No one likes to be in a situation that requires them to request the assistance of an emergency service. Fire watch services are typically services that fall under the emergency category, however, not always.
Whether your alarm system quits working, or your sprinklers are malfunctioning, you need professional help to keep watch over your building until the issues are resolved.
So, what do fire watch costs look like? This article will break down what you can expect financially should you ever require these services.
Fire Watch Services
Guards trained to keep watch over your property in the case of your alarm system failing are usually best hired from a licensed and certified security company.
Fire Watch companies have professionally trained and licensed security guards for hire for all types of situations, including fire watch.
Before we jump into the costs, it’s important to understand that the cost to hire a professional fire watch team is going to be higher than if you were to recruit just anyone to perform these duties. That being said, professional services are the safest, most logical option.
It’s the duty of the property owner or manager to make sure that your building and those people in and around it are safe from harm. The best way to ensure safety is to go with a professional service who has specific training and can implement uniform standards for maximum efficiency, while remaining compliant with the fire marshal and state laws.
Fire Watch Costs
The cost of professional fire watch services will depend on a few different factors, including; the company you hire from, the experience of the guards, and whether they are armed or unarmed. In this case, guards securing a building with a malfunctioning alarm system do not typically need to be armed.
Unarmed guards cost slightly less than armed guards. On average, you can expect to pay between $12-$20 per hour for an unarmed guard.
The more experienced or further trained and certified the guard, the more the hourly rate will likely be. Additionally, you can expect to pay more when the services required are emergent in nature.
The good news is, you can have access to qualified guards anytime, 24/7. Unfortunately, an emergency call in the middle of the night to dispatch fire watch guards will not be cheap, however, it’s necessary.
Avoiding Fines and Additional Costs
Did you know that failure to hire proper fire watch guards in the case of an inoperable alarm system could cost you hundreds in fines and even cause your building and operations to be shut down?
If you’re a property owner or manager, and your building’s fire alarm system and/or a water-based protection system is not working, you are required by state law to implement a fire watch.
Rather than run the risk of incurring additional expenses and the possibility of a complete shut down of your property, you’re best served to give a call to a professional company with guards for hire right away. The safety, security, and integrity of your property depends on it.