In-House Fire Safety Assistant Training or an Open Course: Which Is Right?
A scheduled open fire safety assistant course is quick to book and well suited to individuals. In-house fire safety assistant training brings theory and practice directly into the organisation’s own context. The better format depends not only on price, but also on participant numbers, locations, shifts and special fire hazards.
What both course formats must provide
A shorter journey or favourable group price must not result in missing theory, individual practical experience or site-specific instruction.
Regardless of location, the training must include expert theoretical instruction, a realistic practical exercise and sufficient practice time for every person. Where the fire risk is normal, the DGUV specifies at least two 45-minute teaching units for theory. Experience indicates five to ten minutes of practical exercise time per person.
Fire safety assistants must also receive instruction on the site-specific conditions and their area of responsibility. This is the point at which open and in-house formats differ organisationally.
Scheduled open training: flexibility for individual employees
Open course dates are useful when individual people need to qualify at short notice, new employees need training or several small sites require only a few places. The employer can register participants for a scheduled open fire safety assistant course without needing a minimum group size.
The course covers the general and practical content. The organisation must arrange the subsequent instruction on alarm procedures, special hazards and available fire-fighting equipment unless this has already been covered individually.
Suitable for individual participants or small numbers
Fixed dates and a predictable external training venue
Exchange with participants from other organisations
Site-specific instruction must be arranged separately
In-house training: direct connection to the site
For in-house training, the instructor comes to the organisation. This allows existing alarm procedures, special areas and fire-fighting equipment to be included specifically. For larger groups, it reduces travel time and simplifies coordination with shifts. Organisations can request in-house fire safety assistant training directly.
The site must provide a suitable area for theory and practice. The training area must be planned safely, with the weather, neighbours, traffic routes and space requirements taken into account. In-house training does not automatically mean that all site-specific instruction has been completed. Its scope should be agreed clearly in advance.
Suitable for cohesive groups and several shifts
Direct connection to the building, alarm procedures and workplace equipment
Less travel for employees
Suitable rooms and a safe training area are required
Compare more than the course fee
For a small number of people, individual places on an open course are often economical. As the group size grows, in-house training may become less expensive because employee travel and absence times are reduced. Internal room arrangements, safety coordination and possible repetitions for different shifts must also be considered.
Coverage is more important than a simple price comparison. If an open course reaches only day-shift employees, the night shift may remain without enough fire safety assistants. A more suitable format can therefore be the better organisational solution even if its price per person is higher.
Decision matrix for employers
Consider participant numbers, schedule, sites, language and workplace characteristics together. A mixed model is often useful: scheduled open courses for short-notice additional qualifications and recurring in-house groups for planned coverage.
1 to 3 people with an urgent need: an open course is usually practical
Larger group at one site: assess in-house training
Special systems or hazards: prioritise a direct link to the site
International teams: decide the training language early
Shift work: stagger dates according to actual attendance
Questions to clarify before booking
Ask for confirmation of the content, duration, practical element, group size and instructor’s qualifications. Clarify which training extinguishers will be used and whether every person will practise individually. The overview of fire safety assistant training in Munich compares scheduled open and in-house course formats.
For in-house dates, also decide who will provide and document the site-specific instruction. With open courses, the employer needs a clear internal process so certificates do not simply end up in personnel files without the holder gaining local knowledge.
Frequently asked questions
Is in-house training legally better?
No. Both formats can meet the technical requirements. In-house training makes it easier to connect the content to the organisation, while site-specific instruction must be arranged separately after an open course.
From how many people is in-house training worthwhile?
That depends on price, travel, absence time, rooms and shift planning. There is no fixed universal threshold. Larger cohesive groups often favour in-house training for organisational reasons.
Can the practical exercise take place in a seminar room?
The real extinguishing exercise requires a suitable and safely planned training area. Theory can take place in a seminar room. The practical element requires space, a fire simulator and safety measures.
Sources and technical basis
Combine scheduled open courses and in-house training
The right training format
Bitzer Brandschutz supports organisations in planning suitable groups, dates and practical exercises for their fire safety arrangements.
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