Our 2026 Summer Placement Students: Aasiyah Alloo (Part 1 of 4)

Each summer, we welcome students from a range of academic backgrounds to spend time with our team and gain an insight into life at DFC.

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be sharing reflections from this year’s summer placement students, highlighting what they’ve been working on, what they’ve learned and the experiences that have shaped their time with us.

First up is Aasiyah Alloo, who joined us in London this summer.

From Mechanical Engineering to Fire Engineering: My Summer at DFC

‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time and learned far more than I expected.. Seeing how technical knowledge is combined with collaboration, communication and practical judgement has given me a real appreciation for the profession and made it a career path I would consider in the future.’

Before starting my six-week placement at DFC, I had a fairly limited understanding of what fire engineering actually involved. As a Mechanical Engineering student, I was familiar with the technical side of engineering but I hadn’t appreciated how much fire engineers contribute to the design of buildings or how varied the role can be.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the variety of work I was exposed to during my placement, which meant no two weeks felt the same. I had the opportunity to learn about fire strategies for a range of buildings, observe how fire safety calculations are carried out, contribute to design notes and sketches, assist with fee proposals for new projects and attend a site visit to see how fire engineering decisions translate into the built environment.

What stood out to me most was how many different aspects of fire engineering come together on a project. Before joining DFC, I assumed the role was mainly centred around regulations and calculations. I quickly realised it also involves problem-solving, communication and finding practical approaches that work for both the building and the people who use it. I was trusted to manage my own tasks and workload, which helped me develop confidence whilst knowing there was always support available when I needed it.

The biggest impression was the culture at DFC. From my first day, everyone was approachable, patient and happy to answer questions. I was encouraged to visit other offices during my placement, which gave me the chance to meet more of the wider team and see how closely connected everyone is across the company. Something as simple as having lunch together each day helped me feel part of the team from the start. One particular highlight was the Culture Lunch organised by the London office, which was a great opportunity to get to know everyone better and celebrate the different backgrounds and cultures within DFC.

Looking back, the placement has completely changed my understanding of fire engineering. Rather than being focused solely on calculations and compliance, I’ve come to appreciate how broad the discipline really is, and the important role fire engineers play throughout the design process. Seeing how technical knowledge is combined with collaboration, communication and practical judgement has given me a real appreciation for the profession and made it a career path I would consider in the future.

I’m very grateful to everyone at DFC for making the placement such an enjoyable experience. It’s an experience that I will look back on as an important part of my degree.

Over the coming weeks, you’ll hear from some of my fellow summer placement students as they share their own experiences of life at DFC, sharing their own reflections on what they’ve been involved in and what they’ve learned along the way.