Fire risks in the Windy City are increasing over time. When your facility’s built-in safety systems fail, your team could face shutdowns, fines, or fire damage. National Firewatch is ready with same-day fire watch service in Chicago.
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When Safety Counts, Experience Matters
Our fire watch security guards in Chicago leverage decades of experience working in residential and commercial settings, protecting team members and critical assets during periods of heightened fire risk. We deliver same-day deployments and ensure that your operations are not disrupted by unexpected outages or “Hot Work”. Our guards arrive ready to patrol and document conditions on site, noting anything that could violate fire codes. If you need fire watch guards for your Chicago property today, National Firewatch is ready to assist.
What We Do
Occupied spaces are subject to fire codes and regulations set at the local level and enforced by your fire marshal. Most of the nation’s fire codes are based on literature from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA requires built-in fire safety systems in commercial spaces, construction sites, residential buildings, and outdoor venues. Violators can be subject to forced evacuations, significant fines, and lengthy shutdowns.
Fire watch guards are the recommended solution when built-in safety systems are not up to code. Guards patrol affected areas, acting as human smoke alarms and alerting fire authorities and stakeholders when threats are detected. In Chicago and across Illinois, decision-makers typically need guards on-site within hours to prevent shutdowns. National Firewatch excels at getting guards where they are needed quickly.
When Do You Need Fire Watch Security Services in Chicago?
The NFPA requires fire watch guards on site when built-in safety systems are offline for four hours or more. This applies to residential and commercial buildings, affecting risk management plans for HOAs as well as industrial facilities. Your fire marshal will consider safety systems offline if:
- Smoke alarms or sprinklers are obstructed for long periods
- Fire risks exceed the capacity of built-in safety systems
- Safety components are damaged or aging
- Power outages occur
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets additional regulations that require fire watch guards on site. OSHA rules are only concerned with workplaces, and so do not apply to residential spaces. If your team is conducting “Hot Work” under any conditions, you should familiarize yourself with OSHA’s literature on fire watch.
Brazing, welding, and torching are all examples of the hot work being done in Chicago each day.
Industrial settings with built-in safety mechanisms usually minimize the risk of hot work, but occasionally these jobs need to be done in alternative settings. Open-air construction sites and busy office parks may require hot work on-site to complete a project. OSHA requires fire watch guards to observe hot work whenever it is being done in a high-risk area.
Benefits of Fire Watch Security Guards in Chicago
National Firewatch has team members that have been operating in Chicago and across Illinois for decades. In that time, we’ve developed a reputation for responsive customer service, competitive pricing, and same-day deployments. By partnering with our fire watch experts, you can avoid costly shutdowns and keep your team safe, productive, and fire code compliant.
Our dispatch is on-hand 24/7 to support our guards in the field. We combine this with live-tracking technology to ensure that no fire risk goes unnoticed—all stakeholders and fire authorities will be alerted the moment fire risks increase on-site. To guarantee total coverage, our guards will patrol in shifts around the clock until dismissed by the site supervisor or the fire marshal.
We are always growing our network of experienced fire watch guards in Chicago. When you hire veteran team members from National Firewatch, you can expect:
- Personnel with the highest level of training and experience
- OSHA and NFPA compliance on-site
- Same-day service
- 24-hour support
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re looking for fire watch services in Chicago for the first time, you may have some questions. Here are the answers to a few we often hear.
The law requires fire prevention systems. When these systems age or suffer damage, assets may be left unprotected. This scenario could result in complex liabilities for system operators. Trained human eyes are the best way to cover gaps and mitigate fire risk.
Fire watch guards are trained professionals who cover gaps in a facility’s fire detection systems. Our guards offer 24/7 coverage, patrolling sensitive areas and alerting authorities if fire risks are detected.
Fire watch guards identify potential fire threats and address them before they present a danger to key assets. Clients give us specific instructions based on the needs of each job site, and our fire watch professionals leverage their experience and training to improve overall safety outcomes. We also provide critical oversight for hot work that presents an inherent fire risk. An extra set of trained eyes ensures fire departments are contacted the moment a fire risk emerges.
Contact us if you require a fire watch expert to:
- Oversee “Hot Work” such as welding, torching or cutting in a high risk area
- Perform checks on fire safety systems such as alarms and sprinklers
- Identify hazards onsite that escalate the risk of fire damage
- Patrol the premises during periods of heightened fire risk
- Cover any gaps in your facility’s fire detection system
- Coordinate with fire authorities in the area
Fire watch guards may be required on site by the NFPA if your facility’s fire systems are not up to code. Outages must be reported to the fire department, fire watch personnel deployed, and irregularities fixed promptly. Facility owners and operators may face complex liabilities if fire watch is not deployed.
Guards are obliged to report any anomalies to the fire department to ensure the safety of everyone on-site, as well as the wider community. Fire watch professionals should only be dismissed after municipal fire authorities have inspected the premises.
The duties and responsibilities of fire marshals vary slightly by region. Generally speaking, the marshal is the local authority for fire code enforcement, investigation and public education.
You could face fines or shutdowns for violating minimum safety standards. Before enforcing these measures, the fire marshal may issue warnings depending on your region and the severity of noncompliance.
Exceeding safety standards protects employees, assets and profitability. Hiring a fire watch guard will help prevent fines and create a safe workplace for everyone involved. Contact us for more information about our fire watch services.
If your detection or suppression system has shown any evidence of malfunction, contact National Firewatch immediately for coverage. Failure to deploy fire watch may result in fines, complex liability issues and the loss of key assets from fire.
Even if everything is functional today, you will benefit from partnering with a Florida fire watch provider before problems arise. Should outages occur, you’ll need to deploy guards within hours, and this can be difficult if you have no preexisting relationship with a reliable service.
These services can vary depending on factors like:
- Location
- Complexity of the task
- Number of guards needed
- Situations requiring immediate response
National Firewatch provides customized hourly quotes for each deployment. Our goal is to keep costs affordable while offering personalized protection tailored to the needs of your job site.
Unmatched Fire Watch Solutions for Chicago
More often than not, organizations contact us when they need fire watch guards on-site immediately. Unexpected fire risks emerge, and decision-makers can be left scrambling for solutions. In order to keep projects on schedule, many Chicago teams end up overpaying for fire watch services, or relying on inexperienced guards at the last minute.
We always recommend facility managers partner with a reliable fire watch service provider in Chicago before emergencies happen. By adding fire watch to your risk management plan, you can ensure that a reliable vendor is on-hand to provide assistance when emergencies happen.
National Firewatch strives to be America’s number one source for same-day fire watch services. As we grow our presence across the country, we take pride in the success we have seen in Chicago and across the Land of Lincoln. Our guards arrive quickly, ready to patrol residential complexes, office buildings, construction sites, and warehouses to monitor for fire risks.
National Firewatch is here to assist when:
- Fire safety systems in your building are missing, aging, or damaged
- The fire marshal has ordered fire watch be deployed
- Your team needs a fire watch partner in Chicago
- Large events are taking place
- “Hot Work” is being done
