Key points:
- Why you can’t dispatch maintenance or security for most fire watch scenarios.
- The fines associated with dispatching someone DFD deems incompetent.
- Implementing 100% fire code, OSHA, and insurance-compliant firewatch.
Changes to the 2026 fire code limit your ability to dispatch non-certified staff for fire monitoring. This means that assigning your janitor, maintenance staff, or security increases your risk of being fined for non-compliance. Non-certified fire watch risk goes beyond fines, as compliant monitoring saves lives. If an incident occurs, you’ll almost certainly be found liable. It’s a matter of maintaining the trust and respect of your employees, consumers, and community.
If a DFD inspector stops by and your staff can’t answer basic fire safety and fire panel questions, or isn’t providing continuous or compliant monitoring, the Fire Marshal can order emergency stand-by guards. These guards are off-duty firefighters, and cost $200+ per person per hour. This is in addition to your fine for non-compliance.
What Is the Fine for Staffing an “Incompetent” Employee for Fire Monitoring?
Before the new updates, there were many scenarios where you could staff an employee familiar with your building and emergency response plan. Now, the competence of who your staff is a top consideration.
If your monitoring is non-compliant:
- You’ll be fined a minimum of $999 per day.
- The Fire Marshal will dispatch one or more off-duty firefighters for monitoring, assessing a fee of $200+ per person per hour.
- The Fire Marshal can shut down your building or business until your systems are fully operable.
- If an incident of any kind occurs, the costs will be much higher, including full liability and higher insurance premiums.
Can You Ever Staff Personnel Under the New Denver Fire Code?
You may staff personnel if you’re under your downtime window, but non-certified fire watch risk is always higher than staffing a certified professional. If you staff an employee, they must be trained and competent. Like before, you can’t staff an employee for hot work monitoring, water outages, or complete system failures. You may also have industry-specific staffing restrictions.
What About Unexpected Outage Gap Coverage?
If your water or fire alarm system goes down unexpectedly, call for certified coverage ASAP. You may staff internal personnel for gap monitoring until your certified fire guard arrives.
Read more:
- Office Conversion Fire Safety System Upgrades
- How Your Wildfire Risk Score Impacts Colorado Fire Watch Requirements
- How to Keep Compliant Fire Watch Patrol Log Sheets
- Server Room Fire Watch
- How Fire Watch Differs in Denver’s Historic Buildings
Can You Train Your Team in Fire Watch?
Many companies send a few team members for training and certification. This allows immediate compliance, but you may still need to staff a third-party partner. Internal staff is ideal for short-term monitoring, but you must maintain compliance with labor laws. Depending on the circumstances, you may require more than one monitor.
A third-party partner:
- Covers staffing gaps
- Provides breaks
- Minimizes overtime
- Ensures sufficient coverage
- Provides 24/7 coverage
Eliminate Your Non-Certified Fire Watch Risk with Scout Security
Scout Security provides trained and certified fire monitors in Denver and The Springs. Our services ensure 100% compliance with fire code, insurance policies, OSHA, and industry-specific regulations. We work solo or with your team.
Preschedule or dispatch our team 24/7 when emergency arises. Book now!
