A fire watch is required when any aspect of a required fire protection system is out of service and the building is occupied. Exceptions to this requirement occurs when the building is completely unoccupied by RPI staff and students or when non-hazardous construction (not involving hot work tasks) are conducted.
The 2025 New York State Fire Code states the following: "Where a required fire protection system is out of service, the Fire Department and the Code Enforcement Official shall be notified immediately, and the building shall either be evacuated or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all occupants left unprotected by the shutdown until the fire protection system has been returned to service."
For more information on Fire Watch, please review the information provided below.
A fire watch log is a mandatory legal record used to document facility inspections and prove compliance when fire protection systems are offline. It serves as a continuous real-time diary verifying that fire watch personnel are systematically patrolling unprotected areas to detect smoke, fire, or hazards. This document is required to be completed during fire watches at RPI facilities. Once completed, a copy of the log is required to be filed and retained for a minimum of three (3) years following the end of the fire watch. Completed fire watch logs must be sent to EHS.
Fire Watch Personnel Procedures
This document provides requirements for fire watch personnel to follow during a fire protection system impairment that requires a fire watch.
Fire Watch - Fire Protection Systems Out of Service - Code Walk
This document contains requirements for fire watch and fire protection systems for RPI buildings as prescribed by the 2025 New York State Fire Code. This document serves as a reference guide for the development of fire watch plans and the basic understanding of the requirement.
