Fire safety helper calculator

How the calculation works

The basis is ASR A2.2. The employer must appoint and train a sufficient number of fire safety helpers. As a guide the rule gives 5 percent of employees at normal fire risk. Office and administrative areas normally fall under normal fire risk.

fire safety helpers = 5% of those present at the same time, rounded up
but at least 1 person

What counts is the people present, not the payroll list. Holidays, part-time work, field work and remote work reduce the number actually available, and that number has to be sufficient on every working day.

Two examples

• Office with 15 people present: 5 percent is 0.75, rounded up to 1 person. The minimum applies.
• Administration with 45 present across three floors: 5 percent is 2.25, rounded up to 3 people. In practice at least one trained person per floor is advisable, which here is also 3.

What the figure does not cover

• Increased fire risk. A higher share may then be required. The classification is made in the risk assessment.
• The training. Under DGUV Information 205-023 it comprises theory and practical extinguishing exercises, usually half a day. A refresher every few years is recommended.
• Making them known. Employees must know who the fire safety helpers are, otherwise nobody knows whom to call in an emergency.

The wider picture with extinguishers and escape routes is in Fire safety in the office.

What the training covers

Under DGUV Information 205-023 the training has two parts, usually over half a day: a theory block on the principles of fire protection, the fire safety organisation of the business and behaviour in a fire, and a practical part with extinguishing exercises on a real fire.

The practical part is the decisive one. Anyone who has never discharged an extinguisher hesitates in an emergency at exactly the movements that matter: pull the pin, keep your distance, extinguish in bursts, aim at the seat of the fire and not at the flame.

Frequently asked questions