Fire watch: when it is mandatory — and what it does.

What a fire watch is

A fire watch is a person who continuously monitors a defined area for fire hazards for a set period — wherever technical fire protection is missing, out of service or the risk is temporarily increased. They detect incipient fires, intervene with the extinguishing equipment provided and raise the alarm via a defined reporting chain.

The four typical mandatory cases

• Hot work: for welding, cutting, soldering or roofing work with a torch, the hot work permit generally requires a fire watch — during the work and as a follow-up check afterwards, because embers can flare up hours later.
• Fire alarm system outage: if a fire alarm or sprinkler system is out of service due to maintenance, conversion or malfunction, the fire brigade or property insurer usually requires compensatory measures — often inspection rounds or a permanent fire watch until the system is back in operation.
• Events: permit conditions and assembly venue regulations can prescribe a fire safety watch — depending on the requirement, provided by the fire brigade or by qualified security staff.
• Insurer requirements: fire insurers sometimes tie coverage to conditions — such as a fire watch in situations of increased risk. Ignoring them puts the coverage at risk in the event of damage.

What a fire watch actually does

• Continuously monitor the assigned area — including adjacent rooms that sparks or heat can reach.
• Detect ignition sources and embers before a fire starts.
• Keep suitable extinguishing equipment ready and fight incipient fires.
• Raise the alarm immediately in an emergency — fire brigade, operations centre and the agreed contacts.
• Document rounds and incidents — as evidence for authorities and insurers.

Qualification and briefing

If the fire watch is provided by a security company, staff qualified under § 34a GewO are typically deployed — clients and insurers usually require this. That includes basic knowledge of fire protection and the use of extinguishing equipment.

Just as important is the on-site briefing: escape routes, extinguisher locations, reporting chains and the specific conditions from the hot work permit, fire brigade or insurer. A reputable provider asks for these — and does not start without them.