Fire protection engineers work in offices, and on building sites in all weather conditions. They may work at heights or in confined spaces when inspecting a building.

Fire protection engineers travel to building sites to inspect buildings, or to meet with architects or builders. Fire protection engineers working in the NZ Fire Service sometimes need to travel to building sites that have been fire damaged, in order to carry out post-fire analysis.

They may also travel to seminars, workshops or conferences within New Zealand and overseas.

Equipment fire protection engineers use includes:

• computers and specialised computer programs
• tape measures and scale rulers
• calculators
• sketch pads
• torches
• cameras
• electronic thermometers
• smoke testing equipment
• a gas analyser to measure gas concentrations
• sound equipment to test if fire alarms will be loud enough to wake people
• pressure gauges to test pressurisation systems
• reference texts.

Fire protection engineers usually work regular hours, but may be required to work long or flexible hours to meet deadlines.

Fire protection engineers work independently and as part of a team. They have contact with a wide range of people including:

• other fire protection engineers and engineering professionals
• architects, consultants and developers
• building owners, inspectors and builders
• council officers
• manufacturers of building materials and products
• the NZ Fire Service
• fire protection companies
• chemical and electrical engineers working in the petrochemical industry
• factory production and maintenance managers
• project managers
• territorial authorities.