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Fire Watch and Life Safety in Shopping Centres: Security Support During System Impairments

Breadcrumbs: Home › Security Services › Retail & Commercial Security › Fire Watch and Life Safety in Shopping Centres
Published: August 29, 2026
Category: Mall Security
Tags: Mall Security Toronto, Fire Watch, Shopping Centre Security, Life Safety, Security Guard Services Toronto, Commercial Security Services GTA

Shopping centres depend on interconnected fire and life-safety systems to protect tenants, employees, customers, contractors, and visitors. Fire alarm panels, sprinkler systems, standpipes, smoke-control equipment, emergency power, exit signs, and emergency lighting must operate as intended. When one of these systems is impaired, property managers must act promptly to reduce risk and maintain orderly operations.

System impairments can occur during scheduled maintenance, renovations, electrical work, equipment failure, hot work, tenant construction, or special events. A fire watch may be required as a compensating measure, but it must never be treated as a substitute for repairing or restoring the affected system.

For shopping centre operators, the appropriate response should be based on the property’s approved fire-safety plan, direction from the local authority having jurisdiction, insurer requirements, fire protection contractors, and other qualified professionals. Security personnel can provide valuable on-site support by conducting assigned patrols, observing hazards, maintaining communications, assisting with emergency response, and documenting conditions.

Understanding Fire Watch During a System Impairment

A fire watch is a dedicated life-safety function intended to identify signs of fire or abnormal conditions while a fire protection or life-safety system is unavailable or compromised. The specific requirements depend on the type, location, duration, and severity of the impairment.

Examples include:

• A fire alarm system taken offline during panel replacement or testing
• Sprinkler zones isolated for repairs or tenant renovations
• Standpipe or fire pump equipment unavailable
• Smoke-control fans, dampers, or exhaust systems under maintenance
• Emergency power work affecting life-safety equipment
• Emergency lighting or exit signage temporarily disrupted
• Hot work such as welding, cutting, grinding, or torch-applied roofing
• Construction hoarding or temporary layouts affecting fire-protection access
• Large seasonal events taking place while a system is impaired

The Ontario Fire Code establishes minimum requirements for fire safety in existing buildings. The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs also emphasizes the responsibilities of owners and operators, including maintaining fire-safety systems, implementing fire-safety plans, and keeping appropriate records.

A property manager should confirm the required response before work begins. In some cases, the fire department, insurer, fire alarm monitoring company, or fire protection contractor may require additional precautions, notifications, occupancy restrictions, or a specific patrol schedule.

Why Shopping Centres Require a Structured Approach

A shopping centre presents challenges that are different from those of a small commercial property. It may include multiple anchor stores, restaurants, storage areas, loading docks, parking structures, mechanical rooms, service corridors, rooftop equipment, and high-occupancy public spaces.

Customers may not recognize an alarm or system impairment, particularly if temporary work affects audible notification, emergency lighting, or exit signage. Retail employees may also be unfamiliar with construction conditions in back-of-house areas. A coordinated response is therefore necessary to ensure that risks are identified quickly and communicated to the appropriate people.

Fire watch planning should account for:

• The affected system and geographic area
• Operating hours and expected occupancy
• Tenant locations and access arrangements
• Construction zones and contractor activity
• Loading docks, waste areas, and storage rooms
• Food-service operations and commercial kitchens
• Parking areas and enclosed parking structures
• Emergency exits and access routes for responding fire crews
• Planned events, promotions, or crowd- gathering activities

Security guards should not repair, reset, test, or alter fire protection equipment unless they are specifically qualified and authorized to do so. Their role is to follow the assigned fire-watch procedure, observe conditions, communicate concerns, and escalate emergencies.

Establishing Patrol Frequency and Coverage

The patrol frequency should be defined by the property’s fire-safety plan and the direction of the authority having jurisdiction or qualified fire-safety professional. Hourly documented tours are commonly used for fire-watch assignments and may be required for certain activities, including some hot-work applications. A more frequent patrol may be appropriate where there is active construction, a significant fuel load, a crowded event, or a broad impairment.

Patrols should cover all areas identified in the assignment, including occupied and unoccupied spaces. Depending on the impairment, this may include:

• Public corridors, entrances, and atriums
• Tenant areas where access has been authorized
• Stockrooms and service corridors
• Mechanical and electrical rooms
• Loading docks and receiving areas
• Construction and renovation zones
• Waste storage and compacting areas
• Parking garages and exterior service areas
• Fire exits, exit discharge points, and fire department access routes

The assigned officer should use a defined route and check in at the required intervals. If the property uses electronic reporting, each patrol can be time-stamped and linked to observations, photographs, and follow-up actions. This creates a clear record for the property manager, contractor, insurer, and responding authorities.

Core Duties of a Shopping Centre Fire Watch

Fire-watch duties should be written clearly before an impairment begins. A trained security officer may be responsible for:

1. Conducting patrols at the prescribed frequency
2. Looking for smoke, flame, unusual heat, burning odours, sparks, or other abnormal conditions
3. Observing hot-work areas and nearby combustible materials
4. Confirming that exits, fire routes, fire extinguishers, pull stations, hose cabinets, and valves remain accessible
5. Monitoring temporary construction areas and tenant work zones
6. Reporting blocked access, unsafe storage, damaged equipment, or unauthorized activity
7. Maintaining a reliable radio or telephone connection
8. Knowing how to contact 911 and the property’s emergency contacts
9. Initiating the required warning or evacuation process if a fire or immediate danger is observed
10. Recording patrol times, conditions, notifications, and corrective actions

The officer should not attempt to fight a developing fire if doing so would create personal danger. The priority is to warn occupants, contact emergency services, communicate with the property’s command structure, and follow the approved emergency procedure.

Communication, Emergency Access, and Escalation

Before the impairment begins, property management should establish a communication plan. Depending on the circumstances, notifications may be required for the fire alarm monitoring company, fire protection contractor, local fire department, tenants, event organizers, maintenance teams, and the insurer.

Tenants should receive clear information about:

• What system is impaired
• Which areas are affected
• The expected start and end time
• Whether a fire watch is in place
• Temporary emergency procedures
• Any restrictions on hot work, access, occupancy, or events
• The person to contact with questions or concerns

Emergency access must remain clear throughout the impairment. Temporary hoarding, event barriers, delivery vehicles, promotional displays, kiosks, and stored materials must not obstruct fire department access, exits, fire hose cabinets, extinguishers, alarm stations, sprinkler valves, or other designated equipment.

Escalation should be immediate when an officer observes smoke, flame, a strong burning odour, a blocked exit, a serious electrical hazard, unsafe hot work, unauthorized entry into a restricted area, or any condition that could place occupants at risk. The officer should notify 911 where appropriate, advise the dispatch centre, contact the designated property representative, and document the event after immediate safety actions are complete.

Fire-Watch Checklist for Mall Property Managers

Use this checklist as a planning aid. It should be adapted to the property’s approved procedures and professional direction.

Before the impairment

• Identify the affected system, zone, and equipment
• Confirm the expected duration and restoration process
• Review the fire-safety plan and emergency contacts
• Confirm requirements with the authority, fire protection contractor, and insurer
• Notify tenants, contractors, monitoring providers, and event organizers
• Assign dedicated, trained fire-watch personnel
• Define patrol routes, frequency, and reporting requirements
• Confirm radio, telephone, and emergency communication coverage
• Verify that exits, fire equipment, and fire department access remain clear

During the impairment

• Conduct patrols at the required intervals
• Inspect public, service, construction, mechanical, and storage areas as assigned
• Observe hot work and combustible materials
• Report smoke, heat, odours, sparks, blocked access, and abnormal conditions
• Maintain contact with the property representative or dispatch centre
• Support evacuation or emergency notification procedures when directed
• Record each patrol, observation, communication, and corrective action
• Escalate conditions that exceed the officer’s authority or training

At restoration

• Obtain confirmation that the affected system has been repaired and tested
• Confirm restoration with the responsible qualified professional
• End the fire watch only when authorized
• Notify previously informed parties that the system is operational
• Complete the final report and retain records according to property procedures
• Review any deficiencies or lessons learned before the next impairment

How Metro Protective Services Supports Shopping Centres

Metro Protective Services has served Toronto and the GTA since 2000. Our trained personnel provide professional support for retail properties, shopping centres, commercial facilities, construction areas, and special events.

Our retail and commercial security services can be structured around the operating requirements of each property. Assignments may include dedicated fire-watch patrols, after-hours site monitoring, access control, emergency communication, parking-area patrols, tenant coordination, and incident documentation.

Our 24/7 dispatch coordination provides an additional point of contact when conditions change or an issue requires escalation. Electronic reporting supports accurate records of patrol times, observations, notifications, and follow-up actions. For properties requiring a welcoming public-facing presence, our concierge services can also support lobby, information, and visitor-management functions.

Fire watch is a life-safety responsibility that must be planned carefully and managed without delay. Reliable security support can help shopping centre management maintain visibility, communication, documentation, and response readiness until impaired systems are restored.

Need support for a shopping centre impairment, renovation, hot-work assignment, or special event? Contact Metro Protective Services or chat with us to discuss your requirements.

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This article provides general information only. Fire-watch requirements vary by property, impairment, occupancy, authority having jurisdiction, insurer, and qualified professional direction. Property managers should follow the applicable fire-safety plan and obtain site-specific advice before implementing or ending a fire-watch assignment.