City of Bellevue Fire Watch

City ofBellevuePublic InformationHandout F-20Fire WatchApril 2005This information is provided to clarify therequirements for a fire watch. A fire watch is theaction of an on-site person whose sole duty is towatch for the occurrence of fire.Fire Watch RequirementsIf a fire protection system fails, is out of service,demolition/additions to a building occur, therehave been an excessive number of preventableactivation’s or nuisance alarms, a buildingowner (or their representative) may be requiredby the Fire Department to provide a fire watchuntil the system is repaired. Personnel toconduct the fire watch are determined by thebuilding owner. Note: A professional securitycompany may not always be needed, but maybe required by the Fire Department when lifesafety conditions warrant such action.A fire watch is also required whenever fireprotection systems are in trouble or in asupervisory mode for more than 8 hours. Anuisance alarm is defined as “any alarm causedby mechanical failure, malfunction, impropermaintenance, or any alarm activation by acause that cannot be determined.” (1996 NFPA72 1-4) Bellevue City Code 23.11.144 –Preventable Response to Fire Alarms –discusses preventable alarms, fees chargedand owner responsibilities.Owner Responsibilitiesa) Establish, instruct and maintain fire watchpersonnel.b) Notify the monitoring company.c) Notify the Bellevue Fire Marshal’s Officethat the system is not working and/or whenthe system has been repaired. (Call 425-452-6872 during normal business hours,and 911 during non-working hours)d) Contact a service company to repair the fireprotection system(s).e) If a Notice of Violation has been written,contact the Fire Department when thesystem has been repaired. The phonenumber will be on the Notice of Violation.Fire Watch DutiesPersonnel serving as a fire watch have thefollowing duties:a) Conduct periodic patrols of the entire facilityas specified.b) Identify any fire, life or property hazards.c) Notify the Bellevue Fire Department if a fireis discovered by calling 9-1-1 with the exactaddress and type of emergency.d) Notify occupants of the facility of the needto evacuate. If the sirens or public addressfunction of the alarm system are stillfunctional, use them to assist with theevacuation.e) Determine at least one means ofcommunication with the Fire Department. Atelephone is acceptable.f) Maintain a log of the fire watch activities.g) Have knowledge of the location and use offire protection equipment, such as fireextinguishers.h) Fire Watch Personnel can not have otherduties besides their assigned fire watch.However, the Fire Department maydesignate other duties.Note:The fire watch will not perform fire-fightingduties beyond the scope of the ordinary citizen.Frequency of InspectionsFire watch personnel shall patrol the entirefacility every 15 minutes in the followingsituations:a) The facility has people sleeping.b) The facility is an institutional occupancy.c) The facility is an occupied assemblyoccupancy.Facilities that do not meet the requirements fora 15 minute patrol frequency should have a firewatch patrol every 30 minutes. If a facility cannot be completely patrolled by a fire watchperson in 15 or 30 minutes, extra personnelshall be assigned fire watch duties to assurethat the complete facility is patrolled in therequired time frame.City of Bellevue • Fire Prevention Division • 425-452-6872

Record KeepingA fire watch log shall be maintained at thefacility. The log must be available to theBellevue Fire Department at all times during thefire watch.The log shall show the following:a) Address of the facilityb) Times that the patrol has completed eachtour of the facility.c) Name of the person conduction the firewatch.d) Record of the communication(s) to the FireDepartment and monitoring company.e) Record of other information as directed bythe Fire Department personnel.Sample Fire Log12345 Main StreetTime Watch Person Notes1200 Jim Dough Started Watch1215 Jim Dough1230 John Smith Maintenance arrivedCancellation of Fire WatchIt is the owners’ responsibility to cancel the firewatch once the fire protection system has beenfully restored. Once the fire watch has beencancelled, the owner or representative mustnotify the monitoring company and the BellevueFire Marshal’s Office.For Additional information about fire protectionssystems or fire watch contact the Bellevue FireDepartment at 425-452-6872.References• The International Fire Code Section 110 -Unsafe Buildings• The International Fire Code 901.7 –Systems Out of Service• The International Fire Code Chapter 14 –Fire Safety During Construction andDemolition• Bellevue City Code 23.11.144 –Preventable Response to Fire Alarms