SAC Focus on…

1. SAC Focus on… “FPEs working with SFMs” (we hope it’s you)! - Forging a greater appreciation and use of FPEs, Fire Protection Engineers A New Initiative by the SAC for NASFM, plus collaboration with SFPE, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers Dr. Steve Spivak, Univ of Maryland

2. Action:Producing Model FPE Job Descriptions and Surveying Salary Ranges 1. SAC has reviewed sample FPE job listings 2. Collected these, others as models for NASFM… 3. Review data from SFPE Profile & Survey, 2003 4. Avail. are examples such as Maryland Fire Marshal, descriptions of FPE Engineer I and II

3. What’s Happening Now? • SAC has preliminarily collected for NASFM, and ongoing, detailed FPE job descriptions, including State of Maryland, US CPSC and others. • Simultaneously, SAC and SFPE have initiatives underway to report on the elements contained in sample or model FPE job descriptions • SAC now collaborating with SFPE and espec. Chris Jelenewicz, PE with SFPE.

4. Sample salaries (add benefits) • Univ of Maryland Bachelor’s degree FPEs starting salaries in $42,000+ to $50,000+ Master’s degrees at $52,000 to $ 60,000+ per annum. Many have passed FE or Fundamentals in Engineering exam. Salary moves up /\ soon. • Maryland Office of State Fire Marshal for FPE II, salary range $42,450 to $66,000.

5. SFPE Salary & Job Survey • SFPE undertakes a biannual survey of FPE members for work, tenure-time, experience, benefits and salary ranges • 2003 data from 1200 FPEs, available from SFPE or from SAC / NASFM. Approx 7% work with fire service and local, state or Federal government • See also www.enfp.umd.edu with link to FPE job postings, showing needs, salaries, ranges.

6. Data from 2003 SFPE Profile • Starting salaries for all entry FPEs with 0-4 years of experience, $48K - $55K - $65K • Starting salaries for entry FPEs in the fire service or local / Fed’l. government with 0-4 years experience, $47K - $50K - $55K - $65K • Compare, equiv to Maryland State Fire Marshal FPE II, salary range $42.5K to $66K.

7. Competition to Recruit and Retain FPEs at any level - a challenge Entry level Fire Protection Engineers are highly sought after, a very competitive job market. • Harder even to recruit experienced FPEs, including those with AHJ experience and Professional Engineer or P.E. state license. • Maryland State Fire Marshal and certain other jurisdictions find it necessary to recruit at Fire Protection Engineer II level and qualifications.

8. More experienced FPEs • US Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC hired experienced General Engineer with fire safety experience at GS-13 level, Salary range $69K to $89K State of Iowa, FPE jobs, $65K to $88K Metro Denver – city & counties $74K Clark Co. Las Vegas, NV; W. Palm Beach, FL May need to eventually move FPE engineers doing your fire safety work into more of management positions in later years

9. Primary resources for FPEs • University of Maryland, College Park Fire Protection Engineering, BS, MS & MEng grads, www.enfp.umd.edu • Worcester Polytechnic Institute, WPI Fire Safety Engineering, MS grads, www.wpi.edu/+FPE • Oklahoma State University, for BS engin. tech. grads in Fire Protection Engineering Technology www.fpst.okstate.edu

10. Add’l. Resources for FPEs & /or Fire Prot Safety Technologists • University of New Haven • University of North Carolina, Charlotte • Eastern Kentucky State University • or hire entry level engineer and have them do an on-line distance education Masters degree with the Univ. of MD or WPI

11. Proposed Action Items by SAC • Recommend that NASFM and SAC produce joint ‘white paper’ on need for FPEs in offices of SFMs [We need you!] • Emphasis on FPEs in SFMs, critical for fire investigations and forensics, plans review; interpreting performance based codes, risk based fire safety design and modeling.

12. More Actions, Needs by SAC • Place useful info for SFMs and AHJs on the NASFM web site, such as items noted • Listing of typical FPE job descriptions, minimum qualifications by education and work experience, salary ranges, detailed nature of duties performed, specific tasks performed and/or essential job functions

13. Basic Description of FPE • Refer to “Fire Protection Engineers” as described by Chronicle Guidance Publications, Brief #576, Moravia, NY 1-800-622-7284 • “Fire Protection Engineer” defined by US General Services Administration, GSA and SFPE, Soc’y of Fire Protection Engineers • Education and experience, tasks, criteria often listed in detailed FPE job announcements • And whether in doubt or need, ASK the SAC!