If fire watch is required on short notice, a half job is getting guards to the property. The site should be prepared for their arrival. Some minutes spent in arranging access, information and safety information can help the fire watch team to start their work without the needless confusion.
To make these rapid deployments as effective as possible, partnering with a responsive provider of fast fire watch guards ensures that certified personnel are dispatched immediately while site preparations are underway. Having a well-coordinated team ready to step in on short notice bridges the gap between emergency system failure and total site safety, allowing patrols to begin without missing a beat.
clear understanding of the problem.Property managers should determine the need for fire watch prior to the arrival of the guards. Is there an alarm system down? Is there a problem with the sprinklers? Are there any new fire hazards among the construction activities? Record the areas affected and whether the whole property needs to be covered. Provide a timeframe for the anticipated repair, if available. The more accurate the information, the less difficult it will be for the contractor to draft the staffing and patrol plan.Make Building Access Simple.If the guard is unable to open the front door then he/she is unable to start a patrol. Set up access in advance of the team’s arrival. Give keys, access cards, gate codes, etc., as necessary. If some rooms or areas need special permission, please specify it in advance. Also provide the name and contact information of the person who will meet the guards on site. This avoids a team standing outside whilst someone looks for the correct contact.Determine the important areas.The fire watch team should be familiar with the location of the critical safety equipment and vulnerable areas of the property. If possible, make a simple site plan. Indicate fire alarm panels, sprinkler equipment, extinguishers, electrical rooms, stairwells, emergency exits, storage areas, construction areas and restricted spaces. A map doesn’t have to be complicated. A well-marked layout map can save precious time when the assignment is only a couple of weeks’ notice.Clear Patrol RoutesEnsure guards can move freely through areas to be covered prior to the start of coverage. Clear walkways of unnecessary items and keep important walkways and exits clear. If it is unsafe to enter an area due to structural damage, construction or other hazards, inform the fire watch supervisor. Do not rely on trial and error for guards to find site restrictions.Prepare Emergency ContactsEnsure that emergency and site contact numbers are all in one place. Add building management, fire watch supervisor, maintenance staff, repair contractors, and others who might be involved. All personnel should be familiar with the authority to make decisions when things change.Describe the changes that have taken place.A briefing can have a tremendous impact. Notify incoming guards of what occurred, what has been accomplished, and what still needs to be resolved. Identify unusual hazards; don’t take them for granted. A recently damaged electrical room, temporary wiring, hot-work area or large combustible stack should be given special consideration.Maintain a tidy Handover.When the property manager and contractor share the same information, short-notice fire watch is most effective. Preparing the site in advance reduces the time guards need to spend determining where they need to go and how to keep an eye on the areas they need to cover.
