Austin Fire Watch Guards
NFPA certified guards for construction sites, commercial properties, and tech facilities. Call 833-552-3733 for immediate coverage when fire protection systems are down.
Need fire watch for system failures, construction, or maintenance?
NFPA certified guards available 24/7. Call 833-552-3733 for immediate response.
Freedom Security Solutions provides professional fire watch services throughout the Austin metro area. Our NFPA certified guards deploy quickly for construction hot work, system failures, and planned maintenance situations.
Austin Fire Watch Requirements
Austin operates under the 2021 International Fire Code with local amendments. When fire protection systems go out of service, the Austin Fire Department requires immediate notification and approved fire watch coverage until systems are restored.
Key requirements under Austin fire code:
- Immediate notification to Austin Fire Department when fire protection systems fail
- Fire watch personnel must perform only fire watch duties—no security work or other assignments
- Hourly patrols of all affected areas with documented observations
- Termination approval required from Austin Fire Chief or Fire Marshal before fire watch ends
The Austin Fire Department’s Emergency Prevention Office determines the number of fire watch personnel required for each situation.
Fire Watch Services for Austin’s Construction Boom
Austin ranks among the top cities nationally for new construction. With over 6.6 million square feet under development downtown alone, fire watch demand continues to grow across the metro area.
Major projects driving fire watch needs include:
Downtown Development — High-rise office towers, mixed-use buildings, and residential projects require fire watch during construction phases involving welding, cutting, and electrical work. The I-35 Capital Express and Project Connect light rail projects add significant infrastructure construction to the market.
Tech Facilities — Tesla’s Gigafactory expansion, Samsung’s semiconductor manufacturing, and Apple’s campus operations involve specialized fire protection systems and data-sensitive environments. Fire watch in these settings requires guards who understand the unique requirements of technology and manufacturing facilities.
Convention Center Expansion — The Austin Convention Center’s 515,000 square foot addition represents one of downtown’s largest active projects, requiring extensive hot work coverage throughout construction.
Residential Construction — Austin issued nearly 3,900 new building permits in the first two months of 2025. Multi-family developments and single-family construction sites across Travis County require fire watch during hot work operations.
What Fire Watch Guards Do
Fire watch is active patrol work focused exclusively on fire hazard detection. Each hour, guards walk the entire affected area checking for:
- Heat sources near combustible materials
- Electrical hazards and equipment malfunctions
- Blocked exits and evacuation routes
- Fire extinguisher accessibility and charge status
- Sprinkler head obstructions or damage
- Smoking violations and open flame hazards
All observations are documented in hourly logs. Patrol routes, times, hazards identified, and corrective actions taken are recorded for Austin Fire Department compliance and insurance purposes.
If a fire occurs, guards use portable extinguishers on incipient-stage fires, initiate building evacuation, and direct arriving firefighters to the location. Under Austin fire code, guards also provide site information to emergency responders and assist with evacuation procedures.
Industries We Serve in Austin
Construction and Development — General contractors need fire watch for hot work permits across Austin’s active job sites. We coordinate with project schedules to ensure coverage is in place before welding or cutting begins. See our construction security services for comprehensive site protection.
Technology and Manufacturing — Data centers, semiconductor facilities, and manufacturing plants have specialized fire protection requirements. Fire watch in these environments requires understanding of clean room protocols, equipment sensitivities, and access control procedures.
Commercial Real Estate — Office buildings, shopping centers, and mixed-use developments throughout downtown and the Domain require fire watch during sprinkler and alarm maintenance.
Higher Education — University of Texas campus facilities, student housing, and research buildings require fire watch during system maintenance and construction projects.
Hospitality and Events — Hotels, convention facilities, and event venues including the Moody Center and Austin Convention Center need fire watch during system outages and large gatherings. Major events like ACL Festival and SXSW involve additional fire safety requirements.
Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens — Austin’s dining scene includes thousands of commercial kitchens requiring fire watch during hood suppression system maintenance.
Fire Watch Services in Other Cities
Freedom Security Solutions provides certified fire watch guards across the country:
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