Key points:
- Why to consider going above and beyond fire watch compliance.
- The top 5 ways to exceed fire code compliance.
- Who to call when you need fire watchers in Denver.
Fire watch is more than a matter of compliance, it’s a proactive approach that saves lives, your property, nearby properties, and everything within your business. Understanding current and evolving fire codes is your minimum requirement. However, many commercial and residential businesses leverage a combination of human oversight and smart technology to go above and beyond.
Fire safety is a crucial part of your Risk Management and Emergency Response Plans. Between smart office/building technology, day-to-day electronics, and EV charging stations, modern buildings and businesses have evolving risk factors. Minimize blind spots and reduce risk by completing a comprehensive risk assessment at least once per year.
1. Proactive Fire Watch
Your staff, clients, residents, guests, and the nearby community rely on you to be a responsible business or property owner. Dispatching either or both security and fire monitors in the instances below is a proactive approach to safety and security.
- During Community Events: Consider staffing a third-party partner anytime there’s a high-traffic community event. This includes block parties, festivals, food crawls, parades, holiday events, sporting events, protests, and more.
- Post-Natural Disaster: Even when water, power, fire alarms, and fire sprinklers are fully functioning, there’s a higher likelihood of essential safety systems going down after a natural disaster. Proactively dispatching monitors ensures immediate compliance.
- Busy Season: Things spiral quickly when you’re at capacity. With your team spread to the max, staffing security and fire watchers provide risk-reducing occupancy control, crowd control, and risk management.
- During Minimally Increased Fire Risk: There are many activities and occasions that increase fire risk, but don’t require monitoring and logging. This includes small internal events, relocating flammable/hazardous materials, and using industrial equipment.
Read more:
- 5 Times to Staff Fire Guards, Even When They Aren’t Required
- Why Dispatch Dual-Trained Fire Watch Security Guards
- How Fire Watch Differs in Denver’s Historic Buildings
- EV Charging Station Fire Watch Protocols in Denver
- How to Set Your Fire Monitor Up for Success
2. Thermal Imaging
Fire watch compliance requires real-time monitoring and patrols but doesn’t require thermal imaging. Thermal imaging enables you to view sparks, smoke, and fire in hidden voids behind the walls and underneath the floorboards. This is particularly helpful in buildings built before the 1940s, but also beneficial in newer construction. While it’s not required, it provides added peace of mind in buildings of any age.
3. AI Video Analytics
Modern security cameras have an increasing range of AI capabilities. This includes the ability to detect, verify, and alert you and your team of flames and smoke less than a second after detection.
4. Smart Sensors
Smart sensors can be placed strategically throughout your building to monitor risk factors in real time. This improves response time by alerting you and your team as soon as ignition or risk arises.
Smart sensors detect:
- Temperature
- Smoke
- Gas
- Movement patterns
- And more
5. Train and Certify Your Team
To maintain fire watch compliance, hospitals, inpatient facilities, jails, and other high-risk businesses must have trained and certified fire guards on staff at all times. Even if it’s not required for compliance, consider training some (or all) of your security team.
As-Needed Guards for Fire Watch Compliance in Denver
Scout Security provides proactive and mandated fire guards in Colorado Springs and the Denver Metro Area. We can work solo or with your team.
Reach out for pre-scheduled or emergency services!
