Fire Warden Training Online
- Know your duties before, during and after an evacuation
- Spot the everyday fire hazards wardens are expected to report
- Understand which extinguisher to use, and when not to fight a fire
Why your workplace needs trained fire wardens
In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 doesn't use the words "fire warden" or "fire marshal". It does require the responsible person to nominate competent people to carry out the fire safety and evacuation arrangements. Those people are what most workplaces call fire wardens.
- Nominate a sufficient number of competent persons to carry out evacuation procedures (Article 15)
- Nominate competent persons to implement fire-fighting measures, with enough people, training and equipment for the size and hazards of the premises (Article 13)
- Give staff adequate fire safety training when they start and when risks change, repeated periodically and during working hours (Article 21)
- There is no fixed legal ratio of wardens to staff: the right number comes from your fire risk assessment
When a fire safety officer visits, they will ask who your wardens are, what training they had and how evacuations are checked. This course gives your wardens the knowledge to answer confidently, and gives you a record of their training.
Scotland (Fire (Scotland) Act 2005) and Northern Ireland (Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010) have equivalent duties.
Is this course right for you?
An honest comparison, so you can choose the right training for your wardens.
| This course | Classroom fire warden course | In-house briefing only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Independent online course and certificate | Instructor-led course, on site or at a training centre | A talk from a manager or colleague |
| Time | Self-paced, fits around shifts | Usually around half a day | Varies |
| Hands-on extinguisher practice | No (online only) | Often included | Rarely |
| Cost | $199.99 per learner | Set by each provider, per delegate or per group | Staff time only |
| Best for | Training wardens across sites or shifts, and refreshing knowledge | Groups who need practical extinguisher handling | Topping up knowledge alongside formal training |
By the end of the course, you will be able to
- Explain the role of a fire warden or fire marshal and how it fits into your fire risk assessment and emergency plan
- Carry out routine warden checks: fire doors, escape routes, exits, signage, alarm call points and extinguishers
- Recognise common ignition sources and fire hazards in your area and report them properly
- Run a sweep of your area during an evacuation and report to the assembly point for the roll call
- Support people who need help to escape, using PEEPs and GEEPs
- Identify extinguisher types by colour code and know when to fight a fire and when to leave
What a fire warden does when the alarm sounds
- Start the evacuation
Make sure the alarm has been raised and direct people in your area to the nearest safe exit. Don't let anyone stop to collect belongings.
- Sweep your area
Check toilets, meeting rooms, storerooms and quiet corners on your route out, closing doors behind you to slow the spread of smoke and fire.
- Help people who need assistance
Follow each person's Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP), for example taking them to a refuge point and reporting where they are.
- Report at the assembly point
Tell the person in charge that your area is clear, or exactly who and what you couldn't check. This is what the fire service needs to know when it arrives.
- Keep everyone out
No one goes back in until the fire service or the person in charge says it's safe.
Warden checks that find real problems
Most of a fire warden's value is in the everyday checks, not the evacuation. Here are three findings a trained warden should spot and report:
- Why it matters
- An open fire door lets smoke into the stairwell, the escape route people depend on.
- What to do
- Remove the wedge and report it. If the door is held open for a reason, ask about a hold-open device linked to the fire alarm.
- Why it matters
- People evacuating may reach a blocked exit with no time to find another route.
- What to do
- Clear it straight away and report it so deliveries get a proper storage area.
- Why it matters
- The fire-fighting equipment in your risk assessment is no longer where people expect it.
- What to do
- Report it to the responsible person so it is replaced and checked, and find out why it was moved.
Course content
Module 1Fire science and the law for fire wardens
The fire triangle, how fire and smoke spread, the responsible person's duties, and where fire wardens fit in.
Module 2Fire hazards and prevention in your area
Common ignition sources, fuel and storage, electrical hazards, smoking and arson, and good housekeeping.
Module 3Your role day to day
Routine checks of fire doors, escape routes, exits, signs, call points and extinguishers, and how to report problems.
Module 4Evacuation procedures
Alarm systems, evacuation strategies, sweeping your area, assembly points and roll calls, and working with the fire service.
Module 5People who need help to escape
Personal and General Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs and GEEPs), refuge points and evacuation aids.
Module 6Fire extinguishers and fire blankets
Classes of fire, extinguisher types and colour codes, and the decision to fight a fire or leave it.
Assessment: online multiple-choice quiz at the end of each module. Practical extinguisher handling is not part of this online course.
Who this course is for, and who it isn't
- A newly appointed fire warden or fire marshal
- A manager who needs to train wardens across several sites or shifts
- A supervisor, receptionist or office manager who covers warden duties
- An existing warden who needs a refresher
- Need hands-on fire extinguisher training (book a practical session)
- Need a regulated qualification
- Are responsible for carrying out the fire risk assessment (see our Fire Risk Assessment course)
Your certificate
When you pass all module assessments, you receive a digital Certificate in Fire Warden Training from healthsafetycourses.org, a brand of UK School of Management.
- Unique ID and QR code, so employers can verify it online
- Gives you a record of warden training for your fire safety file
- Suitable to record as CPD
This is an independent certificate of completion. It is not a regulated qualification and does not include practical extinguisher training.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a legal requirement to have fire wardens?
The law doesn't use the term, but in England and Wales the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to nominate a sufficient number of competent people to carry out evacuation procedures and fire-fighting measures. Most workplaces meet this by appointing and training fire wardens or fire marshals.
How many fire wardens do we need?
There is no fixed legal ratio. The number should come from your fire risk assessment and take account of the size and layout of the building, the number of floors, shift patterns, holidays and absences, and anyone who needs help to evacuate.
Is online fire warden training enough?
It covers the knowledge a fire warden needs. It doesn't include hands-on extinguisher practice, so if your wardens are expected to use extinguishers, add a practical demonstration and run regular fire drills on your premises.
How often should fire warden training be refreshed?
The law says fire safety training must be repeated periodically where appropriate, and updated when risks change. Many organisations refresh warden training every year or two, and after changes to the building, the evacuation plan or the warden team.
What is the difference between a fire warden and a fire marshal?
None in practice. They are two names for the same role, and both are used in UK workplaces.
Is this course accredited?
No. It is an independent course and certificate, not a regulated qualification.
How long does the course take?
Most learners study 3 to 4 hours a week and finish within 4 weeks. You have access for up to 6 months.
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