If you run a business in Cumbria and you're not sure whether your staff need fire marshal training, the short answer is: they almost certainly do. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires every workplace to have a sufficient number of trained fire marshals, and CFST's CPD-accredited courses in Penrith make that straightforward. Below is what's coming up in May 2026 and who should be on the list.
The Fire Safety Order places responsibility on the "responsible person" for each premises — usually the employer, building owner, or whoever has day-to-day control. One of their duties is making sure enough people are trained to assist with evacuation and fire prevention. There's no magic formula for numbers; the government's own guidance suggests one fire marshal per floor as a starting point, but the figure should reflect your fire risk assessment. A care home with residents who need help evacuating will need more trained staff than a two-person office.
May is a strong month to get training booked. It falls during Learning at Work Week, and for hospitality businesses across the Lake District it's the last window before summer staffing ramps up. Getting fire marshals trained before temporary workers arrive means your core team is already confident and ready to lead. For the latest May 2026 dates, check CFST's upcoming courses page.
CFST's fire marshal course is split into classroom learning and practical exercises. Your team will cover fire science and behaviour, the Fire Safety Order's requirements, evacuation procedures tailored to your workplace type, and record keeping. The session finishes with hands-on extinguisher practice — according to the Fire Industry Association, a common cause of extinguisher misuse is people not knowing which type to use on which fire class. Everyone who completes the course receives a CPD-accredited certificate valid for three years.
If your sole trained fire marshal is on holiday, off sick, or working remotely, you have zero trained cover. Your fire risk assessment must account for shift patterns and absence — and certificates from 2023 expire this year. Check yours now.
There's no fixed legal number. Your fire risk assessment should determine how many you need based on your building layout, the number of occupants, and any specific risks. As a general guide, one trained fire marshal per floor per shift is a reasonable starting point. Premises with vulnerable occupants, like care homes or nurseries, will need more.
The widely accepted refresher period is every three years. Some insurers and regulatory bodies expect annual refresher awareness alongside the full three-year recertification. CFST's online CPD modules can bridge the gap between in-person courses.
In practice, the terms are used interchangeably in most UK workplaces. Some larger organisations use "fire warden" for the person who sweeps a specific zone and "fire marshal" for the person who coordinates the overall evacuation. CFST's course covers both roles, so the distinction doesn't affect what you need to book.
CPD accredited fire safety and first aid training delivered online or at your premises anywhere in Cumbria.
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