Fire Protection Engineering Technology Program

Online Courses

NWTC currently offers online courses in Fire Alarm System Design, and Automatic Sprinkler System Design.

The Fire Alarm Systems Design course is an on-line offering, intended for those currently working in the fire alarms field who want further training, especially for NICET re certification. The course would also benefit those seeking initial NICET certification.

Fire Alarm Systems Design is a 2 credit course offered several times each year. The course covers an 18 week period, and typically will require about 2 - 4 hours per week of the student's time. It is self paced, which allows the student to work ahead, and allows slowing down when necessary. The course is divided into 10 topic areas (called Learning Plans). There will be 16 students in the course, and there will be opportunities to share thoughts and questions with these other professionals. There are no team projects, since it is difficult to set common times when all team members are available.

The course will cover the primary aspects of fire alarm systems, including common types of detectors, spacing and placement of detectors, notification appliances, protected premises systems, central station systems, and testing and maintenance. It will involve reading assignments, review of notes provided by the instructor, answering discussion questions, completing design problems, and short quizzes on each topic area. All of this is done on-line, and the course is available 24/7. The instructor is available by e-mail to assist when necessary.

This course has been reviewed by NICET and will count as 30 CPD points toward NICET re certification. Once a person is NICET certified in Fire Alarms the certification must be renewed every 3 years. Per NICET policy #30, renewal requires accumulation of 90 CPD points, of which up to 72 can come from three years of active work in the fire alarms field. This course will provide the remainder of the points required. Please contact NICET directly (www.NICET.org) for any questions regarding certification.

More information on Fire Alarm Systems Design can be found at http://online.nwtc.edu/fasd.htm.