how to end fire watch in washington dc

Here is what you will learn: 

• Why you cannot end fire watch immediately after the alarm has been repaired. 
• The step by step process required to end fire watch in Washington DC. 
• The severe consequences of ending your fire watch the wrong way. 
• What happens if your alarm is repaired when the fire marshal office is closed. 
• How to reduce staff if part of your system has been repaired. 

The sections below walk you through each step in detail, but first, here is a quick overview you can use right away.

Want to learn more about how to comply with Washington DC fire watch regulations?  Visit our online guide. Visit: firewatchguide.com

Many property managers think a repaired fire alarm means fire watch can end. Unfortunately, that is not the case in Washington DC. In the District of Columbia, repairing the system is only part of the process required to end fire watch in Washington DC. Your alarm repair technician can fix the system, clear troubles, and say everything is back in service. However, those repairs do not end your legal requirements to keep fire watch in place. Ending fire watch in Washington DC only becomes an option after the DC Fire Marshal reviews your proof of repair and approves the termination through the proper process.   

From the District’s point of view, fire watch is still required until the fire marshal’s office says it can stop, no matter what the panel shows. Buildings that end fire watch without approval can face serious consequences, including citations, fines, and a damaged reputation with the fire department. 

• Many property managers assume alarm repair means fire watch can end, but DC rules require more than that. 
• Alarm vendors can restore the system, yet they do not control when fire watch legally ends. 
• Only the DC Fire Marshal can approve ending fire watch in Washington DC. 
• Treating the repair visit as the finish line is one of the most common and risky mistakes. 
• Stopping early can lead to fines, orders to restart fire watch, and higher risk if a fire occurs during that gap. 

Many property managers in Washington, DC want to know how to end fire watch in Washington DC as fast as possible once the alarm company says the system is fixed. The first step is simple: get written proof that your fire alarm or sprinkler system is fully back in service. Without that proof, your request to end fire watch cannot move forward. 

Required Documentation To End Fire Watch 

Your alarm or monitoring company needs to give you a document that clearly states the system is 100 percent back in service. If the issue involved a system that could not dial out, the document needs to state that the system is now communicating properly. This can be a service ticket, completion report, or monitoring notice. The most important thing is that it comes from the repair company or monitoring company and clearly states the system is fully restored/100 percent in service. When you request this on the same visit as the repair, you avoid delays and prevent extra time on fire watch due to delayed paperwork. 

What Must Be Included In The Repair Documentation 

• Must be from your alarm repair or monitoring vendor, not on your own letterhead 
• Exact building name and address 
• Clear statement that the system is fully repaired and in normal service 

Examples Of Acceptable Documents  To End Fire Watch 

• Completed work order from the repair company 
• Letter from the repair or monitoring company 
• Alarm test report 

Most alarm repair companies do not know what DC requires to end fire watch. They focus on fixing the alarm and usually have limited understanding of the fire watch regulations. Ask for the documentation before they leave. If you do not ask for the right documentation, they will usually leave the site without giving it to you. 

Step 2: Email The DC Fire Marshal To Request Ending Fire Watch 

Once you have written proof that your system is back in service, the next step in how to end fire watch in Washington DC is to email the DC Fire Marshal. Send the email to fems.fireprevention@dc.gov. Remember, you are asking for permission to end fire watch, not just letting them know that repairs are done. Until you make this request and it is approved, your building must remain on fire watch. 

Your email should do three things clearly

1. Identify your building with name and full address, 
2. Clearly state the system is 100% back in service and you are requesting permission to terminate fire watch. 
3. Provide documentation you received from your alarm or monitoring company stating the system is back in service/functioning normally. 

Once you email the DC Fire Marshal to request ending fire watch, an inspector must visit your property before your building can come off fire watch. This inspection is how the District confirms that your system is back in service and that you actually kept fire watch in place while it was impaired. Until this visit is complete and you are clearly allowed to end fire watch, your building must stay on fire watch. 

What Happens During The Inspection 

During the visit, the inspector will walk the building to verify the fire watch security guards are still on duty.  They will look for officers on post, may ask basic questions, and review the fire watch logs. They will often take pictures of the log sheets for their records. After that, they will check the annunciator panel and main fire panel to see what the system is showing in real time. They rarely run an actual alarm test, and you usually do not need an alarm technician on site. However, a representative of the building must be there to give the inspector full access to the panels and answer questions if necessary. 

• Inspector walks the property to confirm fire watch is active 
• Fire watch officers and logs may be checked 
• Annunciator panel and main fire panel are reviewed 
• Alarm technician usually does not need to be present 
• Someone on site must provide full panel access 

The depth of the inspection depends on the nature of the problem and the opinion of the inspector. In most cases, the pass or fail decision is based heavily on what the panel shows during the visit. If there are trouble alerts on the panel, the inspector will usually not approve fire watch to end. This often happens even when the alerts are not tied to the original issue that started fire watch. From the District’s point of view, active troubles mean the system is not fully healthy, which makes them cautious about letting your building leave fire watch. 

• Level of inspection depends on the original impairment 
• Panel status often drives the pass or fail decision 
• Active trouble alerts usually block approval to end fire watch 
• Even unrelated troubles can delay termination approval 

What Happens If The Alarm Is Fixed After Hours Or On Weekends 

If repairs finish after hours or on a weekend, your alarm can be back in service while your building is still on fire watch. The DC Fire Marshal’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and inspections take place during those business hours. An on‑call fire marshal is sometimes available on Saturdays, but that is not guaranteed, and inspections never happen on Sundays. This means a Friday night or Saturday evening repair can still lead to a Monday inspection and extra days of required fire watch, even though the panel looks normal. 

• Business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday 
• An on‑call fire marshal may be available on Saturdays, but not always 
• No inspections take place on Sundays 
• After‑hours repairs often mean waiting until the next business day 

Verbal Approval Is Not Permission To End Fire Watch 

Many property managers feel instant relief when the inspector says, “You passed” or gives positive feedback during the visit. That reaction is normal, but it becomes a problem if you treat those words as permission to end fire watch on the spot. Verbal comments during inspection do not always equal official approval to stop fire watch in Washington, DC. Your fire watch is technically not considered over until you receive clear approval to end the fire watch. 

Situations that the fire marshal may approve ending fire watch without written approval 

In some cases, the inspector will allow ending fire watch without written approval. This usually happens when the inspection occurs outside of normal business hours or on a holiday. In those situations, the fire marshal may tell you that you can send the fire watch security guards home and expect the follow up email from the fire marshal’s office the next business day. 

• A passing inspection comment is not always final approval 
• Wait for clear, explicit permission before sending your fire watch team home 
• Always ask the fire marshal directly, “Can I end fire watch immediately?” 
• Fire watch continues until the fire marshal clearly allows it to stop 

bonus: Reducing Fire Watch Staff When Part Of The Building Is Fixed 

Imagine a 10 floor building in Washington, DC that needs 7 fire watch officers when the whole system is down. After repairs, the alarm vendor restores service on 6 floors, and only 4 floors still have an active alarm malfunction. It feels natural to think you can drop from 7 officers to a smaller team that just covers the 4 problem floors, especially when costs are climbing and the “fixed” floors seem safe. 

The challenge is that in Washington, DC you cannot reduce fire watch staff based only on what the repair company tells you. You still need the fire marshal to review the situation and approve any staffing change. That means you must email the DC Fire Marshal, explain which floors or areas are now back in service, which are still impaired, and ask for permission to reduce the number of officers. Until the inspector reviews your building and clearly approves a new staffing plan, you are expected to keep the original fire watch coverage in place. 

• A 10 floor building might still need 7 officers even after some floors are repaired 
• Alarm vendors do not decide when you can cut fire watch staff 
• You must email the fire marshal to request a staffing change 
• The inspector decides which areas still need fire watch and how many officers are required 
• Keep your original staffing until the fire marshal clearly approves a reduction 

Step‑By‑Step Checklist To End Fire Watch In Washington, DC

Here is a clear checklist you can follow every time you need to end fire watch in Washington, DC. This takes you from the moment repairs are done to the moment you can officially stand your fire watch team down.

1. Get written proof system is back in service
2. Email the DC Fire Marshal
3. Keep full fire watch in place while you wait
4. Walk the inspector and answer questions
5. Ask clearly about approval
6. Wait for clear permission before ending fire watch