Fire Warden Training Course

What Does the Course Cover?

This 7-hour course covers the knowledge and practical skills a fire warden needs in any workplace.

Need an online refresher instead? See our online Fire Warden (Marshal) course.

Module 1: Fire Science & Prevention

• Chemistry of fire - the fire triangle and fire tetrahedron
• Classifications of fire (Class A, B, C, D, and Electrical)
• Common causes of workplace fires and fire prevention strategies
• Fire hazard identification and risk assessment
• Housekeeping and fire prevention best practices

Module 2: Fire Detection & Alarm Systems

• Types of fire detection systems (smoke, heat, and multi-sensor detectors)
• Fire alarm systems and their operation
• Emergency lighting and signage requirements
• Fire safety equipment inspection and maintenance

Module 3: Evacuation Procedures

• Emergency evacuation planning and procedures
• Role of the fire warden during evacuation
• Assembly point management and head counts
• Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for persons with disabilities
• Fire drill planning, execution, and evaluation

Module 4: Practical Fire Extinguisher Training

• Types of fire extinguishers (Water, Foam, CO₂, Dry Powder, Wet Chemical)
• Correct selection and use for different fire classes
• Hands-on practice with live fire extinguishers
• Fire blanket use and deployment techniques

How Many Fire Wardens Does a Workplace Need?

Irish law does not set an exact number of fire wardens for each workplace. Instead, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to appoint a "sufficient number of competent persons" to put fire safety measures into practice.

As a general guideline, employers should consider:

• At least one fire warden per floor of the building
• Additional wardens for larger floor areas or complex layouts
• Cover for shift patterns, absences, and holidays
• Higher-risk environments may need more wardens per area
• Premises with vulnerable persons (e.g., healthcare, education) require additional coverage

Your fire risk assessment will help you decide the right number. Our instructors can advise on warden numbers during the course.

Irish Compliance Context

Irish employers have clear legal duties on fire safety and emergency planning. This course supports the training records and practical arrangements those duties require:

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005

• Section 8 - General duties of employers to ensure safety, health, and welfare of employees
• Section 11 - Emergency plans and procedures
• Section 18 - Appointment of competent persons for emergency duties
• Section 19 - Hazard identification and risk assessment

In plain terms, the employer must assess fire risks, plan for emergencies, and appoint trained people to carry out that plan.

Fire Services Acts 1981 & 2003

• Section 18 - Duty on persons having control over premises to guard against fire outbreak
• Section 18(2) - Ensure safety of persons on the premises in the event of fire

In plain terms, whoever controls the premises must take care to prevent fire and keep everyone in the building safe.

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007

• Part 2, Chapter 1 - Workplace requirements including emergency routes and exits
• Regulation 13 - Emergency routes and exits
• Regulation 14 - Fire detection and firefighting

In plain terms, escape routes must stay clear, and fire detection and firefighting equipment must be in place and working.

The Role of a Fire Warden

A fire warden (or fire marshal) is the named person responsible for fire safety in a set area of the workplace. They help prevent fires and guide a safe evacuation in an emergency.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducting regular fire safety checks of their designated area
• Ensuring fire exits, escape routes, and fire doors are clear and unobstructed
• Checking that fire extinguishers are in place, visible, and within service date
• Guiding personnel to assembly points during fire drills and emergencies
• Conducting head counts at assembly points and reporting to the chief fire warden
• Assisting persons with disabilities in evacuating the building
• Liaising with emergency services on arrival and providing relevant information
• Reporting fire hazards and safety concerns to management
• Participating in fire drill planning and evaluation

Fire wardens are appointed under Section 18 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Put simply, the law expects named and trained people in this role. This course gives them the knowledge and practice to carry it out.

Fire Drills & Record Keeping

Regular fire drills test your emergency procedures and show whether staff know how to respond. As a fire warden, you will help run and review these drills.

Fire Drill Requirements

• Fire drills should be conducted at least twice per year as recommended by best practice. Ref: CFPA-E GUIDELINE No 11:2015 F.
• Higher-risk premises (e.g., healthcare, education) may require more frequent drills
• Drills should simulate realistic scenarios
• Include provisions for persons with disabilities
• Evaluate evacuation times and identify areas for improvement

Record Keeping

Employers must keep full fire safety records, including:

• Fire drill dates, times, and outcomes
• Fire warden training certificates and renewal dates
• Fire safety inspection reports
• Fire extinguisher service records
• Fire alarm test and maintenance logs

Fire Warden Training in Longford and the Midlands

Phoenix STS delivers fire warden training from its Longford training centre at Unit 11 Leader House, Leader Park, Dublin Road, Longford, N39 T6P0. We run public courses at the centre. Our instructors also deliver the full course on-site at your premises.

Being based in Longford, we regularly train workplaces across the midlands. Our service area includes counties Longford, Westmeath, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan and Offaly. On-site delivery is available nationwide, covering all 26 counties.

Upcoming public course dates are published on our events calendar. Book an individual place online, or contact us to arrange on-site training for your team.

Further Reading

See our guide to fire safety training in Dublin for information on on-site delivery across the Greater Dublin Area.

Fire Extinguisher Types Covered

In the practical session, participants get hands-on practice with the main extinguisher types used in Irish workplaces:

Water Extinguisher (Red Label)

For Class A fires (wood, paper, textiles, and other solids). It cools the burning material until it stops burning. Never use on electrical fires or flammable liquids.

Foam Extinguisher (Cream Label)

Works on Class A and Class B fires (flammable liquids such as petrol, oil, and solvents). It forms a blanket that smothers the fire and stops it relighting.

CO₂ Extinguisher (Black Label)

For electrical fires and Class B fires. It starves the fire of oxygen. It leaves no residue, so it suits server rooms, laboratories, and offices with sensitive equipment.

Dry Powder Extinguisher (Blue Label)

A multi-purpose extinguisher for Class A, B, and C fires (flammable gases), and for electrical fires. Widely used in industrial and commercial settings.

Wet Chemical Extinguisher (Yellow Label)

Designed for Class F fires (cooking oils and fats). Essential in commercial kitchens. It forms a cooling layer that stops the fire relighting.

Certification & Assessment

On passing the course, each participant receives:

• CPD-certified Fire Warden Training Certificate (valid for 3 years)
• CPD points for professional development records
• Digital certificate available for download and sharing

Assessment Method

Assessment is based on:

• Active participation throughout the 7-hour programme
• Practical demonstration of fire extinguisher use
• Written assessment covering fire safety knowledge

Certificates are issued on the day of training and digital copies are emailed within 24 hours.

Refresher Training

Fire warden training certificates are valid for 3 years. Refresher training is recommended to:

• Maintain compliance with employer obligations under the 2005 Act
• Stay current with updates to fire safety legislation and best practices
• Reinforce practical skills in fire extinguisher use and evacuation procedures
• Meet HIQA and regulatory inspection requirements for healthcare and residential care settings

Contact us to arrange refresher training for your team. We can work around your schedule to keep disruption low.

Using Fire Warden Training Properly

What the course is designed to do

Fire warden training gives appointed staff a clear understanding of their role before, during and after a fire alarm activation.

It supports a workplace fire safety system. It does not replace the employer's fire risk assessment, the emergency plan or day-to-day fire safety management. Where the building or its use is complex, competent advice is still needed.

Realistic fire warden duties

A fire warden should be able to:

• notice common hazards
• encourage good housekeeping
• understand the alarm and evacuation procedures
• help people move to the correct escape route
• report problems
• pass on information at the assembly point where the local plan requires it

The course does not expect a warden to take personal risks or to stay in a dangerous area to fight a fire.

Records and local procedures

Training works best when it is matched with site information. Employers should keep attendance records, certificate details, refresher dates and any follow-up actions from course discussions.

The warden still needs to know the local alarm sound, the assembly arrangements, the visitor procedures and the arrangements for vulnerable people. They also need to know how to report defects in fire doors, escape routes, extinguishers or emergency lighting.

When refresher training is useful

Consider refresher training when:

• certificates expire
• the emergency plan changes
• the building is altered
• staff turnover affects cover
• drills show confusion about roles

A good fire warden system also covers shift patterns, lone working, visitors, contractors and anyone who may need help to evacuate.

The training gives wardens a framework. Management still decides how many wardens are needed, where they are placed and how information is passed during an incident.

Selecting and supporting fire wardens

Fire wardens should be people who are usually on site, know the workplace and can act calmly within the emergency plan.

A large workplace may need wardens across different floors, shifts or departments. A small premises may need a simpler arrangement.

The course helps the appointed people understand their duties. Management still needs to give them time, authority and a clear reporting route.

Wardens should be able to raise repeated problems without waiting for the next drill. Examples include blocked exits, wedged fire doors, missing signage and poor contractor control. This also makes the course more useful after delivery, because wardens know who to speak to when routine problems keep coming back.