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Fire Watch Procedures

This procedure outlines the requirements of a Fire Watch when the fire alarm system in any University building becomes out of service for any reason. The primary goal of this procedure is to ensure the occupants are provided with early warning fire detection and alarm system during an emergency.

When Required

A Fire Watch shall be established in occupied buildings when the fire alarm system is not operational or temporarily shut down for any reason, including maintenance or periodic inspection, for a period of more than four hours.

When Acceptable

A building fire alarm system may be shutdown only on the approval of the University Building Official (Associate Vice President for Facilities Management) or his/her designee (Director, Physical Plant) and only if a Fire Watch service can and will be provided. Approval for planned shutdown of a system will be given only with sufficient prior notice, where there is a demonstrated need, and the occupants of the building are not exposed to undo risk.

Notification

  • Physical Plant employees and Design and Construction Project Managers and Inspectors must report fire alarm outages (planned or unplanned) to the Facilities Management Service Center and Manager, Building Trades.
  • The Facilities Management Service Center will notify University Police Dispatch, the University Building Official, and the Director of Environmental Health and Instructional Safety (EHIS).
  • University Police Dispatch will report all fire alarm outages to the Physical Plant Duty Manager between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and on weekends.
  • Dispatch will notify Fullerton Fire Department.
  • EHIS will report the establishment of a fire watch to the State Fire Marshal.
  • Signs will be posted on all building entry doors by Physical Plant (7 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or University Police (after hours).
  • EHIS will notify building administrators.
  • Facilities Management Service Center will be the point of contact for updated information on the fire alarm outage.

Fire Watch Procedure

University Police will be responsible for conducting the Fire Watch. The entire building will be patrolled when occupied. Their responsibilities include:

  • Function as the fire alarm system for reporting fires or similar emergencies to University Police Dispatch.
  • Initiate the evacuation of the building, if necessary.
  • Know the University's procedures for reporting fire emergencies and in building evacuations.
  • Know the proper operation of fire extinguishers.
  • Knowledge on the use and equipped with two-way radios operating on the CSUF Police Radio System.
  • Monitor the building, internally and externally, once every hour while the building is occupied; report to Dispatch following each cycle. Dispatch will log the Fire Watch reports into ARMS.

Revised: 8/19/2008 TW