Beyond Fire Watch

As architectural projects grow larger and more technically complex, managing temporary fire safety can no longer be treated as a secondary operational task.

The risk landscape

During construction, renovation or structural alteration works, built environments undergo continuous change. These shifting environments introduce specific operational hazards that do not exist during normal building occupancy:

• Utility & system disconnections: Main power is frequently disconnected or unstable during major works. Additionally, standard fire protection measures — such as permanent smoke detection or automated sprinkler systems — are routinely isolated or decommissioned to prevent accidental discharge or water damage during demolition and structural fitting.

• Emerging technological hazards: The widespread transition to battery-powered machinery introduces high-density lithium-ion charging stations onto sites. Damaged, unmonitored or improperly stored lithium-ion batteries present severe thermal runaway and fire risks.

• Combustible material loading & hot works: Temporary works concentrate high volumes of combustible materials such as mass timber, temporary protective coverings and packaging. When combined with routine hot works (welding, cutting and grinding), the potential for rapid flame spread increases substantially.

• Out-of-hours vulnerability: During nights and weekends, unoccupied sites face severe risks from undetected fires or unauthorized entry. Fires starting during non-working hours often cause catastrophic asset loss before emergency responders are notified.

Moving past legacy safety protocols

A primary structural issue in temporary site safety is the continued reliance on manual, low-technology warning devices. On many sites, emergency protocols still rely on manual fire watch patrols equipped with handheld air horns.

While air horns offer low initial costs, they introduce systemic vulnerabilities:

1. Environmental failure: Compressed air horns are prone to mechanical failure or loss of pressure in extreme freezing temperatures.

2. Audibility issues: High ambient noise levels from heavy machinery, concrete pouring and power tools frequently drown out localized air horn signals.

3. Desensitization & alarm fatigue: Handheld horns are often inappropriately used for nonemergency site signaling, such as crane movement alerts, leading workers to ignore the sound during an actual fire event.

4. Delayed notification: A fire watch patrol can take significant time to complete a single circuit. A fire ignited shortly after a guard passes a location can grow unchecked for extended periods before manual detection occurs.

To maintain building resilience, FMs must mandate automated, self-monitoring early-warning networks that remove single points of human failure.

Evolving regulations & best practice

Facility managers operating internationally must navigate evolving building codes and temporary safety regulations. Across global jurisdictions, a unified movement is shifting site fire management from minimum base compliance toward proactive, upfront planning.

International fire safety mandates

Standards such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 241 (Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration and Demolition Operations) outline the required structural controls for temporary works. Major municipal jurisdictions are progressively embedding these requirements directly into early building permit approvals:

Key components of a comprehensive safety plan

1. Designated fire prevention program manager (FPPM) and alternate

2. Site-wide emergency evacuation and communication protocols

3. Off-site emergency response access and turning provisions

4. Hot work permitting and fire watch management procedures

5. Out-of-hours security, access control and monitoring

6. Storage and charging controls for lithium-ion equipment

FMs must avoid the trap of treating local fire codes as the maximum target. Adhering only to mandatory minimums leaves assets exposed to severe operational delays, costly structural damage and increased insurance liabilities.

Defining governance & structural accountability

Clear assignment of responsibility is crucial for effective site safety. Ultimate legal responsibility for an asset rests with the building owner, but day-to-day operational execution requires dedicated on-site oversight.

The role of the FPPM

To maintain compliance with international safety benchmarks, every project must designate a qualified FPPM alongside a trained alternate. The FPPM must possess explicit authority to enforce fire safety standards, pause hazardous operations and mandate corrective actions across all contractors and subcontractors.

Key responsibilities of the FPPM include:

• Formulating the site safety plan: Developing a comprehensive fire prevention strategy covering all phases of construction, alteration or demolition.

• Maintaining access & egress: Ensuring emergency-vehicle access roads, fire hydrants and temporary standpipes remain clear, unobstructed and fully functional at all times.

• Managing high-risk activities: Implementing formal permit systems for hot works, temporary heating equipment and electrical installations.

• Executing evacuation protocols: Conducting routine site-wide fire drills and maintaining clear, illuminated evacuation routes across changing site geometry.

• Primary liaison: Acting as the dedicated point of contact for local emergency response agencies and authority inspectors.

Comparative analysis of temporary safety measures

When evaluating fire safety options during refurbishment or construction, facility managers must balance system reliability, installation speed, operational flexibility and life-safety effectiveness.

Safety approach	Detection method	System reliability	Installation & adaptability	Life safety & asset protection
Manual fire watch & air horns	Human visual observation	Low: Dependent on human presence; prone to cold-weather failure and ambient noise interference.	High: Requires no fixed hardware, but labor costs scale rapidly on large sites.	Poor: High risk of delayed detection; localized alarm range.
Active permanent building systems	Fixed ceiling smoke/heat sensors	Moderate: High risk of false alarms or physical damage from construction dust and works.	Low: Rigid infrastructure; cannot easily adapt to changing temporary site layouts.	Moderate: Effective if operational, but vulnerable to dust contamination and accidental triggers.
Temporary wireless safety networks	Interconnected automatic optical sensors & manual call points	High: Battery-powered, self-monitoring mesh networks independent of site utility power.	High: Rapid deployment; units can be easily relocated as construction progresses.	Excellent: Immediate site-wide notification, precise location logging and direct monitoring links.