A technical consultant has received an award for academic excellence from the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) after achieving the highest score on the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) Level 2 Certificate in Passive Fire Protection exam, out of the entire 2022 UK cohort.
Rhea Akiens, technical consultant at Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions - the collective home of British Gypsum, Celotex and Isover, was presented with a trophy for her impressive achievement at an awards ceremony at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham on 25 November 2022.
In September 2022, Rhea was one of 14 consultants in the technical support team to achieve the IFE Certificate in Passive Fire Protection. This a universally respected, industry-standard course aimed at professional fire engineers and those who carry out fire assessments on buildings. Training for the IFE Certificate was delivered by the ASFP and included content around general fire protection as well as drylining systems.
They are believed to be one of the first groups of employees from a construction product manufacturer to complete the course, reflecting the business’s commitment to ensuring the highest levels of knowledge and expertise among its staff.
Rhea says: “It’s unbelievable. I’m really proud of myself and thankful to the company for supporting me through this course.”
David Robinson, Head of Technical Support at Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions - the collective home of British Gypsum, Celotex and Isover, comments: “Congratulations to Rhea, whose hard work and dedication meant that she achieved the highest score out of everyone who took the IFE Level 2 Exam in the UK this year.
“It is vital that anyone involved in a construction project has a thorough understanding of the performance requirements for systems and products. Our team is dedicated to providing the most current advice on safety-critical design by undergoing regular training and continuing professional development.
“This certification not only demonstrates our team's expertise in fire protection and fire design, but also shows our commitment to providing the highest level of training for our team, ensuring that they are competent to an independently recognised standard. Overall, it is just one more way that we are pushing the boundaries in the field of technical advice.”
