It’s a question we’re asked regularly by employers and property managers: do my staff actually need Fire Marshal (or Fire Warden) training? For most workplaces, the answer is yes and not simply as a matter of best practice, but because it is closely tied to legal and regulatory expectations. Fire Marshal training is a practical way of ensuring that fire safety arrangements work in the real world, not just on paper.

What Is Fire Marshal Training?

A Fire Marshal (also known as a Fire Warden) is a member of staff appointed to take on additional fire safety responsibilities. Their role typically includes:

Understanding the specific fire risks within the building.
Knowing how the fire alarm system operates and what different signals mean.
Assisting with evacuation during a fire or alarm activation.
Checking designated areas when it is safe to do so.
Supporting roll calls and reporting issues to management or the fire service.

Fire Marshal training ensures these responsibilities are understood and carried out confidently, under pressure and in line with the building’s fire strategy.

What Does the Law Expect?

UK fire safety legislation does not mandate Fire Marshals by name, but it does impose clear duties on employers and responsible persons. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, you are required to:

Carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
Put appropriate fire safety arrangements in place.
Provide staff with adequate fire safety training.
Appoint competent persons to assist with fire safety measures.

In most non-trivial workplaces, appointing trained Fire Marshals is the most effective and proportionate way to meet these requirements. Enforcing authorities routinely expect to see evidence that nominated staff have received role-specific training, not just generic induction slides.

British Standards and Guidance

While British Standards are not law, they strongly influence what is considered reasonable and acceptable. Relevant guidance includes:

BS 9999 - Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings: which emphasises the importance of management procedures, staff training and competent persons in supporting safe evacuation
BS 5839-1 - Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings: which highlights the need for staff to understand the operation and implications of fire alarm systems
HSG168 and government fire safety guidance: which consistently refer to the need for trained staff to assist with evacuation and fire safety management

In practice, if a fire risk assessment identifies the need for staff to take on defined roles during an incident, appropriate Fire Marshal training becomes an expected control measure.

How Many Fire Marshals Do You Need?

There is no fixed ratio. The right number depends on:

Building size, layout and number of floors.
Occupancy levels and visitor numbers.
Shift patterns, lone working and staff turnover.
Risks identified in the fire risk assessment.

Most organisations need more than one Fire Marshal, to ensure cover during holidays, sickness and out-of-hours working. In multi-tenant buildings or larger sites, this requirement often increases.

Do All Staff Need Fire Marshal Training?

No. All staff should receive basic fire safety awareness training, covering alarms, evacuation routes and assembly points. Fire Marshal training is for those with additional responsibilities. However, in higher-risk environments or complex buildings, training a larger pool of staff as Fire Marshals can significantly improve resilience and response.

How Often Should Fire Marshal Training Be Refreshed?

Fire safety training should never be treated as a one-off exercise. Refresher training is typically recommended:

Every 1 to 3 years, depending on risk.
Following changes to the building layout or use.
After significant staffing changes.
When fire alarm or evacuation procedures are updated.

Regular refreshers help ensure training remains current and defensible.

Why This Matters in Practice

In real incidents, investigations often focus on how well staff understood their roles. Where Fire Marshals are untrained or poorly briefed, issues such as incomplete evacuations, unsafe assumptions and delayed responses frequently emerge. From an enforcement and insurance perspective, the absence of suitable Fire Marshal training can be difficult to justify.

A Practical Way Forward

The right starting point is always a clear, up-to-date fire risk assessment. This should identify:

Whether Fire Marshals are required.
How many are needed.
What level of training is appropriate for your premises.

Training should then be tailored to your building, your risks and how your organisation actually operates, rather than delivered as a generic classroom exercise.

Book Fire Marshal Training in Chester, the North West and North Wales

If you’re unsure whether your staff need Fire Marshal training, or you want confidence that your current arrangements meet legal and practical expectations, we can help. We deliver practical, proportionate Fire Marshal training designed around real buildings and real risks, not tick-box theory. Our courses are suitable for offices, retail, industrial premises, residential blocks and mixed-use buildings. We are based in Chester but love to travel accross our region, and have delivered this training fron Bangor to Bolton. Book Fire Marshal training with us today and give your staff the clarity, confidence and competence they need to respond effectively if the worst happens.

Disclaimer:
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Fire safety duties and training requirements depend on the specific risks and circumstances of each premises. A competent fire risk assessor should be consulted to determine appropriate fire safety arrangements.

Do My Staff Need Fire Marshal Training?