A Fire Watch (also known as an Impairment Coordinator) may be temporarily used while a Fire Detection or Protection System is out of service for repairs or alterations.

A fire watch is the person or persons responsible for continuously observing hot work activity for the detection of, and response to, fires during hot work operations. A fire watch has the authority to stop work if necessary and conduct essential steps for restoring safe conditions within the hot work area. monitor an area for a possible emergency. These roles are found anywhere there is a potential fire hazard, such as in welding or a shipyard, or in the absence of a sufficient emergency alert system.