Industry Group Updates to the FESS Operative Assessments

21 April 22

Following recent updates made to the Fire, Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) Operative Assessments by an industry working group, pass rates for FESS assessments have seen marked improvements.
 
Background
 
An occupational qualification structure was developed by a sector working group in the Fire, Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) industry in 2018. This structure was developed to align with the future skills requirements of the FESS sector and the apprenticeship standard in England, and to address the fragmented skills within the current workforce. 
 
These changes were also brought in by a desire to professionalise the sector and meet the Construction Leadership Council’s move to ensure all CSCS Partner Schemes, such as ECS, are issued against a recognised qualification standard. 
 
There are four sector disciplines recognised under FESS which mirror the FESS apprenticeship pathways. These are: 
 

  • Fire
  • Fire and Emergency Lighting 
  • Security
  • Fire and Security 
For those who have been working in the industry for a number of years without formal qualifications, it was agreed an assessment would be developed for a FESS Systems Operative to meet these sector requirements. 
 
The ECS FESS Operative assessments launched in July 2021 and questions are aimed at a Level 2, covering aspects of installation, maintenance, and planning across each of the above pathways. 
 
All of these Assessments are available by Remote Invigilation through the ECS Employer Portal and MyECS system to give greater flexibility and save time and cost. 
 
Concerned by a potential lack of clarity in the wording of some questions and lower than expected pass rates, the JIB contacted Industry representatives in 2021 to review the question banks and ensure the questions were correct, properly constructed, and clear for users. 
 
The Industry Group reviewed the question banks and delegate guides. The following was agreed unanimously: 
 
  • The industry wants to raise the bar on standards, knowledge and training for the sector. 
    • This meant the question banks would continue to test knowledge on the pathways as a whole to include aspects of installation, maintenance and planning relevant to roles and likely experience.
  • To retain the FESS Operative Assessments as closed exams and not to make the question banks open access to the public to ensure necessary rigour 
  • To add more questions to the banks over time 
  • To update the delegate guide documents to better enable training providers and employers to undertake training prior to putting people through these assessments
  • More information and availability of training options would be promoted 
 
The Group agreed to meet periodically to add further questions to the question banks and give input as and when the British Standards are updated. 
 
These new question banks went live in March 2022 and pass marks have improved in all areas. Further promotion of the relevant training routes, for the Operative Assessment and qualification routes, will continue to ensure relevant preparation and routes are available. 
 
Barton Hoyle, Technical Training and Product Manager at Chubb Systems, explained: “Chubb Systems and the broader Chubb organisation recognise that investing in employee development creates opportunities for employees to feel excited about learning, growing, and forming greater connections to learn new skills.
 
“Chubb is committed to training employees to clearly defined professional standards of operation and welcomed the chance to assist in both clarifying the FESS question bank and aligning it to appropriate industrial standards. Chubb recognises the value of ECS cards as a mark of professionalism and competence across the wider industry.”
 
Tom Brookes, Chair of the Fire & Security Association (FSA), said: “Everyone who knows me recognises my drive to improve the quality of the fire system and security system engineers. I have worked alongside some top people in our industry to develop the ECS FESS card structure and we will continue to work together to raise the bar on skills, knowledge, and training in the sector. 
 
“The new improved ECS Card is a huge step in the right direction - gone are the days when employers could rely on employer endorsement alone. Now with the new FESS cards, you must prove you deserve one through training, knowledge and testing to the industry defined standard. The new cards and updated assessment are a game-changer in our industry.”
 
Thanks go to the Alert Systems, BSIA, Carrier, Chubb Systems, the FESS Employer Group, FIA, FSA, Protec Fire Detection, SELECT, SECOM, and SSAIB for providing feedback and ongoing review for the question banks and support for the scheme. 
 
To find out more about FESS Operative cards and the Assessment options, please click here
 
If your company would like to engage in future sessions to update the question banks, training providers who are offering support in this area for promotion, or you have other feedback, please let us know at feedback@ecscard.org.uk