Fire Safety Training

Fire Awareness Training Course

A half-day, in-company fire safety course that gives every member of your team the awareness to prevent fire, recognise hazards and evacuate safely, with an optional hands-on extinguisher session.

½ day · at your site In-company UK-wide Certificate of attendance All staff, no prior knowledge
Key facts at a glance
½ day
Course lengthdelivered at your premises
All staff
Who it is forno experience needed
Optional
Extinguisher practicalyou supply the extinguishers
~3 yrs
Suggested refresherbest-practice interval
Two ways to run it

Choose the half-day that fits your site

Both options run for half a day at your premises and cover the same core fire-safety syllabus. The difference is the hands-on extinguisher exercise at the end.

Classroom

Fire Awareness

½ day theory session
  • The law, set by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
  • How fire starts, spreads and is prevented
  • Classes of fire and the right extinguisher for each
  • What to do when the alarm sounds: evacuation and muster
Request a quote
The course
Quick answer

What is fire awareness training?

Fire awareness training is a short course that teaches everyone in a workplace how fire starts and spreads, how to prevent it, and what to do if the alarm sounds. KeyOstas delivers it in half a day at your premises, with an optional hands-on extinguisher session.

Meets the staff fire-training duty in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Suitable for every employee, with no prior knowledge needed
Optional practical: delegates discharge a real extinguisher
Certificate of attendance for every delegate
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the ‘responsible person’ for a workplace must make sure employees are given adequate fire safety training. Fire awareness training is the simplest way to meet that duty for your whole workforce. It is not a qualification. It is practical, workplace-focused instruction, and your own fire procedures, alarm and assembly points can be built into the session.
½ day
time off the floor
RRFSO 2005
the legal driver
All staff
should be trained
Is it right for you

Is fire awareness training right for your team?

It is the right starting point for almost every workplace. Here is how to be sure.

Right for you if…

You need to give all staff the basic fire training the law requires
You want a short session that fits around a working day
Your team should know your alarm, escape routes and assembly points
You would like staff to practise using an extinguisher (optional)
You are inducting new starters or refreshing existing staff

A different course fits better if…

You need to appoint fire wardens or marshals (see Fire Warden & Marshal training)
You need someone to carry out your fire risk assessment (see Fire Risk Assessment training)
You want a regulated, accredited qualification, as this is a certificate of attendance
After the course

What you will be able to do

By the end of the half day, every delegate will be able to do the following.

Knowledge

Understand the law

Outline what the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires of your employer and of you.

Know how fire behaves

Explain the fire triangle, how fire spreads, and the basic precautions that stop it starting.

Spot fire hazards

Identify the common ignition sources and fuel hazards in your own workplace.

Match extinguisher to fire

Recognise the classes of fire and know which extinguisher to use, and which never to use.

In an emergency

Raise the alarm

Know how to raise the alarm quickly and what happens next.

Evacuate safely

Leave the building by the safest route and reach the assembly point.

Use an extinguisher

On the practical option, safely discharge an extinguisher on a small, controlled fire.

Support an evacuation

Understand the fire warden’s role and how to follow their instructions.

Course content

What the course covers

The same syllabus runs in both options; the practical exercise is added for the extinguisher version.

01

The law & your responsibilities

  • Health and safety legislation overview
  • How fire safety is managed in the workplace
  • The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
  • The role of the ‘responsible person’
02

How fire works

  • The chemistry and principles of fire, including the fire triangle
  • How fire and smoke spread through a building
  • Basic fire precautions and good housekeeping
03

Fire-fighting equipment

  • The classes of fire
  • Extinguisher types, colours and correct uses
  • Other extinguishing methods such as fire blankets and hose reels
  • Fire safety signs and what they mean
04

If there is a fire

  • The role and functions of the fire warden / marshal
  • Raising the alarm and evacuation procedures
  • Leaving safely and reaching assembly points
  • Your site’s own fire procedures, built into the session
05

Practical extinguisher exercise (optional)

  • Identify the correct extinguisher for the fire
  • Understand how to operate it safely
  • Discharge an extinguisher on a controlled fire
  • You supply the extinguishers, a safe area and combustible material
Assessment

How the course is assessed and certificated

Practical, instructor-led training, with no written exam.

Format

Instructor-led, in-company

A KeyOstas tutor delivers the session at your premises, using your own fire procedures and building layout.

Assessment

Practical and discussion-based

There is no exam. Understanding is checked through discussion and, on the practical option, the extinguisher exercise.

Certificate

Certificate of attendance

Every delegate receives a KeyOstas certificate of attendance on completion.

Fire awareness training has no legal expiry date, but most employers refresh it around every three years, and whenever procedures, premises or staff change.
Choosing a course

Which fire course does your team need?

KeyOstas runs three fire courses that work together. Most organisations use all three, and here is how they differ.

Fire Awareness

All employees
Length
Half day
Who
Every member of staff
Covers
Preventing fire, evacuating safely
Practical
Optional extinguisher session

Fire Warden & Marshal

Nominated staff
Length
Full day, or ½-day refresher
Who
Appointed wardens / marshals
Covers
Leading evacuations, supporting the FRA
Practical
Yes, on the full day

Fire Risk Assessment

Whoever assesses your premises
Length
Two days
Who
Managers, facilities, H&S staff
Covers
Carrying out the fire risk assessment
Practical
Full assessment workshop
A typical approach: train every employee in fire awareness, appoint and train a number of fire wardens, and have one or two people trained to carry out the fire risk assessment.
Why KeyOstas

Why train with KeyOstas

Four decades of practical, in-company health & safety training.

01

Delivered at your site

We come to you, anywhere in the UK, and train your team around your shift pattern.

02

Built around your premises

Your fire procedures, alarm, escape routes and assembly points go straight into the session.

03

Real extinguisher practice

Choose the practical option and every delegate discharges an extinguisher under supervision.

04

Specialists since 1984

Four decades of training UK workforces with practical instruction, not generic e-learning.

FAQ

Fire awareness training: frequently asked questions

Is fire awareness training a legal requirement?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the ‘responsible person’ for a workplace to provide adequate fire safety training to all employees. Fire awareness training is the standard way to meet that duty for your whole workforce.
How long is the course?
It runs for half a day. Both the awareness-only session and the version with the practical extinguisher exercise take the same half day.
What is the difference between the two options?
Both cover the same fire-safety syllabus. The version ‘with Extinguisher Training’ adds a hands-on session at the end where every delegate discharges a real fire extinguisher on a controlled fire.
Do we need to provide anything for the practical?
Yes. For the extinguisher exercise you supply the fire extinguishers, a safe outdoor area and combustible material. Your KeyOstas tutor runs the exercise safely.
How often should fire awareness training be refreshed?
There is no legal expiry, but most employers refresh it around every three years, and sooner if your premises, procedures or staff change.
Is this the same as fire warden training?
No. Fire awareness is for every employee. Fire wardens and marshals have a specific role in an evacuation and need the fuller Fire Warden & Marshal course.
Can the course use our own fire procedures?
Yes. We build your site’s fire procedures, alarm, escape routes and assembly points into the session so the training is directly relevant to your workplace.
Do delegates get a certificate?
Yes. Every delegate receives a KeyOstas certificate of attendance on completion.

Give your whole team their fire training

Tell us your site, team size and whether you would like the extinguisher practical, and we will put together a quote for in-company delivery anywhere in the UK.

Last reviewed: May 2026. Checked against the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and current HSE fire safety guidance.