Fire safety watch; recognition of own forces

For events with increased fire risks, the operator of a place of assembly must set up a fire safety guard, whereby a fire safety guard from the fire department must be present at every event on large stages and stage areas with a floor area of more than 200 m².

A fire safety watch by the fire department is not required if the operator has a sufficient number of trained personnel to perform the fire safety watch duties and the fire protection authority has confirmed this to the operator.

The fire protection service in this sense is part of the district administrative authority.

The following minimum requirements are deemed necessary for the members of a fire safety guard provided by the operator:

• Minimum age of 18 years,
• Completed squad training (squad leader qualification)
• Knowledge of the local fire department,
• Knowledge of the venue (e.g. fire safety regulations, alarm planning, etc.).

The fire protection authority may impose further requirements on the fire safety guard.

Anyone who fails to set up a fire safety watch or fails to ensure that a fire safety watch from the fire department is present or, in the case of events expected to attract more than 5,000 visitors, fails to notify the authority responsible for medical and rescue services of this in good time is committing an administrative offense.

• Ordinance on Places of Assembly - VStättV

  Fire safety watch, medical and rescue service

• Art. 4 para. 2 sentence 1 Bavarian Fire Service Act (BayFwG)