Fire safety has become a crucial element in all aspects of planning. Understanding, preventing and controlling fire and assessing its impact have become a priority for all planners. Understanding its causes, its impact on people and property, preventing it and managing a fire accident form the core of the training in fire engineering.

There are great job opportunities for fire engineers in both India and abroad. Traditionally, personnel trained in fire safety from India have gone to the Gulf countries. But more opportunities are opening up in other parts of the world.

A number of private institutions offer various kinds of courses in fire engineering. But ones of national repute or recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education are very few.

Cusat course :

Among them is the Cochin University of Science and Technology's (Cusat) four-year B.Tech. course in safety and fire engineering. The course was started in 1996, when no such course was available in the country. It was aimed at meeting the demand for safety and fire engineers in various industries.

The course lays emphasis on safety management, hazard and risk assessment techniques, disaster management and design and protection against fire in industries. It broadly covers national and international legislation dealing with safety, health, environment and fire.

The syllabus is upgraded continuously in consultation with industry. It includes industrial project work, seminars, industrial training and interaction sessions.

Palacements:

The students who complete the course find placement with chemical and petrochemical industries, petroleum refineries, engineering industries, off shore oil companies, research institutions and as safety and fire engineering consultants in India and abroad, says G. Madhu, professor of safety engineering at the University's School of Engineering. Almost all students manage to land jobs by the time they complete the course, he adds.

Admission:

Sudents are admitted through the university's common admission test subject to the usual eligibility norms. The yearly intake is 30, says Dr. Madhu, (Address: Faculty in charge of placement, School of Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi - 22; e-mail soecusat@cusat.ac.in, phone: 0484-2576167).

Courses outside:

Outside Kerala, the National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur, the country's premier training insitution for fire services personnel, has been offering a three and a half year long B.E. (Fire) course, affiliated to Nagpur University, since 1978.

A residential college, the NFSC functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The college conducts Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma courses, which are recognised by State and Central Governments as well as public sector undertakings and industry.

The diploma and advanced diplomas of NFSC is also recognised by the Union Public Service Commission for appointment to the middle management cadre. As far as the BE course is concerned, top industries and public sector units usually visit the NFSC for campus placement.

Engineering services :

The course is also recognised by UPSC for the Indian Engineering Service Examination. The successful candidates are also eligible to be appointed to the officers' cadres of the Fire Services of Central and State undertakings and to research and development organisations.

Eligibility for admission to the BE course is a B.Sc. degree or its equivalent with chemistry and either physics or mathematics or both as optional subjects. The candidates must have passed B.Sc. first year or its equivalent with chemistry, physics & mathematics.

Admissions are made through an all-India entrance examination, which is usually notified in all leading newspapers in March/April. A viva voce is also conducted. (Address: National Fire Service College, Palm Road, Civil Lines, Nagpur-440 001; Contact numbers: 2565074, 2560476, 2560179; website: http://nfscnagpur.nic.in/).

Marine fire fighting :

Marine fire fighting is one of the fields that have emerged prominently in this sector. Those looking to make a career in the maritime industry have to undergo basic training in fire safety and fire fighting. It has become mandatory for persons working in ships, offshore vessels or even in ships of anchorage and in fishing vessels to undergo a basic fire-fighting course.

This makes the courses offered by the Cochin Shipyard a great attraction to those who would liketo plunge into the maritime industry.

The course conducted by the Shipyard has several advantages. First, the Shipyard is the best equipped one in the country and the quality of the service offered by it is recognised worldwide.

The Director General of Shipping has approved the fire-fighting course by the shipyard and the modular courses include fire prevention and fire fighting and advanced fire fighting.

There is a three-day course in fire and safety meant for those who would like to be seafarers. A six-day diploma programme offers a more advanced course in fire and safety. The programmes have received good response.

Experienced faculty from the marine industry conducts the courses and the institution has modern facilities and equipment at the training centre. The shipyard has facilities for providing practical training to those interested in it.

More details on the course can be had from: General Manager (Training), Tel: 0484-2361181, 2351181- Extension 1522 Tel. Course In charge: 2293249; e-Mail: training@cochinshipyard.com

Courtesy : The Hindu