Training Course for Fire Safety Officers in English (Brandschutzbeauftragte:r - BSB)

Your path to becoming a fire safety expert: course overview

To take part in the fire safety officer training course, you must have successfully completed the fire protection warden (BSW) training course.
Please upload your BSW certificate or fire safety passport when you register.

As a fire safety officer, it is your responsibility to plan and implement measures and safety precautions for fire prevention within your organisation.

You will record the company’s fire safety plans and precautions in a fire safety logbook, support the contractors you have appointed to install and maintain fire safety systems, conduct fire safety and evacuation drills with your colleagues, and act as the first point of contact for colleagues and the fire service in the event of a fire.

The role of fire safety officer, as required by law, is a role that you will perform – depending on the size of the business – either alone or as part of a team, either in addition to your regular duties or as your sole responsibility. You will acquire the necessary basic specialist knowledge during this training.

In addition

• you will expand your knowledge of the legal provisions relevant to workplace fire safety – such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Workplace Regulations, the Labelling Regulations, commercial law provisions, the Liquefied Gas Regulations, the Regulations on the Storage of Flammable Liquids, the Aerosol Packaging Storage Regulations, the Pyrotechnics Act, etc.
  You will gain a detailed understanding of the legal provisions relevant to your role as a fire safety officer and acquire knowledge of liability issues and your personal liability as a fire safety officer.
  
  
• you will gain a detailed understanding of the objectives and measures of structural fire protection: the guidelines of the Austrian Institute for Building Technology (Österreichische Instituts für Bautechnik - OIB), the requirements for construction products (building materials and components), fire compartments, fire doors, escape routes and fire protection in high-rise buildings.
  
  
• you will deal with technical fire protection systems – fire detection using fire size indicators, automatic fire alarm systems, smoke extraction systems, automatic extinguishing systems, fire service lifts, dry risers and building radio systems.
  You will learn how the systems are structured, what the system components look like and what you need to bear in mind when operating the systems.
  
  
• you will learn about the organisation and responsibilities of workplace fire safety: the legal framework, bodies and duties in detail, areas of responsibility, liability issues, training, the necessary operational conditions for successful work as a fire safety officer, behaviour in the event of a fire, internal fire safety inspections and evaluations (purpose, scope, checklists, defect reports), fire alarm and evacuation drills, maintaining the fire safety logbook, preparing for a fire brigade operation, approval procedures for fire-hazardous activities, and drawing up fire safety regulations.
  
• you will examine fire risks and hazards such as lightning strikes, friction and mechanical energy, electrical energy, welding work, open flames and light, spontaneous combustion, heat transfer, heating appliances, container explosions, explosive gases and batteries.
  
• learn about the tasks involved in initial and advanced firefighting: you will deepen your knowledge of fire classes and their specific characteristics, examine fire extinguishing agents in detail, learn about general rules of conduct during firefighting, the provision of portable fire extinguishers and determining the required number of extinguishers, the provision of wall hydrants, and the hazards associated with firefighting.

What you will learn in this course

• Practical skills - you will have gained an understanding of the legal requirements relevant to workplace fire safety.
  
  
• You will be familiar with the objectives and measures of structural fire protection in detail.
  
  
• You are familiar with the equipment used in technical fire protection systems, know how the systems are structured, what the system components look like, and what you need to bear in mind when operating the systems.
  
  
• You understand the organisation and tasks of workplace fire safety.
  
• Sie kennen und erkennen Brandrisiken und Brandgefahren.
  
  
• You recognise and identify fire risks and hazards.
  
  
• You are familiar with the tasks involved in initial and advanced firefighting assistance.
  
  
• You have acquired the knowledge required by the Technical Guidelines for Preventive Fire Protection (TRVB 117 O) of the Austrian Federal Fire Service Association and the Austrian Fire Prevention Authorities in order to sit the examination to become a fire safety officer.

Who stands to benefit most from this qualification?

• Anyone acting as a fire safety officer within their organisation in accordance with Section 43 of the Workplace Regulations (AStV).
  
• Operators of fire safety systems, such as fire alarm systems, smoke and heat extraction systems, water-based extinguishing systems and sprinkler systems, etc.
  
  
• Staff responsible for building services and plant safety
  
• Safety representatives (Sicherheitsvertrauenspersonen) and safety officers (Sicherheitsfachkräfte)

• To take part in the fire safety officer training course, you must have successfully completed the fire protection warden (BSW) training course.
  Please upload your BSW certificate or fire safety passport when you register.
  
• And please bring your fire safety passport or training certificate to the training as proof.
  
• Participants whose first language is not German must have a command of German at least at B2 level.

• You will complete the course with a written multiple-choice exam.
  
• Upon passing the exam, you will receive a certificate and an entry in your fire safety passport, which is valid throughout Austria, in accordance with the provisions of the Technical Guidelines for Preventive Fire Protection (TRVB 117 O).

• To become a fully qualified fire safety officer, you must complete further training courses on the systems used in your workplace, as well as usage-specific courses depending on the type of establishment in which you will be working as a fire safety officer – such as a specialised course for hospitals or care homes, for establishments at particularly high risk of fire, or for premises with large gatherings of people, such as theatres, etc.
  
• As a fully qualified fire safety officer, you must complete a refresher course comprising at least 6 teaching units every 5 years in order to continue practising as a fire safety officer.
  
  
• The training is delivered in collaboration with our partner, the Institut zur Förderung von Brandschutz und Sicherheit (IFBS).
  
• KThe training course for fire safety officers takes place at the IFBS Training Centre, Maculangasse 12, 1220 Wien.
  
• Refreshments during breaks and lunch are included in the course fee.