Updates for the 2018 Fire Protection PE Exam

SFPE Releases 2018 Required References
This week the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) released the required references for this fall's Principles of Engineering (PE) Exam. Interestingly enough, NFPA 72 is back on the list of required references after being removed for the 2017 exam.

Changes to Weights of Topics for 201
One other important update from last year's exam is the weighting of problems overall. SFPE has adjusted the number of questions dedicated to each topic, which has been a point of focus to modernize the exam for SFPE's Professional Qualifications Committee. 

The 2018 Fire Protection PE Exam incorporates changes in topic weighting to better match industry expectations.

​Thoughts on Adjusted Exam Weighting
If you plan to take the exam this year, what does this mean? Not much in the big-picture. The bulk of the content is still very closely related to what was in the exam before. The weighting of the questions isn't a firm barrier but more of a loose goal for each year's exam anyways.

I believe the most noticeable difference might be the number of special hazard questions, which has been reduced by half to now make up only 5% of the exam.

Fire Protection Remains 3rd Toughest Exam for First-Timers
Of 24 different PE Exam disciplines, Fire Protection remains one of the most difficult for first-time test takers to pass.
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​​Why is this? Primarily, it's because the Fire Protection PE Exam covers such a variety of topics (active systems, smoke control, fire dynamics fundamentals, and life safety) that any one individual is unlikely to have depth in. It can be easy to underestimate the exam when taking it for the first time.

Pass Rate for Repeat Examinees Improves
If there's reason for hope, the pass rate for repeat-test examinees was the highest in 2017 that it's been in recent years, at 48%. The interest in obtaining a Fire Protection PE has also grown, up to 266 examiness marking a 23% growth in just two years.
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New 2018 PE Prep Guide on Sale
You might not have any interest in the Fire Protection PE Exam, but I'm all about it here. The MeyerFire PE Prep Guide was the single resources that gave me motivation to launch this site. 

This year, I'm returning the PE Prep Guide with an updated 2018 Edition to match the new exam specifications with new and updated formulas, updated questions, and updated exam study advice from thorough user feedback all in a new hardcover edition. It's currently on sale if you pre-order and will ship by the end of this month.

See the new 2018 PE Prep Guide here, on Sale through Friday, May 25th. 

Weekly Exam Series Returning
The best source for extra problems and practice is also returning this summer. The Weekly Exam Series incorporates 20 weeks of 10-question, 1-hour mini exams that simulate the pace and difficulty of the actual exam. If you don't pass with this tool you'll get it free the following year. 

I'm excited to add additional practice to the Weekly Exam Series this year - for no additional cost, you'll be able to take unlimited 1-hour mini exams on-demand. These mini exams are only limited by the total bank of questions, but will offer flexibility and simply far more opportunity to practice questions than available before. This new feature begins in July.

​See more about the Weekly Exam Series here.

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More Resources
After having a difficult experience taking the PE Exam several years ago with a lack of great resources, I decided to do something about it and begin providing resources that created a better experience for examinees.

​See all the resources (good and bad) I've found on the PE Tools page and free daily practice on the Daily page.