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Exam Review

Key Facts: NEBOSH Fire Safety Exam

45/100

FSC1 Provisional Pass Mark

NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety learner guide

24 hours

FSC1 Open-Book Window (~5 hours of work)

NEBOSH

2 units

FSC1 Exam + FSC2 Practical Risk Assessment

NEBOSH

4 per year

FSC1 Sittings (Feb, May, Aug, Nov 2026)

NEBOSH

SCQF Level 6

Qualification Level (RQF Level 3 equivalent)

NEBOSH

28 hours

Minimum Taught Hours

NEBOSH learner guide

75+

Marks for Distinction Grade

NEBOSH grading boundaries

The NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety suits managers, facilities staff and safety reps responsible for fire safety in low-to-medium risk premises. Unit FSC1 is an open-book scenario exam - around 5 hours of work within a 24-hour window - testing six elements: managing fire safety (Fire Safety Order 2005 duties, enforcement, Fire Safety Act 2021), principles of fire and explosion (fire triangle, flash point, LEL/UEL, fire classes, spread mechanisms, dust explosions), fuel/oxygen/ignition controls (arson, hot work, DSEAR zoning, HSG51 storage), fire protection of buildings (compartmentation, fire doors, BS 5839-1 detection, BS EN 3 extinguishers, sprinklers), safety of people (travel distances, evacuation strategies, PEEPs), and the five-step fire risk assessment. The provisional FSC1 pass mark is 45 out of 100 and sets the grade (Credit 65, Distinction 75). Unit FSC2 is a roughly 3-hour practical fire risk assessment marked Pass/Refer. FSC1 runs quarterly (4 February, 6 May, 5 August and 4 November 2026); FSC2 is on demand. Minimum 28 taught hours; no entry requirements.

Sample NEBOSH Fire Safety Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the NEBOSH Fire Safety exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, who is normally the 'responsible person' for fire safety in a workplace?
A.The local fire and rescue authority that inspects the premises
B.The employer, where the workplace is to any extent under the employer's control
C.The most senior trained fire marshal on each shift
D.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Explanation: Article 3 of the Fire Safety Order 2005 defines the responsible person in a workplace as the employer, where the workplace is to any extent under the employer's control. The responsible person owes the duties in Articles 8-22, including the Article 9 fire risk assessment.
2Which body is the principal enforcing authority for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in most non-domestic premises in England and Wales?
A.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
B.The local authority environmental health department
C.The local fire and rescue authority
D.The Crown Premises Fire Inspection Group for all premises
Explanation: Article 25 of the FSO makes the local fire and rescue authority the enforcing authority for the great majority of non-domestic premises, with powers to inspect and to serve alterations, enforcement and prohibition notices.
3A fire and rescue authority inspector finds that the risk to people in a nightclub is so serious that its use should be restricted immediately. Which notice should the inspector serve?
A.A prohibition notice under Article 31 of the Fire Safety Order
B.An enforcement notice under Article 30 giving 28 days to comply
C.An alterations notice under Article 29
D.An improvement notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act
Explanation: Article 31 of the FSO allows a prohibition notice where use of premises involves, or will involve, a risk to relevant persons so serious that use ought to be prohibited or restricted; it can take effect immediately.
4Which of the following is an UNINSURED cost that a business typically bears after a serious workplace fire?
A.Rebuilding costs paid out under the buildings policy
B.Replacement of stock covered by the contents policy
C.Business interruption payments received from the insurer
D.Loss of customer goodwill, reputation and market share
Explanation: Intangible losses such as customer goodwill, reputation, lost orders and market share cannot be insured and are a key financial argument for managing fire safety; many businesses never reopen after a major fire.
5The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that, in multi-occupied residential buildings, the Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to which parts of the premises?
A.Only the internal common parts such as corridors and stairways
B.The structure, external walls (including cladding, balconies and windows) and flat entrance doors
C.Only the inside of individual flats
D.Only buildings over 18 metres in height
Explanation: The Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed that the FSO covers the building's structure, external walls - including cladding, balconies and windows - and the entrance doors of individual flats in multi-occupied residential buildings, so these must be covered by the fire risk assessment.
6Which set of tasks best describes the routine, day-to-day role of a workplace fire marshal (fire warden)?
A.Carrying out the premises fire risk assessment on behalf of the responsible person
B.Servicing the fire alarm panel and replacing detector heads
C.Checking escape routes are unobstructed, fire doors are closed and extinguishers are in place, and sweeping their area during an evacuation
D.Deciding the building's evacuation strategy and compartmentation standards
Explanation: Fire marshals provide day-to-day monitoring - keeping escape routes clear, checking fire doors and equipment - and during an alarm they sweep their allocated area and report to the assembly point controller.
7Following the Building Safety Act 2022 amendments to the Fire Safety Order (in force 1 October 2023), when must the significant findings of a fire risk assessment be recorded?
A.In every case - all responsible persons must now record the fire risk assessment in full, regardless of how many employees they have
B.Only where five or more people are employed
C.Only where the premises hold a licence
D.Only where an alterations notice is in force
Explanation: Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 amended Article 9 of the FSO so that, from 1 October 2023, every responsible person must record their fire risk assessment in full, whatever the size of the business.
8Which three elements make up the classic fire triangle?
A.Fuel, smoke and heat
B.Heat, carbon dioxide and fuel
C.Fuel, oxygen and heat (a source of ignition)
D.Oxygen, pressure and ignition energy
Explanation: Combustion needs fuel, an oxidiser (normally the oxygen in air) and heat sufficient to ignite the fuel; removing any one side of the triangle prevents or extinguishes fire.
9What is the 'flash point' of a flammable liquid?
A.The temperature at which the liquid ignites without any external ignition source
B.The lowest temperature at which the liquid gives off enough vapour to form an ignitable mixture with air that flashes momentarily when an ignition source is applied
C.The temperature at which the liquid boils and produces continuous vapour
D.The lowest temperature at which the vapour will keep burning for at least five seconds
Explanation: Flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid produces sufficient vapour to flash momentarily when an ignition source is applied; liquids with flash points below ambient temperature (such as petrol at about -40 degrees C) are especially hazardous.
10Which definition correctly describes the auto-ignition temperature of a substance?
A.The temperature at which vapour flashes when a spark is applied
B.The minimum temperature a flame must reach to spread across a surface
C.The temperature at which a liquid's vapour pressure equals atmospheric pressure
D.The lowest temperature at which the substance will ignite spontaneously without any external ignition source
Explanation: Auto-ignition (spontaneous ignition) temperature is the lowest temperature at which a material ignites of its own accord, without a spark or flame - for example vapours igniting on contact with a hot surface such as an exhaust manifold.

About the NEBOSH Fire Safety Exam

The NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety is the UK's leading vocational fire safety qualification, designed for anyone with fire safety responsibilities in low-to-medium risk workplaces - health and safety managers, facilities managers, fire marshals and safety representatives. It replaced the former National and International Certificates in Fire Safety and Risk Management. Assessment has two units: FSC1, an open-book scenario examination completed within a 24-hour window, and FSC2, a practical fire risk assessment of a real workplace. The syllabus spans managing fire safety, fire and explosion principles, ignition and fuel controls, fire protection of buildings, safety of people, and the fire risk assessment process. The qualification sits at SCQF Level 6 (equivalent to RQF Level 3) with quarterly FSC1 sittings.

Exam sponsor: NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

FSC1: about 5 hours of work within a 24-hour open-book window; FSC2: about 3 hours

Passing Score

FSC1: 45 out of 100 (Pass 45-64, Credit 65-74, Distinction 75+); FSC2: Pass/Refer - both units must be passed

Exam / Certification Fees

Set by the Learning Partner; typically GBP 700-900 including tuition and assessments

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

7%

Managing Fire Safety

Moral and financial arguments for fire safety, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 responsible person duties, Fire Safety Act 2021, enforcement and prohibition notices, fire safety management roles

18%

Principles of Fire and Explosion

Fire triangle, flash point and auto-ignition, LEL/UEL flammable range, BS EN 2 fire classes A-F, fire spread by convection, conduction, radiation and direct burning, deflagration vs detonation, dust explosions, BLEVE

14%

Fuel, Oxygen and Ignition Sources and Controls

Arson prevention, electrical fire causes, hot work permits and fire watch, DSEAR hazardous area zoning, HSG51 flammable liquid storage limits, LPG storage, static bonding and earthing, housekeeping, oxygen enrichment

25%

Fire Protection of Buildings

Compartmentation, fire doors and intumescent strips, fire-stopping and cavity barriers, structural steel protection, smoke and heat detection, BS 5839-1 alarm categories M/L/P, BS EN 3 extinguisher types, sprinklers, gaseous suppression, dry risers

14%

Safety of People in the Event of Fire

Travel distances and protected stairways, emergency escape lighting to BS 5266-1, ISO 7010 escape signage, panic hardware, simultaneous/phased/progressive horizontal and stay-put evacuation, PEEPs and refuges, drills and fire marshals

22%

Fire Safety Risk Assessment

The five-step fire risk assessment methodology, identifying ignition/fuel/oxygen hazards and people especially at risk, evaluating and prioritising risk, recording significant findings, emergency plans, review triggers, PAS 79

Preparing for the NEBOSH Fire Safety Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: FSC1: 45 out of 100 (Pass 45-64, Credit 65-74, Distinction 75+); FSC2: Pass/Refer - both units must be passed
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: FSC1: about 5 hours of work within a 24-hour open-book window; FSC2: about 3 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: Set by the Learning Partner; typically GBP 700-900 including tuition and assessments Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NEBOSH Fire Safety: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorise the five steps of the fire risk assessment in order - identify hazards; identify people at risk; evaluate, remove, reduce and protect; record, plan, inform, instruct and train; review - because FSC1 scenario tasks are structured around applying them
2Learn the BS EN 2 fire classes (A solids, B liquids, C gases, D metals, F cooking oils) together with the matching BS EN 3 extinguisher colour bands: cream foam, blue powder, black CO2, canary yellow wet chemical
3Know the key legal facts: the responsible person under Article 3 of the Fire Safety Order 2005, the 45-mark FSC1 pass standard, and the October 2023 Building Safety Act change requiring all fire risk assessments to be recorded in full
4Drill the headline numbers: roughly 18 m single-direction and 45 m alternative-route travel distances for normal risk, 30 m maximum travel to a Class A extinguisher (BS 5306-8), weekly call point tests, and 3-hour emergency lighting duration (BS 5266-1)
5Practise distinguishing fire spread mechanisms - convection up stairwells, conduction along steel, radiation across gaps, direct burning - because scenario questions ask you to explain how a fire would spread in a described building
6For FSC1, prepare a tabbed copy of your course notes and the syllabus: the exam is open book, but with about 5 hours of tasks you need to find references quickly rather than research from scratch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety?

It is NEBOSH's vocational fire safety qualification for people with fire safety responsibilities in low-to-medium risk workplaces. It replaced the former National and International Certificates in Fire Safety and Risk Management and sits at SCQF Level 6 (equivalent to RQF Level 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) with 5 SCQF credits.

How is the NEBOSH fire safety certificate assessed?

There are two units. FSC1 is an open-book examination: you receive a realistic workplace scenario and complete a series of tasks, with 24 hours to submit although NEBOSH estimates about 5 hours of actual work. FSC2 is a practical fire risk assessment of a real workplace, taking around 3 hours, which can be completed at your own place of work.

What is the pass mark for FSC1?

The provisional pass mark for FSC1 is 45 out of 100. Grades are based only on FSC1: Pass is 45-64 marks, Credit is 65-74, and Distinction is 75 or higher. FSC2 is marked Pass or Refer, and you must pass both units to be awarded the certificate.

When can I sit the FSC1 exam in 2026?

FSC1 has four set open-book examination dates per year. The confirmed 2026 sittings are 4 February, 6 May, 5 August and 4 November. The FSC2 practical assessment is available on demand through your Learning Partner.

How much study does the qualification need?

NEBOSH specifies a minimum of 28 taught hours plus around 20 hours of private study - 56 notional hours including assessment. Element 4 (fire protection of buildings, 7 tuition hours) and Element 6 (fire safety risk assessment, 6 hours) carry the most teaching time.

What legislation do I need to know?

The syllabus centres on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - the responsible person, the Article 9 fire risk assessment, and enforcement, alterations and prohibition notices - plus the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022 amendment that, from 1 October 2023, requires every responsible person to record their fire risk assessment in full.

Are there entry requirements?

No formal entry requirements apply, although NEBOSH recommends English language ability equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or higher because FSC1 requires written answers to scenario tasks. Both units must be completed within five years of passing the first unit.