Fire Marshal vs Fire Warden: What’s the Difference and How Many Do You Need?

Fire marshal vs fire warden: the short answer

Fire marshal vs fire warden is one of the most common questions we get from employers, and the answer is simpler than most people expect. There is no real difference. Both titles describe the same job: a trained member of staff who helps prevent fires and gets everyone out safely if one starts.

The harder questions are how many you need, what they should do and what training they need. This guide answers all three.

Where the fire marshal vs fire warden confusion comes from

People mix up the two titles because different firms and sectors use different words. “Marshal” sounds like someone who takes charge. “Warden” sounds like someone who looks after an area. Neither word has a special legal meaning.

Is a fire marshal more senior than a fire warden?

No. Some large sites do set up a ladder of roles, such as a chief fire warden who leads a team of fire marshals. But that is a choice the business makes for itself. It is not set by law or by any training standard.

Fire marshal vs fire warden at a glance

Question	Fire marshal	Fire warden
Is it the same job?	Yes	Yes
Is the title named in fire safety law?	No	No
Main job in an emergency	Help everyone leave safely	Help everyone leave safely
Day to day job	Spot and report fire risks	Spot and report fire risks
Training course	Same course	Same course
Who tends to use the term	Offices, construction, events	Schools, care, public buildings

The best advice is to pick one title and use it everywhere: in your fire plan, on your notice boards and in your training records. That way nobody is confused on the day.

What the law says about fire marshals and fire wardens

In England and Wales, workplace fire safety is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The Order puts duties on the “responsible person”. That is usually the employer, but it can also be the owner, landlord or anyone in control of the premises.

The Order never says “fire marshal” or “fire warden”. Instead it asks for “competent persons” in two places:

• Article 13 says you must name competent people to carry out your firefighting measures. Their number, training and equipment must be adequate for the size of the building and its hazards.
• Article 15 says you must set up procedures for serious danger, including fire drills, and name a “sufficient number” of competent people to carry out the evacuation.

A person is competent if they have enough training, experience or knowledge to do the job properly. That is exactly what a trained fire marshal or fire warden is.

Training duties for all staff

Article 21 says every employee must get adequate fire safety training when they start and again when their risks change, such as a new role or new equipment. It must happen in working hours and be repeated from time to time. Fire marshals need more than this basic level. Our fire awareness course covers the basics for all staff.

What changed in October 2023

Since 1 October 2023, the responsible person for premises in England must record the full fire risk assessment and their fire safety arrangements, whatever the size of the business. Your list of fire marshals and how they are organised is part of those arrangements, so write it down.

If you are not sure your fire risk assessment is up to date, that is the place to start. Acorn’s assessors are independent and impartial. We don’t sell extinguishers or install alarms, so our advice is based only on what your building needs.

Fire marshal vs fire warden duties: before, during and after a fire

Whatever you call them, the duties are the same. Most of the work happens before there is ever a fire.

When	What a fire marshal or fire warden does
Day to day	Checks fire exits and escape routes are clear. Makes sure fire doors are shut and not wedged open. Reports damaged extinguishers, signs or lights. Spots risks such as overloaded sockets or rubbish piled near heat.
Fire drills	Helps run drills at least once a year. Times how long it takes to clear the area. Notes what went wrong.
When the alarm sounds	Sweeps their area. Checks toilets, meeting rooms and quiet corners. Guides people to the nearest safe exit. Helps anyone who needs extra support.
At the assembly point	Reports to the person in charge. Confirms their area is clear or says who is missing. Stops people going back inside.
Afterwards	Helps record what happened. Feeds back on any problems so the fire plan can be improved.

Should a fire marshal fight the fire?

Only if it is safe to do so and they are trained. The main job is getting people out, not putting fires out. A trained marshal may use an extinguisher on a small fire to clear an escape route, but they should never put themselves at risk. Our fire extinguisher training teaches staff when to tackle a fire and when to walk away.

Helping people who need support to leave

Some people can’t use the stairs or may not hear an alarm. They should have a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP), and your fire marshals need to know what is in it. If your building uses evacuation chairs, make sure enough people are trained on our evacuation chair training course.

How many fire marshals or fire wardens do you need?

There is no set number in the law. The Order only says you need a “sufficient” number, judged by the size of your building and its hazards. Your fire risk assessment should set the number for your site.

That said, many fire safety professionals use a simple rule of thumb as a starting point:

Fire risk level	Typical workplaces	Rough guide
Lower risk	Offices, shops, small surgeries	At least 1 per 50 people
Normal risk	Schools, warehouses, light industry, hotels	At least 1 per 20 people
Higher risk	Commercial kitchens, sites with flammable materials, care homes, buildings where people sleep or need help to leave	At least 1 per 10 people

Treat these numbers as a floor, not a target. Then adjust for the things below.

Things that push the number up

• More than one floor or wing. Each area needs someone who can sweep it quickly.
• Shifts and opening hours. You need cover at 6am and 10pm, not just 9 to 5.
• Holidays and sickness. Train a few extra people so you are never left short.
• Visitors and the public. Strangers don’t know your exits.
• People who need help. Each PEEP may need one or two named helpers.

A quick worked example

Say you run a two floor office with 60 staff. Using the low risk guide, you might think 2 marshals is enough. But you have one on each floor, so if one is off sick, a whole floor has no cover. Add holiday cover and hybrid working, and 4 to 6 trained marshals is much safer.

Not sure how many your site needs? Talk to our team or call 0117 958 2070 and we’ll help you work it out.

How to appoint fire marshals in 6 steps

1. Check your fire risk assessment. It should tell you the risk level of your premises and any special hazards. If it is old or missing, get it reviewed first.
2. Map your building and your hours. List every floor, area and shift. Count how many people are in each one, including visitors.
3. Choose the right people. Pick staff who are on site most of the time, stay calm, speak up and can move around the building easily. Ask for volunteers rather than forcing the role on someone.
4. Train them properly. Book them onto a fire marshal and fire warden training course, then walk them round your own building so they know its exits, alarm points and assembly point.
5. Give them the tools. Hand out high-vis vests or tabards, a map of their sweep area and a short checklist. Make sure they are listed on your fire notices.
6. Record, practise and review. Write down who your marshals are and which area each one covers. Run drills, learn from them and update the list whenever people leave or the building changes.

Fire marshal vs fire warden training: what good training covers

Because the job is the same, so is the training. A good fire marshal course gives people the knowledge to spot problems and the confidence to act in an emergency. Here is what Acorn’s Fire Marshal and Fire Warden course covers:

Topic	Why it matters
Fire law and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005	Marshals understand their role and the duties of the responsible person.
How fire starts and spreads	Helps them spot real risks on daily checks.
Types of fire and common causes	Links what they see at work to what could go wrong.
Safety features in buildings	Fire doors, alarms, lighting and signs, and how to check them.
Fire risk assessment for marshals	Shows how their checks feed into the wider assessment.
Fire extinguishers, theory and live fire practice	Builds real confidence using the right extinguisher safely.
Safe evacuation and assembly points	The core of the job on the day.

Course format and booking

The course runs as a half day session, about 3 hours, at our training centre in Warmley, between Bristol and Bath. You can book a place on an open course date, or we can run it in-house at your premises anywhere in the UK. In-house training uses your own building and exits, which makes it stick. We also offer fire safety e-learning for general staff awareness.

You can see our full range on the fire safety training page, or read our guide to basic fire safety training in Bristol.

Fire marshals and fire wardens by sector

The job is the same everywhere, but some sectors need more cover.

Health and social care

Care homes often have residents who can’t leave without help, and night shifts run on fewer staff. That means more marshals and more practice. See our health and social care page.

Schools and education

Schools have lots of young people, visitors and after school clubs. Wardens need to cover every block. See our education and training page.

Hospitality and catering

Kitchens carry a higher fire risk, and hotels have guests who sleep on site and don’t know the building. See our hospitality and catering page.

Construction and trades

Sites change every week, so escape routes and fire points change too. Marshals need to check routes often. See our construction and trades page.

Local authorities and public buildings

Libraries and leisure centres need marshals who can guide members of the public who don’t know the exits. See our local authorities page.

Fire marshal vs fire warden FAQs

Is there a legal difference between a fire marshal vs fire warden?

No. Neither title appears in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Both describe the “competent persons” the law asks you to name to help with firefighting and evacuation.

Is it a legal requirement to have a fire marshal?

Not by that name. But the law says you must name enough competent people to carry out your fire procedures and evacuation. In practice, that means trained fire marshals or fire wardens.

How many fire marshals do I need?

Your fire risk assessment should decide. A common rule of thumb is at least 1 per 50 people in low risk sites, 1 per 20 in normal risk sites and 1 per 10 in higher risk sites. Add extra cover for floors, shifts, holidays and people who need help to leave.

Does fire marshal vs fire warden training cover the same things?

Yes. It is the same course. Acorn runs one Fire Marshal and Fire Warden course that suits either job title.

How long does fire marshal training take?

Acorn’s course is a half day, about 3 hours, including a practical session with fire extinguishers on a live fire.

How often should fire marshals refresh their training?

The law says training must be repeated from time to time and whenever risks change. Many organisations refresh fire marshal training every three years, with fire drills at least once a year. Retrain sooner if your building, layout or fire plan changes.

Should a fire marshal tackle a fire?

Only if it is safe and they are trained to do it. Their main job is to get people out. They should never put themselves at risk to save property.

Can a fire marshal also be a first aider?

Yes, but avoid relying on the same person for both. During an evacuation, a marshal will be busy sweeping their area. It is better to have separate people trained in first aid.

Fire marshal vs fire warden: which job title should we use?

Either is fine. Pick one and use it in your fire plan, notices and training records so nobody is confused in an emergency.

Is online fire marshal training enough?

Online training is good for theory and for refreshers. But hands on practice with extinguishers and a walk round your own building make a big difference on the day. Many employers mix both.

Book fire marshal training with Acorn

Now you know the answer to fire marshal vs fire warden, the next step is making sure you have enough trained people in place. Acorn Health and Safety has trained thousands of people across Bristol, Bath and the South West. We are a Qualsafe registered centre, an IOSH approved training provider and ISO 9001 accredited. Find out more about our accreditations.

• Book your team onto our Fire Marshal and Fire Warden training.
• Get your fire risk assessment done or reviewed.
• Hand your health and safety over to us with our Hassle Free retained service.

Call us on 0117 958 2070, email [email protected] or request a callback.