Fire Watch Requirements in Toronto: When You Need One and How to Run It Properly

Few phrases get a Toronto property manager's attention faster than "your fire alarm system is out of service." Whether it's a planned sprinkler shutdown for a renovation, an unexpected panel failure, or damage from a water leak, the moment a fire protection system stops working, the Ontario Fire Code doesn't give you a grace period — it requires you to put alternative measures in place immediately. In most cases, that means a fire watch.

Done properly, a fire watch keeps occupants safe, keeps Toronto Fire Services satisfied, and keeps the building compliant until the system is restored. Done poorly — or not at all — it exposes the owner to Fire Code charges, insurance problems, and enormous liability if a fire occurs while systems are down. This guide covers when a fire watch is required, what it actually involves, and how Toronto building owners and managers can run one that holds up to scrutiny.

What Is a Fire Watch?

A fire watch is a temporary, human replacement for an impaired fire protection system. Designated personnel physically patrol the affected areas of the building at regular intervals, watching for signs of fire, ensuring exits remain clear, and standing ready to alert occupants and call 911 immediately if something goes wrong.

Because a person walking the floors can never match the speed of automatic detection, the Fire Code treats a fire watch as a stopgap — not a substitute you can rely on for weeks on end. The expectation is that the impaired system is repaired as quickly as reasonably possible.

When the Ontario Fire Code Requires a Fire Watch

The Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07) requires fire alarm, sprinkler, and standpipe systems to be maintained in operating condition at all times. Two provisions do the heavy lifting when a system goes down:

• Clause 2.8.2.1(h) requires every building's fire safety plan to include alternative measures for the safety of occupants during any shutdown of fire protection equipment or systems, in whole or in part. For fire alarm and sprinkler impairments, the standard alternative measure is a fire watch.
• The Code also requires a notification procedure when fire protection systems are tested, repaired, or altered — including notifying the fire department and building occupants where necessary for their safety.

In practical terms, a fire watch is triggered whenever any of the following occur:

• The fire alarm system (or a portion of it) is out of service — panel failure, wiring damage, device faults, or a planned shutdown for service or construction.
• The sprinkler system (or a zone of it) is shut down — for repairs, renovations, freeze damage, or a closed control valve.
• The standpipe system or fire pump is impaired and firefighting water supply is compromised.
• Hot work is being performed. The Fire Code separately requires a fire watch whenever open-flame torches or other ignition sources are used near combustible materials, with patrols continuing after the work stops for the day.

Note that the requirement applies to partial impairments too. If the fire alarm is down on three floors of a 20-storey building, those three floors need coverage — you can't ignore it because the rest of the panel is working.

What a Compliant Fire Watch Looks Like

There is no single template that fits every building, but Toronto Fire Services and Ontario fire officials generally expect a fire watch to include the following elements:

• Continuous or hourly patrols. Affected areas should be toured at regular intervals — at least once per hour is the widely accepted minimum, and continuous watch may be warranted in high-risk situations such as occupied residential high-rises with a fully impaired alarm system.
• A written fire watch log. Each patrol must be documented: the date and time, the areas covered, the name of the person patrolling, and any relevant events (contractor arrivals, hazards observed, system status changes). This logbook is your evidence of compliance if TFS inspects or if an incident occurs.
• A means to alert occupants. If the alarm system can't sound, watch personnel need another way to warn people — an air horn, bullhorn, or the operable portions of the voice communication system. Personnel must know how to use whatever method is chosen.
• A means to call the fire department. Every person on watch needs a phone or radio and clear instructions: call 911 first, then alert occupants, then attempt suppression only if safe.
• Posted notices. Occupants should be informed that normal fire detection is temporarily out of service and told how they'll be notified in an emergency.
• Knowledge of the building. Watch personnel should know the locations of extinguishers, hose cabinets, exits, and fire department access points in the areas they're covering.

Notifying Toronto Fire Services and Your Monitoring Station

When a monitored fire alarm system goes offline — planned or unplanned — two calls need to happen right away:

• Your ULC-listed monitoring station, so the system is placed on test/out-of-service status and false dispatches are avoided. When the work is done, the system must be restored to full monitoring and verified.
• Toronto Fire Services, in accordance with your fire safety plan's notification procedure. For extended shutdowns, TFS may have specific expectations about the fire watch arrangements, so document who you spoke to and when.

Your fire safety plan should already spell out this procedure. If it doesn't — or if your plan hasn't been updated in years — that's a deficiency worth fixing before an impairment forces the issue.

Who Can Perform a Fire Watch?

The Fire Code doesn't require a licensed technician to walk the floors — building staff, security guards, or a dedicated fire watch service can perform patrols, provided they are trained on the plan, capable of covering the required areas at the required frequency, and dedicated to the task. A concierge who is also answering phones and signing in visitors is not a compliant fire watch.

For overnight coverage or multi-day impairments, many Toronto buildings bring in third-party fire watch personnel rather than stretching their own staff. Whatever the arrangement, the owner remains responsible for compliance.

How Long Can a Fire Watch Continue?

As long as it takes to restore the system — but the longer it runs, the more scrutiny you invite. A fire watch that drags on for weeks signals to Toronto Fire Services that the owner isn't treating the repair with urgency, and extended impairments can also run afoul of your insurance policy's protective safeguard requirements. Insurers have denied claims where sprinkler or alarm systems were impaired and the insurer wasn't notified.

The economics point the same direction. Round-the-clock fire watch personnel typically cost more per week than most repairs. Fast diagnosis and repair of the impaired system is almost always the cheaper and safer path.

Reducing the Odds You'll Ever Need One

Most unplanned fire watches trace back to preventable causes: aging panels that finally fail, deficiencies flagged on annual inspections but never corrected, or sprinkler piping problems left unaddressed. Staying current on annual CAN/ULC-S536 fire alarm inspections and sprinkler testing, and dealing with deficiencies promptly, dramatically reduces the chance of an emergency shutdown.

For planned shutdowns — renovations, panel replacements, system upgrades — build the fire watch into the project plan from day one: schedule the work to minimize impairment time, arrange watch personnel in advance, and notify TFS and your monitoring station before the system comes down.

Need Help With an Impaired System in Toronto?

If your fire alarm or sprinkler system is down, the priority is getting it repaired and back online fast — every day of fire watch is added cost and added risk. First National Fire Protection provides emergency fire alarm repair, deficiency correction, annual fire alarm inspections, and ULC-listed fire alarm monitoring across Toronto and the GTA. We can also review your fire safety plan's alternative measures so your team knows exactly what to do the next time a system goes offline.

Contact us for Toronto fire protection services and get your building back to full protection — and full compliance — as quickly as possible.