As a property owner or manager in Florida, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of the occupants. This is includes the automated monitoring systems, automatic fire sprinklers, fire alarms, smoke detectors, even clogged pipes and electricity outages.
If one of these fire suppression system is down or being maintained, and will not be able to perform properly for 4 hours, the National Fire Protection Association requires that a fire watch guard is present.
The Bonita Springs Division of Fire Prevention and Life Safety, Fire Watch Information
Why do I need a fire watch: A fire watch is important because your building is required to have certain life safety systems that work properly. A few examples of those items are: a fire alarm system, fire sprinkler system, fire pump, emergency generator, a smoke control system, etc.
The Florida Fire Prevention Code mandates life safety systems work properly to keep the residents safe.
Keeping this in mind, the Fire Code does allow time to contact a qualified contractor to repair the item. It is important to contact your licensed contractor as soon as being made aware of a deficiency so they can respond to your building to make repairs.
Who does the Fire Watch: The Fire Watch must be conducted by a qualified, dedicated person who has training in Fire Watch. There are many security companies that have qualified staff readily available to contract with. If you cannot hire a security company, a responsible person can substitute in an emergency. It’s important the person who is hired to conduct the Fire Watch understands they cannot perform other duties while doing so. Their only job should entail the duties surrounding the Fire Watch.
If your fire suppression system is down, there is typically specific guidelines one has to follow according to their jurisdiction. If one fails to comply they are subject to costly fines, which can be significant.
For instance, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a set of guidelines to protect from property and lives from the presence of a fire hazard. NFPA 101 section 9 states, if an automatic sprinkler or fire alarm system is down for over 4 hours in a 24 hour period, the building is required to have a fire watch service or must be evacuated.
Curtis Protective Service has highly trained fire watch guards. They have been specifically educated for this service, following all documentation, regulations and laws. You won’t have to worry about the task of coordinating the staff, which could last for several days or even weeks, which can be a big strain itself. It will give you a peace of mind everything is taken care of, quality guards are on duty, 24 hours a day.
Are you confident your employees, tenants, and property are protected when your fire system is down? If not then contact Curtis Protective Service for more information.
