Quick answer: the common 24-hour rotations are 24/48 (on one day, off two, 3 platoons, 56 hours a week), 48/96 (on two, off four, 3 platoons, 56 hours), Kelly (a 9-day pattern, 56 hours) and 24/72 (on one, off three, 4 platoons, 42 hours). The table below shows 24/48; the calendar switches between all four.
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The 24/48 pattern, day by day
One crew, one full 3-day cycle:
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 h | Off | Off |
24/48 hours by workweek
56 hours a week on average; single weeks from 48 to 72. Overtime over 40: 16 to 16 hours a week on average, set by the cycle day the workweek begins.
| Workweek begins on | Hours in each week of the 21-day repeat | Average overtime per week |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 72, 48, 48 | 16 |
| Day 2 | 48, 48, 72 | 16 |
| Day 3 | 48, 72, 48 | 16 |
Public fire departments may instead use the partial overtime exemption in section 7(k) of the FLSA: overtime after 212 hours in a 28-day work period (29 CFR 553.230). This pattern averages 224 hours per 28 days, about 12 hours over that limit.
Choosing between them
24/48, 48/96 and Kelly all average 56 hours; what changes is how the days off are grouped: 2 days after every shift, 4 days after every two, or a mix of 1 and 4. 24/72 cuts the average to 42 hours but needs a fourth platoon.
Each rotation has its own page with workweek tables: Kelly and 48/96.
Sources: 29 CFR 553.230. Rules checked . Found a problem? Tell us.
Questions
How many hours a year is a 24/48 schedule?
About 2,920: one 24-hour shift every 3 days is 121 or 122 shifts a year.
Do firefighters get overtime after 40 hours?
Not always. Public fire departments can use the FLSA 7(k) exemption, which sets overtime after 212 hours in a 28-day period (29 CFR 553.230), or a prorated limit for shorter periods.