SAC Focus on…SAC Focus on…

““FPEs working with SFMs” (we hope it’s you)!FPEs working with SFMs” (we hope it’s you)!- - Forging a greater appreciation and use ofForging a greater appreciation and use of

FPEs, Fire Protection Engineers FPEs, Fire Protection Engineers

A New Initiative by the SAC for NASFM, A New Initiative by the SAC for NASFM, plus collaboration with SFPE, the Societyplus collaboration with SFPE, the Societyof Fire Protection Engineersof Fire Protection Engineers

Dr. Steve Spivak, Univ of MarylandDr. Steve Spivak, Univ of Maryland

Action:Action:Producing Model FPE Job Producing Model FPE Job

Descriptions and Surveying Descriptions and Surveying Salary RangesSalary Ranges

1. SAC has reviewed sample FPE job listings1. SAC has reviewed sample FPE job listings

2. Collected these, others as models for NASFM…2. Collected these, others as models for NASFM…

3. Review data from SFPE Profile & Survey, 20033. Review data from SFPE Profile & Survey, 2003

4. Avail. are examples such as Maryland Fire 4. Avail. are examples such as Maryland Fire Marshal, descriptions of FPE Engineer I and IIMarshal, descriptions of FPE Engineer I and II

What’s Happening Now?What’s Happening Now?

SAC has preliminarily collected for NASFM, and SAC has preliminarily collected for NASFM, and ongoing, detailed FPE job descriptions, including ongoing, detailed FPE job descriptions, including State of Maryland, US CPSC and others. State of Maryland, US CPSC and others.

Simultaneously, SAC and SFPE have initiatives Simultaneously, SAC and SFPE have initiatives underway to report on the elements contained in underway to report on the elements contained in sample or model FPE job descriptions sample or model FPE job descriptions

SAC now collaborating with SFPE and espec. SAC now collaborating with SFPE and espec. Chris Jelenewicz, PE with SFPE.Chris Jelenewicz, PE with SFPE.

Sample salaries (add benefits)Sample salaries (add benefits)

Univ of Maryland Bachelor’s degree FPEs Univ of Maryland Bachelor’s degree FPEs starting salaries in $42,000+ to $50,000+ starting salaries in $42,000+ to $50,000+ Master’s degrees at $52,000 to $ 60,000+ per Master’s degrees at $52,000 to $ 60,000+ per annum. Many have passed FE or Fundamentals annum. Many have passed FE or Fundamentals in Engineering exam. Salary moves up /\ soon.in Engineering exam. Salary moves up /\ soon.

Maryland Office of State Fire Marshal for Maryland Office of State Fire Marshal for

FPE II, salary range $42,450 to $66,000.FPE II, salary range $42,450 to $66,000.

SFPE Salary & Job SurveySFPE Salary & Job Survey

SFPE undertakes a biannual survey of FPE SFPE undertakes a biannual survey of FPE members for work, tenure-time, experience, members for work, tenure-time, experience, benefits and salary rangesbenefits and salary ranges

2003 data from 1200 FPEs, available from SFPE 2003 data from 1200 FPEs, available from SFPE or from SAC / NASFM. Approx 7% work with fire or from SAC / NASFM. Approx 7% work with fire service and local, state or Federal government service and local, state or Federal government

See also See also www.enfp.umd.edu with link to FPE job with link to FPE job postings, showing needs, salaries, ranges.postings, showing needs, salaries, ranges.

Data from 2003 SFPE ProfileData from 2003 SFPE Profile

Starting salaries for all entry FPEs with 0-4 years Starting salaries for all entry FPEs with 0-4 years of experience, $48K - $55K - $65K of experience, $48K - $55K - $65K

Starting salaries for entry FPEs Starting salaries for entry FPEs in the fire in the fire service or local / Fed’l. government with 0-4 service or local / Fed’l. government with 0-4 years experienceyears experience, $47K - $50K - $55K - $65K, $47K - $50K - $55K - $65K

Compare, equiv to Maryland State Fire Marshal Compare, equiv to Maryland State Fire Marshal

FPE II, salary range $42.5K to $66K.FPE II, salary range $42.5K to $66K.

Competition to Recruit and Retain Competition to Recruit and Retain FPEs at any level - a challenge FPEs at any level - a challenge

Entry level Fire Protection Engineers are highly Entry level Fire Protection Engineers are highly sought after, a very competitive job market.sought after, a very competitive job market.

Harder even to recruit experienced FPEs, Harder even to recruit experienced FPEs, including those with AHJ experience and including those with AHJ experience and Professional Engineer or P.E. state license. Professional Engineer or P.E. state license.

Maryland State Fire Marshal and certain other Maryland State Fire Marshal and certain other jurisdictions find it necessary to recruit at Fire jurisdictions find it necessary to recruit at Fire Protection Engineer II level and qualifications. Protection Engineer II level and qualifications.

More experienced FPEsMore experienced FPEs

US Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC US Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC hired experienced General Engineer with fire safety hired experienced General Engineer with fire safety experience at GS-13 level, Salary range $69K to $89Kexperience at GS-13 level, Salary range $69K to $89K

State of Iowa, FPE jobs, $65K to $88KState of Iowa, FPE jobs, $65K to $88KMetro Denver – city & counties $74KMetro Denver – city & counties $74KClark Co. Las Vegas, NV; W. Palm Beach, FLClark Co. Las Vegas, NV; W. Palm Beach, FL

May need to eventually move FPE engineers doing May need to eventually move FPE engineers doing your fire safety work into more of management your fire safety work into more of management positions in later yearspositions in later years

Primary resources for FPEsPrimary resources for FPEs

University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College ParkFire Protection Engineering, BS, MS & MEng Fire Protection Engineering, BS, MS & MEng grads, www.enfp.umd.edugrads, www.enfp.umd.edu

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, WPI Fire Safety Worcester Polytechnic Institute, WPI Fire Safety Engineering, MS grads, www.wpi.edu/+FPEEngineering, MS grads, www.wpi.edu/+FPE

Oklahoma State University, for BS engin. tech. Oklahoma State University, for BS engin. tech. grads in Fire Protection Engineering Technologygrads in Fire Protection Engineering Technologywww.fpst.okstate.edu

Add’l. Resources for FPEs & /or Add’l. Resources for FPEs & /or Fire Prot Safety TechnologistsFire Prot Safety Technologists

University of New HavenUniversity of New Haven

University of North Carolina, CharlotteUniversity of North Carolina, Charlotte

Eastern Kentucky State UniversityEastern Kentucky State University

oror hire entry level engineer and have them hire entry level engineer and have them do an on-line distance education Masters do an on-line distance education Masters degree with the Univ. of MD or WPI degree with the Univ. of MD or WPI

Proposed Action Items by SACProposed Action Items by SAC

Recommend that NASFM and SAC Recommend that NASFM and SAC produce joint ‘white paper’ on need for produce joint ‘white paper’ on need for FPEs in offices of SFMs [We need you!]FPEs in offices of SFMs [We need you!]

Emphasis on FPEs in SFMs, critical for fire Emphasis on FPEs in SFMs, critical for fire investigations and forensics, plans review; investigations and forensics, plans review; interpreting performance based codes, risk interpreting performance based codes, risk based fire safety design and modeling. based fire safety design and modeling.

More Actions, Needs by SACMore Actions, Needs by SAC

Place useful info for SFMs and AHJs on Place useful info for SFMs and AHJs on the NASFM web site, such as items notedthe NASFM web site, such as items noted

Listing of typical FPE job descriptions, Listing of typical FPE job descriptions, minimum qualifications by education and minimum qualifications by education and work experience, salary ranges, detailed work experience, salary ranges, detailed nature of duties performed, specific tasks nature of duties performed, specific tasks performed and/or essential job functions performed and/or essential job functions

Basic Description of FPEBasic Description of FPE

Refer to “Fire Protection Engineers” as Refer to “Fire Protection Engineers” as described by Chronicle Guidance Publications, described by Chronicle Guidance Publications, Brief #576, Moravia, NY 1-800-622-7284Brief #576, Moravia, NY 1-800-622-7284

““Fire Protection Engineer” defined by US Fire Protection Engineer” defined by US General Services Administration, GSA and General Services Administration, GSA and SFPE, Soc’y of Fire Protection Engineers SFPE, Soc’y of Fire Protection Engineers

Education and experience, tasks, criteria often Education and experience, tasks, criteria often listed in detailed FPE job announcementslisted in detailed FPE job announcementsAnd whether in doubt or need, ASK the SAC! And whether in doubt or need, ASK the SAC!