Fire Watch Services Policy PDF

Policy 410 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Watch Services - 1 Fire Watch Services 410.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to establish guidance fo...

Policy 410 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Watch Services - 1 Fire Watch Services 410.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to establish guidance for the Department regarding incidents or situations which may require a fire watch due to required automatic fire protection and/or detection services that are inoperable, construction/demolition activities, hot work or other high-risk activities or events which may have an adverse impact on public safety. 410.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: Fire guard - A person who is properly trained and whose sole duty is to patrol the premises and watch for fire. This person should be equipped with an approved means of contacting the Department in the event of a fire. Several fire guards might comprise a single fire watch. Fire watch - A temporary measure intended to ensure continuous and systematic surveillance of a building or portion thereof by one or more qualified individuals for the purposes of identifying and controlling fire hazards, detecting early signs of unwanted fire, raising an alarm of fire and notifying the Chesapeake Fire Department. Fire watch may be conducted by department personnel. High life-risk occupancy - Hospitals, care facilities, schools, high-rise buildings and certain assembly occupancies. Hot work - Operations including cutting, welding, Thermit welding, brazing, soldering, grinding, thermal spraying, thawing pipe, installation of torch-applied roof systems or any other similar activity. 410.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Chesapeake Fire Department that the Department will, where required, ensure appropriate measures are taken to protect building occupants, spectators or other attendees of certain events in accordance with the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (Fire Code) (Va. Code § 27-94; Va. Code § 27-97; 13 VAC 5-51-31). 410.3 RESPONSIBILITIES Upon notification that hot work activities are being performed or that required automatic fire protection or detection systems are inoperable and the building or occupancy has not been evacuated, the Fire Marshal or the authorized designee shall ensure that a fire watch is implemented (Fire Code § 901.7.1). During special events or other activities, the Fire Marshal or the authorized designee should make a determination whether the location, premises, building, or event has a high life-risk occupancy and, if so, require or implement a fire watch. If the location does not have a high life-risk occupancy, the Fire Marshal or the authorized designee shall evaluate each set of unique circumstances and make a determination whether the property owner or event manager shall implement a fire watch. Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Fire Watch Services Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Watch Services - 2 If the Fire Marshal or the authorized designee is advised after a business has been placed on 24/7 fire watch by the Engine Company (for example; by an e-mail from the Engine Company at the conclusion of their shift), then the Deputy Fire Marshal should follow-up with the business representative as soon as possible (within 12 hours) regarding the fire watch requirements. If the Deputy Fire Marshal determines the fire watch can be discontinued when the business is vacant, then that can be communicated to the business and a follow-up visit/phone call should be made to the business to ensure there is progress in repairing the fire protection system. A fire watch is an effective tool to maintain a high level of safety while a fire protection system is out of service. The following responsibilities apply for a fire watch: (a) The owner or the authorized designee shall immediately notify the Chesapeake Fire Department any time an automatic fire protection or detection system is not in operation. (b) Any repair or corrective action should be immediately initiated by the owner or the authorized designee. After repair or corrective action is completed and the system is back in service, the Chesapeake Fire Department and occupants should again be notified by the owner or the authorized designee. (c) A fire watch should be provided when the system cannot be repaired in a timely manner and/or the lack of protection creates a building or safety hazard as determined by the Fire Marshal or the authorized designee. A fire watch shall be established immediately, however, when required fire protection, detection, and alarm systems are not in operation in high life-risk occupancies, such as hospitals, care facilities, schools, high-rise buildings, and certain assembly occupancies. (d) Personnel used to conduct the fire watch are subject to the approval of the Chesapeake Fire Department. The person performing fire watch duties shall have at least one means of direct communication with the Chesapeake Fire Department and his/her sole duty shall be to perform constant patrols and watch for the occurrence of fire. (e) Building occupants must be notified within 24 hours of a fire watch being established. (f) The minimum level of fire watch service shall be one fire guard per floor in multi- story buildings and one fire guard for each fire protection system zone in a single- story building. Additional fire guards may be needed, depending on the hazard and building design. The fire watch service will continue until the automatic fire protection or detection system is placed back in service. (g) During the fire watch patrols, the fire guards shall make a thorough inspection of all buildings or spaces including concealed areas, such as attics and unoccupied storage areas. (h) If it is a required fire protection system that is out of service, there must be a fire watch or the building should be evacuated. DFM should follow-up with the business representative within 12 hours regarding the fire watch requirements.