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.