What Is Fire Watch and When Does California Require It?

What is fire watch?

Fire watch is a temporary safety measure: trained people patrol a building around the clock because the systems that normally detect or fight a fire are not working. If your sprinklers or fire alarm are down, a fire watch guard does their job until they are repaired.

The California Fire Code defines it as continuous and systematic surveillance of a building, or part of one, by qualified people. Their job is to spot fire hazards, catch a fire early, raise the alarm and call the fire department.

Most property managers first hear the term from a fire inspector. The message is usually short: put a fire watch in place today, or the building has to be evacuated. This guide explains when that happens in California, what the guard does, and what to do in the first hour.

When does California require a fire watch?

Your local fire code official decides, and four situations account for most orders.

1. A fire protection system is out of service

This is the most common trigger. Under California Fire Code Section 901.7, when a required fire protection system is out of service you must notify the fire department and the fire code official immediately. If the official requires it, the building must be evacuated or covered by an approved fire watch until the system is back.

Typical causes:

  • A broken sprinkler main or frozen valve
  • A fire alarm panel that has failed or lost monitoring
  • A planned shutdown for repairs, testing or a tenant build-out
  • A system with repeated false activations

2. Hot work

Welding, torch cutting, brazing, grinding and similar work throw sparks. The fire code calls for a fire watch during hot work and for at least 30 minutes after the work ends. The fire official or the manager running the hot work program can extend that time. Torch-applied roofing often carries a one-hour watch after the torches are out.

3. Construction and demolition

A fire official can require an on-site fire watch for demolition, or for construction work that is hazardous in nature. Wood-framed buildings are at their most exposed before sprinklers and alarms are live.

4. Anything else the fire department considers hazardous

Fire departments can also order a fire watch for a special event, a special operation, or any condition they judge to be a hazard. Rules vary by city and county, so always follow the written instructions from your own fire department.

What a fire watch guard does

A fire watch guard patrols, records and reports. On a system-outage fire watch, most fire departments do not allow the guard to have any other duties.

  • Patrols the whole affected area. Many California jurisdictions require a round every 30 minutes, and some set it at least once an hour. Large buildings need more than one guard to keep that pace.
  • Keeps a written log. Each round is recorded with the time, the guard's name and anything found. Inspectors can ask to see the log, and some departments want it sent in daily.
  • Carries a way to call for help. At minimum, a phone to reach the fire department and a means to alert occupants, such as an air horn or the building intercom.
  • Raises the alarm and helps evacuate. If there is a fire, the guard calls 911, warns occupants and helps them leave.
  • Handles spot fires during hot work. Hot work guards keep an extinguisher within reach and are trained to use it.

The guard stays until the system is repaired and the fire department lifts the order. For a system outage, that normally means coverage 24 hours a day, including nights and weekends.

What to do in the first hour

  1. Notify the fire department and your alarm monitoring company that the system is down, if they don't already know.
  2. Read the order. Note the patrol interval, the areas to cover, and how the log must be kept and submitted.
  3. Call a licensed fire watch provider. Give them the address, building size, number of floors and the order's requirements, so they send enough guards.
  4. Call your sprinkler or alarm contractor. The fire watch ends only when the repair is done, so every hour of delay adds cost.
  5. Tell tenants and staff. Post notices at entrances if your fire department requires them.
  6. Keep the paperwork. Save the logs and the contractor's letter or work order confirming the system is back in service. Many departments ask for that confirmation before lifting the fire watch.

What fire watch costs and how to choose a provider

Fire watch is billed by the guard-hour, and the total depends on four things:

  • Building size and layout. More floors and more square footage mean more guards to complete each round on time.
  • Patrol interval. A 30-minute round needs more staff than an hourly one.
  • Duration. A two-day alarm repair costs far less than a three-week sprinkler replacement.
  • Notice. Same-day and holiday starts can cost more than scheduled coverage.

For a quote based on your building and your fire department's order, call (562) 724-4809.

When you compare providers, ask:

  • Are you a licensed Private Patrol Operator in California, and are your guards registered with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services?
  • How fast can a guard be on site?
  • Do your logs meet my fire department's format, and will you send them in if required?
  • Who supervises the guards overnight?
  • Can you scale up if the fire marshal asks for more coverage?

Frequently asked questions

Can my own employees do the fire watch?
Some fire departments allow it if the people are approved, trained and have no other duties during the watch. Many owners hire a security company because pulling staff off their jobs around the clock is hard to sustain. Ask your fire department what it accepts.

How long does a fire watch last?
Until the system is repaired and the fire department lifts the order. For hot work, it runs through the work and at least 30 minutes after.

What happens if I ignore a fire watch order?
The alternative in the fire code is evacuating the building. Operating without an approved fire watch can also lead to citations, and it may affect your insurance if a fire occurs.

Is a fire watch guard the same as a security guard?
The same licensed guard can do both jobs, but not always at the same time. During a system outage, fire departments generally require the guard to do fire watch only.

Need a fire watch in Southern California or the Bay Area?

Mega Control Security provides fire watch guards for commercial properties, construction sites, warehouses, retail centers and residential communities. We cover Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and San Francisco counties from our office in Downey.

Call (562) 724-4809 or email info@megacontrolsecurity.com for a quote. Mega Control Security, 8036 3rd St, Suite 101, Downey, CA 90241. California PPO License #122031.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Fire watch rules are set by your local fire code official, so follow the written order for your property.

Sources

Fire code references used for this article:

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