By Skagit Safety Services · Reviewed by Bert Markley, Director of Training (30+ years in private security) · Last checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice — laws change, and your attorney has the final say.
The short version
- Washington’s fire code says your site safety plan must include site security.
- Big projects (over 40 ft tall, or over 50,000 sq ft per floor) need a fire watch when no one is working.
- One trained officer can do security and fire watch at the same time — the code allows it.
The site safety plan must cover site security
Washington adopts the International Fire Code with state amendments (chapter 51-54A WAC). Its construction chapter calls for a site safety plan whose contents include, among other things, the site safety director’s contact information, training records for the site safety director and fire watch personnel, emergency reporting procedures, fire department access routes, the hot work permit plan — and provisions for site security (WAC 51-54A-3303).
Under the model code, the owner designates a site safety director, who is responsible for the plan — and where a guard service is provided, for the guard service as well.
When an after-hours fire watch is required
A fire watch must be provided where required by the fire code official or by the site safety plan. On top of that, a fire watch is required during nonworking hours for new construction that exceeds 40 feet in height above the lowest adjacent grade at any point along the building perimeter, and for new multistory construction with an aggregate area exceeding 50,000 square feet per story — or as required by the fire code official (WAC 51-54A-3303). New construction under the International Residential Code (houses) is excepted.
Security and fire watch can be the same person
The code says the primary duty of fire watch personnel is constant patrol and watching for fire — and that “the combination of fire watch duties and site security duties is acceptable” (WAC 51-54A-3303). Fire watch personnel must be trained to serve as an on-site fire watch, including the use of portable fire extinguishers, and must have at least one approved way to notify the fire department.
That is exactly how our officers work on job sites: one Public Safety Officer, trained in fire watch, patrolling for both fire and theft. Fire watch is run by our division Skagit Fire Safety.
Records the fire marshal can ask for
Fire watch personnel must keep a record of all periods of duty, including a log entry for each time the site was patrolled and each time a structure was entered and inspected, and make it available to the fire code official on request (WAC 51-54A-3303). Our officers log every patrol. You can also use the free fire watch log sheet.
Copper and metal theft
Copper wire, pipe and other nonferrous metal are prime targets on job sites. Washington requires scrap metal businesses to record each nonferrous metal transaction — including the seller’s ID, the vehicle and plate, and a description of the metal — and to keep those records open to law enforcement for five years (RCW 19.290.020). If metal is stolen, report it to police right away with a description and photos; those records are how stolen metal gets traced.
Trespass on job sites
A fenced field is not treated as unimproved, open land under Washington’s trespass law, and posting matters for open land (RCW 9A.52.010). Fence the site, post it, lock the gates and log every trespass contact. See our trespass guide.
Questions
Is a fire watch required on construction sites in Washington?
When the fire code official or the site safety plan requires it — and during nonworking hours for new construction over 40 feet tall or multistory construction over 50,000 square feet per story (WAC 51-54A-3303). Houses built under the International Residential Code are excepted.
Can one officer do both security and fire watch on a job site?
Yes. Washington’s fire code says the combination of fire watch duties and site security duties is acceptable, as long as the primary duty remains constant patrol and watching for fire (WAC 51-54A-3303).
Does the site safety plan have to include security?
Yes. The list of site safety plan contents includes provisions for site security (WAC 51-54A-3303). Our free construction site security plan template can help you write that part.