Assumptions and pay data
- Grey Book (7th edition, 2025), Section 3 Part C para 2, watch manager to firefighter, including Control: 25 days Scale A plus 5 days Scale B, and 3 long-service days. Part-time employees get these pro-rata.
- Long-service leave applies if you have 5 years' continuous service at the start of the leave year, which runs from 1/1 to 31/12. In the year you reach 5 years, you get a proportionate share (para 9).
- Full time is 42 hours a week here, so a leave day is 8.4 hours. Shift rotas often convert leave into shifts, so your service may show it differently.
- Public holidays: 8 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (para 12). On shifts, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day count on the day they fall (para 13).
Annual Leave Calculator
EnglandFire and rescue authorityFramework from 1/7/2026
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Guide for Fire Safety Officer
This guide summarises contractual annual leave for Fire Safety Officer under Fire and Rescue pay (NJC) at Fire & Rescue. Part-time staff receive a pro-rata share based on contracted hours.
Annual leave for Fire Safety Officer
As Fire Safety Officer at Fire & Rescue, annual leave usually follows Fire and Rescue (NJC). A full-time employee with around three years' service might receive about 30 days (252 hours at typical full-time hours) per year, before pro-rating for part-time hours. Bank holiday treatment varies; check whether they are included in the stated total. Part-time staff receive a pro-rata share based on contracted weekly hours.
Example scenario
Example at 2 years' service and 42 hours a week: 30 days plus 8 public holidays, the Grey Book scale for firefighter to watch manager
| Sector terms (example) | Fire and Rescue (NJC) |
|---|---|
| Years of service (example) | 2 |
| Annual leave days (example) | 30 |
| Hours (full-time example) | 252 |
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do Grey Book staff up to watch manager get?
25 days of Scale A and 5 days of Scale B leave, so 30 days, plus 8 public holidays. After 5 years' continuous service you get 3 long-service days on top, making 33.
What is the difference between Scale A and Scale B leave?
Scale B and long-service days can be taken on any duty day, including several in a row, when the service can spare you. Off-duty days that fall within a period of annual leave count as Scale A leave.
How is part-time leave worked out?
In proportion to your hours. At 21 hours a week (half of 42), 30 days becomes 15 days, or 126 hours: 30 days at your own day length of 4.2 hours. Public holidays work the same way: 4 days, or 33.6 hours.
I am on the retained (on-call) duty system. Does this apply?
No. Retained staff get four weeks' paid leave, or five weeks with 5 years' continuous retained service at the start of the leave year (para 3). A week means seven days in a row free from duty.
Does retained service count towards long-service leave?
Partly. If you move to wholetime or part-time, three years on the retained duty system count as one year, and six years as two (para 2).
What if I am on Green Book (support staff) terms?
Some fire safety posts are support staff roles on council Green Book terms. Then the Green Book applies: at least 25 days, rising to 28 after 5 years' continuous service, plus public holidays.
Can I carry leave over?
Leave not taken by the end of the leave year (31/12) is lost, unless your service lets you take it by 31/3 of the next year (para 7).
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About this role
What is a Fire Safety Officer?
A Fire Safety Officer works on prevention, inspections and enforcement. They may work for a fire service or organisation. Pay is on fire or local scales.
Typical demands, progression and balance
Fire safety offers prevention and variety. Pay and satisfaction depend on employer and role. Progression to senior officer or manager is common.
What is my annual leave entitlement?
Use the figures on this page for your sector’s leave rules, including pro-rata for part-time where that applies. Teachers under STPCD use directed time and school holidays instead of a separate leave pot. Always check your contract or school calendar for exact dates.
Disclaimer
Illustrative estimates, not legal or HR advice. Your contract and your employer's policy decide your actual entitlement.