Friday, March 29, 2024

What Are the Fire Watch Requirements and Regulations?

The law states that the ‘ignorance of the law excuses no one.’ Therefore, it is important that you are aware of any law if you are a building owner. There are property and building laws that are in place to avoid loss of life and damage to property in case of accidents or unfortunate events. This makes owners constantly check if the building is in good shape, including security systems like fire alarms and protection systems.

Having a malfunctioning fire alarm system, including those fire protection systems that are water-based, the National Fire Protection Association (also known as NFPA) will require the building to acquire the services of a fire watch personnel. This regulation is under NFPA code 101 or the Life Safety Code (LSC). A service provider like The Fast Fire Watch Company which has extensive experience in situations stated earlier that will fulfill what the law requires.

What You Need To Know

If the fire alarm system/s is down for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour span, you must employ a fire watch, according to NFPA regulations. It is a bit longer for water-based fire protection systems, where fire watch services should be availed if is happening for more than 10 hours. The local fire department must be alerted in any case. It is also important that authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) in your area may require an additional inspection or another way of complying with them. Expect the most comprehensive requirements to be applied, which can also help in your preparation.

Now, let us clarify the above-stated regulation from NFPA. The common misconception is that a fire watch will only be needed if it is malfunctioning for four consecutive hours. The truth is, it should be a total of more than four hours within a 24-hour period.

What Would A Fire Watch Security Service Do?

Having a fire watch involves a constant patrol in all parts of the building affected by the outage of the fire alarm system. These services are on the lookout for signs of flames, smoke, or any other unusual circumstances that could endanger its occupants or damage the building permanently. If the fire watch staff discovers an unsafe or assessed that it is a life-threatening situation, they must promptly call emergency services to notify residents of the emergency while ensuring their safe evacuation from the house.

What Are Their Other Tasks?

Apart from checking all areas where a fire might ignite through patrolling, they work with a person in charge that can explain and locate fire alarm systems within the premises. They gather important information or the logs required by the law to ensure that they are familiar with the facility in case of fire. They are also required to document all the issues and concerns they have faced in a designated log, as they should be trained with the proper logging techniques.

Looking for a Fire Watch Services Company?

To avoid hefty fines, follow the rules mandated by the law. If you are looking for a team of fire watch security guards, contact The Fast Fire Watch Company. They have fully trained fire watch guards that will ensure compliance with any government mandate. They are open 24/7 and available in most US states.

 

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