Is Your Fire Watch Program Up To Code?

A Fire Watch inspection program is the visual inspection of an area where life safety systems are offline or Hot Works is being performed to ensure a fire does not start.

In Canada and the US, regulations from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and jurisdictional Fire Codes require that buildings equipped with fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems keep them fully operational at all times. Whenever any of these systems go offline, for any reason, or when Hot Works is being performed, a Fire Watch inspection program must be implemented.

What Is Hot Works?

Hot Works is defined as any process involving flame, spark or heat production, including cutting, welding, soldering, and grinding.

What Is a Fire Watch?

A Fire Watch inspection program is the visual inspection of an area where life safety systems are offline or Hot Works is being performed to ensure a fire does not start.

This inspection must be completed at least once every hour from the start of the work until at least 3 hours after the hot work has completed.

The Fire Watch inspector must be equipped with a fire extinguisher and appropriate PPE.

Who Conducts the Hot Works Fire Watch?

A Hot Works Fire Watch team consists of three trained individuals, all with the responsibility and authority to stop hot work if the situation becomes unsafe. They are:

• The permit authorizing individual — a member of the management team
• The hot work operator — professionally trained for the specific job
• The Fire Watch — conducts regular inspections, typically a member of the security team

Penalties for Non-Compliance under the Ontario Fire Code

• A corporation is liable to a fine of up to $100,000. For severe or repeat offences, the fine can climb to $500,000.
• An individual is liable to a fine of up to $50,000. For severe or repeat offences, the fine can climb to $100,000.
• Members of a corporation or individual may face up to 1 year imprisonment.
• Additionally, updated regulations in 2026 empower municipalities to issue on-the-spot Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs); up to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for corporations.

What role does digitization play in igniting an effective Fire Watch program?

An hour goes by quickly and staff can easily get caught up working on other things, missing their hourly fire watch inspection.

Digitizing Fire Watch inspections is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk and ensure compliance.

Inspectors will receive alerts about upcoming inspections, helping them to stay on top of their high-frequency fire watch inspections.

Digital inspection solutions leveraging NFC-equipped tags provide proof-of-presence as the inspector needs to physically visit the fire watch area in order to scan the appropriate tag associated with this fire watch inspection.

Any issues found are routed to the right individuals immediately.

Digital inspection solutions also provide a solid audit trail with time-stamped inspections, the inspector's name, and results of the inspection that are organized and easily retrievable.

Real-world impact: A large Toronto hospital implemented a digital Fire Watch inspection solution on a construction floor after experiencing a flood. After switching from pen and paper, the team quickly realized they needed to reallocate resources to meet the hourly inspections requirements — something that likely had been falling through the cracks with pen and paper based inspections.

When it comes to fire watch inspections, there's no need to play with fire. They play a critical role in maintaining safety and reducing risk.

Switching to a digital inspection solution helps your team stay on top of these high-frequency inspections.

To learn more, contact us at customerservice@tapreport.io.

Resources

• O. Reg. 213/07: FIRE CODE - Ontario Fire Code
• Structure Fires Started by Hot Work - NFPA

About Tap Report

Tap Report is a Canadian software company that provides a digital solution for managing workplace inspections, safety compliance, and operational reporting. It replaces manual processes, such as paper checklists and spreadsheets, with a mobile and web-based system that allows teams to complete inspections, capture data, and generate compliant reports.

Through an easy-to-use interface and automated workflows, Tap Report helps ensure that inspections are completed, deficiencies are categorized and tracked, and issues are escalated efficiently to the right people. It also offers analytics, customizable reporting, and integrations that helps organizations improve safety, compliance, and operational performance.

For more information, visit www.tapreport.io or contact us at customerservice@tapreport.io.