Fire Watch. Fire safety systems may not be deactivated in whole or in part for any reason other than for repairs or hot work.

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1 Emergency Guideline GU.FAC.039 For Team Leaders, Caretakers, Trades, and Project Supervisors Approved by FS Leadership Team, August 28, 2013 Fire Watch A Fire Watch is a temporary surveillance system for detecting fires. During a Fire Watch, the Fire Watch Personnel (FWP) will patrol the building, checking for smoke or fire hazards. When the fire alarm system or the sprinkler system is wholly or partially inoperative, or when hot work is being conducted, a Fire Watch must be established as a substitute for early warning detection. Fire safety systems may not be deactivated in whole or in part for any reason other than for repairs or hot work. Definitions A Fire Watch is a temporary surveillance system for fire detection. The person who is conducting the Fire Watch will patrol the building once an hour, checking for smoke or fire hazards when the fire alarm or sprinkler system is partially or wholly inoperative. For full Fire Watch procedures for your building, please consult Section 10 of the Fire Safety Plan for your building. If hot work is being conducted, a Fire Watch must be established. Please see Hot Work guidelines (coming soon). Fire Watch Personnel (FWP) The Principal, in consultation with the Team Leader, will appoint the FWP, usually the Head Caretaker. The FWP must be trained to identify fire hazards and fire safety. The FWP must be familiar with the fire evacuation procedures for the building. For full Fire Watch procedures for your building, please consult Section 8 of the Fire Safety Plan for your building. Initiating the Fire Watch The FWP shall post a sign adjacent to each manual pull station, advising building occupants of the Fire Watch. See sample notice at the end of this document. When a Fire Watch is initiated, the FWP shall notify the following: 1. Staff, especially supervisory staff. 2. The TDSB Call Centre at The monitoring station that monitors your fire alarm system if it is not monitored by the Call Centre. 4. The non-emergency number for Toronto Fire Services (TFS) at (If your site is not located within Toronto, call the local fire department.) 5. Toronto Fire Services (TFS) by fax at , confirming of the status of the repair and notifying them that a Fire Watch is in place. Page 1 of 6

2 Fire Watch Tour During the Fire Watch, the FWP shall tour the entire building or the affected area each hour, checking for smoke or fire hazards. Upon completing each circuit, he or she shall sign the Fire Watch Log Sheet. If fire or smoke conditions are discovered, the FWP shall: a. Use the nearest intercom or portable communication device to notify the school administration. The school administration will the alert all occupants to follow evacuation procedures immediately. b. Call emergency services (9-1-1) to report the fire from a safe area and follow the building s evacuation procedure. c. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire unless you are trained and it is safe to do so. The Fire Watch is to continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until the fire safety system is operational. The Team Leader shall inform his or her respective Regional Manager if overtime is required. Terminating the Fire Watch When the fire safety system is restored, the FWP shall: 1. Remove temporary signage at the pull stations. 2. Inform staff, especially supervisory staff. 3. Inform Toronto Fire Services via phone and fax, that the Fire Watch procedure is now complete and that fire safety system is now fully operational (phone: , fax: ). 4. Call the TDSB Call Centre at Call the monitoring station that monitors your fire alarm system if it is not monitored by the Call Centre. Page 2 of 6

3 After Hours Failure of Fire Alarm and Sprinkler Systems 1. Call Centre will be notified if there is a problem with the fire safety system through their own monitoring system. 2. The Call Centre will call the Duty Supervisor. 3. The Duty Supervisor will instruct the Call Centre to dispatch a Caretaker to the site. Definitions A Fire Alarm Technician/ Electrician inspects and services fire alarm systems. The Fire Alarm Technician/Electrician must be certified by the Canadian Fire Alarm Association (CFAA) or by the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario (ECAO)/International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). 4. The Caretaker will visit the site to determine the nature of the problem. 5. The Caretaker will report back to the Call Centre to either confirm that the fire alarm system has been reset, or to request a Board Fire Alarm Technician/Electrician, sprinkler fitter or any other required tradesperson be dispatched to the site. 6. The tradesperson dispatched to the site will inform the Duty Supervisor if a Fire Watch is required. Hot Work: Responsibilities of FWP If hot work is being conducted, a Fire Watch must be established. During hot work, the FWP shall only tour the area affected by the hot work. Please see Hot Work Procedure. 1. If the fire safety system is disabled, follow the process as outlined in Initiating the Fire Watch, above. 2. During the Fire Watch, the FWP shall tour the affected area each hour, checking for smoke or fire hazards. 3. The period required for the Fire Watch is based upon the type of hot work activity being conducted. See the Hot Work Procedure for time periods required. 4. Upon completing each circuit, the FWP shall sign the Fire Watch Log Sheet. 5. If fire or smoke conditions are discovered, the FWP shall: a. Use the nearest manual pull station. If the fire alarm system was disabled for the hot work, use the nearest intercom or portable communication device to notify the school administration. The school administration shall alert all occupants to follow evacuation procedures immediately. Page 3 of 6

4 b. Call emergency services (9-1-1) to report the fire from a safe area and follow the building s evacuation procedure. c. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire unless you are trained and it is safe to do so. 6. If fire safety system was disabled during the Fire Watch, follow the process as outlined in Terminating the Fire Watch, above, when the system is operational. Related documents GU.FAC.016 Fire Prevention GU.FAC.017 Fire Safety Plans GU.FAC.031 False Fire Alarm GU.FAC.035 Portable Fire Extinguishers GU.FAC.022 Fire: Emergency Guideline Fire Safety Systems Inspection and Testing (coming soon) Hot Work (coming soon) Page 4 of 6

5 Example Notice: Fire Alarm is currently under repair! Fire Safety Watch is being conducted. If you detect fire: Notify persons in the area Remove yourself from fire area Call the Fire Department (911) and school office by PA Page 5 of 6

6 Fire Watch Log Sheet Date 1 Time Period 2 Fire Watch Individual/Signature 3 Comments 8:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m. 12:00 a.m.- 1:00 a.m. 1:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m. 2:00 a.m.- 3:00 a.m. 3:00 a.m.- 4:00 a.m. 4:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m. 5:00 a.m.- 6:00 a.m. 6:00 a.m.- 7:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m.- 8:00 a.m. 1. Each day during the impairment, this sheet must be filled out by the Fire Watch individual(s). 2. Each hour, the Fire Watch Individual must walk through the facilty to identify fire, smoke or significant fire safety issues. 3. The Individual shall sign to state they have passed through the facility during the respective time period. 4. No smoking shall be enforced by the individual conducting the fire watch. Page 6 of 6