Firewatch 101: Protecting Facilities During Fire System Outages

When Systems Fail, Vigilance Prevails

Fire protection systems are remarkably reliable — until they're not. Whether it's a planned upgrade, a malfunction, or a water main break that takes out your sprinkler system, the gap between system failure and restoration is when your facility is most vulnerable.

That's where firewatch comes in.

What Is Firewatch?

Firewatch is the continuous manual monitoring of a facility by trained personnel when automated fire protection systems are offline. It's not just standing guard — it's a regulated, NFPA-compliant protocol that includes:

• Continuous patrols of all affected areas at defined intervals
• Hazard identification — spotting fire risks before they become incidents
• Evacuation coordination — ensuring occupants can exit safely if needed
• Direct liaison with municipal fire departments
• Documentation — maintaining logs of all patrols and findings

When Is Firewatch Required?

Firewatch is mandated by NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) whenever:

1. A fire alarm or sprinkler system is impaired for more than 4 hours in a normally occupied building
2. During hot work operations (welding, cutting) in non-designated areas
3. During large public assembly events
4. When a fire protection system is undergoing testing or maintenance

The Matcom Approach

Our firewatch officers are:

• NFPA-compliant and certified in fire safety protocols
• Cross-trained in hazard identification and evacuation coordination
• Equipped with direct communication to dispatch and municipal fire departments
• Zero-gap — we never leave a facility unmonitored during a system outage

Don't Wait for an Outage

If your facility relies on fire protection systems (and every commercial building does), having a firewatch partner pre-vetted and on call means you're never scrambling when an outage occurs.

Contact us to discuss firewatch coverage for your facility.