NVQ for experienced fire alarm engineers offered by Zzeus Training

The first fire alarm engineers to complete the qualification at Zzeus Training are Shaun Wright, Daren Pool, Gary Flockton and John Watts who received their certificates from Dame Judith Hackitt, chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety post-Grenfell and a Board member of EAL.

Hackitt referred to Zzeus Training as a “pioneer in fire system training” and joined Al Parkes, EAL’s managing director, in celebrating the engineers’ great achievement.

Headquartered in Lincoln, Zzeus Training has remained at the forefront of the fire industry and, indeed, become an industry favourite when it comes to hands-on fire alarm training. The company has now opened bookings for the NVQ, which is available to all experienced workers who previously did not have a meaningful or practical qualification such as an apprenticeship to demonstrate their competence.

The NVQ covers electronic fire systems’ design, installation, testing, commissioning, maintenance and auditing. Each learner is required to attain eight units encompassing seven mandatory units and at least one of the optional units. Units are assessed and endorsed against the learner’s chosen discipline.

Learners are also required to create a portfolio of evidence on the Zzeus Training portal in order to prove their competence in the workplace. A site audit procedure is also part of the assessment mix.

Breaking new ground

Tom Brookes, managing director of Zzeus Training and chair of the Fire & Security Association, commented: “Given my passion for improving competency levels in the fire alarm sector, I’m delighted that four learners from Zzeus Training have broken new ground in achieving the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Providing Electronic Fire and Security Systems.”

Brookes continued: “This qualification will enable experienced workers to obtain their ECS FESS Fire Alarm Technician Gold card, in turn allowing them to operate on systems independently. Additionally, it’s a recognised pathway to membership of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and, ultimately, EngTech designation, which then elevates fire alarm engineers to professional engineering status.”

Further, Brookes noted: “In order to guarantee maximum benefit for the learner, we make sure that all Zzeus Training qualifications also meet the requirements of the new BAFE SP 203-1 scheme. As a business, we are continually striving to do the right thing.”

Every course offered by Zzeus Training includes at least four days’ worth of practical hands-on instruction. All of the company’s appointed trainers are active fire alarm technicians.

*Enrolment for the NVQ is now open. Visit the Zzeus Training website for details