Purpose of The fire protection system is to detect and suppress fire. When that system is impaired, a trained person physically patrolling the affected area assumes that detection and notification role until the system is restored to service. Fire watch is required under NFPA 1, Chapter 18 and IFC §901.7 whenever a fire protection system — sprinkler, fire alarm, suppression, or detection — is out of service for more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period in an occupied building.
Fire watch is is dispatched in response to a specific impairment condition. When fire watch is required and what it involves — by trigger event.
| Activity | Frequency | Code reference |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinkler system impairment (any portion out of service) | Immediately if >4 hours in 24-hour period while occupied | NFPA 1 §18.2 / IFC §901.7 |
| Fire alarm system impairment (system or zone out of service) | Immediately if >4 hours in 24-hour period while occupied | NFPA 1 §18.2 / IFC §901.7 |
| Construction site — before permanent fire alarm operational | During all occupied work hours without a functioning system | IFC §3312 / NFPA 241 §9.2 |
| During hot work operations in unprotected areas | During all hot work; 30-minute post-work patrol | NFPA 51B §8.3 |
| AHJ-ordered fire watch (code violation or emergency) | Per AHJ order — typically until system is restored or violation corrected | IFC §901.7 |
| Patrol frequency during fire watch | Minimum every 30 minutes (NFPA 1 §18.6); AHJ may require more frequent | NFPA 1 §18.6 |
| Documentation — fire watch log entries | Every patrol, with time, location, and observations | NFPA 1 §18.6.2 |