Fire Safety Series – How many Fire Marshals do you need?

Fire Safety Series: How Many Fire Marshals Do You Need?

Updated: 13th August 2026 – How many fire marshals do you need in your business? This is easily one of the most common questions our team hears from business owners, site managers, and safety leads across the UK.

The short answer is that there is no single rule for every business. UK fire safety law does not set a rigid “one marshal per 10 workers” ratio or a set floor area calculation. If fixed ratios existed, workforce planning would be a lot simpler.

Your required numbers come down to your specific workplace fire risk assessment. That assessment is always your starting point. If you do not have an up-to-date fire risk assessment in place, you need to get one sorted right away. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a risk assessment is a legal requirement for all businesses. Operating without one can invalidate your commercial insurance and leaves you open to prosecution.

Read our complete guide to Fire Risk Assessments and workplace safety strategies here.

When an alarm sounds, your fire marshals must safely guide Relevant Persons out of the building. Marshals are there to check their designated zones, but they should never take unnecessary risks or put themselves in harm’s way.

How Many Fire Marshals Do You Need in Your Workplace? The Core Rules

When working out the right numbers for your site, keep these basic workplace rules in mind:

Evacuation Times and Building Layout

• Calculating search and evacuation times: Historically, UK guidance (including older guides from the Department for Communities and Local Government, which ran from 2006 to 2018) suggested a standard 2.5-minute target to search an area and reach safety. Modern British Standards (such as BS 9999:2017 and BS 7974) use a calculated approach instead. Your Fire Risk Assessment works out actual egress times based on your building fabric, layout, and fire dynamics. Your marshals must be able to complete their sweeps within the specific time framed in your site’s Fire Strategy.
• Floor and department coverage: Appoint at least one (and ideally two) fire marshals for every floor or department. For large, complex, or maze-like buildings, split responsibility across extra marshals so no area gets missed.
• Multiple buildings: If your site spans several buildings or separate outbuildings, each individual building needs its own dedicated marshals.

Occupant Needs and Building Risk

• Occupant density: Densely packed working areas need more marshals to manage crowd movement safely in an emergency.
• Specific occupant needs: You need extra marshals if your site hosts higher-risk groups, such as members of the public, older adults, people with disabilities or mobility needs, or sleeping occupants in care homes and hotels.
• Building hazard profiles: High-hazard workplaces (like manufacturing plants with flammable materials) need a higher proportion of trained fire marshals alongside strong fire precautions.

Assembly Points and Absence Cover

• Assembly point management: Fire marshals need to manage assembly points outside. If you use multiple assembly points, make sure you have enough marshals on hand to staff every one.
• Public footfall: Busy public spaces (such as transport hubs, sports venues, or places of worship) need extra marshals to guide visitors who do not know the building layout.
• The rule for absence cover: Once you work out your baseline number, double it. You must account for staff holidays, sickness, shift patterns, and off-site meetings. If your only marshal is on leave when an alarm sounds, your site is left without cover.

Fire Marshals vs Fire Wardens: What is the Difference?

People often use the terms “fire marshal” and “fire warden” interchangeably, but many organisations divide these duties into two separate roles. Understanding the distinction helps you work out how many people to train on your site.

A fire warden usually focuses on proactive, day-to-day prevention. They carry out routine checks to ensure fire doors remain closed, extinguishers stay in place, escape routes stay clear, and alarm systems work properly. Their main job is stopping fires before they start.

A fire marshal takes on a reactive role during an actual emergency. When the alarm sounds, they sweep designated areas, direct people to safety, assist individuals with mobility needs, and report back to the main assembly point coordinator. If your business combines both sets of responsibilities into a single role, those individuals need comprehensive training covering both daily fire safety management and emergency evacuation procedures.

How Many Fire Marshals Do You Need for Higher-Risk Sites?

To figure out if your premises need extra fire marshals, run through these quick questions with your team:

• Do you use a “stay in place” or phased evacuation strategy?
• Is your site classed as a high-risk workplace?
• Do you operate in a historic, high-rise, or underground building with unique escape challenges?
• Does your building include high-security zones needing keycard access?
• Has your site experienced previous fire incidents, whether accidental or deliberate?

Keeping Your Marshal Ratios and Training Up to Date

Working out how many fire marshals you need is not a one-time exercise. Your staffing requirements change whenever your business grows, moves location, or alters its shift patterns.

You should review your marshal numbers whenever you update your building risk assessment, alter floor layouts, or introduce new work processes. If staff turnover is high, check your coverage list regularly to make sure shift gaps have not developed quietly.

Regular refresher training keeps your marshals confident and legally compliant. Most UK safety guidelines recommend refreshing fire marshal training every one to two years, ensuring your team knows exactly how to respond when an emergency happens.

How Many Fire Marshals Do You Need? Summary and Next Steps

We hope this practical breakdown gives you a clear picture of what your business needs. If you want help getting your fire risk assessment sorted, or if you need to book accredited training for your team, get in touch with our team today. We are always happy to help.

Related Links

• Fire Marshal Training Online (e-learning)
• Fire Marshal Training (Face-to-Face)
• Fire Marshal Training for Care Homes (e-learning)
• Fire Safety Series: How Often Should Fire Safety Training Be Undertaken?