General contractors hire security for three reasons: keeping equipment on-site, keeping the job on schedule, and keeping fire marshals happy. Every day a job site sits with stolen copper, broken generators, or an unresolved fire marshal notice is a day of profit lost to problems that were preventable. Surefire Security is the Bay Area security company that GCs bring to their next project because we understand the construction schedule, the trades, and the fire code — not just how to post a guard. California PPO 121780. Call (510) 789-6304 or request a jobsite walk-through for immediate deployment.
Why Bay Area GCs Choose Surefire Security
General contractors have coverage needs no other buyer has: coverage windows that follow the construction schedule, sudden fire watch calls when the sprinkler system goes offline, hot work permits that require an officer on shift, and per-project pricing that fits inside a project budget. We built our GC service model around what the construction schedule actually demands:
- Same-day deployment. When your sprinkler goes down at 3pm and the fire marshal needs coverage by 6pm, we don’t need a 2-week onboarding. We can post an officer within 90 minutes anywhere in the Bay Area.
- Per-project pricing. No annual contract required. Pay for the coverage the project needs, when the project needs it. Weekly, monthly, or full-duration billing.
- Fire watch specialists on staff. California Fire Code compliance is a specialty, not a side offering. Our officers know the documentation your fire marshal will accept the first time.
- Hot work permit coverage. Cutting, welding, grinding, torch-cutting — we deploy officers trained on hot work fire watch requirements and the mandatory post-work watch period.
- After-hours theft prevention. Copper, tools, generators, catalytic converters, materials — the highest-value theft targets on a jobsite are all after-hours problems. Our patrol model deters before the theft happens.
- Documented coverage for insurance and owner reporting. Every shift produces a time-stamped patrol log. If a theft or incident happens, you have the documentation. If the owner asks what security you had, you have proof.
Services General Contractors Actually Need
General contractor security engagements fall into a few standard patterns. We deploy the right service for the actual jobsite risk, not a one-size-fits-all guard post:
1. After-Hours Jobsite Security
Uniformed officers on-post from end of workday through morning start. Prevents theft of copper, tools, materials, generators, and equipment. Deters trespass, vandalism, and squatting. Full details on our construction site security page.
2. Fire Watch for Sprinkler Impairment, Fire Alarm Offline, Hot Work
California Fire Code requires a certified fire watch whenever automatic fire protection systems are impaired or during hot work operations. Surefire deploys fire watch coverage with fire marshal-ready documentation. See our main fire watch page or our city-specific fire watch coverage (Fremont, Oakland, San Jose, and 7 more Bay Area cities).
3. Vehicle Patrol for Multi-Site Coverage
For GCs running 3+ active sites in a corridor, a marked patrol vehicle rotating between sites is more cost-effective than a static guard at each. Timed random patrols create visible deterrent presence at every site multiple times per night. Details on our vehicle patrol services page.
4. Armed Coverage for High-Value Materials or High-Risk Locations
When the site has copper stockpiles, high-value equipment, or is in a location with elevated criminal activity, armed coverage may be warranted. All Surefire armed officers hold BSIS Exposed Firearms Permits and full training documentation. See our armed security services.
Fire Watch: The Emergency GCs Call Us For Most
The single most common emergency call we get from Bay Area GCs is a fire watch request — usually because a sprinkler system had to be shut down for retrofit work, or a fire alarm went into test mode, or a hot work permit was issued and no fire watch coverage was arranged. When this happens, you need a security company that:
- Can deploy within 90 minutes anywhere in the Bay Area
- Provides officers who understand the specific patrol intervals your fire marshal will require (typically every 30-60 minutes)
- Delivers time-stamped patrol logs formatted the way fire marshals actually want to see them
- Handles the post-hot-work watch period (typically 30 minutes to 1 hour after hot work stops)
- Coordinates directly with your fire marshal contact if questions come up on-site
Surefire deploys fire watch coverage across every major Bay Area city daily. If you have an active fire watch need, call (510) 789-6304 for immediate dispatch.
Per-Project Pricing for General Contractors
Standard 2026 Bay Area guard rates run $30–$45/hour for unarmed and $40–$65/hour for armed coverage. GC-specific pricing considerations:
- No annual contract required. Coverage runs from project start through project close or through the specific impairment window (fire watch shifts can be as short as 4 hours).
- Volume pricing available for extended engagements (multi-week fire watch retrofits, multi-month site security through construction completion).
- Multi-site pricing for GCs with 3+ active sites in a corridor — vehicle patrol rotation reduces per-site cost significantly.
- Emergency same-day dispatch may include a modest surcharge; scheduled coverage is at standard rates.
- Weekly or per-project invoicing — whatever fits your accounting workflow.
See our full Bay Area Security Guard Cost Guide for pricing context across all services.
Coverage Across Every Major Bay Area City
Surefire deploys GC security coverage across all 10 major Bay Area cities: Fremont, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Hayward, San Leandro, Union City, Alameda, Palo Alto, and Santa Clara. We work with the local fire marshals in each jurisdiction and understand the specific documentation requirements each city requires.
What GCs Ask Us Most
Can you deploy fire watch coverage today? Yes — 90 minute typical deployment during business hours anywhere in the Bay Area, 2-3 hours overnight or in San Francisco (traffic-dependent).
Do we need to sign an annual contract? No. GC engagements are typically per-project or per-impairment. Sign for the coverage you need, when you need it.
Can you provide documentation my insurance carrier will accept? Yes. Every shift produces time-stamped patrol logs, officer sign-in, and incident reports. Delivered to your project manager same-day by end of shift.
Can you handle hot work coverage in addition to the actual hot work watch period? Yes. Our officers are trained on the mandatory post-work fire watch period (typically 30 minutes to 1 hour after hot work operations stop) and stay on-post through completion.
What if I need coverage at multiple active sites? We offer vehicle patrol rotation between multiple sites at reduced per-site rates. Marked patrol vehicles with visible lights create deterrent presence at every site multiple times per night.
Do you carry insurance we can add to our COI file? Yes. General liability, workers’ comp, and all required California PPO documentation delivered within 24 hours of request.
Request a Jobsite Walk-Through
Before your next project starts — or if you have an active security or fire watch need right now — request a jobsite walk-through. We’ll assess your specific coverage needs, deliver a firm quote, and can deploy officers within the timeframe your project requires. No annual contract, no template pricing, no obligation.
Call (510) 789-6304 for immediate dispatch, or request a walk-through. Surefire Security. California PPO 121780. BSIS-certified officers. Fire marshal-ready documentation. Bay Area coverage across every major city, deployed same-day when needed.
