How Much Should Employee Fire Safety Training Cost in 2026?
Fire safety training is one of those building basics that is easy to postpone until the day it matters. UK fire investigations and enforcement cases repeatedly show that when training is weak or missing, otherwise manageable incidents become more serious. This article explains what employee fire safety training typically costs, what separates good training from poor training, how often it should be refreshed, what to expect from an instructor, and why regular training makes a real difference. There is a reason Fletcher Risk focuses on on-site fire safety training rather than online alternatives, but that is something worth coming back to a little later.
What should fire safety training cost in 2026?
Fire safety law does not set a price. It sets a duty. Under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005, employers and responsible persons must provide adequate fire safety training to employees (UK Government). In practice, costs vary depending on delivery method and risk profile.
Online fire awareness training
Online training is best suited to induction and basic refreshers in low risk workplaces.
Typical UK price ranges remain relatively stable year to year:
• Lower cost awareness modules are often around £15 per person.
• More developed courses with assessments and records typically sit between £20 and £50 per person.
What matters more than price is whether the content reflects UK guidance such as the Home Office fire safety risk assessment guidance for workplaces (UK Home Office).
In person training
In person fire safety training is best suited to fire wardens, supervisors, higher risk environments and sites where discussion and practical context matter. Sending an individual employee to attend a public course typically costs in the region of £60 to £120 +VAT per person, before factoring in travel time and time away from site. These courses can be useful, but they are necessarily generic and detached from the realities of a specific building.
An alternative is to host an instructor on site to deliver group training. While the headline cost is higher, often starting at £300 +VAT for a session, it quickly becomes more cost effective as numbers increase, with the per person cost falling significantly once a team is trained together. More importantly, on site training allows the session to be built around the actual escape routes, alarm signals, assembly points and foreseeable risks in the building. This link between training, the premises and the evacuation plan is where organisations tend to see the greatest change in behaviour, and it aligns closely with the duty to provide relevant and practical instruction under the Fire Safety Order.
What separates good training from bad training?
The Health and Safety Executive is clear that training should support competence and safe behaviour, not just compliance (HSE).
Good fire safety training usually includes:
• Clear links to the fire risk assessment and evacuation strategy.
• Simple decision making about what to do when the alarm sounds.
• Realistic scenarios relevant to the premises.
• Clear roles and responsibilities.
• Evidence of attendance and understanding.
In comparison, poor training tends to be generic, disconnected from the building, and quickly forgotten. The HSE guidance on fire safety in the workplace highlights that employees need to understand procedures, not just receive information (HSE).
Real world outcomes from good and bad training
In buildings where training is taken seriously, we consistently see:
• Faster and calmer evacuations.
• Fewer blocked escape routes.
• Earlier reporting of issues such as wedged fire doors.
• Greater confidence among staff and wardens.
Where training is weak or absent:
• Alarms are ignored or delayed.
• People wait for reassurance instead of acting.
• Confusion arises over who is responsible.
• Risks become normalised.
This aligns with wider HSE research into safety culture, which shows that training quality directly affects behaviour and risk outcomes.
At Fletcher Risk we offer great on-site training on fire safety awareness, fire marshall training and fire extinguisher training, so feel free to contact us any time, but more on that a little later.
Case Study - Pontypool Factory Fire 2016
A serious factory fire in Pontypool, Wales, led to prosecution after investigators found that employees had not received adequate fire safety training. During the incident, workers in a staff canteen were reportedly unaware that a fire had broken out elsewhere in the building and only realised the danger when smoke and flames became apparent. This lack of awareness delayed evacuation and significantly increased the level of risk faced by those on site.
The investigation concluded that shortcomings in staff training meant employees did not fully understand the warning signs, evacuation procedures, or how a fire situation would be managed. These training failures sat alongside wider weaknesses in fire safety management at the premises, illustrating how inadequate preparation and unclear procedures can allow a developing fire to place people in far greater danger than it otherwise should have. (Inside Media).
How often should fire safety training be carried out?
UK Government guidance states that employees must receive training on induction, periodically thereafter, and when risks change (UK Government). While the law does not mandate a fixed interval, annual refreshers are widely recognised as good practice, with additional training following changes to layout, occupancy or processes. Fire and rescue services commonly reinforce this approach when advising businesses and responsible persons.
What experience and training should a good instructor have?
There is no single licence for fire safety trainers, but competence matters. A good instructor should demonstrate:
• Practical understanding of fire behaviour and evacuation.
• Familiarity with UK fire safety law and guidance.
• Ability to tailor training to the premises and risk assessment.
• Confidence answering real world questions.
• Clear records and follow up materials.
Professional recognition through bodies such as the Fire Protection Association can be a useful indicator of credibility, although competence should always be judged in context.
A short video that shows the value of regular training
Ask yourself - how prepared is your workplace for a fire drill? Is it better than this example from US-based firm Dunder Mifflin?
What Fletcher Risk Can Offer
Fletcher Risk focuses on in-person, on-site fire safety training because, in our experience, this is where most organisations see the greatest improvement in real-world outcomes. Delivering training in the building itself allows us to tailor sessions to the actual layout, fire precautions, evacuation routes and day-to-day use of the premises, rather than relying on generic examples. Training is linked directly to the fire risk assessment and evacuation strategy, with clear discussion of roles, decision making and common failure points we see in practice. This approach helps teams understand not just what the rules are, but how fire safety works in their own environment, and why their actions before and during an incident matter.
If you are unsure whether your current fire safety training is giving people the confidence and clarity they would need in a real incident, a short conversation is often the best place to start. Fletcher Risk can review your existing arrangements and advise on whether on-site, premises-specific training would add value for your building and team.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Fire safety duties, training requirements and appropriate frequency depend on the specific premises, occupancy, management arrangements and the findings of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. If you require advice on your circumstances, you should seek competent professional support.
Fletcher Risk Team - 17 December 2025