Do You Have To Have A Fire Marshal At Work?

“Do you have to have a fire marshal at work?” is a common question. In this article, we answer this question and also explain what the duties of a Fire Marshal are.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 does not use the terminology fire marshal or fire warden. It talks about the responsible person, which is not the same thing.

A person wearing a high-visibility vest labeled Fire Warden holds a clipboard as a group walks in single file toward an exit. The indoor scene resembles a safety drill, highlighting the importance of knowing if you need a Fire Marshal at work for such evacuation exercises.

The Responsible Person And The Fire Marshal

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 every employer who occupies a building, regardless of whether they own or rent it, is classed as the responsible person

The duties of the responsible person include establishing emergency procedures and nominating a sufficient number of competent persons to implement those procedures. A competent person is one who has adequate training and experience or knowledge to enable them properly to implement the evacuation procedures.

Therefore a trained fire marshal is required at your work!

The Duties Of A Fire Marshal

Not surprisingly, a Fire Marshal’s main duty is to prevent fires.

The responsible person is actually the duty-holder for everything else. However, they will not necessarily carry out all duties themselves and often the duties are delegated to fire marshals.

These duties generally include keeping the fire log book up to date by carrying out the fire checks required on items such as extinguishers, alarms and lighting, arranging fire drills and fire safety housekeeping checks. Fire prevention is also an important part of the role.

Two men crouch near a small outdoor fire, holding fire extinguishers, in what seems to be a fire safety drill. One gestures instructively to the other in the metal-clad area where additional extinguishers are nearby—perhaps answering: "Do you have to have a fire marshal at work?

Type Of Training Required

All employees should receive fire safety training. The training should cover the fire risk assessment, fire prevention and actions to take in the event of a fire.

In addition, fire marshal courses should also include training in managing evacuation procedures. Some courses also cover the use of fire extinguishers. Would probably be good to detail the exact relevant course.

A Fire Marshal in a high-visibility vest labeled Fire Warden is holding a clipboard and overseeing people as they exit through a doorway.

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Number Of Fire Marshals Required

The number of fire marshals required should be dictated by the results of the fire risk assessment.

In an office environment, the overall fire risk is likely to be low to medium. Therefore, one fire marshal to every twenty employees would be acceptable. However, this figure will change depending upon the office layout. For example, if you operate over several floors of a building, then each level should have a fire marshal.

You also need to consider:

  • shift patterns
  • holiday cover
  • sickness absences
  • higher risk areas, such as staff canteen

If you have a question or enquiry about fire safety, please call the team on 01452 502113 or complete our enquiry form.