Zzeus has become the first in England to offer the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Providing Electronic Fire and Security Systems.

This qualification acts as a crucial stepping stone toward ensuring that building duty holders are using competent fire alarm operatives. A requirement highlighted in new legislation, the Building Safety Act October 2023.

The first four Fire Alarm Engineers to complete the qualification at ZZEUS: Shaun Wright, Daren Pool, Gary Flockton, and John Watts were honoured with their certificates by Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety post-Grenfell, and a board member of EAL.

Hackitt commended ZZEUS Training as “Pioneers in fire system training”, as she joined Al Parkes, EAL’s Managing Director, in celebrating this achievement in London.

Headquartered in Lincoln, ZZEUS has remained at the forefront of the fire industry and has become the industry favourite for hands-on fire alarm training. The company has now opened bookings for the NVQ, which is available to all experienced workers who previously did not have a meaningful, practical qualification such as an apprenticeship, to demonstrate their competence.

The NVQ covers the electronic fire systems' design, installation, testing, commissioning, maintenance, and auditing. Each learner is required to attain eight units, which comprises seven mandatory units and at least one of the optional units. Units are assessed and endorsed against the learner's chosen discipline.

Learners will also be required to create a Portfolio of Evidence on the ZZEUS Training portal to prove their competence in the workplace, followed by a site audit.

Dr Tom Brookes, Managing Director of ZZEUS Training and Chairman of the Fire & Security Association (FSA), commented:

“Because of my passion for improving the fire alarm sector competency, I am delighted that four learners from ZZEUS have broken new ground in achieving the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Providing Electronic Fire and Security Systems. This qualification will enable experienced workers to obtain their ECS FESS Fire Alarm Technician Gold Card, allowing them to operate on systems independently. Additionally, it’s a recognised pathway to the Institution of Engineering and Technology membership and, ultimately, EngTech, which would elevate fire alarm engineers to professional engineering status.”

Brookes continued “To guarantee maximum benefit to the learner, we make sure that all ZZEUS qualifications also meet the requirements of the new BAFE SP203-1 scheme lead person rolls. The pride I took when Dame Judith said that ZZEUS Training pioneered fire system training will stay with me forever as a testimonial to us striving to do the right thing.”

Enrolment for the NVQ is now open on the ZZEUS website.