Registered Fire Engineer Scheme

 

Background

At present, any person who intends to operate any premises that require a licence or similar document for operation has to obtain a certificate or letter issued by the Director of Fire Services (“Director”), certifying that the premises concerned have complied with all relevant fire safety requirements and will not expose persons therein to any undue risk of fire, before he/she can be issued a licence or a similar instrument by the regulatory authorities. To facilitate business operation and to leverage professional engineers and qualified persons in the market, the Fire Services Department (“FSD”) will roll out the Registered Fire Engineer (“RFE”) Scheme (“the Scheme”) on 1 November 2025. Under the Scheme, RFEs will be allowed to provide fire safety risk assessment and certification services for applicants for licences of scheduled premises under the Fire Services (Registered Fire Engineers) Regulation (“scheduled premises”).

Additional Option for the Market

Upon implementation of the Scheme, FSD will continue to deliver its existing fire safety risk assessment and certification services. Licence applicants may, based on their preference, choose to engage the services of RFEs or FSD at different stages of the licensing process to complete the fire safety risk assessment and certification procedures.

Applicable Premises

FSD will roll out the Scheme in phases to enable RFEs to accumulate experience and professional knowledge to lay a solid foundation for the handling of licence applications for licensed premises involving higher and more diverse potential fire safety risks in the future. In the first phase, the Scheme will be implemented in the licence application process of the following food businesses:

• General restaurant
• Light refreshment restaurant
• Factory canteen
• Composite food shop
• Food factory (including bakery)

Registration Classes and Duties

RFEs will be categorised into three classes:

Classes	Duties
RFE (Risk Assessment)[RA]	Conduct inspections of, and carry out fire safety risk assessments for, the scheduled premises for the specified application to which the premises relate; Recommend to the person who has appointed the RFE, from a fire safety point of view, of the suitability of the scheduled premises to be used for the person’s intended purpose; Issue for the scheduled premises any requirement relating to fire safety.
RFE (Fire Service Installation)[FSI]	Conduct inspections of the scheduled premises to verify the premises’ compliance with the fire safety requirements (other than those relating to the ventilating system); Conduct testing of the fire service installation or equipment installed in the scheduled premises (other than those relating to the ventilating system) to verify the premises’ compliance with the fire safety requirements (other than those relating to the ventilating system); Issue fire safety (fire service installation) certificates for the scheduled premises.
RFE (Ventilating System)[VS]	Conduct inspections of the scheduled premises to verify the premises’ compliance with the fire safety requirements relating to the ventilating system of the premises; Conduct testing of the ventilating system installed in the scheduled premises to verify the premises’ compliance with the fire safety requirements relating to the ventilating system of the premises; Issue fire safety (ventilating system) certificates for the scheduled premises.

Regulatory Mechanism

One of the key considerations in introducing the Scheme is that it must not compromise fire safety and public safety.  Therefore, FSD will put in place a rigorous regulatory regime, which includes:

(1) Rigorous qualification and experience requirements
A rigorous set of qualification and experience requirements will be put in place under the Scheme to ensure that only those who fully qualify may apply for registration as RFEs.

(2) Endorsement of fire safety requirements and audit checks for fire safety certificates
To ensure consistency in fire safety standards and compliance with FSD’s requirements, all the fire safety requirements formulated by RFE(RA)s will be endorsed by FSD.  In addition, FSD will adopt a risk-based approach and select at least 70% of the fire safety certificates issued by RFE(FSI)s and RFE(VS)s for conducting audit check to ensure the quality of certification work of RFEs.

(3) Code of practice
FSD will issue a Code of Practice which covers matters concerning the professional conduct, administration and registration of RFEs to guide their performance of duties, and will require strict compliance.

(4) Disciplinary Matters
FSD will establish a stringent disciplinary mechanism.  If FSD discovers that an RFE has committed a criminal offence under the Fire Services (Registered Fire Engineers) Regulation, the department will institute prosecution against the person concerned.  Where an RFE is suspected of committing a disciplinary offence, the case will be referred to the disciplinary board for follow-up action by FSD.  If the disciplinary board decides that the RFE has committed the disciplinary offence, it may reprimand the RFE; and/or order that the name of the RFE be temporarily or permanently removed from the register.

(5) Conflict of Interest
To prevent misconduct and conflicts of interest, FSD will clearly set out in the Code of Practice the requirements governing conflicts of interest for RFEs undertaking relevant work.  Where an RFE encounters an actual or potential conflict of interest, he/she should either refrain from undertaking the relevant project or declare the matter to FSD as appropriate, and the fire safety certificates issued by the RFE will all be selected for audit check.  Furthermore, if an RFE makes a false declaration regarding a conflict of interest, FSD will handle the matter in accordance with the established mechanism.

Registration Requirements

Regarding registration, FSD imposes strict requirements for applicants' qualifications and relevant working experience, and has also set requirements on the completion of specified courses. The course content encompasses professional knowledge relevant to the duties of RFEs and applicants must pass an assessment to complete the course. In addition, all applicants must pass a professional interview to ensure that they are fully capable of discharging the duties of RFEs. The registration requirements are as follows:

Registration Requirements	Classes
	RFE(RA)	RFE(FSI)	RFE(VS)
(a) Registered Professional Engineer (RPEs) under the Engineers Registration Ordinance (Cap.409) of a related discipline; and at least 1 year of relevant working experience▲	RPEs in the following discipline(s): ■ Fire	RPEs in the following discipline(s): ■ Fire ■ Building services ■ Mechanical ■ Electrical	RPEs in the following discipline(s): ■ Fire ■ Building services ■ Mechanical
(b) holds a bachelor degree in any of the related disciplines; and at least 6 years of relevant working experience▲	Bachelor’s degree in the following disciplines: ■ Fire engineering □ Building services engineering □ Mechanical engineering □ Civil engineering □ Structural engineering □ Building surveying	Bachelor’s degree in the following disciplines: ■ Fire engineering □ Building services engineering □ Mechanical engineering □ Civil engineering □ Structural engineering □ Electrical engineering □ Building surveying	Bachelor’s degree in the following disciplines: ■ Fire engineering □ Building services engineering □ Mechanical engineering □ Civil engineering □ Structural engineering □ Building surveying
(c) holds any academic qualification recognised by the Director as equivalent to, or higher than, any of the qualifications mentioned in paragraph (b)(i); and at least 6 years of relevant working experience▲
(d) attains, as recognised by the Director, a level of competence that is equivalent to, or higher than, that represented by any of the qualifications mentioned in paragraph (b)(i); and at least 15 years of relevant working experience▲

Remarks：

■ Applicants can apply directly and a professional interview will be conducted by an interview board.

□ Applicants should have completed specified courses before submitting their applications, a professional interview will be conducted by an interview board.

▲ Working experience should be relevant to fire safety risk assessment or installation, maintenance, inspection, or repair of fire service installations or equipment; or ventilating systems.

Professional Development Course

To facilitate the implementation of the Scheme, FSD will organise professional development courses covering fire engineering as well as knowledge relating to the inspection and testing of fire protection system and ventilating system. The courses will cover the following four subject areas:

• Fire Science
• Fire Protection System
• Human Behavior in case of Fire
• Fire Safety Legislation and Statutory Control in Hong Kong

Course arrangement

Date	2025		2026
	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
Thursday	Fire Science				Human Behavior in case of Fire
Monday	Fire Protection System				Fire Safety Legislation and Statutory Control in Hong Kong

• Class Arrangement：10 lessons per subject area
• Class Schedule：6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Class Venue：Lecture Hall, Kowloon Tong Fire Station
• Course Fee：$24,400 or $22,570 (partial exemption of the subject area of “Fire Safety Legislation and Statutory Control in Hong Kong”)
• Certification Assessmen：Applicants must achieve an attendance rate of 80% and pass the assessment to be awarded a certificate
•  

Enrolment Procedures

• Applicants who are interested in enrolling in the course should complete the following application form and email it to rfes@hkfsd.gov.hk.
• Applicants must ensure that the information provided is complete and accurate, failing which may affect the processing of their applications.
• Applicants are required to pass an interview to confirm that they possess a certain level of knowledge in fire engineering.
• Upon admission, applicants will be issued a payment notice by email.  They must settle the payment by the specified deadline in accordance with the instructions, and FSD will acknowledge by email upon receipt of the fees. 
• If applicants fail to settle the payment within the specified period, their applications will be cancelled after the specified deadline.
• All fees paid are not refundable.
• Deadline of application: 24 October 2025 (on a first-come, first-served basis).

Professional Development Course application link (Chinese Version Only)

Important Notes

• Completion of the course does not imply fulfilment of the registration requirements
  Successful completion of the course and award of the certificate do not imply that the applicants have fulfilled all the registration requirements (applicants must also submit application forms, proof of academic qualifications, employment proof, etc. for registration purposes, and pass a professional interview to complete the registration process).
• Adjustments of course arrangements
  Course contents and class schedule may be subject to adjustment with regard to actual circumstances, and FSD reserves the right of final decision.

Contact us

For any enquiries regarding the “Registered Fire Engineer Scheme” or the professional development courses organised by FSD, please feel free to contact us by email at rfes@hkfsd.gov.hk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1:	Why is the Registered Fire Engineer (“RFE”) Scheme (the “Scheme”) implemented in phases?
Answer:	The phased implementation of the Scheme aims to enable RFEs to accumulate experience and professional knowledge, laying a solid foundation for the handling of licence applications for licensed premises involving higher and more diverse potential fire safety risks in the future.
Question 2:	Why is the Scheme applied to food business premises in the first phase?
Answer:	Taking into account the fact that the potential fire safety risks of food businesses are generally lower than those of other licensed premises, such as cinemas, residential care homes for persons with disabilities and hotels, and that licence applications involving food business premises account for a larger proportion of the applications, FSD will implement the Scheme in the licence application process of food business premises in the first phase.
Question 3:	Can an RFE be qualified in all three registration classes at the same time?
Answer:	Yes, an applicant can be registered as an RFE in all three classes at the same time provided that he/she fulfils the qualification and experience requirements for each class and passes the professional interview.
Question 4:	If an RFE is qualified in all three registration classes, can he/she be responsible for handling the same project in different capacities?
Answer:	Yes, but the RFE concerned must comply with the requirements regarding handling of conflict of interest.  In addition, FSD must conduct audit check on the fire safety certificates issued by the RFE concerned for the same project, and will take appropriate follow-up action if any non-compliance with fire safety requirements is identified.
Question 5:	Why must the fire safety requirements formulated by RFE(RA)s be submitted to FSD for approval?
Answer:	To ensure the application of consistent fire safety standards and compliance with FSD’s requirements, FSD requires that fire safety requirements formulated by RFEs be endorsed by FSD before the requirements are issued to applicants to arrange installation work carried out by Registered Fire Service Installation Contractors and/or Registered Specialist Contractor (Ventilation Works Category).
Question 6:	What are the penalties if an RFE violates the provisions of the code of practice?
Answer:	If an RFE is suspected of violating the code of practice, FSD will refer the case to the disciplinary board for follow-up action.  If the disciplinary board decides that the RFE concerned has committed disciplinary offences, the board may reprimand the RFE; and/or order that the name of the RFE be temporarily or permanently removed from the register.
Question 7:	Are there any specified courses or other courses recognised as equivalent by the Director available on the market for individuals interested in applying for registration to enrol?
Answer:	Currently, there are no courses on the market recognised as equivalent by the Director.  To provide facilitation for individuals interested in applying for registration, FSD will provide a Professional Development Course, which will serve as the specified course under the Fire Services (Registered Fire Engineers) Regulation.  Applicants can fulfil the registration requirements by completing the Professional Development Course and passing the relevant assessments.