All hot work on the Yale University campus or within University properties shall follow NFPA 51B, the standard for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other Hot Work.

Definitions:

• "Hot Work" includes but is not limited to: cutting, welding, soldering, paint removal involving flames, or flame cutting.
• "Airborne Particles" are created during the processes of: sawing, sanding, aerosol spraying, or other operations that raise large amounts of dust or vapors, etc.

• The contractor shall apply to the Yale University Office of the Fire Marshal for application to conduct all hot work. Application shall be filed for all work in addition to any permits that are required by other agencies; city, state, and local.

• Application shall be made prior to any work beginning. If required, the fire alarm and detection system(s) shall be disabled by the Yale University Fire Systems Technicians prior to the time work begins. All shutdowns must be scheduled through the Yale University Control Center at (203)-432-6888.

• The contractor shall follow all necessary precautions as indicated on the permits and provide proper training and resources to safely complete all assigned duties.

• All work shall be fully explained during the application process and additional precautions may be specified by the Yale University Office of the Fire Marshal at that time.

All contractors involved in hot work shall follow the requirements listed below:

• Move all combustibles at least 35 feet away horizontally and be sure that there are no openings in walls or floors within 35 feet.

• Move the work to a safe location.

• If neither of the following steps are possible, protect the exposed combustibles with  suitable fire resistive guards and provide a trained fire watcher with the proper extinguishing equipment readily available.

Determine what combustible materials are present at the work site. 
If necessary, have the work or the combustibles moves, or have the combustibles shielded. Secure authorization from management, preferably in the form of a written permit. See that the welder is aware of the authorization and conditions. See that the fire watchers are available when required. Make a final check for fires one half hour after completion of welding or cutting operations in cases where a fire watch was not required.

Precautions:

1. Hot work equipment to be used shall be in satisfactory operating condition and in good repair.

2. Make sure welding and cutting is not taking place in flammable atmospheres, near large quantities of exposed readily ignitable materials, or in areas not authorized by management or the contractor's permit.

3. Check that floors are free of combustibles for a radius of 35 feet. If the floor itself is a combustible material, it should be kept wet or otherwise protected. Where floors have been wet down, personnel operating arc welding or cutting equipment shall be protected from possible shock.

4. Any combustibles within 35 feet of the welding or cutting site should be protected with flame proofed covers or metal guards or curtains.

5. Openings or cracks in walls, floors, or ducts shall be tightly covered with fire retardent or noncombustible material if within 35 feet of the work to prevent the passage of sparks to adjacent areas.

6. Conveyor systems that might carry sparks to distant combustibles shall be shielded.

7. If hot work is to be done on a wall, partition, ceiling, or roof , precautions shall be taken to prevent ignition of combustibles on the other side by relocating combustibles. If this is impractical, a fire watch on the other side of the work shall be provided.

8. Cutting or welding on pipes or other metal that is in contact with combustible walls, partitions, ceilings, or roofs shall not be performed if close enough to cause ignition by heat conduction.

9. The appropriate charged and operable fire extinguisher should be readily available. 

10. If hot work is done in close proximity to a sprinkler head, the sprinkler head shall be protected from accidental discharge by an approved method. Once hot work is completed, the sprinkler head must be put back in service.
 

Last updated: 10/2/98
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