Fire Safety Training Comparison Guide


Immersive fire extinguisher training vs live fire extinguisher training


Compare immersive fire extinguisher training with live fire extinguisher exercises to find the safest, most effective solution for your team.

 Whilst live fire training offers hands-on experience, it comes with significant safety risks, higher costs, and logistical challenges. Immersive fire extinguisher training delivers realistic, repeatable scenarios without real flames or disruption, boosting engagement, compliance, and confidence in a safer, more scalable way. This comparison guide outlines the key differences to help you choose the right approach for your fire safety training program.

Workplace Safety – Fire Live Fire Extinguisher Training
Cost Lower cost training solution, negating the need for live fire equipment, refills, high logistical expenses, etc. High cost due to permits, equipment, fuel, extinguisher refills, and safety oversight
CO₂ Emissions 0 emissions CO₂ and chemical discharge during each live fire training event (the average live fire training session emits 150 kg CO₂ from fuel and 1.4 kg CO₂ from water extinguisher use)
Water & Resources No water, foam, or powder required Uses real extinguishers, water, and chemicals; contributes to environmental waste
Human Risk Safe simulation with no exposure to heat, fire, or chemicals Exposure to real heat, smoke and chemicals
Business Disruption No site setup or operational interruption; can run onsite in any 3x3m indoor space Requires evacuation zones, safety checks, and can be disruptive to business operations
Realism Immersive scenarios that replicate real-world fire emergencies in a safe and controlled environment Real fire and physical suppression, but limited in scenario variety providing training for one fire type only
Space Required 3x3m space needed; fits in a meeting room Requires large outdoor space or fire training ground
Logistics Portable, quick to deploy; no site prep required. Lightweight and portable for ease of transportation between locations Needs permits, extinguisher refills, fire safety officers, and setup/cleanup time. Difficult to transport between locations
Compliance & Reporting Automatically tracks completion, performance, and reporting digitally with Capture for ease of compliance and auditing Lacks digital tracking and requires manual reporting
Scalability Easily scalable across sites and teams Logistically difficult to scale
Training Consistency Deliver consistent and repeatable training Live burns vary by instructor, weather, and setup
Knowledge Retention Higher retention due to immersive repetition and feedback Retention limited by one-off nature and stress of live fire


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We hope you find it useful! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@flaimsystems.com.

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