A waking watch is a team of trained people who patrol a building continuously, day and night, looking for any sign of fire and ready to raise the alarm and help people get out. It is a temporary measure, used while a fire safety problem in the building is being put right.

When is a waking watch used?

A waking watch is usually put in place when a building's normal fire protection cannot be relied on for a period. Typical situations include:

  • the fire detection and alarm system is out of action, being replaced or awaiting repair;
  • defects have been found in fire stopping, compartmentation or fire doors and the building is waiting for remedial work;
  • works are under way that temporarily affect escape routes or fire protection;
  • a fire safety assessment or the fire authority has advised extra measures until a problem is fixed.

In Ireland, the person in control of a premises has a legal duty under the Fire Services Acts to take reasonable measures to guard against fire and to ensure the safety of people in the building. A waking watch is one of the measures that a fire safety engineer, a fire risk assessment or the local fire authority may recommend. The decision about whether one is needed, and how many people it requires, should come from that professional advice, not from a security company.

What does a waking watch do?

The exact duties are set out in a written plan for the building, normally agreed with the fire safety adviser. They usually include:

  • continuous patrols of every floor, corridor, stairwell and plant area on a set route;
  • checking for smoke, heat, burning smells and fire hazards such as blocked escape routes;
  • raising the alarm immediately and calling the fire service if a fire is found;
  • helping occupants leave the building by the planned routes;
  • keeping a written record of every patrol and anything found.

The officers must be awake, alert and moving throughout the shift. That is the point of the name.

How many people are needed?

It depends on the size and layout of the building, the number of occupants, how long a full patrol takes and how the alarm will be raised. A small building may need one person; a large apartment block may need several on each shift. Again, the number should come from the fire safety plan for the building.

How long does it last?

A waking watch is expensive because it involves people on site around the clock, so it should end as soon as the underlying problem is fixed. Where a fire alarm system is the issue, installing a temporary or upgraded alarm system often allows the waking watch to be reduced or stopped sooner. Building owners should push for a clear timetable for the remedial work.

What to look for in a provider

  • Officers who are licensed by the PSA where they also carry out security duties, and trained in fire safety awareness and evacuation.
  • A written patrol plan agreed with your fire safety adviser before the first shift.
  • Patrol records you can see and keep.
  • Enough relief staff to keep the watch going through breaks, sickness and holidays without gaps.
  • Clear instructions for raising the alarm and calling the fire service.

We provide waking watch patrols as part of our manned guarding service in Dublin and across Ireland. If your building needs one, contact us with the fire safety advice you have received and we will plan the cover with you.