If you are responsible for fire safety in your organisation, this question often comes up. Is fire marshal training actually required by law?
The short answer is this. The job title “fire marshal” is not specifically written into legislation. However, the legal duty to appoint competent persons and provide appropriate training is very clear.
Training is what makes someone competent. Without it, the legal requirement is not met.
What does the law require?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must:
- Appoint one or more competent persons to assist with fire safety arrangements
- Provide employees with adequate fire safety training
- Ensure training is repeated periodically and adapted to risk
The legislation does not insist you use the title “fire marshal” or “fire warden”. What it does require is competence.
If someone is expected to lead an evacuation, check escape routes or support fire prevention measures, they must be properly trained to carry out those duties.
So while the title is optional, the training is not.
Who needs to be trained in fire safety?
All employees in all industries must receive fire safety training. This should happen at induction and be repeated periodically.
Basic fire safety training should cover:
- What to do if a fire is discovered
- How to raise the alarm
- Evacuation routes and assembly points
- General fire prevention awareness
Anyone with additional responsibilities requires more detailed, role-specific training. This typically includes:
- Fire wardens or fire marshals
- Night staff
- Lone workers
- Supervisors responsible for evacuations
- Staff supporting vulnerable individuals
If someone is making decisions during an emergency, awareness training alone is not enough.
How many fire wardens should you have?
UK legislation does not set a fixed ratio, but guidance from fire safety professionals and enforcing authorities suggests appointing enough trained people to ensure safe evacuation at all times.
Common best-practice benchmarks include:
Low-risk offices or retail environments:
Approximately one fire warden per 20–50 employees, depending on layout and floor size.
Medium-risk workplaces (warehouses, light manufacturing, larger premises):
Around one fire warden per 15–20 employees or per defined work area.
Higher-risk environments:
More wardens may be required to cover specific zones, hazardous processes or complex evacuation routes.
You should also allow for:
- Annual leave and sickness absence
- Shift patterns and night working
- Multiple floors or separate departments
- Public or visitor presence
The key principle is coverage, there must always be enough trained people present when the building is occupied.
Industries that typically require more trained personnel
Some sectors usually need a higher proportion of trained fire wardens due to risk levels, building complexity or vulnerable occupants. These include:
- Construction and refurbishment sites
- Healthcare settings and care homes
- Hotels and hospitality venues
- Education settings such as schools and universities
- Warehousing and logistics facilities
- Manufacturing and industrial premises
- Large retail environments and shopping centres
- Entertainment venues and public buildings
In these environments, evacuation may take longer, require coordination between teams, or involve assisting individuals who cannot self-evacuate.
Is fire marshal training a legal requirement in practice?
In practice, yes.
If you appoint someone to assist with fire safety under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, they must be competent. Competence comes from appropriate training, knowledge and experience.
Without structured training, it would be difficult to demonstrate that your appointed fire marshal or warden meets the required legal standard.
This is particularly important if your arrangements are ever reviewed by enforcing authorities or following an incident.
How often should fire warden training be carried out?
The legislation requires training to be repeated periodically. It does not specify an exact timeframe.
Best practice across most sectors is:
- Fire warden or fire marshal training every three years
- Earlier refresher training if there are significant changes
Changes that should trigger earlier training include:
- Building alterations
- Changes to layout or occupancy
- New fire alarm systems
- Updated evacuation procedures
- A change in the individual carrying out the role
Regular refreshers ensure wardens remain confident and familiar with current procedures.
How often should fire warden training be refreshed?
As a general standard, refresher training every two to three years is widely accepted.
However, frequency should reflect your risk profile. Higher-risk environments, such as construction sites or complex premises, may benefit from more frequent review.
The key question is simple. Could your appointed person confidently manage their responsibilities tomorrow if required?
If the answer feels uncertain, it is time to refresh.
What good fire marshal or fire warden training should include
High-quality training should cover:
- Fire safety legislation and the duties of the responsible person
- The role and limitations of the fire marshal or warden
- Causes of fire and hazard identification
- Fire prevention measures
- Emergency procedures and sweep techniques
- Fire extinguisher awareness and safe decision-making
- Record keeping and inspection checks where relevant
At Ouch Learning and Development, our one-day Fire Marshal course is designed to create confident individuals who can take charge in an emergency. Certification is valid for three years, with a maximum 12:1 learner-to-trainer ratio, delivered face-to-face or live online.
We focus on clarity and practical application so that learners leave knowing exactly what their role involves.
Why choose Ouch for fire safety training?
Fire safety is a legal duty, but it is also about protecting people and livelihoods.
We deliver:
- Fire awareness training for all staff
- One-day Fire Marshal training
- Fire Warden in Construction training
- Fire extinguisher training
Our courses are aligned with current UK legislation and tailored to your workplace, staffing structure and level of risk.
If you are reviewing your fire safety arrangements or planning refresher training, we are here to guide you through your options.