Fire Warden Training: Requirements and Refresher Intervals
Every workplace needs enough trained people to manage an evacuation. Here is what fire warden (fire marshal) training requires in Ireland.
Irish employers must appoint and train enough fire wardens (fire marshals) to manage an emergency evacuation, as part of their duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Fire Services Acts. There is no single fixed statutory refresher interval, but best practice is to refresh fire warden training approximately every two years, and to test the emergency plan with regular drills.
What the law requires
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to prepare and revise emergency plans and to designate staff to implement them. The Fire Services Acts and fire-safety guidance require adequate means of escape and competent people to manage evacuation. The number of wardens depends on the size, layout, occupancy and risk of the premises.
- 01
Appoint and train fire wardens
Irish employers must appoint and train enough fire wardens (fire marshals) to manage an emergency evacuation as part of their workplace fire safety duties.
- 02
Emergency plans and evacuation
Employers must prepare and revise emergency plans and designate staff to implement them. Fire wardens must be competent people who can manage evacuation procedures.
- 03
Refresh training
There is no single fixed statutory refresher interval, but best practice is to refresh fire warden training approximately every two years based on workplace risk.
- 04
Drills and changes
Regular evacuation drills should be carried out, commonly at least annually, and training should be repeated when the building, layout, occupancy or wardens change.
How often to refresh
Refresher training approximately every 2 years (risk-based best practice). Regular evacuation drills (commonly at least annually, more often for higher-risk premises). Re-train when the building, layout, occupancy or wardens change. Arrange training: see our Fire Warden / Fire Safety training.
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