Fire Safety Academy: Training for commercial employees
Are you curious about working in fire protection, but the industry is new to you? Then you've come to the right place! In this article, two of our employees, Christine and Nathalie, take you on their basic fire safety training course (we call it back office training) at our own Fire Safety Academy training centre. Both work at the head office in the commercial area of CWS Fire Safety and show you how they found their way into fire safety.
Why take part in the back office training?
‘I have been with CWS Fire Safety since July 2024 and my predecessor asked me if I would like to take part in the back office training at the Fire Safety Academy. It was a great opportunity to delve deeper into the field of fire safety,’ explains Christine. Nathalie, who only started at CWS Fire Safety in January 2025, also found the training exciting: ‘My line manager said that this training would definitely be interesting for me, so I quickly decided to take part.’ Both work in the commercial sector and the fire safety industry is new to them.
What can you expect in the back office training course?
The back office training is a mixture of theory and practice. On the first day, participants were given an introduction to the basics of fire safety: What actually is fire protection? What is fire defence and what is preventive fire protection? ‘At the beginning, we learnt which trades we offer, such as fire doors, smoke and heat extraction systems (SHEVS) and fire extinguishers,’ says Nathalie. ‘From the second day onwards, we were immersed in practical work and were allowed to work on the trades ourselves.’ Christine adds: ‘We were shown how SHEV windows work and how to read fire service route maps. It was particularly exciting to service a fire door ourselves and let water flow through a fire hose. This allowed us to really understand fire protection technology.’
Did anything surprise you during the training?
‘What really surprised me,’ says Christine, ’was how you can influence the closing speed and closing sound of a fire door with a screwdriver. I was also surprised at how much pressure there is on a fire hose that we had connected to an extinguishing water extraction point.’ Nathalie also had an interesting realisation: ‘We had asked ourselves how to get the water out of a wall hydrant hose without flooding the building during maintenance.’ And how does that work? ‘The technicians have a large container with them into which the water flows while the hose is being rolled up. Rolling it up is much more strenuous than you might think!’
What are the benefits of your newly acquired knowledge?
For Christine, who is a management assistant, it was particularly helpful for presentations. ‘I often create presentations and the training really helped me to better understand all the abbreviations and technical terms,’ she explains. For Nathalie, who works in Sales Support, the knowledge has also had a direct impact on her work: ‘I now have a much better understanding of fire protection and can respond more confidently to customer enquiries.’
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Christine explains: ‘There are so many ways to make a building safe - preventive fire protection really is at a high level and protects us humans very well.’ Nathalie emphasises that the technicians' tools also play an important role: ’During the training, we not only learned about the different fire protection trades, but also about the tools that the technicians use. These protect them and make their work easier.’
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Nathalie immediately sees the opportunity for career changers: ‘As fire protection technology is not an apprenticeship, career changers also have a good chance.’ Christine adds: ‘In times of a shortage of skilled labour, it is particularly valuable to have such opportunities. The Fire Safety Academy offers the opportunity to grow as an employee, which not only benefits the individual, but also the company.’
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Although there was no party, there were many moments of laughter and shared experiences. Christine remembers: ‘We filmed each other as a memento and had a lot of fun. In the evening, we went out for dinner together - we were totally exhausted, but it was a nice way to end the day.’ Nathalie adds that the coaching team was super open and relaxed. ‘They offered us more things to build on so that we could understand everything and gain our own experience.’ Team spirit is also important at the Fire Safety Academy.
Do you have any tips for future participants?
‘I can only recommend this training course to anyone who wants to start working in the back office or as a career changer in fire protection,’ says Nathalie. ‘It's a perfect opportunity to familiarise yourself with all the trades and services.’ Christine also has a practical tip: ‘As many of the trades are in a hall, it can get a bit chilly. Warm clothing is therefore recommended. And in general, I can only recommend that you just go into the training course with an open mind and let yourself be surprised.’
Fire Safety Academy training centre
The Fire Safety Academy is located in Rödermark and offers plenty of space for practical exercises over two floors. ‘We cover almost all areas of preventive fire protection,’ says training manager Marco Möbius, adding, ’We have around 50 training courses a year - including with external providers and certificates such as TÜV - so you can start your career in fire protection and expand your knowledge with us.’ This year, the Fire Safety Academy is also being expanded to include a location at the CWS Fire Safety branch in Cloppenburg, and the online programme is also being expanded. So everything you need for a good start in the fire safety industry.
Become part of the team
If you are interested in working in fire protection and at CWS Fire Safety, you will learn everything you need to know for a good start at the Fire Safety Academy. We are looking for people throughout Germany for both commercial and technical positions. Take a look at our vacancies or send us an unsolicited application.