Frequently asked questions

A registration class is a clearly defined category within the CPEng Register. Classes are introduced in areas of engineering that involve high public safety risks or strong regulatory oversight. They set clear competence expectations and provide greater assurance for regulators, clients, and the public.

Fire Engineering is a high-risk area of practice with direct implications for public safety. There is growing regulatory and industry pressure to improve oversight and competence assurance. This class will provide clearer, more consistent standards for both engineers and regulators.

Fire received strong support in recent consultation (63%), just behind Structural (65%). With a smaller, well-defined group of practitioners, Fire is an ideal pilot class to refine the process before scaling. The sector is considered ready, with established standards, a supportive profession, and known regulatory challenges.

Development of class documentation by a working group of fire experts, assessors, and regulators. Targeted consultation with the sector and key stakeholders. Updates to systems, forms, assessor training, and public information.

The Fire Class will act as another “slice of cheese” in the Swiss cheese model of risk management. No single safeguard is perfect, but when combined with other layers -such as internal team quality checks, peer review, BCA oversight - the Fire Class adds an extra layer of assurance that only competent, assessed professionals are carrying out high-risk fire engineering work.

There is no automatic change for current registrants. Transition arrangements will be published for engineers who wish to be recognised in the Fire Class once the class is established.

The Fire Class will serve as an exemplar for how registration classes can raise standards across high-risk areas of engineering. It supports the broader goals of occupational regulation reform by promoting safer outcomes, stronger public trust, and clearer expectations for professionals.

This will be the first registration class established under new Rule 43 of the 2025 CPEng Rules. The process ensures robust consultation, clear class criteria, and transparent compliance expectations. It sets a strong precedent for future classes in other priority areas, such as Structural.