Discover when to get fire watch or fire patrol for safety and compliance. Understand the best way to protect lives and property, records and the benefits.
As a business or property owner, you should know when to get a fire watch or fire patrol service and the importance of understanding fire watch duties.
Neglecting to hire a professional fire watch security company can mean the difference between protection and devastation.
The Fast Fire Watch Company should be a critical component of your safety and security plans, alongside the guidance of the fire marshal. Since its inception in 2019, they have provided professional services like fire watch and have completed over 5,000 jobs.
Now, if you stay in a place prone to fire outbreaks, you should read this. Let’s begin with fire safety.
Introduction to Fire Safety
Fire safety is crucial for protecting occupants and property from potential disasters. To do this, a fire watch or fire patrol is essential in ensuring life safety and compliance with regulatory requirements, especially in the function of a fire alarm.
What is Fire Watch?
A fire watch is a temporary measure to ensure safety in hazardous building conditions, allowing continued occupancy during repairs or safety improvements, even in potentially dangerous conditions.
Fire watches involve regular checks of all building areas to detect fire or life safety emergencies, with prompt notification to 911 and building occupants when emergencies are detected, ensuring all property hazards are managed.
The fire department and fire marshal play a critical role in enforcing fire safety regulations and ensuring compliance with fire protection systems.
Fire hazards can be identified through the conduct of periodic patrols, and fire extinguishers are an essential piece of fire protection equipment, which may include automatic detection devices.
Fire Watch Operations
Fire watch operations involve ensuring the safety of the entire facility.
- Trained fire watch personnel monitor the site for any fire hazards and take immediate action in case of a fire.
- Fire watch personnel must maintain direct communication with the fire department and building occupants and be equipped to respond to small fires and potential disasters.
- The fire watch patrol is critical in identifying fire hazards, and fire protection systems must be working properly to ensure safety.
- With the fire alarm system failure, a fire watch is required to ensure life safety and compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Fire watches must be conducted at least every 30 minutes, and the affected area must be patrolled to identify any potential hazards.
Fire Watch Patrol
A fire watch patrol involves conducting periodic patrols of the building to identify any fire hazards, with a focus on high-risk areas such as those with special hazards.
Fire watch personnel must be trained to respond to emergencies and must have access to fire extinguishers and other fire protection equipment that they must also maintain.
The fire watch patrol must be conducted under established procedures and must include a log of all activities and observations.
The patrol must cover all areas of the building, including those that are hazardous or hard to reach, and must be conducted at regular intervals to ensure continuous monitoring.
Fire watch personnel must know the building’s fire protection systems, including the sprinkler system and fire alarm system.
Equipment and Tools
Fire watch personnel must be equipped with tools and equipment to respond to fires, including fire extinguishers and communication devices.
Thermal imaging cameras and other specialized equipment may detect heat and identify potential fire hazards.
Fire watch personnel must be trained in using all equipment and tools and must ensure that the equipment and tools are in good working condition.
The fire watch log must include information on the equipment and tools used, as well as any maintenance or repairs that are needed.
Fire protection equipment, such as fire alarms and sprinkler systems, must be inspected and tested regularly to ensure they are working properly.
Fire Watches and Scheduling
Fire watches must be scheduled under regulatory requirements, including the frequency and duration of the watch.
The schedule must be posted in a conspicuous location and must be available to the fire department and other authorities.
Fire watch personnel must be scheduled to work in shifts, with adequate rest and break times to ensure continuous monitoring.
The schedule must consider the size and complexity of the building, as well as any special hazards or risks.
Fire watches must be conducted during all hours of operation, including nights and weekends, to ensure continuous monitoring.
Record Keeping and Compliance
Records must be kept of all fire watch activities, including logs of patrols, equipment inspections, and emergency responses.
Records must be maintained for at least one year and must be available to the fire department and other authorities.
The records must include information on the fire watch personnel, including their training and certification, as well as the equipment and tools used.
The records must also include information on any hazards or risks identified during the fire watch, as well as any actions taken to mitigate them.
Compliance with regulatory requirements must be documented, including any inspections or audits conducted by the fire department or other authorities.
Professional Fire Protection Services
Professional fire protection services may provide fire watch personnel and equipment, including trained and certified personnel.
These services must be provided by a qualified contractor and must meet all regulatory requirements.
The services must include a component on fire safety, including fire prevention and fire protection, as well as emergency response and evacuation procedures that may last up to four hours.
The contractor must have experience in providing fire watch services and must have an excellent reputation in the industry.
The services must be tailored to the specific needs of the building, including any special hazards or risks.
Benefits and Advantages
Fire watches provide many benefits and advantages, including enhanced life safety and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Fire watches can help to prevent fires and minimize damage and can provide peace of mind for building occupants and owners.
Fire watches can also help to reduce insurance costs and improve business continuity by minimizing the risk of fire-related disruptions.
The benefits of fire watch include the ability to identify and mitigate hazards, as well as the ability to respond quickly and effectively in case of an emergency.
Fire watches can also help to improve communication and coordination between the fire department and building occupants, which can help to ensure a quick response in case of an emergency.
What exactly does Fire Watch Patrol comprise?
The services these professionals provide include:
- Vigilant patrol on all floors of the building or areas of the property around the clock.
- Maintaining exits and walkways to ensure they are clear of obstructions.
- Immediate action and alerting with a fire.
- Identification and reporting of any safety issues or concerns.
- Communication with all other guards, officers, and management on site.
- Recording all activities and findings in a daily log.
Conclusion
At The Fast Fire Watch Company, they understand the cost of non-compliance.
That’s why they are dedicated to proactive service, having saved their clients over $2 million in potential fines by ensuring they meet all fire safety regulations, which include knowing the exact address for emergency response.
Their mission is to provide peace of mind through effective and reliable fire watch services. Join the many businesses that rely on this company to protect their premises and people.
