When a building's fire protection system goes offline in Surrey, the clock starts immediately. Insurers and local fire authorities expect continuous human coverage until the system is certified back in service, and the paperwork matters as much as the patrol itself. This guide explains what a layered site security programme actually involves, who is responsible, and what a compliant log looks like when an inspector asks for it.
What the requirement actually says
A fire watch is required whenever a sprinkler system, fire alarm, standpipe or other life-safety system is impaired. In practice that means renovation work, a fault on the panel, a drained system over winter, or hot works on site. The obligation sits with the building owner or their agent, not the contractor who caused the impairment — a distinction that surprises many property managers. See our construction site security for the service we provide in these situations.
Coverage must be continuous. A guard checking in twice a shift does not satisfy the requirement, and an insurer reviewing a claim will look for timed, documented rounds. The interval is normally every 15 to 30 minutes depending on occupancy and the authority having jurisdiction.
Who can stand a fire watch
In British Columbia the person on watch must hold a valid security licence and be trained on the specific site: exit routes, assembly points, the location of pull stations and extinguishers, and how to reach the fire department without delay. Handing the job to a labourer already on site is a common shortcut and a serious exposure. Our guards complete site-specific orientation before the first round, and we cover Surrey security services as well as the wider region.
What the guard carries
- A charged means of calling 911 that does not depend on the building system
- A written round sheet or electronic patrol device with timestamps
- Site plans showing impaired zones and isolation valves
- Direct contact details for the site representative and the monitoring company
The log is the deliverable
If there is one thing to take away, it is this: the patrol protects the building, but the log protects the owner. Each entry should record the time, the areas covered, the initials of the guard, and anything observed — including 'no exceptions'. Gaps in the record are read as gaps in coverage.
We provide the completed log at the end of every shift, and a consolidated report when the watch stands down. Clients forwarding documentation to an insurer or to mobile patrol find this is the part that saves them the most time.
Common mistakes we are called in to fix
- Starting the watch hours after the impairment began
- Rounds recorded in round numbers — 8:00, 8:30, 9:00 — which read as retrospective
- One guard covering floors too far apart to patrol inside the interval
- No handover record between shifts
How quickly can coverage start
For urgent impairments we can usually place a licensed guard on a Surrey site the same day, including evenings and weekends. If the system is already down, call rather than email — the sooner the watch starts, the smaller the documented gap.
Zampa Security Services is licensed and insured across British Columbia. To discuss coverage for your building, get in touch and we will come back with a written quote.