Posted By

on 31 October 2019

Why You Need a Fire Watch Security Guard

Why You Need a Fire Watch Security Guard

Installing a fire alarm system is a necessary security measure to ensure the safety of your employees, visitors, inventory, and property. But fire watch security may become necessary when:

  • You don’t have an alarm system in place
  • Your alarm system is inoperable due to a malfunction
  • Your alarm system has failed an inspection
  • Your fire alarms are offline due to a power outage
  • Fire sprinklers are not working properly
  • The pump or fire sprinklers being out of service
  • The water has been shut down for repairs
  • There’s an increased risk of fire due to flammable material, toxic wastes, or chemical storage

Any of these incidents present a situation that can be dangerous if it goes unnoticed. Fire watch security guards have the knowledge and training to take care of your premises and watch out for any risks to ensure the safety of your employees and assets.

What to Expect From Fire Watch

Fire watch patrol guards are a specialty crew with specialized training to watch your property and look for any signs of fire. Some of the on-site safety functions that they perform include:

  • Patrolling the floors every hour
  • Identifying and reporting any suspicious safety concerns
  • Checking fire-safety and prevention equipment
  • Ensuring that walkways and exits remain clear
  • Raising the alarm in the event of a fire, including contacting the fire department
  • Carrying the necessary tools to facilitate communication and evacuation, including flashlights in case they’re needed for low-light situations
  • Documenting all patrol activities in the patrol log
  • Ensuring compliance with local government requirements to have a fire watch guard on a construction site continuously until the project is complete and the certificate of occupancy is awarded

Who should hire fire watch patrol services?

When you find yourself in a situation where your organization may be at risk of a fire, you may be tempted to use available employees such as maintenance personnel or hire casual labourers to watch the premises. While cutting corners can help to save some money, you may be putting your employees and property at risk by not hiring a licensed fire watch security company.

Fire watch security guards follow the national and Fire Marshall protocols and provide comprehensive reports. Their services are beneficial in a wide range of industries, including:

  • Construction
  • Industrial and manufacturing units
  • Pharmaceutical and hospital facilities
  • Hotels and restaurants
  • Warehouses
  • Concert and exhibition venues
  • Schools and campuses
  • Private venues
  • Retain stores and malls
  • Residential complexes
  • Commercial buildings and business parks
  • Offices
  • Construction

Some of the reasons to hire licensed fire watch security guards include:

1. Trained and licensed security guards

Fire watch security guards undergo specific training to be able to identify fire risks and manage any related issues. They assist in maintaining any existing fire systems, step in when there are no fire systems in place, and provide patrolling, monitoring, and tracking services. They’re trained to stay active and vigilant to prevent fire risks.

2. Proper insurance coverage

Liability insurance typically doesn’t include the fire watch service for untrained personnel, like your maintenance personnel. On the other hand, most security insurance policies include coverage.

3. Faster response times

Security companies that offer fire watch services have many trained people on standby to watch your property on shifts round the clock, and also respond promptly to last-minute requests.

4. Experience in shift changeover

Trained fire watch security guards understand their responsibilities and will remain alert while on duty, whether day or night. Moreover, they have polished shift handover systems to ensure that any risks are continuously monitored.

5. Reduced liability

Although property fires are not very common, having a professional fire watch service reduces your liability in the event of a fire. Otherwise, you risk having 100% liability for any resulting damages.

6. 24/7 service

Fire watch security services are available 24 hours a day, year-round, monitoring the property as needed. They not only activate alarm systems and facilitate evacuation in the event of a fire, but are also in constant communication with their control centre, which will in turn relay any information to the nearest fire department.

Fire Watch Security

Even after taking all the necessary precautions against accidents, including having smoke detectors, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers in place, they may still occur with varying levels of damage. The tactics and techniques employed by fire watch security guards may vary depending on your organization’s specific needs and threats, but the ultimate goal is to control any fire outbreak before it goes out of control to minimize the danger.

To achieve this, the guards have to visit different areas of the property regularly to ensure that there are no fire dangers. Hiring fire watch security guards allows you to take advantage of their training to ensure the safety of your residential, commercial, or industrial property.

To learn more about how a fire watch guard can protect your business, call Optimum Security at 416-628-3393 or contact us here.