Fire Watch When the Fire Alarm Is Off: What General Contractors Should Know During Data Hall Fit-Out

During data hall fit-out, the fire alarm control panel is often switched off for the affected area – because works create dust, detectors are not yet finally installed or false alarms need to be avoided. During this period automatic fire detection is missing. A fire watch closes that gap.

When is a fire watch needed?

Whenever automatic fire detection is out of service in an area where work is going on or materials are stored. Whether and to what extent a fire watch is required follows from the fire protection concept, the operator’s requirements and, where applicable, the insurer. Agree this early with the fire safety officer.

What a fire watch must deliver

Continuous presence in the affected area while the fire alarm is off.
Extinguishers within reach – suitable extinguishers right in the work area.
Regular patrols through all affected rooms.
Clear escalation paths to the fire brigade and site management.
Complete records of the start and end of the shutdown, patrols and incidents.

Typical mistakes

Fire watch staff taking on other tasks on the side, missing handovers between shifts, unclear responsibility for switching the system back on, and missing documentation. On large sites with several data halls a fixed procedure pays off.

Qualification

Fire watch staff should be trained fire safety assistants, know the site and be able to provide first aid. Full PPE is mandatory on data center sites.

Fire watch from Solid Safety

Solid Safety provides fire watch for data center construction sites across Germany – trained fire safety assistants and first aiders, documented in our digital logbook and connected to our 24-hour control room. More at Fire watch.

Fire alarm going offline? Request fire watch →