How many fire marshals/wardens do I need?
In every workplace, the appointment of trained fire marshals/wardens is both a legal and safety requirement. These fire marshals/wardens have an important responsibility of understanding and managing fire risks, as well as implementing evacuation plans in the event of a fire and are an integral part of your overall fire safety strategy. But how many fire marshals/wardens do you need? In this article, we provide a comprehensive answer to this important question.
Fire risk assessments
The number of fire wardens/marshals required depends on several factors and depends on the size and nature of your business. This includes an evaluation of whether your premises pose a low, medium or high fire risk. Fortunately, you will not have to determine this number on your own; it’s a task for a specialised professional and should be referenced in your fire risk assessment.
Your fire risk assessment report will not only identify fire hazards within your workplace but will also provide recommendations for addressing them. Furthermore, it will specify the number of fire marshals/wardens needed.
Key considerations
The number of fire marshals outlined in your fire risk assessment is determined by a number of different considerations, including:
- Size of the premises: Larger buildings will require more time to evacuate.
- Number of floors: Multi-story buildings may require additional fire marshals.
- Number of employees: The quantity of staff present on the premises at any given time.
- Occupants: Who typically occupies the premises, including employees, customers or other individuals.
- Nature of Work: The type of activities conducted within the workplace.
- Location: Geographic factors can influence the level of risk.
- Layout of Building: The configuration of the building can impact evacuation.
It is also important to ensure cover for absence and holidays, ensuring that at least one fire marshal/warden is present during working hours.
General guidance
As a general rule of thumb, you need enough fire wardens to lead everyone out and search the premise for any people that are not accounted for. Generally, a workplace fire risk assessment would allocate the following ratios of fire marshals/wardens to employees at your business:
- Low risk – One for every 50 people
- Medium risk: One for every 20 people
- High risk: One for every 15 people
As stated, you need to refer to your fire risk assessment documentation for the actual number you need, based on your specific fire risk level.
Interested in our fire safety training?
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