F60 Fire Watch Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document must a fire guard have in their possession at all times while on duty?
- A copy of the building's lease agreement
- Their valid F-60 Certificate of Fitness (Correct answer)
- The building's insurance policy
- A list of all building tenants
Correct answer: Their valid F-60 Certificate of Fitness
The FDNY requires the fire guard to carry their valid F-60 Certificate of Fitness on their person and produce it upon request by a fire inspector.
Question 2: When torch operations require working near a sprinkler head, what precaution must the fire guard ensure is taken?
- The sprinkler head must be turned off to prevent water damage to the work area
- The sprinkler head must be shielded so that heat does not cause inadvertent activation (Correct answer)
- No special precautions are needed since sprinklers are heat-activated safety devices
- The sprinkler system must be fully shut down for the entire building
Correct answer: The sprinkler head must be shielded so that heat does not cause inadvertent activation
Sprinkler heads near torch operations must be temporarily shielded to prevent inadvertent activation from torch heat, while still keeping the system charged and ready.
Question 3: A fire guard is assigned to a job where torch work will take place inside a wall cavity. What unique hazard must the fire guard specifically monitor?
- Sparks landing on the torch operator's clothing
- Hidden smoldering fires inside the wall that may not be immediately visible (Correct answer)
- Excessive noise that could prevent hearing alarms
- Carbon monoxide buildup from the torch fuel
Correct answer: Hidden smoldering fires inside the wall that may not be immediately visible
Enclosed wall cavities can conceal smoldering fires that build slowly and are not visible until they break through the surface, making extended monitoring critical.
Question 4: If a permit for torch operations specifies work hours of 8 AM to 5 PM, can the fire guard leave the premises at 5 PM if no fire is observed?
- Yes, because the permit hours define the duty period
- No, the fire guard must remain for at least 30 minutes after work ends (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the torch operator confirms all equipment is off
- No, the fire guard must remain until the building owner releases them
Correct answer: No, the fire guard must remain for at least 30 minutes after work ends
Regardless of permit hours, FDNY rules require the fire watch to continue for a minimum of 30 minutes after all torch operations have completely stopped.
Question 5: What is the correct action if a fire guard cannot maintain visual contact with torch operations due to an obstacle or layout of the space?
- Continue the watch from the nearest observable position and document the limitation
- Stop all torch operations until proper coverage and line-of-sight can be established (Correct answer)
- Request an additional fire guard and continue operations in the meantime
- Reposition every 5 minutes to cover different angles of the work area
Correct answer: Stop all torch operations until proper coverage and line-of-sight can be established
If the fire guard cannot maintain proper line-of-sight, all torch work must be halted until the coverage issue is resolved, as blind-spot monitoring is insufficient.
Question 6: During a fire watch, the fire guard smells burning but sees no visible flame. What should the fire guard do?
- Assume it is a normal odor from torch operations and continue monitoring
- Investigate the source, and if confirmed, activate the alarm and call 911 (Correct answer)
- Report the smell to the torch operator and let them investigate
- Open all windows to ventilate the area before investigating
Correct answer: Investigate the source, and if confirmed, activate the alarm and call 911
Any indication of burning—including smell alone—must be investigated immediately, and if fire is found or suspected, alarms must be activated and 911 called.
Question 7: Who is responsible for ensuring a fire guard is present before torch operations begin on a job site?
- The building owner exclusively
- The torch operator exclusively
- Both the torch operator and the permit holder jointly (Correct answer)
- The FDNY inspector assigned to the building
Correct answer: Both the torch operator and the permit holder jointly
Both the permit holder and the torch operator share responsibility for ensuring required fire watch coverage is in place before any torch operation begins.
F60 Fire Watch Procedures 3
Which document must a fire guard have in their possession at all times while on duty?