So what exactly sets us apart?

• An unparalleled, open and comprehensive online knowledge base that has been providing the tools you need for ten years;
• An expanded industry leading training programme;
• Freely accessible, updated Test and Inspection FORMS;
• Advocacy and mentoring;
• Proactive oversight of Network Certified Technologists and Specialists;
• Active industry participation ensures you’re up-to-date with the latest News & Bulletins;
• Professional Practice Guidelines;
• Code of Ethics and Conduct

Programme High-lights

FTN

CFAA

ASTTBC

Training:

Does the association develop the training curriculum?

Yes

Yes ¹

No

Does the association deliver the training (either in-house, on-line, or through association employed training facilitators)?

Yes

No

No

Does the association maintain an online component of their training curriculum?

Yes

No ²

No

Does the association provide the means to evaluate technician competence through hands-on practical testing?

Yes

Yes ²

No

Does the association offer training in passive building systems (fire doors, dampers, fire stopping, etc.)?

Yes

No

No

Does the association offer training for CAN/ULC-S1001 (Standard for Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems)?

Yes

No

No

Does the association provide training in fire alarm INSTALLATION and DESIGN?

Yes

No

No

Professional Development:

Does the association develop the certification criteria?

Yes

Yes

Yes ⁶

Are technicians required to achieve a minimum number of professional development hours?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Does the association require technicians to undergo formal Practice Reviews?

Yes

No ³

No ³

Does the association monitor their technician’s activities?

Yes

No ³

No ³

Are the professional development hours required for annual requalification?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Professional Practice:

Are technicians required to log their daily activities?

Yes

No

No

Are technicians provided with a resource to obtain answers to technical questions that may arise during an inspection or test?

Yes

No

No

Are technicians provided with report forms formatted to the requirements of their jurisdiction?

Yes

No

No

Does the association maintain a Professional Practice Guideline?

Yes

No

Yes ⁴

Community Engagement:

Does the association actively participate in Canadian Standards Development?

Yes

Yes

No

Does the association offer free information seminars to AHJ’s & Building Officials?

Yes

No

No

Does the association provide the means for an AHJ to monitor the status of the life safety systems and equipment in a local project from a desktop computer?

Yes

No

No

Does the association provide comprehensive resources and information to AHJs, Building Officials, building owners, property managers, and other stakeholders?

Yes

No ⁵

No

The Fire Technicians Network Certification Programme checks ALL the right boxes!

Notes:

¹ CFAA produces a fire alarm annual testing training course, but relies on other training providers to deliver it.
² CFAA offers their fire alarm annual testing training curriculum as a correspondence course.  They’ve made arrangements to provide the practical testing in several major Canadian centres.
³ Both ASTTBC and the CFAA will review a technician’s practice as part of an investigation resulting from a formal complaint filed against the technician.  ASTTBC has been known to conduct random Practice Reviews, but current staff members involved with the program are NOT from the industry.
⁴ ASTTBC released their new Standard of Practice (SoP) in December of 2018.
⁵ CFAA’s website contains some useful information and their quarterly Newsletter has a significant following.
⁶ ASTTBC has a Certification Board that “approves” training and certification criteria that’s developed by others.