Every German employer must name staff to fight incipient fires and support evacuation - the Brandschutzhelfer. The technical rule ASR A2.2 sets 5 % of employees as the normal minimum, with more where the risk is higher, and notes that repeating the training with a practical extinguisher exercise every 2 to 5 years has proven itself in practice.
Last updated · ExpiryEdge editorial team
Under § 10 ArbSchG, German employers must name employees who fight fires and support evacuation. ASR A2.2 no. 7.3 says 5 % of employees is normally sufficient, more where fire risk is higher, and that shifts and absences must be considered. Training includes a practical extinguisher exercise and should be repeated every 2 to 5 years.
What the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the workplace rule ASR A2.2 require.
| Topic | Rule | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Duty to name staff | Employer names staff for firefighting and evacuation, after consulting the works council | § 10 (2) ArbSchG |
| Number | 5 % of employees is normally sufficient | ASR A2.2 no. 7.3 (2) |
| More assistants | e.g. increased fire risk, many people present, people with limited mobility, large premises | ASR A2.2 no. 7.3 (2) |
| Shifts and absence | Shift work and absence (training, holidays, sickness) must be considered | ASR A2.2 no. 7.3 (3) |
| Training content | Fire prevention basics, fire safety organisation, how extinguishers work, fire hazards, behaviour in a fire, practical extinguisher exercise | ASR A2.2 no. 7.3 (4), (5) |
| Repeat | Training with exercise every 2 to 5 years (normal fire risk); employer sets the interval in the risk assessment | ASR A2.2 no. 7.3 (5) |
Yes. § 10 ArbSchG obliges every employer to name staff for firefighting and evacuation, in proportion to the number of employees and the risks. ASR A2.2 makes this concrete: normally 5 % of employees, more with higher fire risk.
There is no expiry date, but ASR A2.2 notes that repeating the training with a practical exercise every 2 to 5 years at normal fire risk has proven itself in practice. The employer fixes the exact interval in the risk assessment - and that interval is the one to track.
Count per shift and area, not across the company. A night shift with 20 people needs its own assistants, and holidays, sickness or training days must not leave an area uncovered. Name deputies for every area.
The usual gap is not the number on paper but the night shift where the only trained assistant is on leave.
ASR A2.2 requires competent training with a practical exercise. In practice it is given by fire safety officers, safety specialists or specialised training providers. Ask your accident insurance institution whether it offers its own courses; the costs of safety measures may not be passed on to employees (§ 3 (3) ArbSchG).
The 5 % calculated, coverage per area and shift, and each assistant with their next repeat date.
Start from 5 % of employees and increase where the risk assessment shows higher fire risk, many visitors or people with limited mobility.
Name them after consulting the works council (§ 10 ArbSchG) and add deputies for holidays, sickness and every shift.
Book competent training that includes handling real extinguishers, and keep each certificate.
Fix an interval between 2 and 5 years in the risk assessment and schedule each person's repeat from their last training.
When an assistant leaves or changes shift, check the area still has enough trained people.
Each fire safety assistant is a record with area, shift, training date and the repeat date on your chosen interval. The assistant and their manager are reminded 90, 60, 30 and 7 days before, and the fire safety officer sees every overdue repeat across all sites.
Interval set per company or per area
Reminders by email, SMS, WhatsApp or Teams
Overdue list by area and shift
After the training, each participant uploads the certificate through a link - no account needed. The certificate sits on their record with the date, ready for an inspection by the Berufsgenossenschaft, the fire authority or your insurer.
No-login upload link
Automatic follow-up
Export per site as CSV, PDF or XLSX
ASR A2.2 no. 7.3 says 5 % of employees is normally sufficient. More are needed with increased fire risk, many people present, people with limited mobility or large premises, and shift work and absences must be considered.
It has no fixed expiry date. ASR A2.2 notes, as proven practice, repeating the training with a practical extinguisher exercise every 2 to 5 years at normal fire risk; the employer sets the interval in the risk assessment.
The employer. Costs of occupational safety measures may not be passed on to employees (§ 3 (3) ArbSchG). Some accident insurance institutions offer their own courses, so it is worth asking yours.
ASR A2.2 requires competent training including a practical exercise. It is typically delivered by fire safety officers, safety specialists or specialised training providers.
All employees need general instruction on fire safety and behaviour in a fire as part of their regular safety instruction. Fire safety assistants receive additional training with a practical extinguisher exercise.
Record each assistant with area, shift, training date and your repeat interval, and remind them and their manager before the date. ExpiryEdge does this per site, collects certificates by upload link and shows gaps across all sites.
Import assistants and training dates, set your interval, collect certificates by link. Free 14-day trial, no credit card.
