Key points:
- When your water is out, report the outage to the DFD, apply for a firewatch permit, and begin patrols and logs.
- The standard 4- or 10-hour reporting windows don’t apply when you have no water, report your water outage immediately.
- Once work is complete, you must submit NFPA paperwork to legally end monitoring.
A water main line emergency is a “zero-hour” fire watch trigger for commercial businesses and multi-tenant residential buildings. This means you must dispatch a trained and certified monitor without delay. Unlike other unexpected emergencies, such as a power outage, a burst pipe, or a main line break renders your fire suppression system inoperable.
Many circumstances allow for a 4- or 10-hour window for reporting that your system is down and dispatching a monitor. A water outage is an exception to this window. Fines for failing to report your outage are up to $999 per day, and you may run the risk of a “stop-work” or evacuation order. Whether you’re open or closed, being found without a compliant monitor results in a mandatory dispatch of one or more DFD monitors. These off-duty firefighters cost $250 per hour per guard.
Top causes of water line disruption:
- Frozen lines that burst underground.
- Erosion that causes pipes to snap.
- Tree root intrusion or line disruption.
- Line corrosion or deterioration.
- High-rise/high-water pressure blowout.
- Hydrant flushing, repair, or maintenance.
- Accidental construction damage.
1. Notify the Denver Fire Department
While one team member calls to dispatch a third-party monitor, assign a second team member to go to the System Down Reporting and Firewatch website. This alerts the DFD that your water is down so that they can proactively prepare. Odds are the outage impacts a larger area, so they’ll be on high alert.
Ensure you understand your daily reporting responsibilities, which are streamlined with electronic logs. Be mindful that the DFD can monitor your patrols in real-time.
2. Immediately Dispatch Fire Watch
You must immediately begin compliant patrolling. Feel free to dispatch a team member while you wait for a trained and certified monitor to arrive. They must patrol and log their monitoring, and cannot complete any other tasks while they’re monitoring.
You’ll need enough guards to patrol the entire building at least every 30 minutes; residential and high-risk scenarios require 15-minute intervals. When you call to dispatch your third-party monitor, they’ll advise on patrol frequency and the required number of monitors.
What to Do If You Have Certified Monitors on Staff During a Water Main Line Emergency?
If you have trained and certified monitors on staff, immediately transition them to interruption-free monitoring. They must cease all other job duties. Then, consider how long you have adequate coverage for your water main line emergency.
A third-party partner may be required to ensure a compliant number of monitors, and for employee breaks and after-hours coverage. Also, to keep overtime to a minimum. You don’t yet have a timeframe for how long your system will be down, but you must be as proactive as possible.
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3. Obtain Your Firewatch Permit
Next, you’ll need to apply for an E-Permit for firewatch. For one-off emergencies, the fee is typically $100. For special events and non-repair, maintenance, or emergency permitting, permits start at $425.
4. Alert Your Fire Alarm Company and AES*
Call your fire alarm company to let them know your system is down. This alerts them to any “trouble” alerts they may receive. Verifying your water disruption also helps your alarm company maintain compliant regulatory records.
*If your building uses an AES (American Electronic Services) box, you must call the Non-Emergency Dispatch line at 720-913-2491 to report your outage.
5. Close Out Your Incident
Once repairs are complete and a contractor has verified that your system is operational, you’ll need to contact the DFD. Submit an NFPA 12 Material and Test Certificate for fire sprinklers and water line outages. Submit an NFPA 72 System Record of Completion for Fire Alarm System Outages.
Also, call your fire alarm company and the Non-Emergency Dispatch line to notify them that your AES system is operational.
Third-Party Fire Patrol in the Denver Metro Area
Scout Security provides emergency fire patrols in Denver and Colorado Springs. Our trained and certified team members work independently or cohesively with your team. We can advise on how many team members to dispatch for minimum compliance.
Book now or add Scout Security to your emergency contact list!
