Monday, May 16, 2011

Fire Watches

Does The Joint Commission have any standards that cover fire watches, i.e., designating an employee to watch for fire dangers when fire-prone conditions occur, such as hot work being performed near insulation?  

Below is the only reference to “fire watches” in TJC’s standards. The hospital should address the examples you have listed through their own policies and procedures, fire plan, etc.

Accreditation Program: Hospital Chapter: Life Safety
Standard LS.01.02.01
The hospital protects occupants during periods when the Life Safety Code is not met or during periods of construction.


Elements of Performance for LS.01.02.01
1. The hospital notifies the fire department (or other emergency response group) and initiates a fire watch when a fire alarm or sprinkler system is out of service more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period in an occupied building. Notification and fire watch times are documented. (For full text and any exceptions, refer to NFPA 101-2000: 9.6.1.8 and 9.7.6.1.  See also LS.01.01.01, EP 3.)

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