What is Fire Watch? It is the act of carefully observing an area for fires, sparks or any other potential ignition sources. Why Would You Hire Fire Watch Services? There are many reasons why you might need fire watch services. Some of the most common reasons include: The fire alarm or sprinkler system is not working or hasn’t been installed yet You don’t have firefighting equipment in place Your company is required to have fire watch guards to avoid fines or other government penalties There is a fire hazard on the property A fire has already occurred on the property Another reason to hire a fire watch guard service is if you are doing construction or renovation work on your property which may have included grinding, welding or use of a cutting torch, any sort of operation that would create sparks and heat which could start a fire. By hiring a fire watch guard service, you can help reduce the risk of a fire starting on your property. Fire prevention is the best way to protect your property from fire damage, but having a fire watch guard service in place is the next best thing. Our fire watch guards are trained to look for signs of fires and to put them out quickly if they do occur. Contact us today to learn more about our fire watch guard services or to schedule a free consultation. 24 Hour Fire Watch Security Our fire watch guards are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be dispatched quickly to any location in need of fire protection. We have a wide range of fire watch guard services that can meet your specific needs, and our team is always available to answer any questions you may have about our fire watch guard services. When would you hire a fire watch guard service? You should consider hiring fire watch guards during construction or renovation as there are many potential fire related dangers. Certainly, if there are any disruptions in your fire alarm systems such as replacement or if there has been an issue with power to your building. Sometimes a large event would warrant the use of a fire watch guard. How do Fire Guards differ from Security Guard Services? Planned also provides Security Guard Services designed to protect your property from unauthorized visitors, checking on physical security, etc. the main difference is that security guards definitely would report a fire they are not specifically trained to monitor and report on potential fire hazards in the same way fire watch security personnel have been. Fire Watch Checklist A fire watch checklist if important to make sure that building management and the fire watch staff are in sync with regard to the expectations of the fire watch team. Here are a few important items that should appear on every fire watch checklist: Check all fire extinguishers to ensure they are properly charged and in their proper place. Inspect all electrical equipment and cords for signs of wear or damage. Check for obstructions in hallways and exits. Ensure that all fire safety equipment is in working order. Maintain a log of observations and report any concerns to a supervisor. Be prepared to use fire extinguishers and other equipment to help put out fires. Can the Fire Marshal shut me down? The fire marshal does have the authority to shut down a property if it is not in compliance with fire safety regulations, but thankfully this is usually only done as a last resort. In most cases, hiring a fire watch guard service is enough to bring a property into compliance and avoid any penalties or fines. What are the potential penalties for not having a fire watch guard service? There are a number of potential penalties that could be levied against a company for not having a fire watch guard service in place. These can include: Fines from the local or state government Loss of insurance coverage Closure of the business until the property can be brought into compliance with fire safety regulations These are just some of the potential penalties that could be faced by a company without a fire watch guard service. In most cases, it is much easier and cheaper to simply hire a fire watch guard service than to risk any of these penalties.