Training fire safety assistants (Brandschutzhelfer): duty under ASR A2.2

In an emergency every minute counts – and in many businesses it is not clearly regulated who can actually fight a fire and help with evacuation. This is exactly why the legislature prescribes the training of fire safety assistants (Brandschutzhelfer).

In brief: Fire safety assistants (Brandschutzhelfer) are employees specially trained within the company for the initial firefighting response and for support during evacuation. Under ASR A2.2 and DGUV Information 205-023, employers must appoint and train a sufficient number of fire safety assistants – the guideline figure is around 5% of employees, with the exact number resulting from the risk assessment. If this workplace fire protection is missing, fines and additional liability risks in the event of damage are possible.

Who is affected?

In principle, every employer with staff is affected, regardless of industry or company size. How many fire safety assistants actually have to be appointed is not rigidly prescribed by ASR A2.2 but derived from the company's individual risk assessment – the guideline figure is around 5% of employees. In businesses with an increased fire risk, many employees or special structural conditions, the actual need may be higher than the guideline figure. Small businesses are not automatically exempt either: as soon as employees work in the company, it must be checked whether and how many fire safety assistants are required. Which of these obligations apply to your company specifically is shown by a tool such as Company Audit.

Why is the training mandatory?

The duty arises from the workplace rule ASR A2.2 and DGUV Information 205-023, which put workplace fire protection in concrete terms. The background is practical: in the first minutes of a fire, what often decides the outcome is whether trained employees are on site, whether an incipient fire can be contained with a fire extinguisher and whether an orderly evacuation can be initiated. Without appointed and trained fire safety assistants, the company lacks exactly this first level of response before the fire brigade arrives. If workplace fire protection is missing, fines are possible – and, in an actual loss event, additional liability risks for the employer.

What do you need to do in practice?

Implementation follows a fixed sequence of determining the need, training, appointment and documentation.

1. Derive the required number of fire safety assistants from the risk assessment (guideline figure 5%).
2. Have employees trained in a recognised course with theory and a practical firefighting exercise.
3. Appoint the fire safety assistants in the company and make them known.
4. Plan a refresher roughly every 3–5 years.
5. Document the training and appointment.

In practice it pays to factor in holidays and shifts so that enough fire safety assistants are actually present in the company at all times – training alone is not enough if nobody is on site in an emergency. The practical firefighting exercise with the fire extinguisher also markedly increases confidence in acting, since many employees otherwise never use a fire extinguisher under real conditions. Anyone who also documents the training and appointment in writing can prove compliance with the duty at any time during an inspection, simply and without gaps.

By when / how often?

The duty has no fixed deadline – it exists continuously as soon as employees work in the company. Anyone who hires new staff or expands locations should therefore check regularly whether the existing number of fire safety assistants is still sufficient. A refresher of the training should be planned roughly every three to five years so that firefighting technique and confidence in acting are not forgotten. It makes sense to enter fixed dates for initial and refresher training in the company calendar so that the repetition does not get lost in day-to-day business.

What are the consequences of a breach?

If workplace fire protection is missing or insufficient fire safety assistants are appointed, fines are possible. In practice this becomes relevant above all in the event of damage: if a fire occurs, authorities and insurers check whether enough fire safety assistants had been appointed and trained. If this proof is missing, additional liability risks arise for the employer that can go beyond a mere fine. The training and appointment of fire safety assistants should therefore be documented so that compliance with the duty can be proven if in doubt.

Frequently asked questions

How many fire safety assistants does a business need?

The guideline figure under ASR A2.2 is around 5% of employees. The exact number results from the risk assessment and may be higher depending on fire risk, number of people and the structural conditions of the business.

What do fire safety assistants learn in the training?

The training consists of a theory part and a practical firefighting exercise with the fire extinguisher. The aim is to be able to safely contain an incipient fire in an emergency and to support evacuation.

Does the training have to be repeated?

Yes, a refresher should be planned roughly every three to five years. This way, confidence in acting and handling of the fire extinguisher are retained even after a long time without use.

What happens if no fire safety assistants are appointed?

If workplace fire protection is missing, fines are possible. In the event of damage, additional liability risks may arise for the employer, for example if nobody trained was on site during the fire.

Does the duty also apply to small companies?

Yes. The duty to appoint and train fire safety assistants applies regardless of company size. Small businesses must also use the risk assessment to check how many fire safety assistants are required.

Source: ASR A2.2 · DGUV Information 205-023. This article is general information and does not replace legal advice in an individual case. As of: July 2026.