Pods, shepherd’s huts and yurts have boomed across Wiltshire and the wider countryside, but they are still paying-guest accommodation in the eyes of the law. Glamping pod fire safety follows the same principles as any let, with some sensible adjustments for these smaller, often off-grid structures.
Glamping pod fire safety starts with the law
The Fire Safety Order applies to these structures just as it does to cottages. The Home Office guidance confirms it covers holiday caravans, camping and glamping pods, bothies, lodges, shepherds’ huts, tents, tree houses and yurts. So you still need a recorded fire risk assessment. For these very basic premises, the guidance recommends following the government’s five-step checklist rather than the full template.
What is different
The guidance is honest that many of the fire protection measures designed for houses are unlikely to be appropriate or necessary here. As it points out, fire doors would not of course be appropriate in caravans or tents. The fire risks are generally low and the precautions are usually basic, but they still need proper, proportionate thought rather than being ignored.
Detection in small structures
The All-Wales guidance says that in the smallest sleeping accommodation, such as pods, huts and yurts, a long-life sealed battery system known as Grade F1 under BS 5839-6 may be suitable. If more than one detector is needed, the detectors are still required to be interlinked so they all sound together.
Heating, cooking and carbon monoxide
Many pods use wood burners or gas. Any solid fuel or gas appliance means you need a carbon monoxide alarm in that space, with clear instructions for guests. Treat a pod wood burner with the same care as one in a cottage, and store fuel safely away from the structure itself.
Escape and outdoor fires
With single-room structures, escape is usually straightforward, but keep the exit clear and easy to open from inside. Be especially careful with barbecues and fire pits outdoors, particularly near heathland or forest where a stray ember can start a wildfire. Provide a simple information sheet covering the exit, how to call 999, and a what3words location for remote sites.
Get advice for off-grid sites
Off-grid and rural pods raise specific questions about power, heating and access. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service can advise, and a competent assessor will help you get the detection and precautions right.
The particular risks of pods and huts
Glamping pods, shepherd’s huts and lodges bring their own fire challenges. They are often timber, frequently off the mains, and can be a distance from help, so a fire develops fast and the brigade takes longer to arrive. The fire service guidance confirms that pods, huts, yurts and similar structures are covered by the Fire Safety Order just as a house would be. Fit detection suited to the structure, keep a clear way out, and think hard about heating: wood burners and gas appliances in a small timber space need a carbon monoxide alarm and generous clearances. Provide a fire blanket and clear instructions. Spacing pods apart matters too, so a fire in one cannot spread to the next, and guests should know exactly where they are, since giving an address to a 999 operator is harder on a remote pitch.
Check access for a fire engine too, since a narrow gate or a track that is impassable in winter can delay help when minutes matter most on a remote site far from a station.
Get the right advice for your property
Running a glamping site and unsure on fire safety? For advice tailored to your property from a competent professional, speak to Jamie at ESI: Fire Safety on 01276 300 351.
