Checked 24 October 2026. The rules are as the FDNY study booklets and pages stated them on 23 and 24 Oct 2026 (F-02 booklet revised July 2026, F-01 and F-60 January 2026, S-60 and F-92 March 2024, S-12/S-15 March 2024). The S-60 booklet cites the 2014 Building Code, and the F-60 and F-92 booklets refer to the Fire Prevention Code. The FDNY asks candidates to check for the latest booklet.
A fire watch is not one job with one certificate. The F-60 booklet defines it as "a temporary measure intended to ensure continuous and systematic surveillance of a building or portion thereof by one or more qualified individuals for the purposes of identifying and controlling fire hazards, detecting early signs of fire, raising an alarm of fire, and notifying the department", and the F-60 and F-01 booklets define a fire guard as a person holding a Certificate of Fitness for such purposes. Which certificate you need depends on why the watch is required. This guide is organised by that reason: an out-of-service fire protection system, an emergency shelter, a boatyard or marina, a torch operation, and a construction site. It also covers who may stand in for whom, how often and how long a watch runs, and how long the record is kept. How to get the main fire guard certificates is in the fire guard certificate guide, and the application steps are in FDNY Certificate of Fitness: exam format, fee and how to apply. ProSyllabus is an independent study site, not part of the FDNY (Fire Department of the City of New York) or the City of New York. Every rule here is quoted or summarised from the FDNY pages and study booklets listed at the foot of the page.
FDNY F-01, F-02, F-60, F-92 and S-60 study materials, read 23 and 24 Oct 2026.
- 50 original questions, 2 full exams
- Timed like the F-60 test, 70% to pass
- The reason behind every answer
- Your score by topic
Why is a fire watch needed? Who does it
| Situation | Who does the watch | What the FDNY document says |
|---|---|---|
| A required fire protection system (sprinkler, standpipe, fire alarm) is out of service | Fire guards holding the F-01 certificate | In any occupancy where a required system is out of service a fire watch must be kept by one or more COF holders. For the first four hours, in an area up to 50,000 square feet, the impairment coordinator or a trained and knowledgeable person designated by the owner may do it instead (F-01 page and booklet). The S-95 booklet quotes the Fire Code differently: unless the Fire Commissioner directs otherwise, either the building is evacuated or a fire watch is maintained by persons holding a Fire Guard certificate. |
| An emergency or homeless shelter | Fire guards holding the F-02 certificate | Shelters must be regularly patrolled by a fire guard, every area at least once an hour, whenever the shelter is occupied, whether or not a system is out of service. If a required system is out of service the watch must be kept by F-02 holders, and if there are none the building should be evacuated (F-02 booklet, July 2026). |
| A boatyard or marina | Fire guards holding the F-92 certificate | The F-92 page: required by all fire guards in boatyards and marinas where no sprinkler system is installed or a fire protection system is temporarily out of service. The F-92 booklet: when a marina is used for overnight occupancy at least one fire guard is required 24 hours a day, and the fire guard patrols at least once every hour. |
| Torch operations at a construction site, on a rooftop or torch-applied roof, or in a building or structure when a citywide torch permit holder does the work | Fire guards holding the F-60 certificate | The fire watch must be done by at least one F-60 fire guard. It must continue for at least 30 minutes after the hot work ends, and the person on fire watch must have no other duties (F-60 booklet). See the F-60 exam guide. |
| A construction site of a certain size when operations are not in progress | A watchperson holding the S-60 certificate | At least one S-60 watchperson at any site with a footprint between 5,000 and 40,000 square feet, on duty at all hours when operations are not in progress (S-60 booklet and page). This is not the same as a fire watch for an impaired system (next section). |
| A fire alarm system is taken out of service during hot work | A fire guard for impairment | The F-60 booklet says a fire watch for impairment must be provided while the alarm system is off-line, and the alarm logbook records when it went off-line and was restored. |
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.Construction sites: four different roles
Construction sites can involve four different certificate roles on the same site. The S-60 booklet's own list of the certificates used on construction sites includes F-01 (fire guard for impairment, including construction site), F-60 (fire guard for torch operation), S-56 (construction site fire safety manager) and S-60 (watchperson).
| Role | What the FDNY documents say |
|---|---|
| Watchperson (S-60) | At least one for a footprint between 5,000 and 40,000 square feet, and one additional for each additional 40,000 square feet of footprint or fraction thereof. The requirement runs from when the foundation is poured until all work has concluded and the certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued. The booklet lists two exceptions. Where two or more are required, the number may be reduced with the commissioner's approval if an alarm or video monitoring system is in place or the layout allows a continuous line of sight across the building, and at least one watchperson is provided. The second exception is that the building is being actively monitored in accordance with a Fire Department approved fire safety and evacuation plan. |
| Fire guard for impairment (F-01) | Where Appendix A of the F-01 booklet requires a fire watch for an out-of-service system at a construction site, it specifies an F-01 fire guard; its standpipe rows require the watch at all times, while its sprinkler, fire alarm and demolition rows include exceptions such as an entirely vacant building or floors under active demolition. The F-01 booklet (Appendix A, footnote 3) says the presence of a watchperson does not satisfy the fire watch requirement. No fire watch is required where the system is not yet installed and approved, except where special circumstances require. See the fire guard guide for the Appendix A outline. |
| Construction site fire safety manager (S-56) | The S-56 page: required where a Site Safety Manager or Coordinator is required by the Building Code; inspects the site and all fire safety measures at least daily and keeps a record when construction, demolition and alteration work is being conducted. The F-01 booklet says the S-56 holder must be designated the impairment coordinator if any installed and approved fire protection system is out of service. |
| Fire guard for torch work (F-60) | The torch operator must also have a person doing fire watch, an F-60 fire guard. The F-60 booklet says an F-60 is not qualified to serve as a watchperson or as a fire guard for impairment at construction sites. |
The S-60 has conditions the others do not. The S-60 booklet says it is only valid provided the holder maintains a current New York State security license, that an applicant who cannot show a valid NYS security guard license will not be permitted to take the S-60 exam, and that the holder must keep the S-60 and the NYS license on his or her person or readily available for inspection while performing the duty of a watchperson. It also says an S-60 holder is not authorized to perform the duties of other certificates, and that experience as a watchperson will generally not qualify you for the S-56. The S-60 exam is 20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes with at least 70% to pass. One inconsistency: Appendix A of the F-01 booklet describes a watchperson as holding an F-60, while the F-60 booklet sends watchperson applicants to the S-60.
FDNY S-60 and F-01 study materials, read 24 and 23 Oct 2026.
Can one certificate stand in for another?
| Question | What the FDNY document says |
|---|---|
| Can an F-02 holder do F-01 work? | F-02 holders are not required to obtain an additional F-01 and can perform F-01 duties in shelters only. The F-02 holder is authorized to perform all fire guard duties within the shelter (F-02 booklet). |
| Can an F-60 holder do F-01 or S-60 work? | No, at construction sites. The F-60 booklet says it does not qualify you as a fire guard for impairment (F-01) or a watchperson (S-60). |
| Can an S-60 holder do other certificates' work? | No. The S-60 booklet says it is designed only for certifying watchpersons at construction sites and does not authorize the duties of other certificates. |
| Can a building's own staff do the watch? | For an F-01 impairment watch, only if they hold the certificate, except for the first four hours of an out-of-service condition in an area up to 50,000 square feet, when the impairment coordinator or a trained and knowledgeable person designated by the owner may do it (F-01 page and booklet). The F-02 shelter booklet separately requires F-02 holders when a required system is out of service and says the building should be evacuated if there are none; it states no four-hour exception. |
| Where does the F-01 apply? | The F-01 booklet calls it a citywide certificate: the holder may perform the duties in different buildings and occupancies. The F-92 page says its certificate is valid only for the person who applied and at the location applied for. |
| Who supervises a shelter fire guard? | The F-02 booklet: generally the F-80 holder (Coordinator of Fire Safety and Alarm Systems in shelters), the F-89/T-89 Fire and Life Safety Director, or the impairment coordinator. In the absence of a specific designee the building owner is the impairment coordinator. |
How often and how long the watch runs
| Certificate | Patrol and duration |
|---|---|
| F-01 | Patrol all affected areas at least once every hour; no other duties; on a 24 hours a day basis until the systems are restored to good working order (construction-site rules differ; see Appendix A). No fire guard patrols more than 50,000 square feet of floor area. Section 1.2 also says the entire building must be checked at least once every hour. |
| F-02 | Every area of the shelter at least once every hour whenever it is occupied. The FDNY recommends at least one certified fire guard on duty for every 250 occupants, and may limit the area each guard patrols. Additional guards are not required when a system goes out of service because fire guards are already on continuous patrol. |
| F-92 | At least once every hour; at least one fire guard 24 hours a day when a marina is used for overnight occupancy, with more depending on size. |
| F-60 | Continuous watch of the whole hot work area during the torch operation and for at least 30 minutes after it ends, which the commissioner or responsible person may extend. For CNG or LPG torch work the first inspection is 30 minutes after the work is completed and the second 1 hour after. |
| S-12/S-15 booklet (impairment) | Fire watch personnel continuously patrol the affected area, have an approved means of notifying the Fire Department, report any fire immediately, are trained in portable extinguishers, have no other duties, and enough guards are provided so each floor or area is patrolled at least once an hour. |
| S-60 | On duty at the site during all hours when operations are not in progress. |
How long the record is kept
Each booklet requires a record, and the retention periods differ, so use the booklet for your certificate.
| Document | What it says about the record |
|---|---|
| F-01 booklet | A signed record, written or approved electronic, of the number of inspections completed, defects, violations, and the date, name, certificate number and signature of the fire guard. Section 1.3 says it is kept on the premises for at least 3 years and also maintained for at least 48 hours after the fire watch has finished. |
| F-02 booklet | A written record kept on the premises or another approved location for a minimum of 3 years and available to any FDNY representative: number of patrols, defects, violations, and date, name, certificate number and signature. A watchman's clock, key stations or RFID scanning are recommended ways of supervising the patrol. |
| F-60 booklet | A signed inspection report submitted to and retained by the person in charge of the torch operations, which the booklet says should be maintained on the premises for a reasonable length of time (for example 48 hours) after work is complete. The pre-hot work check reports and the hot work authorization are kept 48 hours after completion. |
| S-12/S-15 booklet | A record of the fire watch kept on the premises during the fire watch and for a minimum of 48 hours after it has concluded. |
| S-95 booklet (alarm log book) | The alarm log book, which includes the system off-line entries, is retained for three years from the date of the last entry. |
The S-12/S-15 booklet also warns that failure to make inspections, maintain records and report defects may be cause for revocation of the Certificate of Fitness and court enforcement proceedings.
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.Getting the certificate
All of these are Certificate of Fitness exams taken at FDNY Headquarters. The FDNY Certificates of Fitness page and the 2026 booklet notices require applying and paying online first, while the General Notice says other certificates can apply in person and the F-92 and S-60 pages and booklets still describe in-person steps. The F-02 booklet gives 25 questions in 38 minutes and the F-92 booklet 25 questions in 37 minutes, both at least 70%; the S-60 exam is 20 questions in 30 minutes. The F-02 booklet says no alternative issuance procedure is available. The F-92 booklet describes one. The F-01 and F-60 formats are in the fire guard guide and the F-60 guide, and the arrival rules and what to bring are in the exam day guide.
Practice for the fire guard exam we cover
FDNY F-60 practice exam: Fire Guard for Torch Operations. 2 full exams of 25 questions, 38 minutes each, three questions free.
ProSyllabus's fire guard practice is for the F-60. It does not cover the F-01, F-02, F-92 or S-60. Independent practice with original questions written from the FDNY study booklet, four options each, with the reason behind every answer. Not FDNY questions.
Frequently asked questions
Who is allowed to do a fire watch in NYC?
Generally a person holding the Certificate of Fitness for that kind of watch: F-01 for an out-of-service fire protection system, F-02 in shelters, F-92 in boatyards and marinas, F-60 for torch operations at construction sites, on rooftops or torch-applied roofs, or in a building when a citywide torch permit holder does the work. The only exception in the F-01 documents is the first four hours of an out-of-service condition in an area up to 50,000 square feet, when the impairment coordinator or a trained and knowledgeable person designated by the owner may do it. The F-02 shelter booklet states no such exception.
Does a construction watchperson count as a fire watch?
No. Appendix A of the F-01 booklet says the presence of a watchperson does not constitute compliance with the fire watch requirement. The watchperson holds an S-60; the fire watch for an out-of-service system at a construction site is done by an F-01 fire guard.
How often must a fire watch patrol?
At least once every hour in the F-01, F-02, F-92 and S-12 booklets. The F-60 fire guard watches continuously during the torch operation and for at least 30 minutes after.
What happens in a shelter if no one has an F-02?
The F-02 booklet says that when a required fire protection system is out of service and there are no F-02 holders, the building should be evacuated. The decision to evacuate or continue a watch is at the discretion of the impairment coordinator.
Do I need a security license to be a construction watchperson?
The S-60 booklet says the applicant must hold a valid New York State security guard license to take the S-60 exam, and that the certificate is only valid while the holder maintains a current NYS security license.
How long do I keep fire watch records?
It depends on the booklet: at least 3 years in the F-01 and F-02 booklets (the F-01 also mentions 48 hours after the watch), 48 hours after the watch in the S-12/S-15 booklet, a signed inspection report kept for a reasonable time (for example 48 hours) in the F-60 booklet, and the alarm log book for three years from its last entry.
Is a fire watch a job I can start without a certificate?
Applicants who are not employed can take the exam without the employer documents, and if they pass, the FDNY issues a temporary letter for job seeking; the card is issued once they are employed and provide the documents. The F-01 documents allow the impairment coordinator or a trained person designated by the owner to do the first four hours in an area up to 50,000 square feet, but otherwise the watch itself requires the certificate.
More in this series
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness: how to get one
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness: full list of certificates
- Fire guard license in NYC: which FDNY certificate
- FDNY F-60 exam: Fire Guard for Torch Operations
- FDNY S-12 exam: Citywide Sprinkler Systems
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness renewal: steps, fees, late penalty
- FDNY MetroTech exam day: what to bring and expect
- FDNY S-95 exam: Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems
Sources
- official — FDNY: Study material for the F-01 Fire Guard for Impairment (Citywide) exam, revised January 2026 (contact/payment info)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness F-01 Citywide Fire Guard for Impairment page
- official — FDNY: Study material for the F-02 Fire Guard for Shelter exam, revised July 2026 (Questions/Test Timing)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness F-02 Fire Guard for Shelters (Citywide) page
- official — FDNY: Study material for the F-92 Fire Guard for Boatyards and Marinas exam, revised March 2024 (Apply/Pay)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness F-92 Supervise and Fire Guard Boatyards and Marinas page
- official — FDNY: Study material for the F-60 Fire Guard for Torch Operations exam, revised January 2026 (contact/payment info)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness F-60 Fire Guard for Torch Operations page
- official — FDNY: Study material for the S-60 Watchperson at Construction Sites exam, revised March 2024 (Apply/Pay)
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness S-60 Watchperson at Construction Sites page
- official — FDNY: Certificate of Fitness S-56 Construction Site Fire Safety Manager page
- official — FDNY: Study material for the S-12 / S-15 / T-15 sprinkler system exams, revised March 2024 (apply/pay)
- official — FDNY: Study material for the S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems exam, revised March 2024 (Apply/Pay)
- official — FDNY: General Notice of Exam (NOE) for Certificate of Fitness Examinations, revised 07/2023
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
FreeTests: Certificate, permits and authorization · Responsible person and pre-hot work check · Fire safety requirements and gas torch precautions
FDNY F-60 Practice Exam: free sample
Answer 3 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
3 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.
