INTRO:
A sprinkler system goes offline on a Friday afternoon. Your facility manager is on the phone with the repair company — earliest availability is Monday. In the meantime, you have a commercial building with no fire suppression, tenants inside, and a legal obligation you may not fully understand.
This is the fire watch moment — and how you respond in the next few hours matters enormously.
What Triggers a Fire Watch Requirement in BC?
Under the BC Fire Code and National Fire Code of Canada, fire watch is typically required when:
- Automatic sprinkler systems are taken out of service for any reason
- Fire alarm systems are disabled for maintenance or repair
- Construction or renovation impairs fire detection or suppression systems
- A building's fire protection systems fail unexpectedly
In most cases, fire watch must begin within a very short time frame (sometimes 1–4 hours) of the system going offline. This is an emergency response requirement, not a next-business-day matter.
What the BC Fire Code Requires from Fire Watch Personnel
The BC Fire Code (based on the National Fire Code) requires fire watch personnel to:
- Conduct frequent patrols of the affected area — the frequency specified in the fire watch notification to your fire department
- Maintain a written log of each patrol (time, area covered, observations)
- Know the building's emergency evacuation plan
- Be able to immediately contact emergency services
- Notify the fire department and building occupants immediately upon detecting any fire-related condition
Who Can Perform Fire Watch in BC?
Technically, fire watch can be performed by a building employee — but the practical and liability considerations make this problematic:
- Fire watch must continue continuously (or at frequent intervals) until systems are restored
- This may require 24/7 coverage for multiple days
- Building staff are not trained in documentation, emergency response protocols, or fire behaviour observation
- If something goes wrong, the documentation trail from untrained staff may not protect the building owner from liability
Licensed security guards with fire watch training represent the professional standard — and the defensible choice. For building owners and facility managers seeking reliable fire watch security services BC, working with a licensed provider ensures compliance and reduces liability exposure.
On Guard Security’s Fire Watch Response in BC
We understand that fire watch is an emergency requirement. Our rapid-deployment protocol:
- You call — 24/7 availability
- We assess your property size and fire watch requirements
- We dispatch licensed guards to your location within 2–4 hours
- Guards arrive with appropriate documentation materials and are briefed on your building layout
- Patrol logs are maintained and available to you and the fire department
As a trusted provider of fire watch security services BC, we serve Surrey, Burnaby, Langley, Abbotsford, Richmond, Delta, and all Lower Mainland communities.
What to Tell Your Fire Watch Security Company
When you call, have ready:
- Property address and size (square footage)
- Which systems are offline (sprinklers, alarms, or both)
- Whether the building is occupied
- Estimated repair timeline
- Your fire department’s specific fire watch requirements (if you’ve been notified)
Fire suppression system offline? Don’t wait — contact On Guard Security’s 24/7 emergency line immediately. We deploy fire watch guards across the Lower Mainland in hours, not days.
➡ onguardsecurityltd.ca/fire-watch