F60 Fire Guard Responsibilities Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Fire Guard is conducting a fire watch for a torch operation on a construction site. After the torch work is completed for the day, what is the MINIMUM amount of time the Fire Guard must continue to monitor the area?
- 15 minutes
- 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- 1 hour
- Until the supervisor dismisses them
Correct answer: 30 minutes
According to FDNY regulations and standard hot work safety procedures, the fire watch must continue for at least 30 minutes after the completion of torch operations to detect and extinguish any smoldering fires.
Question 2: During a pre-work inspection, a Fire Guard notices combustible materials located 20 feet away from the designated torch operation area. The materials cannot be moved. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the Fire Guard to take?
- Proceed with the operation since it is more than 15 feet away.
- Request that the torch operator work quickly and carefully.
- Ensure the combustible materials are shielded with fire-resistant guards or curtains before allowing work to begin. (Correct answer)
- Start the work and keep a fire extinguisher aimed at the materials.
Correct answer: Ensure the combustible materials are shielded with fire-resistant guards or curtains before allowing work to begin.
FDNY regulations state that torch operations involving cutting or welding must be conducted at least 35 feet from combustible materials. If combustibles are closer and cannot be moved, they must be protected with appropriate shielding, such as fire-resistant guards or curtains, before work can commence.
Question 3: A torch operator is working on a rooftop, and the F60 Fire Guard needs to leave the area for a short time. What is the correct procedure?
- Tell the torch operator to keep an eye out for fires.
- Stop all torch operations until a qualified replacement Fire Guard is present. (Correct answer)
- Leave briefly, as long as the absence is less than 5 minutes.
- Notify the building owner before leaving the post.
Correct answer: Stop all torch operations until a qualified replacement Fire Guard is present.
The fire watch must be continuous. If a Fire Guard must leave their post for any reason, all hot work operations must cease until a qualified replacement is assigned and present to continue the fire watch.
Question 4: Which of the following is a primary responsibility of an F60 Fire Guard BEFORE torch operations begin?
- Operating the torch if the primary operator is on break.
- Ensuring the hot work permit is signed and available for inspection. (Correct answer)
- Training other workers on how to use a fire extinguisher.
- Ordering new gas cylinders for the project.
Correct answer: Ensuring the hot work permit is signed and available for inspection.
The Fire Guard is responsible for verifying that all safety conditions are met before work starts. This includes ensuring a hot work authorization or permit has been properly issued by a responsible person and is available on-site for inspection by the Fire Department.
Question 5: While performing a fire watch, you see a small fire ignite from a stray spark. You have a portable fire extinguisher readily available. What should be your immediate course of action?
- Run to find your supervisor for instructions.
- Immediately evacuate the entire building.
- Attempt to extinguish the fire only if it is within the capacity of your extinguisher. (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if the fire grows larger before taking action.
Correct answer: Attempt to extinguish the fire only if it is within the capacity of your extinguisher.
A Fire Guard's training includes using a portable fire extinguisher. If a fire starts, they should attempt to extinguish it, but only if the fire is small enough to be handled by the available equipment. If it is beyond the capacity of the extinguisher, they should sound the alarm immediately.
Question 6: An F60 Fire Guard is NOT authorized to perform fire watch duties under which of the following circumstances?
- On a construction site where torch cutting is being performed.
- On a rooftop where a torch-applied roofing system is being installed.
- In a building where the fire alarm system is out of service for more than four hours, and no torch work is occurring. (Correct answer)
- In a structure where a welder holds a citywide permit for torch operations.
Correct answer: In a building where the fire alarm system is out of service for more than four hours, and no torch work is occurring.
The F60 Certificate of Fitness is specifically for fire watch during torch operations. A fire watch for an impairment of a fire protection system (like an alarm or sprinkler system being out of service) requires a different Certificate of Fitness, the F-01.
F60 Fire Guard Responsibilities Questions and Answers 1
A Fire Guard is conducting a fire watch for a torch operation on a construction site.
After the torch work is completed for the day, what is the MINIMUM amount of time the Fire Guard must continue to monitor the area?