Penn State University

Hot Work Permits

Environmental Health and Safety
6 Eisenhower Parking Deck
University Park, PA. 16802
814-865-6391
www.ehs.psu.edu
Hot Work
Goals and Objectives:

At the end of this program you will:

- Recognize work that requires the use of

Hot Work Permits.

- Be familiar with and able to implement the PSU Hot

Work Permit Process.
What is Hot Work?
Definition:

Hot Work is any work using open flames or sources

of heat that could ignite materials in the work area.
Hot Work
Examples of hot work are:

•welding
•burning
•brazing
•propane soldering
•oxyacetylene cutting
•grinding ferrous metals
•torch applied roofing
•heat gun
Hot Work
Why Hot Work Permits?

• Every year fires related to hot work activities occur causing significant property
damage and business interruption. Many of these fires could have been
prevented if employees and contractors had used appropriate fire prevention
measures while conducting hot work.

• During a recent 5 year period FM Global reported that after Arson and
Housekeeping, Hot Work was the third leading cause of fires in FM insured
properties with an average fire loss totalling $1.4 million dollars per incident.

• Penn State University requires the use of the Hot Work Permit system as a
primary tool for preventing the outbreak of fire due hot work operations.
Fire Potential
Heat Source Temp *
• Electric Arc Welder : 10,900ºF
• O2 / Acetylene Torch : 6,330ºF
• Propane Torch : 3,595F
• Welding Torch Slag : >2,000ºF
• Electric Heat Gun : 600 – 1,350ºF
• Radial Metal Cut Saw : >1,000ºF
• Wheel Grinder : 1,000ºF
Ignition Temp *
• Styrene : 914ºF
• Typical Asphalt : 905ºF
• Polyurethane Foam : 824ºF
• Lubricating Oil : 500 - 700ºF
• Mineral Spirits : 473ºF
• Wood Products : 380 - 800ºF
• Corrugated Paper : 380 - 500ºF
* Information provided by FM Global
Is Hot Work Necessary??
Question to Ask:
Can the job be avoided or is
there a safer way?

• Before beginning any hot work, ask yourself if the

work can be done a safer way. Hot work is potentially
very hazardous and should be avoided if not
absolutely necessary.
Work that may not require the use of
a hot work permit includes:
Areas that are maintained and identified as:
- Welding Shops
- Maintenance shops with designated
areas for hot work activities

Work on equipment (ex. Farm Implements) occurring

in areas outside of buildings where the potential for
fire development is minimal.
Starting the Process
Procedures:

Before beginning hot work a hot

work permit must be completed.

Permits can be obtained from

your supervisor or the Penn
State Environmental Health and
Safety Web Page at
www.ehs.psu.edu
Hot Work Permit
WARNING! Permits are issued for the
HOT WORK IN PROGRESS specific job being done, and
WATCH FOR FIRE! for a specific time period.
The time period is usually for
In case of FIRE call 911 the working shift, but may
never exceed twenty-four
Emergency Numbers:
hours.
PSU Police 863-1111
EHS 865-6391
OPP Service Desk 865-4731 Completed Permits need to
be displayed in the hot work
area.
Hot Work Safety Precautions
Required Safety Precautions
 Fire suppression sprinklers, fire hoses or fire extinguishers are available and operable.
 Hot work equipment is operable and in good repair.
 Smoke / fire detectors in the immediate area of the hot work have been temporarily disabled until
the hot work is complete.
 Building occupants have been protected or isolated from the hot work area.
 Drums, barrels and tanks have been cleaned and purged of flammables and toxics,
all tank feeds are closed, and the tank is vented.

The employee performing the Hot Work has the

responsibility to verify that all necessary precautions
have been taken at the worksite.
Safety Precautions (cont’d)
Are Fire Suppression Sprinklers in service ?

Welding and other hot work have been found to be a leading

cause of fires in University settings. Sprinkler systems should
remain in service in the hot work area, unless specifically
approved by the EH&S Fire Protection Engineer. If a sprinkler
system needs to be taken out of service, Campus specific
procedures must be followed.
Safety Precautions (cont’d)

Is cutting and welding equipment in good repair ?

• Gas hoses, backflow preventers, fire resistive

tarpaulins, curtains and other cutting and
welding equipment must be maintained in good
repair.
 Safety Precautions (cont’d)
Anything that can burn must be removed or protected from the
immediate work area.
Requirements within 35 feet:
 Area within 35 feet of the work area has been properly swept to remove any combustible debris.
 Flammable and ignitable materials and debris have been moved at least 35 feet from the hot work area
or covered and protected with fire resistant materials.
 Cracks or holes in floors, walls and ceilings (including ductwork) are covered or plugged.
 Combustible floors covered with fire-resistive material
Requirements within 50 feet:
 Explosives, compressed gas cylinders or stored fuel have been moved at least 50 feet from the hot work
area or have been protected from the hot work.
Work on walls or Ceilings
 Construction is noncombustible and has no combustible covering or insulation.
 Areas adjacent to walls being worked on are checked for combustibles and any combustibles are either
removed or protected.
Fire Watch
Fire Watch
Fire Watch Personnel's main
 Fire watch will be provided during and responsibility is to monitor the
for at least 30 minutes after work, and area for the possible development
during any coffee or lunch breaks. of fire from the hot work. Other
 Fire watch is supplied with suitable job tasks can be performed as long
as they are able to adequately
extinguishers, or charged small hose.
monitor the area for potential fire.
 Fire watch is trained in use of this
equipment and in sounding alarm.

• Fire Watch Personnel must be trained to use fire extinguishers or other fire
extinguishing equipment that is present.

• Fire Watch Personnel must be aware of how to report emergencies and to activate
building fire alarm systems.

• Fire Watch Personnel must be identified and their qualifications verified prior to
commencing hot work.
Fire Watch (cont’d)
Fire Watch required during Hot Work and a minimum of 30
minutes following completion of work.
Yes ____ No ____ Name: ___________________________
A fire watch is needed for all hot work activities unless the hot
work area has no fire hazards or combustible exposures. The fire
watch must have fire-extinguishing equipment readily available
and be trained in its use. They must also be familiar with the
procedures for sounding an alarm in the event of a fire. The fire
watch will watch for fires in the exposed areas and are
responsible for extinguishing spot fires and communicating
alarms immediately.
The fire watch may be assigned other work duties while in the hot
work area, however they need to be vigilant in watching for fires.

Should other precautions fail, trained personnel will be needed with fire
fighting equipment to extinguish any fires which start. Personnel and
equipment must be readily available before hot work is started.
Hot Work Completion
When work is completed:
 Inspected work area, and any potentially affected surrounding areas, for fire, fire damage, or potential for fire.
 Reactivated smoke / fire detectors that were disabled because of the hot work.
I verify that the above location has been examined and the necessary precautions have been taken to
prevent the outbreak of fire due to Hot Work.
Employee Signature (Issued): ____________________________ Date: ___________Time: ______
Employee Signature (Closed): ____________________________ Date: __________ Time: ______
Supervisor Signature: ________________________________Date: ___________
This Permit is valid only for the day issued

Before leaving the area for the day, verify that no smoldering
fires have developed within walls, cracks in floors, or in
ceiling areas where you have been working. Return the
Hot Work permit to your supervisor to sign, file a copy and
and forward to EHS.
 Summary
• All employees expected to perform hot work must be familiar and
trained in Hot Work Procedures.

• Jobs like electric arc welding, brazing, gas soldering, oxygen-acetylene

cutting, welding and torch applied roofing work may require the use of
a hot work permit.

• Permits are issued for a specific job and for a specific time frame.

• All necessary equipment must be on site and in good working order

before work begins.

• A fire watch must be present for the duration of hot work and for at
least 30 minutes after work is completed.
Summary (cont’d)
• A fire inspection must be conducted by the person doing the hot
work before leaving the job site.

• Completed Permits are to be returned to supervisors.

• Supervisors shall return completed permits to the University Fire

Protection Engineer at Environmental Health and Safety.

• By following safe hot work practices and procedures you will

help maintain a fire safe environment for the Penn State
University Community.
Resources
To view the entire Penn State Hot Work Program click here
http://www.ehs.psu.edu/fire/HotWorkProgram.doc

If you have any questions concerning Hot Work procedures

contact your Supervisor, Safety Officer or Environmental Health
and Safety.

Steve Triebold
Environmental Health and Safety
6 Eisenhower Parking Deck
University Park, PA. 16802
814-865-6391
(sgt4@psu.edu)
 Program developed by:

Environmental Health and Safety

Penn State University
University Park, PA
814-865-6391
www.ehs.psu.edu