Fire watch
The Ontario Fire Code requires all buildings’ fire alarm and/or sprinkler systems to always be fully operational. If any of these systems are offline, a fire watch must be initiated immediately.
A fire watch is the manual surveillance of a building by individuals who identify and control fire hazards, detect early signs of unwanted fire, and in the event of a fire, raise an alarm and notify Toronto Fire Services.
It is a short-term alternative that allows for continued occupancy of a building.
Fire watch conditions
A fire watch must be initiated if any fire alarm and/or sprinkler system is offline on campus, which may be for an entire building, a section of a building, a floor, or a room.
A fire alarm and/or sprinkler system can be offline due to:
- Planned shutdowns for a capital project or renovation
- Planned shutdowns for approved events or ceremonies that may otherwise trigger the fire alarm
- Planned and required system maintenance, upgrades, or repairs
- Unplanned fire alarm and/or sprinkler system(s) failures
All planned shutdowns are confined to as limited an area and duration as possible.
Fire watch procedure
Fire watch procedures may vary slightly by building and situation, but generally include the following steps:
Initiation
A failure of the fire alarm and/or sprinkler system(s) will trigger an immediate fire watch.
A required shutdown of the fire alarm and/or sprinkler system(s) will initiate the planning of a fire watch.
Notice
Immediately upon the start of an unplanned fire watch or prior to the start of a planned one:
- Campus Safety and Fire Prevention Services will be notified of the location and estimated duration of the fire watch
- Building occupants will receive a service alert
- A physical notice will be posted at all main entrances to the building
Monitoring
For the entire duration of a fire watch, designated person(s) will patrol the entirety of the affected area once every hour and maintain documentation of their patrol using the fire watch sheet.
A fire watch can be conducted by staff designated by the department or project to conduct the fire watch or contractor hired specifically to conduct the fire watch.
Download the fire watch sheet.
Prohibited activities
All hot work, such as welding, must be suspended for the entire duration of the fire watch.
In commercial kitchens, cooking operations must be suspended until the commercial cooking fire extinguishing systems are operational.
Stay in the loop with service alerts
Facilities & Services issues alerts for service interruptions on campus, including notices of fire watch. Subscribe to receive service alerts.
Questions
Fire Prevention Services is currently updating the fire plan for each building, which includes detailed fire watch procedures.
For questions about the fire emergency procedures, please contact your fire prevention officer.