DEFRA has released a revised Flood Rescue Concept of Operations (FRCO). This summary highlights the key changes and their relevance for organisations responsible for flood and water rescue.
In December 2025, DEFRA issued an updated Flood Rescue Concept of Operations (FRCO). While the core framework remains familiar, the 2025 revision introduces important refinements that affect how flood and water rescue capability is defined, trained, and maintained.
This summary highlights the key changes and what they mean for organisations responsible for flood and water rescue capability.
For a full, detailed analysis of the FRCO 2025, including additional context from the Outreach Rescue training team, download the PDF using the form below.
Who the FRCO applies to
The FRCO 2025 applies to organisations and individuals who manage, train, command, or deploy flood and water rescue assets. This includes Fire and Rescue services, as well as Ambulance HART and other statutory and voluntary organisations involved in flood and water rescue operations.
Background to the FRCO
A series of large-scale UK floods in 2007 led to the creation of the Flood Rescue Concept of Operations (FRCO). Issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), it provides the national framework for flood and water rescue, setting expectations for asset typing, training standards, equipment requirements, and command arrangements to support coordinated multi-agency flood response.
Key Changes to FRCO (2025)
Document structure and annexes
The document has been reorganised, with sections consolidated and annex titles and lettering updated. Some content, including search, now sits under broader operational headings.
Terminology and roles
“Team” has been replaced with “Asset” throughout, with associated role titles updated. The Team Manager role is now referred to as Welfare Officer.
First Aid responsibilities
The FRCO no longer prescribes specific First Aid competencies or equipment lists. Responsibility now sits with individual organisations, while retaining the requirement that all asset members are First Aid qualified.
Equipment and PPE updates
Equipment requirements remain largely unchanged, with adjustments to the quantities and specifications of some items, including LED sticks/glowsticks, and throwline lengths and numbers for declared assets.
Training environments and water requirements
River grading has been replaced with descriptive criteria. Training environments must reflect conditions relevant to spate flooding. Water requirements for Modules 2 and 3 are now aligned, with Module 4 referencing Category B or C water classifications.
Continual Professional Development (CPD)
CPD is expected to be conducted in water, contribute meaningfully to skills maintenance, and be treated separately from upskilling and recertification. Split delivery of training is now permitted.
Instructor standards and delivery
Instructor standards have been consolidated, with delivery ratios and First Aid provision requirements devolved to training providers.
Asset Typing Matrix updates
The Asset Typing Matrix has been updated to reflect changes to equipment quantities, lighting specifications, welfare considerations, and organisational responsibility for First Aid provision.
Outreach Rescue
Outreach Rescue will continue to deliver training aligned with the FRCO 2025, with a focus on realistic environments, appropriate instructor-to-learner ratios, and maintaining operational competence across flood and water rescue roles. Customers can expect the same attention to detail and instructor-to-delegate ratios that consistently exceed the stated requirements of the FRCO.
Download the full FRCO 2025 analysis using the form above