Fire Safety Practice (P.Grad.Dip.) at Trinity College Dublin

This one-year postgraduate course is designed to enable engineers, architects, fire prevention officers and other suitably qualified professionals working in the construction industry acquire a sound knowledge and understanding of fire in buildings, the safety requirements in the design of buildings and the various options available for minimising the risk of fire in buildings. The course also includes the design of fire safety systems and guidance in the preparation of an application for a fire safety certificate. This course has been approved by Engineers Ireland as meeting its requirements for continuing professional development.

Course Organisation:

Lectures are normally held on Friday evening 7 - 10 p.m. and Saturday morning 9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. each week throughout the two semesters (September to April). Coursework, which is an integral part of the course, consists of two assignments that are carried out in the students’ own time.

Course Content:

1. Fundamentals of Fire Science and Fire Engineering
2. Fire Safety Engineering
3. Fire Protection Systems
4. Legal Principles; Fire, Safety and Health Legislation, Insurances
5. The Building Control Act, 1990 and Building Regulations (TGD B)
6. The Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003
7. Coursework Assignments

Assessment:

The award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Fire Safety Practice is based on a combination of the results of two examination papers and two coursework assignments. Each paper and the coursework constitute one third of the overall assessment. Students must pass each paper and the coursework. There is no system of compensation. The pass mark for the examinations and the coursework is 40%. A Distinction is awarded to those who obtain an overall average mark of 70% or more in both the coursework and two papers combined at the summer examination. The Diploma awarding ceremony takes place in November.