- Why Fire Watch is Becoming Mandatory in South Carolina
- When Property Managers Must Activate a Fire Watch
- Fire Watch Responsibilities for South Carolina Property Managers
- Why This Matters for Residential Property Management
- Contact National Firewatch
National Firewatch, alongside our parent company, The Guard Alliance, has deployed fire watch guards across the USA since 2010. During our years of operation, we have seen increasing demand due to extreme weather events—demand amplified by insurers, municipalities, and investors seeking ways to mitigate their liabilities and ensure compliance. In the past year, this has been most acute in certain regions, including the Palmetto State.
Across South Carolina, property managers are under growing pressure to address fire safety risks in residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings. With increasing incidents of outages, extreme weather, and on-site construction, fire protection systems can easily become compromised. That’s when fire watch becomes not just a precaution—but a legal requirement. From compliance obligations to tenant protection, understanding when and how to implement fire watch services is essential for every property manager operating in South Carolina.
Why Fire Watch is Becoming Mandatory in South Carolina
Recent events underscore why fire watch coverage is more relevant than ever in the Palmetto State:
- Over the summer, Mount Pleasant experienced a lightning strike that resulted in a transformer explosion and widespread power outages, disrupting fire protection systems across multiple properties.
- Wildfires earlier this year prompted Governor McMaster to declare a state of emergency, underscoring how rapidly fire risk can escalate—even in traditionally low-threat areas.
For property managers, these incidents aren’t just news headlines—they’re operational challenges. During any outage, renovation project, or hot work scenario, fire protection systems can be rendered temporarily ineffective, creating liability and jeopardizing tenant safety. Fire watch coverage bridges the gap.
When Property Managers Must Activate a Fire Watch
Under South Carolina fire codes and widely adopted NFPA guidelines, a fire watch is generally required when any portion of a fire detection, suppression, or alarm system is out of service for four hours or more in an occupied building. Key triggers include:
- Unplanned outages – from electrical surges, equipment failures, or weather damage
- Hot work operations – welding, soldering, or grinding on-site
- Scheduled maintenance – when sprinklers or alarms must be taken offline
- Fire code violations – where systems are found noncompliant or incomplete
- Construction or renovation – particularly in multifamily residential properties
Failing to implement a fire watch when required can lead to citations, fines, and potential legal action if an incident occurs.
Fire Watch Responsibilities for South Carolina Property Managers
As a property manager, you’re expected to coordinate fire watch implementation swiftly and effectively. This includes:
- Notifying the local fire marshal when fire protection systems are offline and a fire watch is in place.
- Hiring trained fire watch personnel to conduct patrols, monitor high-risk areas, and document activity.
- Maintaining detailed logs of patrol intervals (usually every 15-30 minutes), findings, and any incidents.
- Ensuring 24/7 coverage of all impacted areas until the fire protection system is restored.
Whether you manage an apartment complex, condo association, or commercial-residential property, these actions are crucial for compliance and risk mitigation.
Why This Matters for Residential Property Management
Multifamily and residential properties present unique fire safety challenges. Tenants have diverse needs, mobility issues, and varying awareness of fire risks. A delayed response during a system outage can put lives in danger.
Implementing a professional fire watch reduces:
- Legal liability in the event of a fire
- Risk of injury or property loss
- Insurance complications
It also shows tenants and owners that safety is your top priority.
Contact National Firewatch
Our team members have decades of experience conducting fire watch deployments across South Carolina. Around Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and most major centers, we can deploy guards within hours to keep properties safe and compliant. If you need fire watch guards on-site in South Carolina today, contact National Firewatch immediately.