In Germany the number of fire wardens (Brandschutzhelfer) is usually 5 percent of employees under ASR A2.2, with a minimum of one person. The number of first aiders is set by section 26 DGUV Regulation 1: one first aider for up to 20 people present, above that 5 percent in office and administrative businesses. Both are calculated from the people present at the same time and rounded up.
This article puts every threshold of office emergency organisation on one page. Details are in First aid in the office and Fire safety in the office.
All thresholds at a glance
An office with more than 20 people present needs 5 percent first aiders and usually 5 percent fire wardens. From 51 employees a large first aid kit is required, from 50 regularly employed people a safety officer. A first aid room and a company paramedic only become mandatory above 1,000 and 1,500 people respectively.
| Role or equipment | Threshold in an office | Reference figure | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| First aiders | 2 to 20 present: 1 person. More than 20: 5 percent | insured persons present at the same time | section 26(1) DGUV Regulation 1 |
| Fire wardens | 5 percent, at least 1 person. More with increased fire hazard | employees, taking shifts and absences into account | ASR A2.2 section 7.3 |
| First aid kit | 1 to 50: 1 small. 51 to 300: 1 large. From 301: 2 large, one more large per further 300 | employees | ASR A4.3 |
| Safety officer | from 50 regularly employed people. Below 250 without special hazard 1 is enough | regularly employed people by headcount | section 22(1) SGB VII |
| Company paramedic | more than 1,500 present. From 250 to 1,500 if type, severity and number of accidents require it | insured persons present | section 27(1) DGUV Regulation 1 |
| First aid room | more than 1,000 employees | employees of the workplace | ArbStättV Annex 4.3, ASR A4.3 |
These are minimum values for administrative businesses; workshops and warehouses face stricter ones.
Number of first aiders under section 26 DGUV Regulation 1
A first aider is a person trained in first aid by a body authorised by the accident insurance institution and appointed for that role in the business. With 2 to 20 insured persons present, one first aider is enough; with more than 20 present, administrative and trading businesses must have 5 percent.
Section 26(1) DGUV Regulation 1 distinguishes by type of business:
- Administrative and trading businesses: 5 percent of those present, covering offices, firms and agencies.
- Other businesses: 10 percent of those present, for example workshops or production.
- Day care centres for children: one first aider per group of children.
- Universities: 10 percent of the insured persons under section 2(1) no. 1 SGB VII.
The reference figure is the insured persons present at the same time, not the staff list. An office with 80 employees and two home office days may have 50 people on site. The calculation is then 50 times 5 percent equals 2.5, rounded up to 3 first aiders. If two of the three are absent, the requirement is not met, so the plan needs a buffer.
First aiders are usually given refresher training every two years under section 26(3) DGUV Regulation 1. Course fees are usually covered by the insurance association. The first aider calculator works out your own number including the home office share.
Number of fire wardens under ASR A2.2
A fire warden is an employee who has been familiarised with fire extinguishing equipment through expert instruction and a practical extinguishing exercise. Under section 7.3 of ASR A2.2, a share of 5 percent of employees is usually sufficient. The exact number follows from the risk assessment.
More than 5 percent may be needed with an increased fire hazard, many visitors, people with reduced mobility or a site spread over several floors.
Section 7.3(3) ASR A2.2 also requires shift work, training, holidays and illness to be taken into account, so training only the arithmetic 5 percent falls short on most days.
ASR A2.2 recommends repeating the instruction with an extinguishing exercise every 3 to 5 years. The fire warden calculator gives a guide value including the absence share.
First aider vs. fire warden
First aiders and fire wardens are two separate roles with their own legal basis and their own training. The first aider under section 26 DGUV Regulation 1 cares for injured people until the ambulance arrives; the fire warden under ASR A2.2 fights incipient fires and supports the evacuation. One person may take on both roles.
| Feature | First aider | Fire warden |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | section 26 DGUV Regulation 1 | ASR A2.2 section 7.3 |
| Quota in an office | 5 percent from 21 people present | usually 5 percent |
| Minimum | 1 person from 2 people present | 1 person |
| Training | first aid course at an authorised body | expert instruction with extinguishing exercise |
| Refresher | usually every 2 years | recommendation 3 to 5 years |
| Training costs | course usually via the insurance association | usually the business |
First aid kits, safety officers and other thresholds
Three more duties depend on headcount: first aid kits under ASR A4.3, safety officers under section 22 SGB VII and company paramedics under section 27 DGUV Regulation 1. For offices up to 250 employees, only first aid kits and one safety officer matter.
First aid kits. In administrative and trading businesses, ASR A4.3 requires one small first aid kit under DIN 13157 for 1 to 50 employees and one large kit under DIN 13169 for 51 to 300 employees. One large kit equals two small ones; in practice one per floor makes sense. The first aid kit calculator works out the number for your building.
Safety officers. Since the amendment of section 22 SGB VII in May 2026, safety officers have to be appointed from 50 regularly employed people; below 250 employees without a special hazard one person is enough. The details and the five criteria from 250 employees are in How many safety officers does a business need?, and the safety officer calculator gives a guide value.
Company paramedics and first aid room. A company paramedic is mandatory under section 27(1) DGUV Regulation 1 with more than 1,500 insured persons present. A first aid room has to be set up under Annex 4.3 ArbStättV with more than 1,000 employees.
Three offices worked through
The calculation always runs the same way: establish the people present at the same time, apply the quota, round up, then check floors and absences. The examples show where the minimum is not enough in practice.
| Business | Present | First aiders | Fire wardens | First aid kit | Safety officers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax firm, 18 employees, 1 floor | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1 small | not required |
| Agency, 85 employees, 3 floors | 65 | 4 | 4 | 1 large, in practice 3 small, one per floor | 1 |
| Administration, 420 employees, 2 buildings | 300 | 15 | 15 | 2 large, in practice more per floor | by criteria, usually 1 per building |
Tax firm, 18 employees. One first aider; 5 percent of 18 gives 0.9, so one fire warden. Two trained people are more robust against holidays.
Agency, 85 employees, 65 present. 65 times 5 percent gives 3.25, rounded up to 4 first aiders and 4 fire wardens. With holidays, illness and one person per floor, 5 to 6 per role is more realistic.
Administration, 420 employees, 300 present. 300 times 5 percent gives 15 first aiders and 15 fire wardens, split between both buildings by attendance. 420 employees is more than 300, so ASR A4.3 requires two large first aid kits as a minimum.
How to determine the numbers in five steps
Determine the number once with reasons and check it again after growth, a move or a new home office policy. The result belongs in the risk assessment so an inspector can follow it.
- Establish attendance: For every site and floor, record how many employees are on site at the same time on a typical day, separately per shift.
- Classify the business: Administrative or trading business with 5 percent or other business with 10 percent, plus the fire hazard from the risk assessment.
- Calculate the minimum numbers: Calculate first aiders under section 26 DGUV Regulation 1 and fire wardens under ASR A2.2 and round up to whole people.
- Set distribution and buffer: At least one person per floor and shift, plus a reserve for holidays, illness, home office and training.
- Appoint, train, announce: Appoint in writing, book the training, name them on the notice and track refreshers in a deadline list.
For the notice with the names of the first aiders, the first aid notice is available as a template.
Part of the emergency organisation
First aiders and fire wardens are the staffing side of the emergency organisation that the employer has to ensure under section 10 ArbSchG. Training, distribution, notice and documentation have to match the number.
Safety Club provides office and administrative businesses with an occupational safety specialist on site plus digital, audit-ready documentation. We are happy to discuss your situation in an initial consultation.
This article is general guidance and does not replace legal advice on individual cases. The current versions of DGUV Regulation 1, ASR A2.2 and A4.3, SGB VII and the interpretation of your accident insurance institution are authoritative.
