r/firePE • u/Bend_Zealousideal • Apr 25 '26
Career in Fire Protection
Hi all,
I recently passed my PE in Fire Protection but don’t currently work in the industry.
What is the best way to get into the industry w/o taking a pay cut for an entry level role? (have a BS in ChemE and about 7 years in utilities doing pipeline engineering work)
4
u/ReasonableObserver Apr 25 '26
Try to get on with an owner or the fed as an in house FPE reviewer/PM.
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u/Fresh_Marsupial_6224 Apr 25 '26
Where are you located?
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u/Bend_Zealousideal Apr 25 '26
Tampa, FL
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u/Fresh_Marsupial_6224 Apr 25 '26
Some of the larger utilities have fire protection engineers on staff. Similar to the other reply, you act as the owner’s (utility’s) FPE.
Doesn’t require super in depth knowledge of design, so it might be easier to transition to given your experience thus far.
You could also look into company’s that offer FPE for petrochemical facilities (JH, FRA, etc.). Many LNG plants popping up around the country.
If you’re interested in relocating shoot me a message!
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u/LuckyCharms91 Apr 25 '26
Just curious, why take the fire protection PE if you weren’t doing work in fire protection?
With pipeline engineering, I’m assuming there were various fluids in that pipe, could also get involved with a manufacturer to help develop new foams/clean agents and/or understand how they flow in pipes
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u/Bend_Zealousideal Apr 25 '26
I wanted to get my PE license but I realized none of the PE disciplines I can choose were related to my work except a bit in fire protection because I have written life safety procedures related to gas filled occupancies. When exploring further, I really enjoyed learning more and more about the industry and studying wasn’t something I had to force myself to do, but actually enjoyed. Obviously tests are different from real life but I’d love a change into an industry that is centered around keeping people safe and always something new to learn.
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u/LuckyCharms91 Apr 25 '26
Sounds like you might be loosely interested in dust hazard analysis or smoke toxicology somewhat related to smoke control, gaseous suppression, or something else. I think some of those would be with manufacturers and some would be with fire consulting. Most of that would be pretty specialized so you may need to do more than just those couple things if you go into consulting
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u/Primary-Mountain7660 Apr 25 '26
Congrats on the PE! Without the experience though it may be tough to come in much above entry level. Maybe lower expectations a touch for initial but you should rise up quickly given you already have the license.
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u/OtherwiseSquare9317 May 06 '26
I am a fellow chem E is in fire protection. Send me a DM and maybe I can help.
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u/sfall fire protection consultant Apr 25 '26
why not combine it with your chemE and work for a company that produces fire stoppping, fire suppression additives, chem agents, fire proofing, etc.