Security guards are frequently designated as the responsible person for fire safety during out-of-hours periods. This carries significant legal responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and both guards and their employers need to understand what is required.
The Security Guard’s Role in Fire Safety
When a guard is the sole person on site, they typically assume the role of fire marshal by default. Their responsibilities may include monitoring fire detection and alarm systems, conducting fire patrols at regular intervals, maintaining clear means of escape, knowing the location and operation of firefighting equipment, implementing evacuation procedures if necessary, and meeting the fire service on arrival and providing site information.
These duties should be explicitly detailed in the site assignment instructions. A guard should never be expected to perform fire safety duties without proper training and clear written procedures.
Fire Watch Duties
Fire watch is a specific security service where guards patrol to detect and prevent fires, often when fire detection systems are impaired or during hot work operations. Fire watch requires additional training beyond standard fire awareness and should be reflected in the contract scope and pricing.
Guards performing fire watch must be equipped with appropriate communication devices to raise an immediate alarm, know the exact location of all fire exits and assembly points, and maintain a documented patrol log with timestamps.
Training Requirements
All security guards should receive basic fire awareness training as part of their induction. Guards deployed to sites where they hold fire safety responsibilities need additional training covering the site-specific fire risk assessment, operation of the fire alarm panel, use of firefighting equipment, and evacuation procedures including for persons with disabilities.
Documentation and Reporting
Every fire-related activity should be documented: routine fire patrols, equipment checks, false alarms, evacuations, and any fire safety concerns identified. This documentation forms part of the site’s fire safety record and may be reviewed during fire authority inspections. Digital patrol logging systems with checkpoint scanning provide timestamped evidence that patrols were conducted as required.
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