Have you ever had a fear of fire occurring in your house or office building? Do you think you are prepared to manage a fire in case of an emergency? Sometimes, fire can occur even with the most vigorous preventive measures in place. This is when a fire watch company comes into the picture.
A fire watch company is simply an organization providing you with trained individuals and licensed officers to patrol and monitor fire hazards in case your traditional fire suppression systems are impaired or malfunctioning. If you are considering hiring a fire watch company but have no idea what they are or what their role is, then we have got you covered!
In this post, we will tell you everything you need to know about a fire watch company, including their role in the face of an emergency, how to hire them, and why hiring them is important in the first place.
What is Fire Watch Security?
A fire watch is a dedicated person or team assigned with the task of monitoring and assessing areas for potential fire hazards, investigating signs of smoke, and taking preventive measures to stop the fire. In simple words, a fire watch company provides an extra layer of fire safety and prevention when standard fire protection systems are impaired or compromised in some way.
When is a Fire Watch Required?
A fire watch is required when an organization fails to meet the NFPA requirements for fire watch safety. According to the NFPA code, you are required to hire fire watch services when:
- Fire detection or suppression systems like sprinklers, smoke detectors, and alarms are undergoing maintenance, repair, or installation
- The fire watch is required to monitor fire hazards during the outage
- A fire watch is required when there is hot work happening at the premises. For instance, welding, grinding, or other spark-producing activities.
According to OSHA guidelines, a fire watch guard will monitor the area as long as the hot work is being done. They will also check for the ignition after the hot work is completed. A fire guard must not leave the area unmonitored in any condition. If they have to leave, they must inform the workers and halt the work for a specific time period.
What are Fire Watch Officers?
Fire watch guards or officers are trained and certified individuals who are responsible for monitoring all hazardous activities in the building. In case a fire occurs, these guards are trained to efficiently evacuate people, manage fire, and contact emergency responders.
All in all, fire watch guards are trained to handle all stressful situations, ensuring the safety of people and property. A fire watch company provides clients with trained and certified officers. They go through a rigorous training program involving basic, specialized, and field training for optimum knowledge and hands-on experience.
Moreover, fire watch companies and guards know how to stay compliant with OSHA and NFPA fire codes. This can help a company avoid hefty penalties and fines by adhering to the fire safety rules.
How to Hire a Fire Watch Company?
Hiring a fire watch company can be a daunting task. After all, it is a matter of your safety. Here, we are giving you three simple steps to assess and hire the right fire watch company:
- Read Reviews and Case Studies
Before hiring a company, always ask for their case studies. You can look for a company on a search engine and read any reviews left by their clients. You should choose a company that has good case studies and reviews.
- Ask if they are certified
The most important question that you can ask a fire watch company before hiring them is if they are certified. In some regions like NYC, having a certificate of fitness is mandated by the law. Therefore, a fire watch company must have certified fire watch officers with proper training and field experience. This shows that the company takes the safety of its clients seriously by offering licensed officers for their protection.
- Ask Questions
The simple rule for hiring a fire watch company is to ask questions, and when you are done asking, ask some more. It is your right to inquire about the statistics, their past clients, and referrals. This will give you a good idea of whether the company is right for you or not.
However, if you are hesitant to ask questions or don’t know what to ask, don’t worry. Here is a list of a few important questions that you should ask a fire watch company before hiring them
- Are you certified?
- Do you have trained fire watch guards?
- What are your duties and responsibilities as fire watch guards?
- Do you know how to use fire safety equipment?
- What areas are your guard specialized in?
- What is your role in case a fire occurs?
Why Hiring a Fire Watch Company is Necessary?
There are countless reasons why it is necessary to hire a fire watch company. The first reason is the safety and protection of people and property. However, besides this, it is also mandated by the fire codes to hire a company if you fail to meet the NFPA requirements.
Failing to hire a fire watch company when you need it can get you in serious trouble. You can be fined for not staying compliant with the local and national fire codes. Additionally, a fire watch company will make your life easier by not only monitoring risky areas but also ensuring that all fire safety measures are standardized according to local and national fire safety regulations.
So if you are thinking about hiring a fire watch company, you are in the right direction. Fire watch guards have proper training in the field to deal with stressful situations. They are extremely observant and vigilant, patrolling risky areas constantly without a break. Hiring a fire watch company is important to stay compliant, but above all, it will give you peace of mind knowing that there is someone to take care of fire hazards and ensure safe operation.
If you’re looking for a local fire watch company to assist you in setting up a fire watch then call The Fast Fire Watch company at 1-800-899-752 or visit their website https://fastfirewatchguards.com.
