Are you curious about the difference between fire guard and fire watch? Here is what you need to know.
Fire accidents often occur, and it is not something new or something that hears have not heard.
So, to say, it is something that happens all over the world.
Fire guard and fire watch are relatively similar, as fire watch is a service performed by the fire guard.
The most convincing aspect of the former from the latter is that you may find it difficult to differentiate them, and this may look convincing to you.
That is why we’ll be examining the difference between fire watch guard and fire watch in this post to help solve your curiosity.
But first, let’s have a proper understanding of the two, and help you know the best fire watch company in town.
Understanding the difference between fire guard and fire watch
Fire Watch
Fire watch is a service performed by fire guards that involves identifying any potential fire hazards for fire safety regulations.
Fire watch service is required at construction sites and is necessary when a building’s fire alarm system or sprinkler system is not functioning properly.
A fire safety equipment is not functioning well or is broken, a building should hire a fire guard to take fire measures to prevent fire outbreaks with the use of fire protection systems.
Common Scenarios Requiring Fire Watch
1. Construction Sites
Construction Sites tend to have a high volume of fire risks due to the flammable materials that could cause a fire hazard or sparks.
Assigning well-trained personnel to monitor the construction site for any threats that can ignite any spark or fire is essential for security purposes.
2. Hot Work Operations
Hot work such as welding also carries a high risk of fire due to the heat generated.
By assigning fire watch personnel to ensure a safe environment, and also to notify workers in case a fire emergency arises during the process.
3. Alarm System Failures
The personnel’s activity during this period is very crucial till the alarm system is repaired.
Their vigilance and rapid response help eliminate fire incidents that may occur and ensure the safety of occupants and property to enhance fire safety.
4. Large Gatherings
Large gatherings require the presence of fire watch personnel to oversee early signs in order to address any potential emergency that may arise during the process.
Let’s Talk About Fire Guard
Fire guard is a trained professional which major assignment is to make sure that the occupants in the building are protected and safe from any form of fire outbreaks. They patrol the area looking for potential fire hazards.
Once they identify them, they report it to the property owner so that the issue is fixed. They also check all fire safety equipment like smoke detectors to make sure it’s functioning.
difference between fire guard and fire watch
Why You May Need a Fire Guard
These are the reasons why a fire guard plays a crucial role in a building, whether it is occupied or vacant.
- Managing the risk of fire outbreaks is a top priority in managing a building, from a safety point of view.
- Any professional organization will have an understanding of fire procedures for managing fire risks and emergencies, but a key fact is that things change, and a fire guard acts as a critical safety measure in managing situations where the system built is bypassed in one of many potential situations.
What is the difference between a fire guard and a fire watch?
The difference between the two is that one is assigned to monitor an area for potential fire hazards in mitigating fire risks, while the other is responsible for fighting fires.
Fire watch personnel are assigned to locations that are at high risk for fires, while fire watch guards are mostly stationed in buildings where people are present to extinguish fire in case there is a fire breakout out They also have the authority to evacuate people from the affected area if required.
Both fire watch and fire watch guard are important parts of a fire safety plan, and they play important roles in preventing fires and protecting people’s lives and property.
Importance of a fire guard
Fire guards are employed on a permanent or temporary basis according to your needs.
But they can also provide key services where a high risk of fire outbreak exists.
The fire guards play a crucial role necessary to safeguarding people and premises against fire, which could be caused by:
- Inappropriate storage of materials and liquids
- People smoking
- Lack of safety equipment
- Arson/mischief
- Poor workmanship
- Poor safety procedures
The responsibilities of a fire guard and fire watch
The key duties of a fire guard and fire watch, therefore, are based around fire prevention and can be summarized as:
1. Surveillance:
Continuous patrols inside and outside the building, paying particular attention to high-risk areas such as warehouse storage or where hot work is taking place, i.e., welding or cutting and electrical work.
2. Monitor safety controls:
The fire watch guard is responsible for monitoring and maintaining fire safety equipment and procedures.
So, they should check periodically that fire extinguishers are in place and operational, fire exits are not blocked or locked, and the fire alarm system and water sprinkler system are operational.
Of course, it is possible that the fire watch guard has been deployed because these systems are not working, and this is already known.
3. Trigger emergency plan:
Where a hazard has been identified and a fire situation has evolved, the fire watch guard must quickly switch to the emergency plan.
The first stage of this is to raise the alarm, contact the fire services, and contact the appropriate management of the organization and premises.
4. Evacuation support:
Once the alarm is raised, the building must be evacuated.
The fire watch guard will be trained to calmly follow emergency procedures to evacuate the building, account for all personnel, assemble them in the correct place, and ensure the building is empty.
5. Documentation:
Following the safe evacuation of the building, the Firewatch guard must maintain logs and record information about the incident, bearing in mind that this could have occurred out of hours.
This must be reported to management, so that they can assist in training and safety improvement.
Conclusion
Fire watch service is essential because it prevents fire outbreaks which may involve loss of lives or property damage that may occur in the process.
If you are experiencing an equipment failure or running a construction site, you should require fire watch services.
Once you contact the best fire watch company (The Fast Fire Watch Co.), they will offer a fire watch solution for you and assign a a dedicated and experienced fire watch guard for you in order to patrol your property and ensure everything is safe for your comfort.
Guard Fire Watch is trained to provide solutions to any damage a fire outbreak might have caused and can secure any venue required, from construction sites to office buildings.
