets are available for the FPE Sector. These have been developed in consultation with industry to meet skills development requirements for flexibility where whole qualifications do not meet the needs of specific groups. The skill sets are designed to meet licensing requirements for the handling of ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Legislation Amendment Act 2003.
The skill sets for the FPE Sector and a summary of their intended audience, are listed below. Remember to check the NTIS website for the latest version of the skill sets and units of competency they contain.
Extinguishing Agent Handling Licence Skill set | Audience |
Technicians responsible for the charging and recharging of portable fire extinguishers, and repairing extinguisher valves. | |
Technicians responsible for the installation and decommissioning of fixed fire systems. | |
Technicians responsible for the testing and maintenance of fixed fire systems. | |
Technicians performing the transfer of extinguishing agents into and from a fire extinguisher and gaseous fire extinguishing system containers from and to a bulk agent container. | |
Technicians responsible for monitoring bulk agent containers of extinguishing agent in a warehouse for leakages, and as needed, to transfer the extinguishing agent from a leaking storage container. |
Units of competency for the FPE Sector
The FPE Sector has been redeveloped with 37 sector-specific, and 15 imported units of competency. These provide greater coverage of industry functions, and also accommodate emerging skills needs.
Click HERE to view a complete listing of FPE Sector units and the individual descriptor and statement of workplace application for each. To view the individual units of competency, visit the NTIS website.
Imported units of competency in fire protection equipment qualifications
Within the FPE Sector qualifications, some use has been made of endorsed units of competency drawn from other Training Packages. The imported units of competency cover generic cross-industry functions. These units are accessed from the following Training Packages which can be accessed via the NTIS website:
§ BSB07 Business Services Training Package
§ HLT07 Health Training Package
§ TAA04 Training and Assessment Training Package
Click HERE to view a summary of the imported units of competency from these Training Packages, and the FPE Sector qualifications that they have been packaged within.