This guide is general information, not legal advice. It covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety laws with similar duties.
The law in one paragraph
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to almost every workplace and to the common parts of blocks of flats. It puts the duties on the responsible person, usually the employer or whoever controls the premises. Article 21 requires the responsible person to make sure employees get adequate safety training.
When training must happen
- When someone starts work, as part of their induction.
- When they are exposed to new or increased risks, for example a move to a new role or new equipment and ways of working.
- Repeated periodically where appropriate, and kept up to date as risks change.
- During working hours.
Who needs what
Every employee
How fires start and how to prevent them, how to raise the alarm, escape routes and the assembly point, and what is expected of them. Fire Safety Awareness course.
Fire marshals and wardens
The responsible person must appoint competent people to help with fire safety and to put evacuation procedures into action. That usually means fire marshals, who need training in daily checks, sweeping their area and roll calls. Fire Marshal course.
People who may use extinguishers
Anyone expected to tackle a small fire needs to know the classes of fire and which extinguisher to use, with practical handling done in person. Fire Extinguishers course.
The responsible person and managers
Since 1 October 2023, every responsible person must record their fire risk assessment in full. They also need to plan for people who need help to evacuate. Fire Risk Assessment Essentials and Evacuation and PEEPs.
Buildings with flats
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 added fire door checks for residential buildings over 11 metres tall. Fire Doors course.
Keeping records
Recording who was trained, on what and when is the simplest way to show you have met the duty if a fire and rescue service inspector asks. An online academy does this automatically: each pass is marked by the system, dated and kept on record.
Fire drills
Training works best alongside practice. Government guidance for workplaces recommends carrying out a fire drill at least once a year and recording the results.