Fire guard in NYC: F-01, F-60 or F-03, which certificate do you need?
Short answer
There is no single NYC fire guard license. A fire guard holds the FDNY Certificate of Fitness for the specific job: F-01 for fire watch when a building’s fire protection system is impaired, F-60 for fire watch during torch work on construction sites and roofs, and F-03 for safety personnel in indoor places of assembly.
Checked against the official sources on
Which fire guard certificate fits the job
| Certificate | When it is required | Who usually holds it |
|---|---|---|
| F-01 Citywide Fire Guard for Impairment | Fire watch when a required fire protection system is not working | Building staff, security, fire watch companies |
| F-60 Fire Guard for Torch Operations | Fire watch for torch work on construction sites, on rooftops and torch-applied roofing, and torch work done under a citywide torch permit | Helpers and laborers on crews that use torches |
| F-03 Indoor Place of Assembly Safety Personnel | Fire and crowd safety staff in indoor places of assembly | Venue, event and building staff |
For F-01: in an area under 50,000 square feet the building owner may use a trained person for the first 4 hours of a fire watch; after 4 hours only fire guards with the Certificate of Fitness may do it. The F-01 belongs to the person and can be used anywhere in NYC.
F-60 or G-60: the guard and the torch
On a construction site the person using the torch with flammable gas generally needs the G-60 (Torch Use of Flammable Gas), and the person keeping the fire watch needs the F-60. If you solder, braze or cut with a torch, ask which of the two your site expects from you.
How you get it
Every fire guard certificate is earned the same way: study FDNY’s material, apply and pay online, pass the exam at FDNY Headquarters (9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn) and renew every 3 years.
More questions
Do I need a course before the F-01 or F-60 exam?
FDNY requires you to pass its exam; it does not require a course for F-01 or F-60. A prep class helps you learn the study material and pass the first time, because a failed exam means applying and paying again.
How much does a fire guard certificate cost?
For F-01 the FDNY application fee is $25 and renewal is $15 every 3 years. Prep course prices vary; Trade Progress Center does not publish prices on the site.
Training for this
Our NYC DOB courses are taught by a Trade Progress Center instructor registered with the NYC DOB as a trainer, OSHA classes by an OSHA-authorized trainer, and FDNY courses are exam preparation. Classes in English, Russian or Spanish, in person or online.
Official sources
- NYC Business: F-01 Citywide Fire Guard for Impairment
- FDNY: Certificate of Fitness F-60
- FDNY: Certificates of Fitness
This page explains the rules in plain words. The agencies’ own pages and rules decide, and they change: check the source links before you act.