Please introduce yourself and tell us about your career to date.
I am Nazareth Arasan Thatheus from India, and I am currently working as a Senior Fire Engineer at AtkinsRéalis UK. I have nearly 9 years of experience in fire engineering with 5 years in the UAE and 4 years in the UK.
In the UAE, I was primarily involved in handover inspections across various types of buildings, working closely with the Civil Defence. In the UK, my experience spans across RIBA Stages 1 to 4, including the development of fire strategy reports and conducting site inspections for a wide range of projects.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in Fire Safety Engineering. I am a Member of the IFE (MIFireE), an Interim Registrant as a Chartered Engineer, and hold NFPA certifications, including Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and Certified Fire Inspector I (CFI-I).
My technical expertise includes working with British Standards (e.g., BS 9999, BS 9991, BS 9992), NFPA standards, and UAE Fire and Life Safety Codes, enabling me to adapt to varied fire safety regulations across regions.
Describe your role or position within your current workplace and describe what a typical working day looks like.
My day-to-day responsibilities include reviewing drawings for a wide range of building types such as offices, hospitals, schools, and train stations to ensure compliance with relevant fire safety guidance and standards. I am actively involved in the preparation of fire strategy reports and markups, attending design meetings, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to address fire safety requirements. Additionally, I play a key role in mentoring junior fire engineers, supporting their technical development and ensuring high-quality project delivery.
Are there any particular challenges or unusual aspects to your role?
One of the key challenges we often face is the stage at which fire engineering is brought into a project. In several instances, we have been engaged at the later stages of design, such as RIBA Stage 4, where the integration of fire strategy requirements can have significant implications on other disciplines due to already progressed design elements. However, as fire engineers, it is our responsibility to ensure that all fire safety requirements are clearly communicated and implemented, even if it means late-stage design modifications. Our objective remains to deliver a compliant design that meets statutory guidance and secures Building Control approval.
What do you find most enjoyable about your job?
I genuinely enjoy working in the field of fire engineering. It provides a strong sense of job satisfaction by allowing me to engage with professionals from diverse backgrounds across the world. The role constantly challenges me to stay updated with recent developments in the industry, adapt to evolving standards and guidance, and apply lessons learned from real-life fire incidents.
Is there a great professional achievement or high-profile accomplishment that you would like to tell us about in a previous role or your current one?
I would say one of my key achievements is my broad experience working on a wide range of building types in UAE and UK, both during the design stages and at the point of handover inspections. I have developed a strong understanding of fire safety principles through the practical application of both British Standards (BS) and American (NFPA) codes,
What inspired you to become an engineer or pointed you towards an engineering career?
From a young age, I have always been fascinated by machinery and their working principles, which inspired me to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering in India. After gaining valuable experience in the UAE as a Fire and Life Safety Inspection Engineer I worked extensively with both active and passive fire protection systems which further motivated me to deepen my expertise. This led me to undertake a Master’s degree in fire safety engineering in the UK.
What contributed to your decision to gain IFE membership / become professionally registered?
I have always been keen to upskill my career through relevant certifications. While working in the UAE, I obtained the Certified Fire Inspector I and Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) credentials from NFPA, which strengthened my technical expertise in fire safety. After moving to the UK, I quickly recognised the importance of demonstrating professional competence within the industry which led me to achieve IFE membership.
Additionally, I have been granted Interim Registration for Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the Engineering Council, confirming that my academic qualifications meet the required standards. I am now actively working towards achieving full Chartered Engineer status.
How have you benefitted from being a member/registrant with the IFE (career, personally)?
Achieving MIFireE has been highly valuable. It formally recognises my experience of over five years in the fire engineering field and has helped establish credibility with both project teams and clients.
Would you recommend joining the IFE to others? If so, why?
Yes, I would recommend joining because it offers valuable learning resources, such as the IFP journal, to stay up to date with global developments in fire engineering.
Is there any advice you would pass on to someone considering professional registration / IFE membership?
Yes, joining is highly beneficial. The IFE offers various membership levels to suit individuals no matter where they are in their career.