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 us 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

1
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 Hazardous Materials – section National
✓ ✓
1 Operational
Online
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base Guidance

✓
Programme

The Foundation for Incident Command: National

https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base
Online Operational
Guidance ✓ ✓
Programme
Foundation for Breathing Apparatus National

https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base
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

2
 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
Level 3 Diploma and Level 4 Certificate Examinations
Preview
Fire Engineering Science
Delete
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

✓
3
 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
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

✓ ✓
4
Fire Service Manual Volume 2: Aircraft Incidents (IFE 41) TSO
✓ ✓
✓ ✓
Fire Service Manual Volume 1 Fire Service Technology,
Equipment and Media Firefighting Foam – Technical (IFE 35) TSO

✓ ✓
Fire Service Manual Volume 2 Fire Service Operations -
Fire Service Manual Volume 2 Fire Service Operations - TSO
Firefighting Foam (IFE 43)
Firefighting Foam

✓ ✓
Fire and Rescue Manual Volume 2 Fire Service Operations -
Fire and Rescue Manual Volume 2 Fire Service Operations - TSO
Environmental
Fire and Rescue Protection (IFE 54)2 Fire Service Operations -
Manual Volume
Environmental Protection
Environmental
CAP 168 Protection
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
✓ ✓
CAP 748

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

CAP 789 Requirements and Guidance Materials for Operators

https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP%20789.pdf
CAA
✓ ✓
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 1 Rescue & Firefighting
International Civil
Aviation Authority ✓ ✓
Airport Services Manual - Doc 9137 Part 7 Airport Emergency
Planning
International Civil
Aviation Authority ✓ ✓

5
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 ✓ ✓
Fire Service Operations and Incident Command

Resource Title Publisher Author L3 Dip L4 Cert

✓ ✓
The Foundation for Incident Command Online National Operational
Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-basecommand

✓ ✓
The Foundation for Hazardous Materials Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Foundation for Breathing Apparatus Online National Operational
Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base

✓ ✓
Incident Command Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Fire and Firefighting Online National Operational
Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance

✓ ✓
Fires in the built environment Online National Operational
Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance

6
 ✓ ✓
Water Rescue and Flooding Online National Operational
Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance

✓ ✓
Environmental Protection Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Major Incidents Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Industry Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Performing Rescues Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Operations Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Subsurface, height, structures and confined spaces Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Tunnels and underground structures supplementary material Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Utilities and Fuel Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Transport Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Wildfires Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Hazardous materials Online National Operational
Hazardous Materials – health hazards Guidance Programme
Hazardous Materials – physical hazards
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance

✓ ✓
Fires in waste sites (including renewable energy facilities) Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Incidents involving animals Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

7
 ✓ ✓
Fires on board vessels Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Initial Operational Response to a Chemical, Biological, Online National Operational
Radiological or Nuclear Explosive Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance

✓ ✓
Fires in buildings under construction or demolition Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Firefighting equipment knowledge sheets Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Fires in buildings – building research establishment Online National Operational
supplementary information Guidance Programme
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base

✓ ✓
Utilities and fuel supplementary information Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Industry supplementary information Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base Guidance Programme

✓ ✓
Smart motorways national operating agreement Online National Operational
https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/knowledge-base Guidance Programme
http://www.jesip.org.uk/uploads/media/pdf/CBRN%20JOPs/JESI
✓ ✓
Online
P_CBRN_E_JOPS_Document_On.pdf.

✓ ✓
Joint Doctrine of Interoperability Working Online
https://www.jesip.org.uk/uploads/media/pdf/Joint%20Doctrine/
JESIP_Joint_Doctrine_Document.pdf

✓ ✓
National Operational Guidance – Scenarios Online National Operational
a comprehensive range of fire and rescue situations; the link Guidance Programme
below takes you to a list of scenario documents which can be
downloaded free of charge.

https://www.ukfrs.com/scenarios

8
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) TSO FSM Volume 3 ✓ ✓
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 forPractice
Code of 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

9
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
Small and Medium Places of Assembly
Online ✓ ✓
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
Animal Premises and Stables

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

management and use of buildings
BSI
Michael Green and Jonathan
Joinson ✓ ✓
Guidance for the Reduction of False Alarms & Unwanted Fire
Signals www.cfoa.org.uk/download/49412
CFOA Publications
2014 ✓ ✓
A guide to health, safety and welfare at music and similar events
HSG 195 HSE 1999

https://www.qub.ac.uk/safety-
HSE HSE ✓ ✓
reps/sr_webpages/safety_downloads/event_safety_guide.pdf

Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems: BS 5839 Parts 1 and Part

✓ ✓
6, The Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of
Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems – A Guide to BS Code BSI Colin S. Todd 2008
5839

10
Emergency Lighting: BS 5266

✓ ✓
https://www.firesafe.org.uk/emergency-lighting/

https://www.bsigroup.com/PageFiles/434127/bs%205266.1.pdf

Guidance on the emergency use of lifts or escalators for

evacuation and fire and rescue service operations BD 2466 Department for

www.highrisefirefighting.co.uk/docs/guidanceemergemcylifts.p
Communities and
Local Government ✓ ✓
March 2009
df

Local Government
Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats
Association, May
2012
✓ ✓
https://www.local.gov.uk/fire-safety-purpose-built-flats

Passive fire protection solutions British Gypsum January 2011 ASFP ✓ ✓

asfp.associationhouse.org.uk/default.php?cmd=262&company
_id=438571
Smoke and environmental ventilation of multi-storey buildings
using shafts Colt 2015

groupscs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Guide-to-Mechanical-
SCS Group ✓ ✓
Smoke-Shafts_April15.pdf

The BS 9999 Handbook - Effective fire safety in the design,

management and use of buildings BSI 2009 ✓ ✓

11
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

12