When is fire watch required?

On Oahu, the Honolulu Fire Department states that a fire watch is required when a required fire alarm, sprinkler or standpipe system is out of service for more than four hours in a 24-hour period, with a plan submitted to and approved by the Office of the Fire Chief. This is Oahu-specific guidance, not a universal rule for every Hawaii county. Confirm the applicable authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for the property.

What fire watch does not replace

A fire watch is a narrow, written life-safety scope. It does not replace the fire department, 911, a fire-protection contractor, a safety officer, a building engineer or the property’s fire-safety obligations. The approved plan and post orders should define the areas, duties, contacts, records and end point.

What an incident report should include

A useful report lets an owner, supervisor, insurer or responding agency reconstruct the event without guesswork.

• Report date and number
• Incident date, time, location and type
• Reporting guard, witnesses and responders
• Objective chronological narrative
• Actions taken and notifications made
• Referenced evidence or follow-up
• Recipient and escalation path

Emergency boundaries

During a fire, medical emergency or law-enforcement incident, follow the approved site plan and contact emergency services when warranted. A private guard is not automatically a firefighter, emergency medical provider, fire-code official or building engineer. Do not use this website as an emergency contact channel.