Does Every Business Need A Fire Safety Officer?

In the UK, fire safety isn’t optional: it’s a legal requirement for all non-domestic premises, including businesses of every size. 

But does every business truly need a dedicated “Fire Safety Officer”? The short answer is no, not necessarily in the form of a single specially designated officer, but every business must have competent individuals who can manage and support fire safety effectively.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (often called the Fire Safety Order or FSO), which applies primarily in England and Wales (with similar provisions in Scotland and Northern Ireland), the key figure is the Responsible Person. This is usually the employer, business owner, landlord, occupier, or anyone with control over the premises. The Responsible Person carries ultimate legal accountability for fire safety.

Key Legal Duties of the Responsible Person

The Responsible Person must:

• Carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment (and review it regularly).
• Identify and implement general fire precautions to reduce risks.
• Plan for emergencies, including evacuation procedures.
• Provide employees with appropriate fire safety information, instruction, and training.
• Maintain fire safety equipment and measures.
• Record significant findings (especially post-2022 updates via the Building Safety Act).

All employees must receive adequate fire safety training, regardless of business size. This is a clear legal obligation to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of fire.

Do You Need a “Fire Safety Officer”?

The term “fire safety trained officer” often refers to roles like fire marshal, fire warden, or a nominated competent person for specific duties. Here’s the reality:

The law requires the appointment of one or more competent persons to assist the Responsible Person in undertaking preventive and protective measures (Article 18 of the FSO). A “competent person” has sufficient training, experience, knowledge, and qualities to help with fire safety tasks.

In small, low risk businesses (e.g., a small office or shop with few staff), the Responsible Person themselves can often fulfil this role if they have the necessary knowledge, after completing fire safety training. No separate “officer” is strictly mandated.

In larger, higher risk, or more complex premises (multi-storey buildings, high occupant numbers, hazardous processes), it’s practically essential (and often effectively required) to appoint trained fire marshals or wardens to assist. This ensures effective evacuation, checking areas, assisting vulnerable people, and using firefighting equipment if safe.

Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggests ratios such as:

• One fire marshal per 50 employees in low risk environments.
• More in medium or high risk settings (e.g., one per 20 or 15 people).

Many businesses appoint fire marshals because it’s the most practical way to demonstrate compliance and ensure safe, organised evacuations.

Pros and Cons of Appointing a Dedicated Fire Safety Trained Officer (Fire Marshal/Warden)

Pros:

• Provides clear leadership during emergencies, improving evacuation speed and safety.
• Allows the Responsible Person to delegate day-to-day checks, drills, and training support.
• Reduces risk of non-compliance fines (which can reach unlimited amounts in serious cases).
• Boosts staff confidence and overall workplace safety culture.
• Essential for larger teams or premises with multiple floors/shifts.

Cons:

• In very small businesses (e.g., sole trader or tiny team), it may feel like overkill if the owner is already competent.
• Additional hiring cost for small businesses

When It’s Effectively a Requirement

While not every business needs a formally titled “fire safety officer,” the law demands competence. If your fire risk assessment identifies the need for assistance in managing evacuations or precautions, appointing trained personnel becomes necessary to meet your duties. Failing to do so could leave the Responsible Person personally liable in the event of an incident.

Recent updates (via the Building Safety Act 2022) have strengthened recording requirements for fire risk assessments and emphasised competence, making professional support more important for many businesses.

Recommendations for UK Businesses

1. Conduct (or review) your fire risk assessment: this will tell you exactly what level of trained support you need.
2. Provide basic fire safety awareness training to all staff: it’s mandatory.
3. Appoint fire marshals if your premises have more than a handful of people, higher risks, or complex layouts.
4. Choose competent training: look for courses aligned with current guidance.
5. Keep records: document training, assessments, and appointments.

At LS Fire Solutions, we specialise in helping UK businesses navigate these requirements. Whether you need a professional fire risk assessment, fire safety training, or advice on appointing competent fire safety personnel, our experts can provide tailored support to keep your premises compliant and safe.

Don’t leave fire safety to chance. Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Your legal duties are clear, but expert guidance makes compliance straightforward and effective. Stay protected, stay compliant.