Any time a fire alarm or sprinkler system is compromised you must notify the Denver Fire Department, through the System Down Reporting Website. If a system is down for longer than 10 hours, a Firewatch Permit is required. Please read all of the information below related to this process.
Click on the System Down Reporting Website and enter all required information.
Inform your system monitoring company that the system is down. If an AES (American Electronic Services) box is applicable - report the system offline and contact the DFD Non-Emergency Dispatch line at 720-913-2491 and inform them that the system is down.
Firewatch is required after the system has been down for 10 hours. After 10 hours, you are required to initiate a Firewatch Permit. Please note: A fire water line interruption of any type, for any length of time requires a Firewatch Permit to be initiated immediately. Please review the Firewatch Permit Application Guide prior to applying. Once a Firewatch Permit has been obtained, you will no longer need to continue daily reporting to the System Down website.
Firewatch Permits can be initiated once approval is obtained from a Fire Prevention Officer, please apply via E-Permits - Accela Citizen Access.
Per the Denver Fire Code, records of all system installations, inspections, tests and maintenance (including all firewatch logs) shall be maintained on the premises. Records shall be completed on National Fire Protection Association forms and/or forms provided by the Denver Fire Department. Firewatch Logs for the required 30 minute walks of the impacted areas must be kept on the premises and be made available for Denver Fire Department personnel when requested.
For a firewatch to end, the fire alarm or sprinkler contractor who performed the maintenance, repairs or replacement of the impacted life safety system must provide the Denver Fire Department with documentation that the impaired system is now 100% functional. This documentation must be in the form of an “NFPA 72 System Record of Completion” for fire alarm systems, and an “NFPA 13 Material and Test Certificate for Fire Sprinkler Systems” for fire pump and sprinkler systems. This documentation must be emailed to the Fire Prevention Division at denfpb@denvergov.org along with a brief explanation of the work that has been accomplished and a formal request for the firewatch to be terminated. We can also be reached at 720-913-3474 during our normal business hours to answer any additional firewatch questions you may have.
System Down Reporting Information (PDF)
Firewatch Permit Application Guide (PDF)
Denver Fire Watch Log (PDF)
System Down Reporting Website
Fire_Watch_Guidelines.pdf(PDF, 139KB)