Your building is four stories up. The sprinkler piping is installed but not connected. The fire alarm panel is mounted but not operational. According to your insurance policy and local fire code, you have fire protection systems.
According to physics, you have metal pipes and electronic boxes.
This is the protection gap—the period when permanent fire systems exist on paper but can’t actually stop a fire. And depending on your situation, that gap could last days, weeks, or months.
Here’s what you need to know about temporary fire protection and how to find the right fire watch provider for your situation.
When Permanent Fire Protection Isn’t an Option
Most fire watch discussions focus on system impairments—your sprinklers are down for maintenance, your alarm needs repairs. But there’s an entirely different category of situations where permanent fire protection systems simply don’t exist.
New construction is the most common scenario.
Buildings under construction have no operational fire protection until the final phases of the project.
The 2021 International Fire Code now mandates fire watch during nonworking hours for new construction exceeding 40 feet in height or with an aggregate area exceeding 50,000 square feet per story.
Temporary structures present another challenge. You can’t install a permanent sprinkler system in a tent or membrane structure that will only stand for a few weeks.
Event venues, festival grounds, and temporary retail spaces often operate entirely without fixed fire protection.
Film and television production regularly creates scenarios where fire watch is the only option. Location shoots in unprotected spaces, sound stages with temporary sets exceeding 600 square feet, scenes involving vehicles, open flames, or pyrotechnics—all require dedicated fire safety personnel.
Demolition sites flip the construction problem. Fire systems that once protected the building have been disconnected or removed, leaving the structure vulnerable during the teardown process.
Major renovations can create protection gaps within occupied buildings. Phased construction may leave portions of a structure without coverage while work progresses, requiring a fire watch to protect both the construction zone and adjacent occupied areas.
Why Temporary Fire Protection Is Different
There’s a critical distinction between fire watch for system impairments and fire watch as your primary fire protection.
When a sprinkler system goes down for repairs, fire watch serves as a temporary backup. The expectation is that permanent protection will return within hours or days. The fire watch supplements your existing safety infrastructure.
When permanent systems don’t exist, fire watch IS your entire fire protection system.
There’s no automatic backup if the guard misses something. No sprinkler head will activate if a fire starts in an area the guard just walked through.
This changes everything about how you approach temporary fire protection:
- Higher stakes. Every patrol matters because there’s no second layer of defense.
- Longer duration. Construction fire watch might run for 6 to 18 months. Event fire watch needs to cover the entire duration of setup, the event itself, and teardown.
- Different documentation requirements. NFPA 241 construction fire safety plans, event permits, film production safety reports—the paperwork goes well beyond standard fire watch logs.
- Multiple authorities. You may need to coordinate with fire marshals, building departments, event permitting offices, and insurance carriers simultaneously.
What are the Fire Watch Regulatory Requirements by Scenario
Understanding the specific requirements for your situation helps you find a provider with the right expertise.
Construction Sites
The 2021 International Fire Code and NFPA 241 govern fire safety during construction. Key requirements include:
Fire watch is mandatory during nonworking hours for new construction that exceeds 40 feet above the lowest adjacent grade or has an aggregate area exceeding 50,000 square feet per story.
Fire watch personnel can combine fire watch duties with site security duties on construction sites. Records must document all patrol times and building inspections, available to the fire code official upon request.
The 2022 edition of NFPA 241 introduced expanded requirements for tall mass timber construction, large wood frame structures, and clearer guidance on temporary sprinkler systems. Guard services now have stricter protocols, and hot work fire watch periods have been extended.
Temporary Structures and Events
Tents exceeding 400 square feet and canopies exceeding 700 square feet typically require permits and fire safety review. Fire watch or standby personnel may be required based on occupant load and the nature of activities.
Events involving pyrotechnics, open flames, or activities that temporarily disable detection systems require specific fire watch coverage. In New York City, F-03 and F-04 certifications are required for Place of Assembly safety personnel.
Written fire safety plans must typically be submitted 30 days before the event. The AHJ will determine specific requirements based on venue, crowd size, and planned activities.
Film and Television Production
The Los Angeles Fire Department Film Unit requires Uniform Fire Safety Officers for certain production activities. Fire watch is required for solid-ceiling sets exceeding 600 square feet. Hot work permits are mandatory for welding or cutting scenes, and vehicle-on-stage permits are required for any motorized vehicle used indoors.
In Burbank, productions face a 4-hour minimum Fire Safety Officer fee, with a 30-minute fire watch required after any hot work activity.
What to Look for in Temporary Fire Protection Providers
Not every fire watch company handles temporary fire protection scenarios well. Look for providers with specific expertise matching your needs.
Construction and Long-Duration Coverage
Experience with NFPA 241 requirements is essential. Your provider should understand construction schedules and be able to scale coverage as your project progresses—adding guards when you reach height thresholds, adjusting coverage as areas become protected by permanent systems.
Ask about their experience coordinating with general contractors and site safety directors. Construction fire watch requires integration with your overall site safety plan, not just guards showing up at night.
Events and Temporary Structures
Look for familiarity with tent and membrane structure codes, crowd management scenarios, and pyrotechnics safety zones. Event fire watch often requires working alongside event coordinators, venue managers, and sometimes performing artists.
The ability to deploy quickly matters here—event timelines don’t always accommodate long lead times.
Universal Requirements
Regardless of your scenario, verify these capabilities:
- 24/7 availability is non-negotiable for construction sites requiring overnight coverage.
- Proper training and certifications should include OSHA safety training and relevant NFPA standards.
- GPS tracking and documentation systems provide the verification you need for compliance.
- Fire marshal-compliant log sheets ensure your records meet AHJ requirements.
- Communication systems enable rapid emergency notification.
Top Fire Watch Companies for Temporary Fire Protection
| Provider | Temporary Protection Expertise | Construction | Events | Deployment |
| Fast Fire Watch Guards | All scenarios—construction, events, film, temporary structures | NFPA 241 trained, overnight coverage | Venue and event experience | Under 3-4 hours, 50 states |
| The Guard Alliance | Construction and event coverage | 20+ locations nationwide | Multiple industry experience | Same-day available |
| National Firewatch | Flexible coverage options | 13+ years in business | 4,000+ companies served | 24/7 availability |
| USPA Nationwide Security | Large-scale project expertise | Veteran-operated, 20+ years | 500K+ service hours annually | Nationwide coverage |
How to Plan Your Temporary Fire Protection Strategy
For Construction Projects
Include fire watch requirements in your project bid and contract from the start. Identify trigger points—when does the 40-foot threshold apply? What’s your aggregate square footage per story?
Plan for nonworking hours coverage from project start and budget appropriately. Overnight coverage for 12 to 18 months represents a significant line item. Coordinate with your site safety director and fire prevention program manager to integrate fire watch into your overall safety plan.
For Events and Temporary Structures
Submit fire safety plans at least 30 days before your event. Verify all tents and structures have current flame-retardant certificates. Plan fire lanes and emergency vehicle access as part of your site layout.
Determine early whether you need certified Fire Safety Officers or fire watch guards—the requirements and costs differ significantly. Work directly with your AHJ to confirm specific requirements for your venue and activities.
For Film and Television Production
Contact the local fire department film unit during pre-production. Identify all permit requirements for your shoot—hot work, vehicles, open flame, pyrotechnics—before you finalize your production schedule.
Budget for UFSO fees where required, and plan fire watch for any solid ceiling sets exceeding 600 square feet.
What is the Real Cost of the Protection Gap?
The stakes are higher than compliance alone.
NFPA reports that fire departments responded to an average of 4,300 fires in structures under construction annually between 2016 and 2020. These fires caused an average of $376 million in direct property damage per year.
The 2021 IFC changes specifically targeted buildings “large enough to create a significant loss to the community, endanger firefighters, and consume resources” if they burn. Your construction project, event venue, or temporary structure falls into that category.
Insurance implications are equally serious.
Coverage may be void if required fire watch isn’t maintained. Project delays from construction fires can add months to your timeline. Liability exposure from inadequate fire protection during construction or events can follow you long after the project ends.
Bridge the Gap with Professional Fire Watch
When permanent fire protection systems can’t protect your site, professional fire watch becomes your only line of defense. The protection gap isn’t a technicality—it’s the period when your property, your project, and the people on your site are most vulnerable.
Fast Fire Watch Guards provides temporary fire protection for construction sites, events, film productions, and temporary structures nationwide. With deployment in under 3-4 hours, NFPA 241-trained personnel, and GPS-verified documentation, we ensure your site stays protected throughout the protection gap.
Call 1-800-899-7524 for 24/7 dispatch or visit our construction site fire watch services page to discuss your temporary fire protection needs.
