What to Look for in a VR Fire Safety Training Solution
VR is becoming an increasingly practical way to deliver fire safety training. It allows people to practise responding to fire scenarios in a controlled environment, repeat training when needed, and gain experience without the risks and logistics associated with real fires.
But choosing the right VR fire safety training solution involves more than choosing a VR headset. The training experience, physical interaction, fire scenarios, feedback and training management all play an important role.
Here are some of the key things to consider when choosing a VR fire safety training solution.
What is VR Fire Safety Training?
VR fire safety training uses virtual reality to simulate fire scenarios and allow users to practise how to respond.
Instead of only learning the theory behind fire extinguishing, trainees can actively practise identifying a fire, handling an extinguisher and attempting to extinguish the fire in a simulated environment.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer combines a VR application with a physical interactive extinguisher, allowing users to practise extinguishing virtual fires through physical interaction.
What Should You Look for in a VR Fire Safety Training Solution?
Realistic Fire Scenarios
Realistic fire behaviour is an important part of creating an effective training experience.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer simulates fire scenarios where the fire reacts to the user's actions. This allows trainees to practise responding to changing fire behaviour and experience how different extinguishing techniques affect the fire.
The training includes different fire scenarios designed to help users practise responding to a range of situations.
A Physical Interactive Extinguisher
Physical interaction is a central part of the Vobling VR Fire Trainer.
Instead of using only VR controllers, the training uses a realistic interactive fire extinguisher that the trainee physically handles during the training session.
The extinguisher is connected to the VR experience, allowing the user's actions to affect what happens to the virtual fire.
This gives trainees the opportunity to practise the physical movements involved in using a fire extinguisher while training in a safe virtual environment.
Different Fire Types
Fire safety training should allow users to practise responding to different types of fires.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer includes training scenarios for Class A, B, E and F fires, as well as lithium battery fires.
This allows users to practise responding to different fire scenarios and understand that the appropriate response can vary depending on the type of fire.
Different Extinguishing Agents
The type of extinguishing agent used is another important part of fire extinguisher training.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer supports multiple types of extinguishers and extinguishing agents, including:
Powder
Water
CO₂
Wet Chemical
Foam
Lithium
Water Mist
The training simulates the behaviour and effectiveness of different extinguishing agents, allowing users to experience how their choice of extinguisher affects the fire.
Mixed Reality
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer also supports Mixed Reality on compatible Meta Quest devices.
Using Passthrough, virtual fire scenarios can be placed within the user's physical surroundings. This allows trainees to remain aware of their real environment while interacting with virtual fire scenarios.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer also supports Hand Tracking on supported devices, providing an alternative way to interact with the training experience. Hand Tracking is available on compatible Meta Quest devices and is also available as an experimental feature on HTC VIVE headsets.
Passthrough are currently available on supported Meta Quest devices. These features are not available on HTC VIVE Focus 3 or HTC VIVE Vision.
Feedback and Training Data
Training should provide more than an experience. It should also give users and organisations insight into performance.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer provides feedback and training data that can help users understand their performance and give organisations greater insight into their training sessions.
This can help make training more measurable and provide a basis for continued learning.
Training Management
For organisations training multiple employees, managing training activities can be just as important as the training itself.
The Vobling Training Platform is designed to help organisations manage their VR training centrally.
It allows organisations to manage users, organise and plan training, access insights and manage training activities across their organisation.
Headset Compatibility
Hardware compatibility is an important consideration when choosing a VR fire safety training solution.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer currently supports:
Meta Quest 3
Meta Quest 3S
HTC VIVE Focus 3
HTC VIVE Vision
For the full Vobling VR Fire Trainer experience, including Mixed Reality and Hand Tracking, Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S are recommended.
The Mixed Reality features are not available on the supported HTC VIVE headsets.
Continuous Updates
A VR training solution should be able to evolve as technology and training needs develop.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer is continuously updated with improvements, new features and new training capabilities.
Recent development has expanded the experience with features such as Mixed Reality, Hand Tracking and the Vobling Training Platform.
Fire Safety Training Requirements
When introducing a new training method, it is important to understand how it fits into the requirements and guidance relevant to your organisation.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer has been approved for use in Hot Work courses in Sweden since 2022 and in Norway since 2024.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer is also aligned with relevant fire safety training requirements and guidance in the markets where it is used:
Sweden: Approved by Brandskyddsföreningen for use in relevant fire safety training.
Norway: Digital extinguishing with VR is permitted by DSB as part of the official ADR practical training curriculum.
SVEBRA: The Vobling VR Fire Trainer complies with the requirements of SVEBRA 2026:3 Guideline for Practical Fire Extinguishing Training.
Brandskyddsföreningen: The Vobling VR Fire Trainer complies with the requirements of SBF 2022:1 Annex 3, Section 2.3 (Extinguishing Simulator Systems).
Requirements and guidance can vary depending on the country and training context. Always make sure that the training solution you choose is appropriate for the specific requirements that apply to your organisation.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a VR Fire Safety Training Solution
Before introducing VR fire safety training, consider questions such as:
What types of fires can users train on?
Which extinguishing agents are available?
Does the solution use a physical interactive extinguisher?
How realistic are the fire scenarios?
Does the training provide feedback and performance data?
Does it support Mixed Reality?
Which VR headsets are supported?
Can training be managed across multiple users or locations?
How is the solution updated?
Does the solution fit the fire safety training requirements relevant to your organisation?
The answers can help you determine whether a VR fire safety training solution is suitable for your organisation, users and training goals.
Choosing a VR Fire Safety Training Solution
The right VR fire safety training solution should support the complete training experience, from realistic fire scenarios and physical interaction to feedback, training data and training management.
The Vobling VR Fire Trainer combines a physical interactive extinguisher with realistic virtual fire scenarios, multiple fire types and extinguishing agents, and immersive features such as Mixed Reality and Hand Tracking. Together with the Vobling Training Platform, organisations can also manage and gain insight into their training activities.
If you are considering VR fire safety training, look at how the solution supports your training goals, your users and the way your organisation delivers training.
Explore the Vobling VR Fire Trainer
Discover how the Vobling VR Fire Trainer can bring practical, immersive fire extinguisher training into your organisation. Visit www.vobling.com/vrfiretrainer.
