"Fire warden" and "fire marshal" get used interchangeably, and most business owners have a rough idea it's someone who helps everyone out of the building if the alarm goes off. But the role carries real legal weight, and getting it wrong (too few wardens, no training, no clear duties) is one of the more common gaps we find during fire risk assessments.
Here's what the role actually involves, how many you need, and what the law expects of you as the Responsible Person.
Where the requirement comes from
The legal basis sits in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It doesn't use the term "fire warden" directly, but Article 18 requires the Responsible Person to appoint one or more competent persons to help carry out the preventive and protective fire safety measures in the premises. In practice, that competent person is your fire warden or fire marshal.
It's a legal duty, not an optional extra, and it applies to virtually every non-domestic premises in England and Wales.
What a fire warden is responsible for
Day to day, a fire warden's duties typically include:
- Checking their designated area is clear of obstructions to escape routes and fire exits
- Reporting fire hazards, damaged fire doors, or blocked exits as they're found
- Leading the evacuation of their area if the alarm sounds, including checking rooms, toilets, and other spaces are empty
- Guiding people to the correct assembly point and reporting back to the person in charge (often the Responsible Person or a senior fire warden)
- Supporting anyone who needs help evacuating, as identified in a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP)
- Using a fire extinguisher only if it's safe to do so, never at the expense of their own evacuation
Fire wardens are not expected to fight fires. Their job is to support a safe, orderly evacuation, not to take risks a fire and rescue service should be handling.
How many fire wardens do you actually need?
There's no single number set in law, it depends on your premises and its level of risk. As a general guide:
- Low-risk workplaces: roughly one warden per 50 employees
- Medium-risk workplaces (where most offices, shops, and general commercial premises sit): roughly one per 20 employees
- Higher-risk workplaces (workshops, premises with flammable materials, complex layouts): roughly one per 15 employees
On top of headcount, factor in building layout (aim for at least one warden per floor), shift patterns, and holiday or sickness cover, so there's always someone available, not just enough people on paper. A fire warden should also be able to check their area and reach a place of safety quickly, so numbers need to reflect how big and how complex that area is.
Training and how often to refresh it
Fire wardens need proper training covering their duties under fire safety legislation, evacuation procedures, and basic extinguisher use. There's no fixed legal interval for refresher training, but the strong recommendation across the industry, and what we'd advise any client, is annual refreshers. Layouts change, staff turn over, and legislation gets updated, so a warden trained three years ago may not be up to speed with how the building works today.
Getting it right
A fire warden scheme only works if it's properly resourced: the right number of people for your risk level, clear written duties, and training that's kept current. It's also one of the first things checked during a fire risk assessment, so gaps here tend to surface as recommendations you'll need to act on anyway.
If you're not sure whether your current fire warden arrangements meet what the law expects, or you need a risk assessment to establish the right numbers for your premises, get in touch for a free quote. We'll help you get the right people trained and in place.