Level 3 Certificate in Fire Science, Operations, Fire

Safety and Management (All Examinations)

Examiner Report on October 2016 Examinations

Introduction

As in previous examination sessions, candidates generally performed least well on the Fire
Engineering Science examination.

Most candidates attained a higher proportion of the marks available for the multiple choice element
of the question papers than they did for the short answer element of the question papers.
Candidates should be aware that they need to demonstrate depth and breadth of understanding in
order to attain high marks on the short answer element of the paper.

Fire Engineering Science (L3C1)

General

Candidates performed less well than on previous examinations with only 42% of the candidate who
attempted the examination achieving a Pass. Candidates usually performed slightly better on the
multiple choice element of the examination with most candidates achieving just over half of the
marks available; however, most candidates achieved fewer than half of the marks available for the
short response questions which had a negative impact on the final mark achieved.

It was notable that UK candidates generally performed less well than international candidates on
this examination.

Multiple Choice

Although most candidates achieved at least half of the marks available on the multiple choice
section of the examination, few candidates attained high marks.

Many candidates performed well on questions involving mathematical calculations. However, many
errors were made in calculating density and water power.

Many candidates were unable to identify that starvation as a method of fire extinction involves
limiting the fuel to the fire and many made errors in identifying the type of flame described as
turbulent diffusion flames.

Short Answer Questions

Moment of Force: This question was not answered well and many candidates failed to achieve any
of the marks available. Some candidates confused “moment of force” as required by the question
with force and provided the formula for calculating force. The formula required was:

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Moment = Force X Distance. Candidates should have explained that force is measured in newtons
(N) and that the distance is measured in either metres or centimetres.

Effect of heating gas: Most candidates were able to give an example in relation to firefighting and
to attain all of the marks available for this element of the question. However, many candidates were
unable to give a full scientific explanation of the process underway. Few candidates explained the
effect of heat on the movement of molecules.

Effect of friction on the pressure of water flowing through a hose: This question was often
answered well. However, some candidates failed to appreciate that the question was focussed on
the pressure of water flowing through a hose and the way that this can be affected by friction; as a
result, some irrelevant information was presented. Some candidates correctly identified issues such
as the diameter of the hose and the inside surface of the hose but failed to expand their points to
explain (as required by the question) how these factors affected flow.

Use of water as an extinguishing medium: This question was generally answered well with most
candidates able to provide appropriate examples and brief explanations for situations where water
would, or would not, be an appropriate extinguishing medium. Most candidates were able to
achieve four of the six marks available. Higher marks could have been gained for the inclusion of
more scientific detail in the explanations.

Electricity – definition of terms and calculation of power output: This question was generally
answered very poorly and few candidates attained more than two of the eight marks available. In
response to part a), candidates were generally unable to define terms such as “watt” and “current.”
Very few candidates were able to apply their understanding to carry out the straightforward
calculation of power output required by part b).

Fire Operations (L3C2)

General

Standards were good with 82% of candidates achieving a Pass.

Many candidates achieved high marks on the multiple choice element of the paper. However, the
average mark attained on the short written answer questions was generally below half of the marks
available. Candidates often attained a Pass due to their high level of performance on the multiple
choice element of the paper which compensated for a poorer level of performance on the short
written answer element of the paper.

Multiple Choice

Most candidates performed well on the multiple choice section of the examination with the majority
of candidates achieving around 75% of the marks available for this element of the examination.

As in previous examinations, the least well-answered questions were those requiring detailed
understanding of the operation of equipment such as pumps and foam generators.

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Short Answer

Many candidates provided only brief responses and few candidates achieved high marks on this
element of the examination. Candidates often failed to address the specific and full requirements of
the question; where answers were not fully focussed on the question, few, if any, marks were
attained.

Inner cordon: Most candidates achieved at least one of the four marks available for this question.
However, few candidates provided four relevant points and attained all four marks. Candidates
often omitted to identify that the incident commander has ultimate responsibility for the control of
the inner cordon area or that the area is likely to be taped off and to have an officer controlling
access to it.

Benefits of ventilation: Candidates often listed (rather than described) one or two points (rather
than describing “three” benefits as required by the question. Some candidates wrote at length
about different types of ventilation without focussing on benefits. Unfortunately, this information
was not relevant in the context of the question and therefore did not secure marks.

Examples of the types of points required included:

Actions to be taken when discovering that people may be inside a building on fire: Candidates
often identified only one or two points relevant to the context of people being inside the building.
Many wrote at length about tackling the situation but omitted to give due consideration to the
possible location and rescue of individuals inside the building. There were eight marks available for
this question but few candidates achieved more than four marks.

Reasons for poor flow in mains: Candidates often identified one or two correct reasons. However,
the points were not expanded to provide an explanation. As the question required an explanation,
candidates who omitted to expand their points sufficiently were unable to attain all of the marks
available. For example, candidates often identified “use by other users” but did not go on to
explain that this can vary depending on the time of day and that this will subsequently affect the
amount of water available to the fire service.

Operating extension ladders: This question was usually answered poorly. Most candidates failed to
consider overhead obstructions, training of operators, safety of others in the area and the need to
avoid damage so that equipment remains safe and fit for purpose.

Fire Safety (L3C3)

General

Candidates generally performed less well than in previous examinations. 52% of candidates
achieved a Pass. Candidates generally performed better on the multiple choice element of the
examination than on the short written answer element.

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Multiple Choice

Questions relating to fire safety practice were often answered particularly well. Questions related to
fixed installations were also answered well with candidates showing good understanding of
drenchers, dry risers and inert gas firefighting installations.

Many candidates made errors in responding to questions about fire doors, insulated glass products
and hollow-fired clay blocks. Few candidates were able to identify the operating principles of heat
detectors.

Short Answer

Behaviour of concrete columns in fire: Most candidates identified one or two factors that affect the
behaviour of a concrete column but few candidates were able to attain four marks for their
responses. Some candidates correctly identified the relevance of the thickness of the column and
some identified the effect of reinforcement with steel bars. Few candidates explained how cement
can contract when heated due to the removal of moisture, the importance of the aggregate used in
the mixture or the effect of firefighting water striking the column.

Fire-retardant treatments for timber: Most candidates successfully identified the two types of
treatment. However, few provided the description required by the question; the lack of description
meant that they limited the marks that they could attain to half of the marks available.

Principles of design of a sprinkler system: There were six marks available so candidates were
required to identify six design features. The question was generally answered well. Most candidates
identified at least two valid points and many candidates were able to attain most of the marks
available by demonstrating a good understanding of sprinkler systems.

Ventilation systems: This question was often answered poorly with few candidates identifying the
types of system as natural ventilation and powered ventilation. Some candidates described roof
vents and correctly linked this to the principle of natural buoyancy of hot smoke. Marks were
awarded for these descriptions.

Automatic Smoke Detectors: Few candidates achieved high marks for their response to this
question and there appeared to be a limited understanding of the principles of operation of the two
types of smoke detectors covered by the question. Although some candidates correctly described
the operation of beam smoke detectors, they often failed to provide a correct example of a situation
where these detectors might be appropriate as required by the question. Few candidates were able
to describe the operation of aspirating detectors and most candidates failed to achieve any marks at
all for this element of the question.

Factors affecting the time taken to escape from a building: Most candidates were able to identify at
least two or three relevant factors. However, few candidates identified six factors as required by the
question.

Some candidates failed to follow the instruction to “explain” the factor. This meant that responses
were not sufficiently expanded to attain marks. Candidates should be aware that the provision of
single word answers will not be adequate to explain an issue: eg providing only the word
“occupancy” did not provide enough information to demonstrate understanding of how this issue
could have an impact on escape time and therefore marks could not be awarded.

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In responding to the question, many candidates failed to consider factors such as the psychology of
behaviour (people may panic or react slowly as they do not believe there is a real fire) or the effect
of management input into evacuation planning and training.

Management and Administration (L3C4)

General

Standards were very high with 86% of candidates passing the examination.

The majority of candidates who achieved a Pass attained between 25 and 35 marks; few candidates
achieved over 40 marks. The main reason for this was that responses to the Short Answer section of
the paper often lacked depth; candidates often demonstrated some basic understanding but then
failed to apply this or to expand their responses as required by the question. In addition, candidates
often provided a great deal of irrelevant information and/or failed to answer the questions as set.

Most candidates performed better on the multiple choice section of the examination than on the
Short Answer section of the question paper and attained a higher proportion of the marks available
when responding to multiple choice questions.

Multiple Choice

The average mark achieved for this element of the examination was 15 (ie 75% of the marks
available for this element of the question).

Candidates appeared to have some understanding of all areas of the syllabus. However, a few
questions, where a more detailed understanding was required appeared to cause problems for many
candidates. Few candidates recognised the description of a business plan and many were unable to
recognise the description of matrix management. Other questions which caused problems for some
of the candidates related to types of management styles, local budgetary control and issues to be
considered when evaluating the benefits of technical training.

Short Answer

There were many poor responses to this element of the examination and few candidates achieved
very high marks.

Candidates often provided responses that were not an appropriate level and which did not
demonstrate the higher level of understanding of an organisation expected from managers. This
was particularly noticeable in respect of the question on health and safety management systems and
the question on the relationship between department and organisation objectives.

Health and safety management systems: This question required candidates to demonstrate
understanding of the “management systems” in place in an organisation to underpin health and
safety.

Many candidates failed to appreciate that the emphasis was on management systems. Examples of
the type of systems that could have been covered included ensuring that policies and procedures

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were in place, ensuring that resources were available to implement systems, ensuring that reviews
were carried out so that improvements could be made. Many candidates focussed on specific
issues such as the use of PPE and risk assessments without considering the wider management angle
in their responses.

Contribution of department level objectives to organisation objectives: Few candidates achieved

Requirements for an effective system of discipline: Most candidates were able to describe
discipline procedures but few articulated clearly what made the system effective. This meant that
many attained only a small proportion of the marks available. Examples of points that should have
been provided in the responses included: the policy should be published and made available to
everyone so that all staff are aware of what is required and how the system works; staff should have
confidence that the system will be applied consistently and fairly.

Actions where a team member is performing poorly: Most candidates identified the need to talk to
the individual and to determine the reason for poor performance. Some candidates identified
possible actions such as arranging training or counselling where this was required. However, few
candidates referenced the need to address the performance by setting targets and timescales for
improvement and/or taking follow-up action to review performance and to ensure that the agreed
targets/outcomes are being attained.

Record-Keeping: This question was generally answered well and most candidates attained their
highest mark for this section of the examination on this question. Most candidates were able to
successfully identify and explain the importance of at least two (but not always three) different
types of records.

Exercises: This question was often answered poorly and few candidates achieved full marks. Many
candidates did not appear to be aware that the three ways in which exercises could be carried out
are live exercises, table-top exercises and discussions. As a result of being unable to outline the
types of exercises, few candidates were able to give advantages for each of the different methods.

Many candidates wrote about exercises as though they were types of learning models and did not
relate their responses back to incidents. A few candidates wrote about management styles.

Date issued: December 2016