We are inviting your views on proposed updated guidance for managing physical fitness within fire and rescue services.
The current Managing Physical Fitness guidance was originally developed over a decade ago through the FireFit programme, bringing together scientific evidence to support the development of fitness standards, testing approaches, and a framework for managing firefighter fitness. While it has provided a strong foundation for many years, it is now recognised that aspects of the guidance are outdated and no longer fully reflect current evidence, operational practice, or sector needs.
To ensure the guidance remains relevant, evidence-based and fit for purpose, NFCC has commissioned Occupational Performance Solutions – led by the original authors, Dr Richard Stevenson, and Professor James Bilzon – to review, update and redevelop the content. This work has incorporated current (2026) best practice, strengthened the supporting evidence base, and modernised the structure and usability of the guidance.
As part of this process, the guidance has been restructured into two distinct documents:
Managing Physical Fitness – Background and Policy
This document provides the strategic framework, setting out the legal context, evidence base, and principles underpinning fitness management. It is designed to support senior leaders and stakeholders in implementing robust, consistent, and defensible fitness policies.
Managing Physical Fitness – Practice
This document provides practical guidance for those responsible for delivery, including exercise testing, risk assessment, data management and the safe implementation of fitness policies within services.
Together, these documents aim to provide clearer, more accessible, and up-to-date guidance to support services in maintaining a fit, healthy and operationally effective workforce, while recognising the varied delivery models and operational contexts across fire and rescue services.
You can review the draft guidance document here: NFCC Managing Physical Fitness guidance
As you read the draft guidance, you will see that it is supported by key resources - these will be inserted into the final version of the document, but currently can be accessed via the following packs:
Resource Pack 1: MPF Resource Pack 1: Background pdf
Resource Pack 2: MPF Resource Pack 2: Practice pdf
Firefighter Simulation Test Demonstration Video: Demonstration video MP4
Please note that the documents provided for consultation are draft versions and have not yet undergone copyediting.
If you would like to prepare your response in advance, you can review the questions here: MPF consultation questions export pdf
There is also a save and continue function that can be used throughout the consultation so that you can return to your response later and pick up where you left off.
This survey will close end of the day on Monday 13 July 2026.
Following the consultation period, feedback will be reviewed and used to inform further refinement of the guidance. The final documents will then be subject to full NFCC copyediting and formatted in line with accessibility requirements prior to publication on the NFCC website.
If you have any questions, please contact PCLHub@NFCC.org.uk
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this consultation.
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