To keep everyone safe, an occupied building in Florida or Georgia is directly dependent on its fire protection or sprinkler system operating on full capacity. What happens when this system is down, malfunctioning, or being repaired? That’s when you need the assistance of a professional fire watch service.
Understand the Regulations To Avoid Costly Fines
If your fire 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.
Fire Watch Procedures According to The National Fire Protection Association
NFPA 101-9.6.1.6 Where a required fire alarm system is out of service for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period, the authority having jurisdiction shall be notified, and the building shall be evacuated or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all parties left unprotected by the shutdown until the fire alarm system has been returned to service.
NFPA 101-9.7.6.1 Where a required automatic sprinkler system is out of service for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period, the authority having jurisdiction shall be notified, and the building shall be evacuated or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all parties left unprotected by the shutdown until the sprinkler system has been returned to service.
NFPA 101-A.9.6.1.7 A fire watch should at least involve some special action beyond normal staffing, such as assigning an additional security guard(s) to walk the areas affected. These individuals should be specially trained in fire prevention and in occupant and fire department notification techniques, and they should understand the particular fire safety situation for public education purposes.
The Fire Watch Shall:
• Continually patrol the area, structure or facility and document the patrol a minimum of once every hour.
• Be trained in the use of a fire extinguisher and have one accessible at all times.
• Be capable of communicating with building occupants and the fire department to notify them about fires or other emergencies.
• Maintain a record of the Fire Watch for inspection by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
