IFE Examinations - Recommended Reading List

Candidates should be aware that this reading list is advisory rather than definitive and they will need to consider the items it contains
selectively. Candidates should use the published syllabus for the examination as their guide in deciding what reading materials they need to
help them prepare for the examination. The IFE recommends that all candidates should read widely in order to extend the depth and breadth
of their knowledge and understanding.

The Institution does not recommend that candidates should buy every resource listed for each exam they take. In addition, it should not be
inferred that other resources are unsuitable because they are omitted from the reading list. Candidates are also advised to review past
examination papers and sample questions. Past papers, together with the associated examiner reports on the papers, can be downloaded,
free of charge, from the IFE website.

The IFE has applied the following criteria in determining which resources should be included on this recommended reading list:
• the resource provides information which will be of benefit to the candidate in their professional life, providing depth and breadth of
understanding;
• the resource contains some information that will be relevant to part of the specified examination unit;
• the resource is recognised by industry professionals as providing valuable information.

Those books with a yellow background can be supplied directly by the IFE. To order direct, please follow this hyperlink:
http://www.ife.org.uk/Online-Shop .

Those books with a green background can be ordered on your behalf by the IFE. Please contact Sarah Simpson for prices and delivery times
at [email protected]

Please note that the Fire Service Manuals for Operations have been replaced with National Operational Guidance (NOG). The NOG is
available online and can be downloaded free of charge. Please see https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance for further information. Published
guidance is referenced in the recommended reading list that follows.
Updated: August 2018

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Level 2 Certificate and Level 3 Certificate Examinations

Level 2 L3C L3C L3C L3C

Book Title Publisher Author
Certificate Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4

Elementary Fire Engineering Handbook (IFE 50)

Version issued 2017
IFE G Almond et al. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Formula Booklet: IFE Website
http://www.ife.org.uk/Preparing-for-Examinations (Free
download)
Richard Fowler ✓
Fire Dynamics for Firefighters Pavilion Ben Walker
✓
The Foundation for Incident Command: National
✓ ✓
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance
Online Operational
Guidance ✓ ✓
Programme
CFOA Protocol for the Reduction of False Alarms
and Unwanted Fire Signals:
http://www.cfoa.org.uk/10863#element0?highlight
CFOA ✓
=unwanted
Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Sleeping
Accommodation (Section 4 and Appendix D
Glossary of terms)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-
UK Gov ✓
safety-risk-assessment-sleeping-accommodation

Fire safety risk assessment: means of escape for

disabled people UK Gov ✓
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/
fire-safety-risk-assessment-means-of-escape-
Management and Administration:
for-disabled-people IFE Website Glenys
http://www.ife.org.uk/Preparing-for-Examinations (Free
download)
Southworth ✓
Edit/Replace

Rename/move
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Level 3 Diploma and Level 4 Certificate Examinations
Fire Engineering Science

Book Title Publisher Author L3 Dip L4 Cert

IFE in association with
Fire Engineering Science Self Study Guide (IFE 81) IFE
Stevenson College Edinburgh ✓ ✓
The Chemistry of Combustion. Bibliolife J. Newton Friend
✓ ✓
Fire Service Manual Volume 1: Fire Service Technology,
Equipment & Media: Physics and Chemistry for Firefighters
(IFE 33)
TSO HM Fire Service Inspectorate
✓ ✓
Fire Service Manuals Volume 1: Fire Service Technology,
Equipment and Media: Hydraulics, Pumps and Water Supplies.
(IFE 36)
TSO HM Fire Service Inspectorate
✓ ✓
Introduction to Fire Dynamics Wiley and Sons Drysdale
✓ ✓
Sax’s Handbook of Dangerous Substances. (Regularly updated:
recommend the use of reference copies rather than purchase)
N Sax &
R Lewis ✓ ✓
✓ ✓
Wolters
Croner’s Dangerous Substances. (Regularly updated: recommend
Kluwer
the use of reference copies rather than purchase)

Practical Hydraulics 2nd Edition Taylor & Francis Melvyn Kay

✓
Fundamentals of Physics Wiley & Sons Halliday et al
✓ ✓
✓ ✓
Formula Booklet - IFE Website
http://www.ife.org.uk/Preparing-for-Examinations (Free download) Richard Fowler

BS5908 Fire Precautions in Chemical Plants TSO

✓ ✓
Fire Dynamics for Firefighters Pavilion
✓
Ben Walker

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Power Correction Factors – Article in Wiring Matters Wiring Matters Institution of Engineering and

http://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/2006.cfm
Issue 18 Spring
2006
Technology ✓

Leadership & Management

Book Title Publisher Author L3 Dip L4 Cert

Handbook of Management and Leadership Thorogood John Adair

✓ ✓
A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice Kogan Page Michael Armstrong ✓ ✓
Management Theory and Practice Thomson Learning G A Cole and P Kelly ✓ ✓
“Leadership and Management”
http://www.ife.org.uk/Preparing-for-Examinations
IFE website
(Free download)
Glenys Southworth ✓ ✓

Aviation Fire Operations

Book Title Publisher Author L3 Dip L4 Cert

Heliport Manual Doc 9261 Part 1. 3rd Edition. ICAO

✓ ✓
Fire Service Manual Volume 2: Aircraft Incidents (IFE 41) TSO
✓ ✓
CAP 168
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?appid=11&mod
e=detail&id=6114
CAA
✓ ✓
CAP 699
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?appid=11&mod
e=detail&id=235
CAA
✓ ✓
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CAP 748

✓ ✓
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?appid=11&mod CAA
e=detail&id=1357

Fire and Rescue Service Operational Guidance: Generic Risk

Assessments – GRA 4.3 Gov.UK Chief Fire & Rescue Adviser ✓ ✓
Fire and Rescue Service Operational Guidance: Aircraft Incidents
Gov.UK Chief Fire & Rescue Adviser ✓ ✓
Airport Services Manual – Doc 9137 Part 1Rescue & Firefighting
International Civil
Aviation Authority ✓ ✓
Airport Services Manual - Doc 9137 Part 7 Airport Emergency
Planning
International Civil
Aviation Authority ✓ ✓
Fire Investigation

Book Title Publisher Author L3 Dip L4 Cert

Kirks Fire Investigation Brady Fire

John D De Haan and David J
Icove ✓
NFPA
NFPA 921: Guide For Fire And Explosion Investigations (National Fire
Protection Agency)
✓
A Guide to Fire Investigation (IFE 02) IFE Patrick G Cox ✓ ✓

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Fire Service Operations and Incident Command

ResourceTitle Publisher Author L3 Dip L4 Cert

The Foundation for Incident Command
National Operational
https://fireandrescue-public.sharepoint.com/pages/research.aspx
Online
Guidance Programme ✓ ✓
Fire and Firefighting
National Operational
✓ ✓
Online
Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance
Fires in the built environment
National Operational
✓ ✓
Online
Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance
Water Rescue and Flooding
National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance
Online
Guidance Programme ✓ ✓
Environmental Protection
National Operational
✓ ✓
Online
Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance
Performing Rescues
National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance
Online
Guidance Programme ✓ ✓
Operations
National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance
Online
Guidance Programme ✓ ✓
Subsurface, height, structures and confined spaces
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
Tunnels and underground structures supplementary material
https://fireandrescue-public.sharepoint.com/pages/research.aspx
✓ ✓
Utilities and Fuel
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
Transport
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
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Wildfires
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
Hazardous materials
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
Fires in waste sites (including renewable energy facilities)
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
Initial Operational Response to a Chemical, Biological,
Radiological or Nuclear Explosive
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attack
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
Fires in buildings under construction or demolition
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance ✓ ✓
✓ ✓
Firefighting equipment knowledge sheets
https://fireandrescue-public.sharepoint.com/pages/research.aspx

National Operational Guidance – Scenarios

a comprehensive range of fire and rescue situations; the link
below takes you to a list of scenario documents which can be
downloaded free of charge.
Online
National Operational
Guidance Programme ✓ ✓
https://fireandrescue-public.sharepoint.com/guidance/published-
guidance

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Fire Safety

Book Title Publisher Author L3 Dip L4 Cert

Fire Service Manual Volume 3: Fire Safety Engineering – Basic
Principles of Building Construction (IFE 46)

https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance
TSO FSM Volume 3 ✓ ✓
Please note: this is a link to the 2001 version, not the 2014
edition

Fire Service Manual Volume 3: Fire Safety Engineering – A Basic

guide for Fire Authority Enforcement (IFE 51) TSO FSM Volume 3
✓ ✓
http://www.ukfrs.com/Legacy%20Guidance/OS14.pdf
Fire Service Manual Volume 3: Fire Safety – Fire Protection of
Buildings (IFE
Fire Service 85) Volume 3: Fire Safety Engineering – A Basic
Manual
TSO FSM Volume 3
✓ ✓
guide of
Code forPractice
Fire Authority
for FireEnforcement
Safety in the Design, Management and
Use of Buildings (very costly; use reference copies rather than
purchase)
BS9999: 2008
✓ ✓
Free download:

✓ ✓
http://www.firesafe.org.uk/graphical-symbols-and-abbreviations- Online
for-fire-protection-drawings-2/

✓ ✓
Recommendations for graphic symbols and abbreviations for fire
protection drawings BS 1635:1990

Equipment for fire protection and fire fighting - Graphical symbols

for fire protection plans - Specification ISO 6790:1986 ✓ ✓
Health Technical Memorandum 05-01: Managing healthcare fire
safety

Free downloads from:

Online ✓ ✓
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-
healthcare-fire-safety

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Free downloads from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-safety-law-and-
guidance-documents-for-business

Fire Safety Risk Assessment:

Offices and Shops
Factories and Warehouses
Sleeping Accommodation
Residential Care Premises
Educational Premises
Online ✓ ✓
Small and Medium Places of Assembly
Large Places of Assembly
Theatres, Cinemas and Similar Premises
Open Air Events and Venues
Healthcare Premises
Transport Premises and Facilities
Animal Premises and Stables
Means of Escape for Disabled People (Supplementary Guide)

The BS 9999 handbook. Effective fire safety in the design,

management and use of buildings
BSI
Michael Green and Jonathan
Joinson ✓ ✓

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Civil Emergency and Disaster Management

Book Title Publisher Author L4 Cert

Disaster Response and Contingency Planning Guide.

http://www.ifrc.org/global/publications/disasters/resources/preparing- Red Cross ✓
disasters/disaster-response-en.pdf

✓
Emergency Preparedness
Chapters 1 – 8, 13 – 16.
Gov.UK Cabinet Office
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-preparedness

Recommendations on the emergency preparedness for, response to and recovery

from incidents HSE ✓
http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/buncefield/miib-final-volume2b.pdf
Tolley's Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management: Principles and
Practice.
Routledge
Tony Moore and Raj Lakha. ✓
Blackstone's Emergency Planning, Crisis, and Disaster Management.
Oxford
University Press
Brian Dillon
✓
Innovative Thinking in Risk, Crisis, and Disaster Management.
Gower
Simon Bennett (Editor).
✓
Introduction to International Disaster Management
Butterworth-
Heinneman
Damon P Coppola ✓
Disaster Management: International Lessons in Risk Reduction, Response and
Recovery.
Routledge
Alejandro Lopez-Carresi,
Maureen Fordham, Ben Wisner ✓
(Eds)

Emergency Response and Recovery

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-response-and-recovery.
Online ✓
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/36/pdfs/ukpga_20040036_en.pdf
Online ✓
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) Regulations 2005.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/1 Online ✓
32751/finalregs.pdf

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