Guides · Fire safety · 3 min read
Fire safety assistants: how many does a business need? The 5% rule
At least 5% of employees must be trained as fire safety assistants. When more are needed, how the training works and how often it is refreshed.
In short: Under the workplace regulation ASR A2.2, 5% of employees as fire safety assistants are generally sufficient where the fire risk is normal. With 60 employees, that is 3 people.
When more than 5% are needed
- increased fire risk, for example in workshops, warehouses or kitchens
- shift work, holidays and sickness – enough assistants must be present in every shift
- many visitors or people with reduced mobility
- sprawling or multi-storey buildings
Your risk assessment is what counts.
What fire safety assistants learn
- Basics of combustion and fire classes
- Workplace fire safety organisation, raising the alarm, evacuation
- How fire extinguishers work and how to use them
- Practical extinguishing exercise – everyone extinguishes a fire themselves
How often to refresh?
A refresher every 3 to 5 years is recommended. Earlier if there are changes in the workplace – new rooms, new substances, new extinguishing equipment.
How to calculate for your workplace
The starting point is the employees present. Three examples:
- Office with 40 employees: 5% is 2 people. Because of holidays, sickness and remote working, at least 4 should be trained so that someone is always in the building.
- Restaurant with 15 employees in two shifts: Mathematically, one person is enough. However, the kitchen is an area with increased fire risk, and every shift needs an assistant – 3 to 4 makes sense.
- Warehouse with 120 employees on three shifts: 5% would be 6. Spread across three shifts and with a reserve for absences, 12 or more is realistic.
The 5% is therefore the starting value, not the target. What is appropriate for your workplace is set out in the risk assessment.
How the training works
The training consists of a theoretical and a practical part and takes a few hours in total. In the practical part, everyone extinguishes a practice fire themselves. Anyone who has once used a fire extinguisher reaches for it faster and more confidently in a real emergency – that is the real value of the exercise. We train in our course rooms or at your premises; the extinguishing exercise takes place outdoors.
The fire classes
| Class | What burns | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| A | solid materials | wood, paper, textiles |
| B | liquid materials | petrol, paints, solvents |
| C | gases | propane, natural gas |
| D | metals | aluminium, magnesium |
| F | cooking fats and oils | deep fat fryers, pans |
Not every extinguisher suits every fire. Burning fat must never be extinguished with water.
Fire safety assistant, fire safety officer, first aider
- Fire safety assistants fight incipient fires and help with evacuation.
- Fire safety officers advise the employer on an ongoing basis and have much longer training. They are only mandatory in certain businesses.
- First aiders provide medical first aid. How many are needed is explained in the guide First aiders in the workplace.
One person can be a fire safety assistant and a first aider at the same time. In an emergency, however, they can only take on one task – so spread the roles across several people.
Proof
Keep a record of who was trained and when, and appoint the fire safety assistants in writing. This will be asked about during an inspection by the supervisory authority or the statutory accident insurer (BG). You can find dates and prices at fire safety assistant training.
Frequently asked questions
Do small businesses need fire safety assistants too?
Yes. The workplace regulation specifies no minimum size. Even in small businesses, at least one person should be trained, preferably two.
Does the statutory accident insurer (BG) cover the costs?
As a rule, no. Unlike with first aiders, the employer bears the cost of fire safety assistant training themselves.
Is online training enough?
For the theory it may be enough. The practical extinguishing exercise is part of it, though, and cannot be replaced on a screen.
Matching service: Fire safety assistants from Pandemedics – quote within 2 hours on working days.
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