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Fire Watch Procedures for Greek Facilities

Background

A Fire Watch is a physical inspection conducted when a building's fire alarm and/or sprinkler system is not operational. During a Fire Watch, a responsible occupant actively looks for evidence of smoke and fire, listens for in-room smoke detectors sounding, and if smoke or fire is found, contacts emergency personnel and evacuates the building. The State of Maryland Fire Prevention Code requires that fire alarm systems in all buildings, and sprinkler systems in those buildings equipped with them are operational at all times. If the alarm or sprinkler system is not operational, the residential facility may not be occupied. A Fire Watch is an emergency, short-term alternative that permits continued occupancy of residential facilities.

Who Calls a Fire Watch?

A fire watch may be required by the Fire Department (on or off-campus), Department of Environmental Safety Fire Marshals (on or off-campus), Facilities Management (on-campus), or Residential Facilities (on-campus). The need for a fire watch is based on an assessment of the operational status of a fire alarm and/or sprinkler system.

What do you when notified that a Fire Watch is required?

#1 - #14 Fraternity Drive

Notify the Residential Facilities Center at 4-WORK immediately to repair systems
Make sure that 4-WORKS notifies the Greek Facilities Coordinator

"Graham Cracker"

Notify the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at 301-31(4-7172) immediately to initiate system repairs
Houses that contract with licenced sprinkler or fire alarm companies should notify the company immediately to have systems repaired

Off-campus Facilities

Immediately obtain a contractor to repair systems
Notify the Greek Facilities Coordinator for assistance

Fire Watch Procedures

An inspection of the entire building must be conducted by a responsible occupant at least once per hour.
The person responsible for the fire watch must be continuously awake and in a public area of the building at all times during their shift.
A written log of the fire watch must be maintained. The log must include the date, time, status of alarm, and legible signature of the person performing the watch. The log may be picked up by a fire marshal when the alarm is restored.
The fire watch must be continuous, night and day, until the alarm is repaired.
The person performing fire watch must call UMPD at 301-40(5-3555) each hour on the hour and report that the building inspection has been completed and the status of the watch. Off-campus facilities must call the Prince George's County Fire Department at 301-499-8400.
The person performing the fire watch must immediately notify the occupants as best as possible and evacuate the building at the first evidence of any fire or smoke and must report the emergency to 911.
Continue the fire watch until it is cancelled.

Who Cancels the Fire Watch?

A fire watch may be canceled by the Fire Department (on or off-campus), Department of Environmental Safety Fire Marshals (on or off-campus), Facilities Management (on-campus), or Residential Facilities (on-campus). Canceling a fire watch is based on an assessment that the fire alarm and/or sprinkler system is in an operational status. Notify UMPD at 301-40(5-3555) that the fire watch has been canceled.
Off-campus facilities must notify PGFD at 301-499-8400 if a contractor has fixed the fire alarm/sprinkler system. PGFD will send an inspector (possibly a DES Fire Marshal) or the local fire station to determine that the system(s) are in service and cancel the fire watch.

Questions

DES Fire Marshal Deputy Fire Marshal Greek Facilities Coordinator
301-40(5-3970) 301-40(5-7489) 301 31(4-7780)

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