Crowd Management Requirements: Enforced in 2025

Starting in 2025, Denver Fire will begin enforcing crowd management requirements at outdoor events with more than 1,000 attendees, in alignment with the base Fire Code.

What’s required?

A minimum 1:250 ratio of trained crowd managers to attendees.

Why it matters:

Effective crowd management helps prevent crowd crush—a dangerous situation caused by overcrowding and limited movement, which can lead to panic, falls, and injury. Risk can be reduced by:

• Clearly marking exits and fence breaks
• Ensuring accessible exit paths for individuals with disabilities
• Positioning trained staff or volunteers at key exit points

Training options:

• International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)
• National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM)
• Coming soon: The Event Safety Alliance and Event Safety Alliance Canada are jointly creating a new virtual Crowd Manager training program, expected to launch by early Summer—check back for updates.

Best practices:

See FEMA Special Events Planning Job Aids Manual (Chapter 2; pages 2-10 through 2-15).

Questions? Contact: specialeventsDFD@denvergov.org