Passive Fire Protection Qualifications in New Zealand
- Apr 9, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 29
What Passive Fire Protection Qualifications are available in New Zealand?
Our inhouse passive fire expert, Danilo Macedo, offers the following advice:
One of the most common questions I get from people who are starting to deal with Passive Fire Protection is what training and qualifications are available in New Zealand. As someone who saw these qualifications from inside and out (as a learner and for a period as a Training Advisor in Competenz) so I decided to share some information here.
The reality is that passive fire protection is not a new area, but it has only recently started to be taken seriously in New Zealand. As a result, there are only 2 formal Passive Fire Protection qualifications available that are recognised by NZQA:
The Level 3 New Zealand Certificate in Passive Fire Protection Installation (75 credits) is recommended for Passive Fire Installers, and
the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Passive Fire Protection Systems (130-135 credits) is recommended for Team Leaders, Passive Fire Inspectors, and IQP's.
Both qualifications are provided by Competenz (as part of Te Pukenga) on an online platform (Canvas) that allows you to complete the assessment guides and watch presentations. Some practical assessments require hands-on work.
The official NZQA information on the qualifications can be found here:
How long does it take?
Competenz recommends a 12-month learning period for Level 3 and 18 months for a Level 4 qualification in Passive Fire Protection. However, it can be completed at your own pace. If you already have enough experience, you may finish in as little as a few months.
What do you need to enrol?
Usually, you need:
To be employed by a NZ company who's work is related to the qualification you want to obtain;
Your employer to enrol you (you cannot enrol yourself)
To have a verifier (registered with Competenz) who will verify your on-job work/assessment.
The on-job assessments require 3-5 work samples, which means that you must present work samples from 3-5 different projects you worked on. If you cannot fulfil this requirement along with your learning, you may not be able to complete your qualification.
Please note that Competenz may change these requirements at their discretion at any time. Always check their website for updated information.
What is the career pathway in Passive Fire Protection?
There is no additional career pathway in New Zealand for Passive Fire Protection, but if you're willing to progress your skills in Fire Protection, there are two options in New Zealand:
New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) (Fire Engineering) provided by Future Skills, OR if you hold a bachelor's degree, you may opt into
Postgraduate courses (Post-Grad Cert, Masters, PhD) in Fire Engineering at the University of Canterbury
As part of the Future Skills Program, you may opt to study a micro-credential in Passive Fire. This micro-credential is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of passive fire protection systems and their role in maintaining the safety and integrity of buildings in New Zealand. It is particularly suited to those working in regulatory, inspection, and compliance support roles, or those seeking to enter the building compliance sector.
Chartership in Passive Fire Protection
A Chartered Professional Engineer is an experienced engineer who has been assessed as meeting a quality mark of competence and can deal with complex engineering problems requiring expert technical knowledge.
This represents the highest level of certification in Passive Fire Protection, with only a select few individuals in New Zealand having achieved Chartered status in this field.
Additional Passive Fire Qualifications overseas and upcoming NZ qualifications
The Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE), in conjunction with Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), also holds examinations in many Fire protection areas including two levels of certificate in Passive Fire Protection:
The recently formed Association for Specialist Fire Protection Australia & New Zealand branch (ASFP ANZ) will soon bring the New Zealand version of these qualifications, which can be checked on their website.
Our Training offerings
If you're looking for more basic and practical information or guidance, we also offer FREE Passive Fire Protection Training.
Nelligan Consulting Engineers has a great Fire Engineering team, including an in-house Chartered Passive fire protection consultant and a team with expertise and knowledge to assist you with your project at various stages to ensure the installation is appropriately specified, compliant, cost-effective, and with minimal delays.
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