Prevention: We carry out regular protection and enforcement activities shaped by our understanding of risk across the county.

We have positive relationships with our business communities and as such we find that businesses are happy to allow us to have access and exit details including key holder information and other details that assist in us in providing an efficient service. Our business fire safety team engages with businesses to encourage best practice and educate communities to operate in a safe manner.

A risk-based intervention programme overseen by the fire safety team enables high-risk premises to be identified through inspection outcomes or the development of national trends. Identified properties can then be further selected for tactical planning considerations. Qualified fire safety inspectors provide 24/7 cover for fire safety advice. We actively support national campaigns as part of regular awareness raising activities. We also collaborate with Trading Standards landlords, local councils, and community safety partnerships.

We enforce the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which places legal duties on individuals and organisations to ensure fire safety in non-domestic premises. Our enforcement actions include:

Response: Other residential properties will have a response proportionate to the risk, and this will be calculated by our ‘Vision’ mobilising system. Tall buildings for example will automatically generate a response of six appliances and an aerial appliance, whereas other specific addresses may generate a more specific response.

We carry out SSRI visits which are pre-planned inspections to gather detailed information about specific premises or sites that may present unique or significant risks in the event of a fire or other emergency. This ensures fire crews can access up-to-date risk information about the property in a timely manner via MDTs. This keeps firefighters and the public safe.

Gloucestershire's growing population is driving a steady increase in other residential dwellings, including new care homes and a rising number of UK based holiday properties. While the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 has significantly improved fire safety standards in multi occupancy buildings, the county now faces a new generation of risks linked to modern construction methods, innovative materials, and increasingly complex building systems.

Modern construction techniques, new insulation products, and lightweight structural systems can behave unpredictably in fire conditions. Fire safety inspectors and operational crews must maintain a current understanding of emerging building technologies. Recruiting and retaining technically knowledgeable inspectors and investing in their continuous professional development will be essential to high quality regulatory oversight and providing informed advice to responsible persons.

Many of these premises incorporate advanced fixed installations such as sprinkler systems, smoke control ventilation, and automated air handling units. While these systems can significantly improve life safety and support evacuation, they also introduce operational considerations for attending crews, particularly around smoke movement, compartmentation, and system isolation.

In parallel, the increasing adoption of green technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, and heat pumps, creates additional hazards that require updated tactical awareness and safe system of work procedures.