F-01 vs F-60 Certificate

F-01 vs F-60 Certificate: Which One Do You Need?

New York City loves its certificates of fitness, and the alphabet soup can confuse even seasoned site superintendents. The F-01 and F-60 cards look similar, but swapping them on the wrong job can trigger a full stop work order.

In short, F-01 covers fire watch during system impairments while F-60 is strictly for torch operators and their immediate helpers. Many contractors think one card covers everyone on the roof. That’s a $6,000 fine waiting to happen. Let’s break down the real differences so you can staff your site without a marshal sized headache.

F-01 Fire Guard: The Building’s Bodyguard

The F-01 is required whenever a building’s fire protection system is down for more than four hours. Guards patrol floors, check for smoke, keep digital logs and call 911 at the first sign of fire. They don’t operate torches or lighters; they watch for danger while other people create sparks.

High rises, hospitals and hotels lean on F-01 holders during sprinkler maintenance, alarm panel swaps or pump upgrades. The test covers NFPA 25 and 72 plus basic evacuation procedures. It’s a 50 question multiple choice exam at the FDNY metro center and you need 70% to pass.

Once you have it, the card is good for three years and renews online in about ten minutes.

F-60 Torch Operator: The Spark Maker’s Permit

The F-60 is completely different. It authorizes the holder to use a roofing torch, solder large pipes or cut structural steel inside city limits. Anyone within 35 feet of the flame, including the fire watch assigned to that operation, must carry the F-60.

The curriculum focuses on gas cylinder safety, hot work permits and extinguishing small fires. The test is 30 questions and tougher than it looks; nearly a third of applicants fail on the first try because they skip the pre test videos.

The card expires every three years and requires a refresher course if you let it lapse more than six months.

Overlap Scenarios That Trip Up Contractors

Here’s where it gets messy. A roofing crew shows up with one F-60 holder and three laborers. The building has no working sprinkler because it’s being repaired. Now you need two separate roles: an F-60 torch operator on the roof and an F-01 fire watch patrolling the floors below.

One person can’t hold both cards and do both jobs at the same time. The marshal expects continuous patrol inside the building plus a dedicated set of eyes on the roof for at least 30 minutes after the last flame dies.

We’ve seen projects get hit with two violations in one day because the super tried to shuffle the same guard between roles. Don’t be that headline.

Cost and Timeline Comparison

An F-01 prep class runs about $125 and takes four hours online. Most people pass the city exam within a week of study. The F-60 class is longer, usually six hours, and costs around $150 because it includes live fire extinguisher practice.

Add another $50 for the convenience of same day testing and you’re still under $200 total. Compare that to a $6,000 citation plus potential stop work orders and the math is simple. Invest in the right card up front and keep your project on schedule.

Still unsure which certificate your site needs? Send us your work scope and we’ll map the exact headcount for each role. Our training coordinators offer same day F-01 and F-60 classes with guaranteed seating, and our dispatch team can place certified guards on site in under two hours. Call now and we’ll make sure every card matches every task before the first spark flies.