Fire Safety Training: What You Need to Know Before Booking
If you’re responsible for health and safety in your workplace, you’ll know that fire safety training isn’t just a box to tick — it’s a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
But if you’re arranging training for the first time, it can feel daunting. What type do you need? Who should attend? How often should it be refreshed?
At Fletcher Risk, we help businesses across the North West build practical fire-safety competence into their teams. Here’s a simple guide to help you understand what’s required, what to look for, and how to get the most value from your training.
🔥 Why fire safety training matters
Even with modern alarms and detection systems, human response is still the single most important factor in an emergency.
The best systems in the world mean little if people don’t know how to react — or worse, panic when they hear the alarm.
Training gives your staff the confidence to:
Recognise fire risks and prevent them.
Understand how to raise the alarm and evacuate safely.
Know when (and when not) to use firefighting equipment.
Support colleagues or visitors who may need assistance.
The goal isn’t to turn everyone into a firefighter — it’s to make sure your workplace can respond quickly, calmly, and correctly.
🧭 What type of fire safety training do you need?
There are three main levels of training most organisations require.
1. General Fire Awareness
This is the foundation course for all employees. It covers:
The basics of fire prevention.
How to spot hazards in everyday work.
What to do if the alarm sounds.
How evacuation procedures work in your building.
It’s usually a short session — either in person or online — and should be delivered to every member of staff, including part-time and temporary workers.
2. Fire Warden or Fire Marshal Training
Every workplace needs nominated fire wardens (also known as fire marshals). Their job is to help lead evacuations, check areas are clear, and liaise with the Responsible Person or fire services.
This training covers:
Fire behaviour and emergency procedures.
Using extinguishers safely.
Coordinating evacuations and roll calls.
Reporting hazards and maintaining fire safety day-to-day.
For most workplaces, having one trained fire warden per 20 staff is a good rule of thumb — but higher-risk environments (factories, care homes, schools) may need more.
3. Specialist or Role-Specific Training
Certain workplaces require extra training — for example:
Hospitality and retail (due to cooking and public access).
Laboratories or manufacturing (flammable materials or machinery).
Healthcare and education (supporting vulnerable occupants).
Your Fire Risk Assessment should identify whether additional training is needed.
🕒 How often should training be repeated?
Fire safety training isn’t a one-time event. It should be refreshed at least once a year — and sooner if:
New staff join.
Your building layout or fire equipment changes.
There’s been a fire or false alarm on site.
Roles or responsibilities are updated.
You should also hold regular fire drills — typically twice a year — to make sure your procedures actually work in practice.
✅ What to look for in a good fire safety course
When choosing a training provider, look for:
Experienced instructors with real-world fire-safety credentials.
Tailored content relevant to your building type and risks.
Hands-on elements, such as using extinguishers or walking escape routes.
Certification or attendance records to demonstrate compliance.
Follow-up advice — ideally linked to your Fire Risk Assessment, so training supports your wider safety strategy.
At Fletcher Risk, we often work alongside training providers to ensure that what’s taught in the classroom connects directly with what’s written in your risk assessment.
💡 How training fits into your legal duties
Under UK fire-safety law, employers and building operators must ensure that all employees receive adequate fire-safety instruction and training.
This includes:
Preventing fires.
Responding in an emergency.
Understanding the fire-safety features of their building.
If an incident occurs and training records aren’t available, the Responsible Person may face enforcement action or prosecution.
In other words — training protects people, but it also protects you.
🔧 How Fletcher Risk can help
At Fletcher Risk, we support businesses, schools, housing providers and public-sector organisations across the North West with a full, joined-up approach to fire safety.
Our team can:
Review your training needs as part of your Fire Risk Assessment.
Recommend approved local training providers for staff and fire wardens.
Help you integrate training into your fire-safety policy and procedures.
Provide annual reviews to ensure training records stay up to date.
We’ll make sure your staff understand what to do — and you can demonstrate full compliance with confidence.
🔑 The key takeaway
Fire safety training isn’t just a legal requirement — it’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to keep people safe.
If you’re booking training for the first time:
Start with general awareness for all staff.
Appoint and train designated fire wardens.
Refresh annually and link it to your risk assessment.
When everyone knows what to do, you don’t just meet the rules — you create a safer, calmer, and more resilient workplace.
If you’d like help assessing your training needs or choosing a provider, Fletcher Risk can help.
👉 Contact us to speak to our team and find out how we can support your fire-safety programme.
Fletcher Risk Team - 3 November 2025
Disclaimer:
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, fire-safety requirements may vary depending on your building and local authority. For specific guidance or a formal Fire Risk Assessment, please contact Fletcher Risk or a qualified fire-safety professional.