Construction projects and industrial sites are now more prone to fire incidents than ever, prompting a shift in fire safety from a passive set of alarms to an active, 24/7 strategy. At Reliable Security Staffing, our firewatch security services aren’t just limited to ensuring compliance, but we combine modern technology with a human firewall that guards against the unpredictable.
If automated systems, such as sprinklers or smoke detectors, fail due to a technical glitch, the risk of a disastrous event increases significantly. Here is an in-depth guide to the most effective firewatch security measures you can implement to protect your site around the clock.
1. Comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment (FRA)
A professional firewatch campaign involves a deep analysis of the site’s specific vulnerabilities. A Fire Risk Assessment is specific to your site and requires a tailored checklist matching your needs. It’s a diagnostic tool that identifies “hot zones” in your property.
- Combustible Zones: Identifying areas where chemicals, wood scraps, or gases are stored or used.
- Ignition Source: Monitoring high-risk zones, such as electrical sub-panels, heaters, and heavy machinery.
- Structural Vulnerabilities: Evaluating how construction vulnerabilities can facilitate or hinder fire spread and control.
By understanding the fire risk of a building, firewatch personnel can assign more security and frequent patrol routes to these areas.
2. Certified “Hot Work” Monitoring
One of the most common causes of fires in industrial or commercial sites is hot work, such as welding, cutting, or grinding, which produces sparks that can lead to fire. It is imperative to ensure that all hot work complies with the OSHA and NFPA standards.
Reliable Security Staffing implements a strict policy to keep all combustibles away from hot work. Furthermore, our guards thoroughly evaluate the area and machines after the work has finished to ensure no hidden fires or sparks are developing.
3. Continuous, Systematic Patrols
A firewatch is only as effective as its vigilance. Unlike standard security, which primarily focuses on perimeter safety, firewatch patrols monitor internal risks and threats.
| Patrol Frequency | Building Type / Scenario |
| Every 15 Minutes | Residential/Institutional (Hospitals, Nursing Homes) |
| Every 30 Minutes | High-Occupancy Assembly (Theaters, Arenas) |
| Every 60 Minutes | Commercial/Construction Sites |
The guard follows a pre-determined schedule and route, ensuring every square foot of the facility is routinely inspected for incidents.
4. Real-Time Digital Documentation & Logging
Professional firewatch services or guards at Reliable Security Staffing utilize digital logging systems, ensuring there’s time-stamped proof of every patrol. This comes in handy when claiming insurance or entertaining a fire marshal.
- GPS Verification: Verifying that guards were physically present at the location at a specific time.
- Photo Evidence: If the guards come across a fire hazard or potential risk, they take a photo and upload it to the portal or send it immediately to the site manager.
- Compliance Ready: These logs prove that your site meets all NFPA or OSHA requirements, reducing legal or claim-related issues.
5. Maintenance of Exit Pathways
In a fire emergency, the best way to protect your people is to ensure the exit pathways are clear and unblocked. One of the core duties of our firewatch team is to keep fire exits well-maintained.
Guards regularly check every fire door to ensure it functions properly (is not blocked, jammed, or locked from the outside) and that hallways are free of any clutter, construction debris, or other mess. This ensures that the place can be evacuated quickly without the risk of blockage or injury in case of an incident.
6. Functional Equipment Verification
While firewatch personnel are hired to ensure prompt response in case automated systems fail, they are also responsible for ensuring that the equipment functions properly at all times.
Our guards regularly inspect:
- Fire Extinguishers: Checking pressure gauges and ensuring they are accessible and unobstructed.
- Standpipes and Hydrants: Ensuring the fire department has uninterrupted access.
- Fire Alarms: Checking battery-operated smoke alarms to ensure they work properly.
7. Integrated Emergency Response Planning
The role of a firewatch guard is not just to watch. They are trained to provide a quick and effective response, especially in the first few minutes of an incident.
Every site protected by the Reliable Security Staffing team gets a tailored Emergency Response Plan (ERP). This includes a step-by-step response mechanism that the guard is expected to follow in an emergency.
The plan contains details of who to call when, which areas or gas lines to restrict, how to evacuate people to safety, and how to explain the situation to the Fire Department, ensuring prompt response to the incident. This emergency response planning is often the difference between a minor setback and an irreversible loss.
8. Specialized Hazard Detection Training
Our professional firewatch guards are trained to observe and notice signs that others miss. This goes beyond just looking for smoke. They can smell (or hear) danger before it can be seen.
- Smell: From detecting the unique smell of an electrical short to identifying the pungent odor of a gas leak, they observe and act promptly.
- Touch: Are the doors or walls extra hot? It can be a sign of a potential increase in heat transfer on the other side.
- Sound: They identify the sound of a pressurized leak or the “crackle” of a sleeping fire.
9. 24/7 Dedicated Communication Channels
Communication is crucial to ensuring round-the-clock safety. Our security guards are provided with multi-channel radios or mobile devices for quick dialing or calling emergency dispatch in case of an incident.
On large sites or where a team of guards is deployed, we maintain a Communication Centre, through which guards can coordinate and maintain a status report. If Guard A, for instance, detects a threat in the basement, he can immediately alert Guard B, who begins a prompt but orderly evacuation of the building, while Guard C alerts the Fire Department and meets them at the gate. This synchronized response ensures an effective handling of emergencies while preventing the chaos that could result in casualties.
10. Authority to Stop Work
One of the most powerful tools a firewatch guard has is the Authority to Stop Work. If a guard notices a danger, he has the administrative authority to stop any work that is directly linked to the said threat.
Whether it’s a contractor not following hot work compliance or a crew member smoking near flammable items, guards must be empowered to take action to prevent incidents.
Why Reliable Security Staffing?
Fire can cause significant damage to your property and people. We’re here to help. By integrating these ten professional firewatch measures and providing highly trained guards, we ensure your comprehensive safety from all fire risks. Our teams follow industry-best practices, ensuring compliance, legal protection, and your people’s safety.
