Fire prevention assistants have the task of supporting the fire prevention officer in fire prevention. At the same time, they are trained to provide initial firefighting and building evacuation services to protect people and property.
CWS provides answers to frequently asked questions about fire safety helpers:
- How many fire protection assistants does a company need?
- How is the number of fire protection assistants in the company calculated?
- How long is the fire protection helper training valid?
How many fire protection assistants does a company need?
According to the German Occupational Health and Safety Act, the technical rules for workplaces and the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV Vorschrift 1 and DGUV 205-023), every company is obliged to provide a sufficient number of fire protection assistants. It is irrelevant whether it is a small store, a restaurant or a large corporation.
In principle, according to ASR A2.2, at least 5% of the workforce should be trained as fire protection and evacuation assistants. However, this is only a minimum requirement.
How is the number of fire protection assistants in the company calculated?
The exact number of fire protection assistants in the company depends on the size of the company, the fire hazard and the presence of the employees. A higher number of fire protection assistants is usually necessary if in the company:
- is a high frequency of passers-by, e.g. customers or patients (with mobility impairments)
- a very large number of people are working
- work is being done with goods that are at risk of fire
- goods with a high fire risk are stored
Good to know: Too few fire safety helpers can result in a fine.
In addition, it must be taken into account that the specified number of fire protection assistants must be available in the company at all times. Consequently, a higher number of fire protection assistants than specified must be trained so that the minimum number is always met and absences of employees, e.g. due to vacation or illness, have no effect.
Examples of the number of fire safety helpers:
- Company with 5 employees
> at least 1 fire protection assistant- Companies with 200 employees
> at least 10 fire protection assistants- Companies with 200 employees and increased pedestrian frequency (approx. 800 per day)
> at least 50 fire protection assistants- Companies with 1000 employees and increased fire risk
> to be determined individually
How long is the fire safety assistant training valid?
Refresher training for fire protection assistants is recommended after three to five years. Early refresher training is recommended after a fire or significant changes in the company.
In terms of content, the topics covered in the initial training are repeated and refreshed, and in particular the handling of fire extinguishers is covered in greater depth. In the case of special fire hazards in the company, the (follow-up) training should be adapted to the local conditions and hazards and, if necessary, should generally be carried out at shorter intervals.
Fire safety assistant training at CWS
We offer training as fire protection and evacuation assistants at our locations or directly at your site throughout Germany.
Our experienced fire protection trainers train them theoretically and practically on operational fire protection in accordance with the official specifications.
