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Protecting a building from fire requires constant attention, proper procedures, and trained personnel. When a fire alarm, sprinkler system, or other safety equipment is temporarily unavailable, a fire watch may be required. Property owners and managers generally have two choices: hire a professional fire watch service or assign trained in-house employees. Understanding the differences can help them select an arrangement that meets the building’s needs and applicable safety requirements.
While both approaches aim to ensure facility safety during critical system impairments, opting for a dedicated fire watch service often provides a higher level of structure and risk reduction. Dedicated external providers bring pre-trained personnel whose sole operational focus is hazard prevention, freeing internal staff from dual-role fatigue and ensuring full compliance with local fire codes. Weighing these operational nuances early allows building management to choose an option that mitigates liability while keeping property occupants completely secure.
What Does Fire Watch Involve?
Fire watch personnel are responsible for monitoring a property and identifying conditions that could lead to a fire or delay an emergency response. Their duties involve more than simply walking through the building. They must remain alert throughout their assigned shifts and know how to respond if a hazard is discovered.
Common fire watch responsibilities include:
- Conducting regular patrols throughout assigned areas
- Looking for smoke, flames, overheating equipment, or other hazards
- Keeping emergency communication methods readily available
- Knowing the locations of fire extinguishers and emergency exits
- Alerting occupants when necessary
- Contacting emergency services during a fire or serious hazard
- Recording patrols, observations, and incidents accurately
Advantages of Professional Fire Watch Services
A professional fire watch company provides personnel specifically assigned to monitor the property. These workers are generally familiar with fire watch procedures and understand the importance of maintaining continuous observation.
Professional services can be especially useful when a building experiences a temporary impairment involving fire protection equipment. They can also provide coverage during construction, renovation, hot work, or situations where additional monitoring is required.
Another advantage is scheduling flexibility. A professional provider may be able to arrange coverage for overnight shifts, weekends, holidays, or extended periods without requiring the building owner to reorganize regular employees.
When In-House Staff May Be Used
Some businesses choose to assign trained employees to fire watch duties. This approach may be practical when the organization already has suitable personnel and can provide the required training and coverage.
However, regular employees may have other responsibilities that compete with fire watch duties. If an employee must answer phones, assist customers, perform maintenance, or handle other tasks while monitoring the property, their attention may be divided.
Before using employees for fire watch, property managers should determine whether they can:
- Maintain continuous observation of assigned areas
- Understand emergency procedures
- Communicate quickly with emergency responders
- Complete required documentation
- Remain available for the entire assigned shift
Which Option Should a Building Use?
The appropriate choice depends on the building’s size, risk level, staffing resources, duration of the fire protection impairment, and applicable local requirements. Some situations may require dedicated fire watch personnel, while others may allow trained employees to perform the responsibility.
Regardless of the staffing method, effective fire watch depends on alert personnel, clear procedures, proper communication, and consistent documentation. Property managers should also confirm requirements with the local fire authority before deciding how fire watch duties will be handled.
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