F-01 key facts to remember
- A fire watch is required whenever a required fire protection system is out of service, 24 hours a day until it is restored.
- Patrol every affected area at least once every hour. One fire guard may cover no more than 50,000 sq ft.
- For outages of 50,000 sq ft or less, the impairment coordinator or a trained person may do the watch for the first 4 hours only. After that, only F-01 holders.
- If no impairment coordinator is designated, the building owner is the coordinator.
- Notify the FDNY: standpipe out for any period; sprinkler not restored within 8 hours; fire alarm out more than 8 hours in 24 hours; or more than one floor affected.
- Fire found? Call 911 immediately. A pull station may not reach the FDNY, so always call.
- Pull stations: handle at least 4 ft high, within 5 ft of the exit door. Reset only at the fire alarm panel by an S-95 holder after the FDNY advises.
- Evacuate the fire floor and the floor above first, using stairs, not elevators.
- Log: "OK" satisfactory, "X" unsatisfactory, "N/A" not applicable.
- Extinguisher top no more than 5 ft above the floor, bottom at least 4 inches. P.A.S.S. = Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
- Fire classes: A ordinary combustibles, B flammable liquids and gases, C electrical (never water or foam), D combustible metals.
- Lithium-ion battery fire: leave, close the door, call 911. Extinguishers do not work on these fires.
Common questions
What is the F-01 Certificate of Fitness?
It lets you perform a fire watch in a building where a required fire protection system, such as sprinklers, a standpipe or a fire alarm, is out of service.
How many questions are on the F-01 exam?
The F-01 exam has 20 multiple-choice questions on a touch-screen computer. You have 30 minutes and need at least 70% to pass.
Can an F-01 holder do fire watch for welding?
No. Fire watch for torch operations at construction sites and rooftops requires an F-60 certificate.