CFPA EUROPE DIPLOMA

IN FIRE PREVENTION
Information Guide

THE UK’S NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATION

C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK
WHAT IS THE CFPA EUROPE
DIPLOMA IN FIRE PREVENTION?
The CFPA (Confederation of Fire Protection Associations) Europe Diploma in Fire Prevention was
developed to bridge the gap between completing a short fire risk assessment training course and
a full-time degree. This highly regarded qualification is recognised Europe-wide throughout the
19 member countries of the CFPA formal body. If you are looking to further your fire safety career
and stand out from your competitors, this is the course for you.
W H O A R E C F PA E U R O P E ? HOW DOES IT WORK? W H O S H O U L D U N D E R TA K E
THE PROGRAMME?
CFPA Europe is the formal body The CFPA Europe Diploma
which links the 19 recognised is completed in 2 cycles; the The CFPA Diploma in Fire
fire safety organisations in Technical Cycle, followed by the Prevention is suitable for:
Europe. It exists to promote the Management Cycle. Students › Risk managers
highest standards of fire safety are allowed up to 2 years to
› Fire risk assessors
management in both Europe complete the Technical Cycle
and EFTA countries. and up to 1 year to complete the › Fire engineers
Management Cycle.
› Building safety managers
› Fire consultants
W H Y S T U DY W I T H
T H E   F PA ?
The FPA has successfully
› 
awarded the Diploma
qualification to over
400 students.
The FPA is the only UK provider
› 
of the CFPA Europe Diploma in
Fire Prevention.
Our successful students
› 
typically come from housing
associations, local authorities,
fire and rescue services,
the NHS, transport and
power sectors.
2 3
C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK
TECHNICAL CYCLE
COURSE STRUCTURE
The Technical Cycle is split into 3 stages which must be completed in the following order:
1 2 3
Face-to-face learning: 5-day Fire 7 independent study units, each A 3-hour written examination
Risk Assessment Fundamental requiring approximately 15-20 completes the Technical Cycle.
Principles course. hours’ study.
| L
 EARNING
OUTCOMES
Knowledge and
› 
understanding of the
fundamentals of fire
prevention principles.
A clear understanding
› 
of the importance of
fire control, and the
management of systems.
Able to recommend
› 
actions and influence
change to improve fire
safety strategies.
| C
 E R T I F I C AT I O N
CFPA Europe Level 5
› 
Diploma in Fire Prevention:
Technical Cycle.
29 Institution of Fire
› 
Engineers (IFE) CPD hours.
C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK

C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK

STAGE 1: STAGE 2:
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT INDEPENDENT STUDY UNITS
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
5 - D AY T R A I N I N G C O U R S E 7 I N D E P E N D E N T S T U DY U N I T S
The course has been designed for those with little or no pre-existing knowledge of undertaking fire risk Upon successful completion of stage 1, students will have access to 7 unit question papers. Responses
assessments and is the complete route to begin your journey as a competent fire risk assessor. It will may be submitted one at a time and there is no prescribed order in which to complete the units. All 7
provide you with a thorough introduction to the key principles of fire prevention and protection. You will units must be completed before students can be entered for the examination.
cover relevant legislation, principles and methodologies of fire risk assessment, and practical exercises
before undertaking a mock fire risk assessment which will be marked by your trainer.
| UNIT SYLL ABUS
Unit 1 – N
 ature and Unit 2 – Fire detection Sprinklers and other
| COURSE CONTENT | L
 EARNING behaviour of fire aqueous systems
OUTCOMES Manual and automatic
› Legislative requirements Fire science alarm systems Automatic sprinkler
› 
Understanding of the
› 
installations
Principle causes and
›  › Chemistry of combustion Components
fundamental principles › 
prevention of fire Drenchers
of fire prevention and Elementary thermodynamics
›  Maintenance
› 
› 
› Means of escape protection measures, raising and kinetics Foam installations
› 
awareness of the vast range Automatic fire detection
› Emergency lighting Products of combustion
of topics involved in fire ›  Hydrants
› 
Types of equipment for
› 
Portable firefighting
›  safety management. Rate of burning of materials
›  alarm and control Water supplies
› 
equipment
› Ability to apply the principles Static electricity
›  Action taken by staff when
›  Selection, siting, use and
› 
› Signs and notices and methodology of fire
Fire behaviour fire is detected maintenance of equipment
› Guidance documents risk assessment, exploring
the process and applying Radiation, conduction
› 
HMOs and licensed premises
›  Non-aqueous systems
› Arson and its prevention learning through several and convection Fixed firefighting
› 
Unit 3 – Fire extinguishment
› Human behaviour practical activities. installations
Factors affecting spread
› 
First aid firefighting equipment
The principles and
›  › Knowledge of the principal and growth of fire Dry powder
› 
methodologies of fire workplace fire hazards, Portable extinguishers
› 
Sources of ignition
›  Carbon dioxide
› 
risk assessment associated risks, and passive Choice and use of
› 
and active means available Effect on humans of: heat,
›  Halon
› 
Practical exercises
›  extinguishing media
to mitigate fire. smoke and toxic combustion
and practical fire Alternatives
› 
Installation, siting
› 
risk assessment Properties and characteristics
and maintenance Special applications including:
of materials
› A fire risk assessment in Hose reels
›  High-rack storage
› 
the workplace is required Flammability limits
› 
to complete the course Advantages and limitations
›  Computers and
› 
Flash point
› 
of equipment data processing
Auto-ignition temperature
› 
Standards and approval
›  Electrical installations
› 
Thermal capacity
›  for equipment
Oil and gas storage
› 
Insulating and
›  Training instruction
›  installations
conductive properties and demonstration
Spray painting
› 
Solids and dusts
›  Legal requirements
› 
Liquids and gases
› 
Explosions
Spontaneous heating
› 
and combustion

4 5
C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK
STAGE 2:
INDEPENDENT STUDY UNITS
(CONTINUED)
| UNIT SYLL ABUS
Unit 4 – Fire and the law
The most recent UK fire
safety legislation
Health and Safety at
› 
Work Act
Role of the fire authority in
› 
administering the law
The Building
› 
Regulations 2010
The Dangerous Substances
› 
and Explosive Atmospheres
Regulations 2002 (DSEAR)
The Petroleum
› 
(Consolidation)
Regulations 2014
Unit 5 – Means of escape
Principles of ensuring safety
of occupants in buildings
Legal requirements
› 
Fire instructions,
› 
procedures and training
Maintenance of
› 
escape routes
The conflict between
› 
means of escape and
restricting access
Planning for means of escape
Design considerations
› 
The stages on escape routes
› 
Disabled egress
› 
6 7
C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK
TECHNICAL CYCLE
MARKING CRITERIA
Answers to unit questions will form the basis for the examination of the Technical Cycle. The questions
Unit 6 – Fire protection Unit 7 – Fire protection are set to seek out both basic principles and in certain instances, detailed information or calculations.
of buildings management Considered opinions where relevant will count as much towards reaching the required standard as textbook
Structural fire precautions Planning for fire safety knowledge and research.
Design considerations
›  Allocation of responsibility
›  Students are expected to make full use of the reference material listed in the bibliographies as well as further
independent research including the internet and/or good reference libraries. Students will also receive access
Building regulations
›  The role of the
› 
to the FPA’s online library, providing exclusive access to a huge range of FPA publications and guidance
Fire Executive documents. Please note that British Standards are not included in our library and it is the responsibility of the
Fire testing
› 
student to find their own means to access these.
Appointed fire
› 
Building services
› 
safety personnel Marks will not be awarded for extensive quotations which have been extracted from existing documents.
Behaviour of elements of
Procedures Assessors are looking for an understanding of the subject in question. Students will receive feedback for
structure and materials under
each unit and will be asked to resubmit answers that do not meet the minimum requirements.
fire conditions Action in the event of fire
› 
Progression to the examination stage will not be allowed until all units have met the requirements of the
Control of fire and
›  Instruction and training
› 
assessor and been successfully passed.
smoke spread
Risk management
› 
Please note: each question must achieve a pass (60%), even if total marks from other questions would
Means of access
› 
The aftermath of fire
›  indicate an overall pass.
for firefighting
Communications
› 
Fire venting
› 
Action and reaction
› 
of people | M
 ARKS
Education and fire
› 
When developing responses to unit questions, students should observe the following guidelines.
safety information
86%+ 71%-85% 60%-70%
Publicity and public relations
› 
Use of extensive research
›  Broad ranging supporting
›  Answer all parts of
› 
Management of fire safety
› 
findings which are research has been each question
The need for
›  concisely written to carried out
Demonstrate sufficient
› 
continuous audit broaden responses
Ability to apply research
›  research has been carried
Relationship with outside
›  Answers developed to
›  findings to a given scenario out to gain a reasonable
organisations formulate a well-rounded understanding of the
Where not specifically
› 
response which fluently immediate topic
Behaviour of people
›  required, background
covers immediate and
information on relevant Answers have been created
› 
Storage
›  related topics
legislation/regulation/ using own words
Manufacturing services
›  Demonstrate an excellent
›  standards has been included
Presentation guidelines
› 
Contractors ability to analyse and provide
›  Additional relevant material
›  have been followed
logical conclusions
Maintenance of buildings
›  which extends answers
beyond the immediate
associated topics has
been included
Some evidence of personal
› 
reflection and analysis
of findings
C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK
STAGE 3:
DIPLOMA EXAM
3 - H O U R W R I T T E N E X A M I N AT I O N
The end-of-course exam is held at regular intervals throughout the year at our Moreton-in-Marsh training
venue. The 3-hour closed book examination is preceded by a short tutor-led preparation session.
| E X A M F O R M AT
Exam questions are a mixture
of multiple choice and open
questions and will cover
topics from within the study
units and the 5-day fire risk
assessment course.
The exam is designed to
confirm breadth of knowledge
and understanding and will
not expect the level of detail
required for the study units,
nor will students be required to
complete complex calculations.
Revision should focus on the
notes collated during stage 1
and responses from stage 2.
8 9
C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK
MANAGEMENT CYCLE
Upon successful completion of the Technical Cycle, students will be eligible to enrol on the Management
Cycle. The course will enable experienced fire safety professionals to build on previous knowledge in order
to recommend and implement fire safety strategies across large or multi-site premises.
COURSE STRUCTURE
| M
 U LT I P L E C H O I C E | O
 PEN QUESTION
QUESTION EXAMPLES This course is split into 3 stages which must be completed in the following order:
EXAMPLES Name the 3 mechanisms
Most of the heat from a ‘typical’ relating to the spread of heat
fire involving solid fuel is
produced by:
by fire and give a practical
example of a situation in which
each of these would occur.
4 5 6
a Radiation
Define diffusion and
b Conduction Face-to-face learning: Advanced Fire Safety Strategy Face-to-face learning: Advanced
premixed flames.
c Convection Fire Safety Management week 1. preparation work. Fire Safety Management week 2.
Compare and contrast fire-
d Surface spread of flame related aspects of building
design, materials and methods
If a church hall has two of construction that you may
exit doors, at what angle | L
 EARNING
consider if asked to plan:
must they be at or greater OUTCOMES
than to be considered true a a school
› Knowledge of broader
‘alternative exits’? b a high-bay warehouse management issues flowing
a 45° from fire protection issues.
b 90° › An understanding of
the principles of fire
c 180°
engineering design.
d 360°
› An improved awareness of
the testing and maintenance
of fire protection and
suppression equipment.
› A greater understanding
of how to manage risk in
complex premises.
› Strategies to deal with risk
management and policy
development.
› Coping with emergencies
and change management
strategies.
| C
 E R T I F I C AT I O N
CFPA Europe Level 6
› 
Diploma in Fire Prevention
(Fire Safety Manager).
C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK

STAGE 4: STAGE 5:
ADVANCED FIRE FIRE SAFETY STRATEGY
SAFETY MANAGEMENT PREPARATION WORK
WEEK 1 During the time between week 1 and week 2 of
this course you will prepare an organisational fire
The first week of the Management Cycle will
safety strategy based on the inputs and policy
draw on your experience as a fire risk assessor to
work from week1, and with further input during
re- cap on fire safety law and the role of different
week 2. You should allow 15-20 hours’ preparation
types of assessment, including reviewing the
time. Tutorial sessions to review and continue
process to implement preventive and protection
this work will be scheduled during week 2 of
measures. A thorough look at management
the course.
systems will introduce considerations for risk
tolerance, building work, procurement and Access to a resource library such as the British
contract management, and negotiating with Standards Institution (BSI) will be required to
the regulator. Individual quizzes and syndicate complete the course (this is not provided by the
exercises will be used throughout the week. Fire Protection Association). Examples include:
Fire safety management – landscape
›  PAS 911 – Fire Strategies – guidance and
› 
framework for their formulation
Preventive and protective
› 
BS 9997 – Fire Risk Management
› 
Fire safety management – authorities
› 
Systems – Specification
New buildings – changes and policy
› 
BS 9999 – Code of practice for fire safety in
› 
decision making
the design, management and use of buildings
Policy and procurement
› 
BS 9991 – Fire safety in the design,
› 
management and use of residential buildings
| AS S E S S M E N T › Approved Document B – Building Regulation
in England covering fire safety matters within
The week will conclude with a written open-
and around buildings
book assessment that you will have 3 hours
to complete. The assessment consists of 5
questions based on the material learned in the
week. Each question is worth a maximum of 20
marks and you will require 75 marks to pass.

10 11
C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK

C FPA EUROPE DIPLOM A IN FIRE PREVENT ION | THEF PA .CO.UK

STAGE 6: PRICES
ADVANCED FIRE
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
WEEK 2
We provide options for students at all stages in their fire prevention careers. If you would like to talk to one of
Continuing the fire safety strategy and policy work introduced in week 1, this week will focus on planning
our friendly staff members about this programme or any of our other courses, please call us on 01608 812 500.
for emergencies, and communication with and training of staff. It will look at the pros and cons of fire-
engineered solutions and the lifecycle of the building. Finally, it will address change management, › Technical Cycle only: £3,135 + VAT. FPA members receive a 10% discount.
relationships, and monitoring performance.
› Technical Cycle only with Stage 1 exemption (upon application approval): £1,600 + VAT. FPA members
receive a 10% discount.
| COURSE CONTENT | L
 EARNING › Management Cycle only: £2,640 + VAT. FPA members receive a 10% discount.
OUTCOMES › Technical and Management Cycle: £5,500 + VAT. FPA members receive a 10% discount.
Liaison with authorities and
› 
inspection bodies Produce and present a fire
› 
safety policy in line with the H O W T O A P P LY
Coping with emergencies
› 
company’s strategic goals. You can download an application form from the Training section of our website: thefpa.co.uk.
Change management
›  Once completed, please email it to: training@thefpa.co.uk.
Advise executive
› 
Management and training
›  management about the
of employees and others in measures, requirements,
fire safety purchase and maintenance
Policy work and
›  of fire protection, prevention
tutorial sessions and suppression systems

Final project completion

› 
and presentation
and equipment.
Generate the plan for the
› 
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
control of fire risks in
| AS S E S S M E N T the company.

Throughout this final week, Liaise with authorities and

›  LEARNING RESOURCES
your strategy work will be inspection bodies in the
field of fire safety and fire Students are provided with online access to the Fire Protection Association’s library of resources via our
developed with input from website. All publications within this library are produced by the FPA including manuals, handbooks, and
tutorial sessions. The week protection and prevention.
guidance materials written by experts on various topics of fire prevention.
will conclude with a short Generate information
› 
presentation of your work so to employees and Copies of British Standards and other documents will be available at Moreton-in-Marsh during the two weeks
far to your peers and assessors. other relevant persons of face-to-face learning.
You will then have 4 weeks to regarding fire safety in
submit your final piece of work. CURRICULUM SUPPORT
the organisation.
Upon enrolment you will be allocated a tutor for the duration of the course. If you have any queries regarding
Manage and direct personnel
› 
technical aspects of the course, your tutor will be pleased to discuss these or refer you to a specialist unit
responsible for fire safety
marker where appropriate. Each unit paper is marked by a specialist marker who will provide written feedback
including fire wardens and
on your submission. Papers will be marked and returned to you within 28 days.
fire intervention teams.
Design a maintenance
› 
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E S U P P O R T A N D E N Q U I R I E S
regime for all fire prevention, Our Training Team is available to support you with any initial queries regarding the course processes
suppression, alarm and procedures.
and detection systems
within the company to
ensure compliance.

12 13
“I WOULD HONESTLY RECOMMEND
THIS DIPLOMA TO ANYBODY WHO
WANTS TO GAIN FURTHER KNOWLEDGE
IN ALL PARTS OF FIRE-RELATED
SUBJECTS OR IS LOOKING FOR THE
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AS
PART OF THEIR FIRE COMPETENCY.”

K O'MALLEY
SUSSEX ESTATES AND FACILITIES

FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

London Road
Moreton-in-Marsh
Gloucestershire
GL56 0RH
+44 (0) 1608 812 530
training@thefpa.co.uk
thefpa.co.uk
CFPA Europe Diploma in Fire Prevention Information Guide | V2 August 2022