A Fire Watch is a physical inspection conducted when a building’s Fire Alarm, Sprinkler or other Suppression Systems are hindered or temporarily out of service. Posting a Fire Watch is the responsibility of the Building Representative or the Housing and Residential Community Representative that is responsible for the building. Fire Watches are posted at the request of the Tuscaloosa Fire Department or the Environmental Health & Safety Representative responding to the incident. International Fire Code states that a fire watch is “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 fire department.” Fire Watch Personnel are required to continually patrol the facility or site for evidence of smoke, fire or any abnormal conditions. Whenever a situation which threatens life or property is discovered, the Fire Watch personnel must immediately contact emergency personnel at 348-5454, sound the fire alarm, alert the building occupants and assist in the orderly evacuation of the facility.

Based on occupancy type, a Fire Watch may be instituted when a Fire Alarm, Sprinkler, or other Suppression System is hindered or out of service. EHS will ensure that appropriate actions and notifications are made in the event of an impaired system. More information can be found by using the links below.

Fire Watch Policy

UA Fire Watch Guidelines

UA Fire watch Duties and Log Sheet explains the duties and responsibilities of people involved in the fire watch. Log entries shall be made hourly at the completion of each round. Log entries shall consist of the date, the time the round was completed, a summary of what was observed and the name and signature of the individual conducting the Fire Watch. The Fire Watch Log shall be kept readily accessible for review by Environmental Health & Safety and Tuscaloosa Fire Department.

If a contractor’s work requires that a fire  alarm system be offline for work to be completed, the contractor is responsible for a fire watch throughout the area or building and at the fire alarm panel.  The fire watch involves having a qualified individual watching the fire alarm system and walking through the area and dialing 911 in response to any fire alarm coming into the panel.  This is the contractor’s responsibility and all costs associated with this fire watch will be the  responsibility of the contractor.

If you have questions regarding the fire watch please contact Larry Cooper for additional information.