How Often Must Fire Safety Assistants Be Trained?
There is no universal interval for repeating fire safety assistant training that applies identically to every organisation. Where the fire risk is normal, the current ASR A2.2 gives a proven interval of two to five years. The employer determines the specific interval through the risk assessment.
The short answer
For a normal fire risk: two to five years.
This interval comes from ASR A2.2. It does not apply automatically. The employer must derive the interval from the risk assessment. Changes in the workplace may require an earlier refresher.
The Technical Rule for Workplaces ASR A2.2 requires a sufficient number of employees to become familiar with fire-fighting equipment through instruction and exercises. Expert instruction covers workplace fire safety arrangements, fire hazards, behaviour in the event of a fire and the function and effect of the fire-fighting equipment provided.
Why are intervals of 2 to 5 and 3 to 5 years mentioned?
In practice, organisations often encounter two figures. The current ASR A2.2, issued in May 2018 and most recently amended in May 2025, describes repeating instruction and an exercise every two to five years as proven practice where the fire risk is normal.
DGUV Information 205-023 recommends an interval of three to five years for refresher training for fire safety assistants. Both statements make the same point. The workplace situation, not a fixed calendar date, is decisive. Planning should be based on the current ASR interval of two to five years, with the selected interval documented in a traceable manner.
Example: An office with stable processes and a normal fire risk may justify a different interval from an organisation with frequently changing work processes, increased fire loads or several shifts.
When is an earlier refresher required?
The DGUV identifies workplace changes as a reason for shorter intervals. In particular, consider bringing the refresher forward if:
• the fire risk or the results of the risk assessment change significantly,
• new production or work processes require different extinguishing agents, fire-fighting equipment or response tactics,
• fire safety assistants move to an area where incipient-stage fires must be assessed or tackled differently,
• new building sections, shift patterns or organisational structures change the existing fire safety arrangements.
After significant changes, do not wait until the end of a previously defined cycle. Review the risk assessment and adapt the training plan where necessary.
What should an effective refresher include?
A refresher should not repeat knowledge only in theory. ASR A2.2 expressly includes practical extinguishing exercises as part of expert instruction. Useful components include:
1. Current workplace situation: alarm procedures, escape routes, assembly points, responsibilities and special hazards.
2. Fire behaviour and limits: recognise an incipient-stage fire, avoid personal risk and stop in good time.
3. Fire-fighting equipment: selection, operation, extinguishing effect and safe handling of the appliances provided.
4. Practical exercise: using a fire extinguisher under expert supervision.
Site-specific instruction is also important. Participants must know which appliances are available and how the organisation’s alarm and fire safety procedures work.
Do not confuse annual instruction with a fire safety assistant refresher
General occupational health and safety instruction for employees is separate from qualification as a fire safety assistant. Under Section 4 of DGUV Regulation 1, instruction must be repeated where necessary and at least once a year. Instruction may also be required when duties change or new work equipment is introduced.
This regular instruction does not automatically replace expert fire safety assistant instruction with a practical extinguishing exercise. Conversely, the two-to-five-year ASR A2.2 interval does not mean that fire safety topics may be omitted from annual instruction.
Practical check for training plans
1. Review the risk assessment: consider fire hazards, activities, buildings and the groups of people present.
2. Ensure coverage: plan for shift work, holidays, sickness absence, remote working and multiple sites.
3. Justify the interval: document the selected period and the workplace factors on which it is based.
4. Monitor changes: do not wait for the regular refresher date when relevant changes occur.
Also check how many fire safety assistants your organisation needs and how holidays, sickness absence and shift work should be taken into account.
Frequently asked questions
Do fire safety assistants have to be trained every year?
No. For expert instruction with a practical exercise, ASR A2.2 gives a proven interval of two to five years where the fire risk is normal. The general instruction required at least annually is separate.
Is a practical extinguishing exercise required during refresher training?
Yes. Under ASR A2.2, practical exercises using fire-fighting equipment form part of expert instruction for fire safety assistants. A theory-only refresher does not fully meet this requirement.
Does the certificate of attendance have a fixed expiry date?
The relevant rules do not use a single expiry date that applies to every organisation. The decisive factors are the refresher period defined through the risk assessment and any relevant workplace changes.
Qualify fire safety assistants safely and practically
Bitzer Brandschutz offers scheduled open courses in Munich and in-house training for organisations.
Sources and technical basis
Technical review completed on 23 July 2026. Only official primary sources were used:
• BAuA: ASR A2.2 “Maßnahmen gegen Brände” (Measures against Fire) - https://www.baua.de/DE/Angebote/Regelwerk/ASR/ASR-A2-2
• DGUV Information 205-023 “Brandschutzhelfer” (Fire Safety Assistants) - https://publikationen.dguv.de/regelwerk/dguv-informationen/2848/brandschutzhelfer
• DGUV Regulation 1 “Grundsätze der Prävention” (Principles of Prevention) - https://publikationen.dguv.de/regelwerk/dguv-vorschriften/2909/dguv-vorschrift-1
• German Occupational Safety and Health Act, Section 12 “Unterweisung” (Instruction) - https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/arbschg/__12.html
This article provides general technical guidance. The specific decision for an organisation must be based on its risk assessment and does not replace an individual assessment.
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