Our claims team have noticed an increase in the number of fires occurring at holiday parks across the UK. It’s not excessive, but in the past it’s possible that such tragedies would only occur every few years. It’s not clear whether this is a shape of things to come, or just a blip, but it certainly focuses attention on fire safety, both inside the caravan or lodge and in and around the park.
We’ve profiled a company in this issue – pages 10 & 11 – that help with fire risk assessment for caravan owners who let their caravans and there’s plenty or sensible advice available for dealing with your own fire safety in your holiday home. However, what about your surroundings and that of your fellow owners at the park?
A common enquiry, from NACO members is whether there is any law that covers distances between caravans and lodges sited on UK holiday parks. Whilst we’ve run similar articles in the past, it seemed a useful time to highlight the topic and give those of you that aren’t aware of the requirements placed on licensed holiday caravan parks a bit of an insight.
Let’s start with the basics…
To run a park home site, caravan or camping site you need a licence from the local authority. Conditions may be attached to a licence to cover any of the following:
- Restricting when caravans can be on the site for human habitation or restricting the number of caravans that can be on the site at any one time
- Controlling the types of caravans on the site
- Controlling the positioning of the caravans or regulating the use of other structures and vehicles including tents
- To ensure steps are taken to enhance the land, including planting/replanting bushes and trees
- Fire safety and firefighting controls
- To ensure that sanitary and other facilities, services and equipment are supplied and maintained
One of the primary purposes of a caravan site license is to ensure that the risk of the spread of fire is minimised, that there is appropriate access to the site for emergency services and that facilities appropriate to the nature and size of the site are provided.
To ensure that this is done, the licence is issued subject to conditions and a copy of the licence is displayed on site. In years gone by the council would inspect the site regularly to ensure that the conditions are being complied with. However, in more recent times (post-austerity, post-COVID) councils seem to be more reactive, given their resources. We’ve recently been dealing with a situation where caravan owners have raised concerns about fire safety and after some pressure, visits have been made and recommendations suggested.
If you want the last word on your park’s individual terms, you’ll need to get a look at the license itself, most are very similar and when it comes to spacing (distances between caravans). It’s based on ‘Model Standards’ – here’s an extract:
“…the minimum spacing distance between caravans made of aluminium or other materials with similar fire performance properties must be not less than 5 metres between units and 3.5 metres at the corners.
For caravans and pods with a plywood / timber or similar skin and for canvas tents or where there is a mixture of holiday caravans of aluminium and plywood or tents, the separation distance must be 6 metres. The point of measurement for porches and awnings is the exterior cladding of the caravan.
Where there are ramps for the disabled, verandas and stairs extending from the unit, there must be 3.5 metres clear space between them and the next unit (4.5 metres where there is a mixture of caravans) and such items must not face each other in any separation space. If they are enclosed, they shall be considered as part of the unit and, as such, must not intrude onto the 5 metre (or 6 metre) separation space…”
We often end up with questions about this topic when a park owner writes to a caravan owner about an object or structure that is not in line with ‘health and safety’. The enquiry ends up raising further questions about the park’s own H&S and what they’re doing to ensure appropriate measures are taken across the park.
If you’ve got concerns about your park and its safety, what should you do?
A start point should always be your park manager or owner. Depending on circumstances this might not be viable, and the next step is probably to speak to fellow caravan owners. If there’s a general feeling on the park about the issue, it’s much better to have the support of a few owners rather than being a lone voice. Don’t go on the campaign trail with this though! Speak to a few trusted counterparts and go from there.
The next phase could always be to speak to the council or fire service, but it’s best to seek our advice first as we’ll be able to coach you through the best channels and might even be able to connect you with other NACO members at the park.
Fire risk assessment and fire safety has always been incredibly important, but in an era where authorities aren’t overtly monitoring situations at holiday parks across the UK it pays to be on your mettle with this.
If this article raises any concerns or questions NACO members can contact our Advice Team by emailing [email protected]
