Fire safety has its own terminology and some of the words seem to mean the same thing but they don’t. The duties of a fire guard, fire marshal and fire warden may vary significantly from property to property, jurisdiction to jurisdiction and organisation to organisation. Knowing the difference is easier for a building’s staff and property manager to determine who is doing what when fire safety is a priority.
When unexpected system outages occur, engaging a dedicated fire guard company ensures that you receive properly certified personnel trained specifically for on-site hazard monitoring and safety compliance. Dissecting these titles helps management assign the correct responsibilities, communicate effectively with local authorities, and avoid costly compliance mistakes during an emergency.
Who is a Fire Guard?Fire guard: A person who is assigned to active fire watch when further fire monitoring is required. This can occur when a fire alarm, sprinkler system or other protective equipment is temporarily not available. Fire guards are assigned to certain areas and are on the lookout for smoke, fire, unsafe storage, closed exits, electrical hazards, or potential fire hazards. When they identify any significant issue they will implement the site’s emergency protocols and inform relevant parties or emergency services. They tend to be observers and reporters. A fire guard is not a substitute for a working fire protection system or a firefighter.What is the job of a Fire Marshal?The term fire marshal typically refers to someone who has been authorised to deal with aspects of fire prevention, fire inspection, fire enforcement or fire investigation. Specific tasks will differ from one jurisdiction to another. A fire marshal can conduct a fire inspection, review fire safety, investigate fires, and check for code violations and/or corrective measures. In addition, the fire marshal/fire department may also decide when fire watch is necessary during an impairment, depending on local rules. The fire marshal’s job is not to routinely patrol private property, but to report to fire safety oversight and enforcement.Who is a Fire Warden?A fire warden typically refers to a person appointed in a workplace, building or organisation to help with emergency preparedness and evacuation.In an emergency, fire wardens can assist in directing the occupants to the exits, check assigned areas, discourage people from using unsafe routes and communicate information to the emergency responders or building management. Fire wardens are not always a fire guard service and are usually members of the building’s staff. They have specific responsibilities depending on the local needs and the property’s emergency plan.Avoid making the terms get confused.The confusion is typically due to overlapping responsibilities. All three roles have a link to fire safety, but are different in how they operate.A fire guard is active monitoring and fire watch. The fire marshal usually offers official oversight, inspection, enforcement or investigation. A fire warden assists in the control of emergency preparedness and evacuation in the workplace or building.Selecting the appropriate fire safety assistance.Before taking any action, property managers should first determine what the need is. They might be required to have fire watch coverage if a required fire protection system is temporarily out of service. Where the objective is to enhance the evacuation of the workplace, trained fire wardens might be appropriate. The local fire authority is the best place to seek advice on inspections, code requirements or any enforcement issues. Understanding the difference can lead to quicker and less assumed reaction to an unexpected fire safety concern.
