NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Hot Work Permit Process

1. NATIONAL PARK SERVICEHot Work Permit Process Structural Fire Program

2. Hot Work Permits Why do we need hot work permits? Every year fires occur that could have been prevented had employees used appropriate fire prevention measures. The National Park Service requires the use of the Hot Work Permit Process as the primary means of preventing fires due to non-routine open flame and high temperature processes. (NFPA standard 51B)

3. Hot Work Permits Goals and Objectives: At the end of this session you will able to: - Recognize work that requires the use of Hot Work permits. - Be familiar with the Hot Work Permit System.

4. Hot Work Permits Hot Work is any work using open flames or sources of heat that could ignite materials in the work area.

5. Hot Work Permits • Examples of hot work are: • welding • burning • brazing • propane soldering • oxyacetylene cutting • grinding ferrous metals

6. Hot Work Permits Responsible Person: A person in the park or work unit with the proper training will be designated as the person responsible for issuing the Hot Work permits, at most sites this is the person designated as the Park Structural Fire Coordinator (PSFC)

7. Hot Work Permits Procedures: Before beginning any hot work project, contact the Park Structural Fire Coordinator (PSFC) to have a Hot Work site inspected and a permit issued.

8. Hot Work Permits Cutting / Welding Permit Location: Job No. Date: Job No. Location & Building: Floor Nature of Job: Welder’s Name: The above location has been examined. The precautions checked on the reverse of this card have been taken to prevent fire. Permission is granted for this work. Permit Date: Time: Expires AM PM Permits are issued for the specific job being done, and for a specific time period. The time period is usually for the working shift, but should never exceed 24 hours.

9. Hot Work Permits • Required checks: • Sprinklers are in service. • Cutting and welding equipment in good repair. • Precautions within 35 ft. (10 m.) of work. • Floors swept clean of combustibles. • Combustible floors wet down, covered with damp sand or • fire-resistive sheets. • Flammable liquids removed; other combustibles, if not • removed protected with fire-resistive tarpaulins or metal shields. • Explosive atmosphere in area eliminated. • All wall and floor openings covered. • Fire-resistive tarpaulins suspended beneath work. • Work on Walls or Ceilings • Construction is noncombustible and without combustible • covering or isolation. • Combustibles moved away from other side of wall. • Work on Enclosed Equipment • Enclosed equipment cleaned of all combustibles. • Containers purged of flammable liquids. • Fire Watch • Fire watch will be provided during and for at least 30 minutes • after work, and during any coffee or lunch breaks. • Fire watch is supplied with suitable extinguishers, or charged • small hose. • Fire watch is trained in use of this equipment and in • sounding alarm. The PSFC has the responsibility of verifying that all necessary precautions have been taken at the worksite.

10. Hot Work Permits • Required Precautions: • Sprinklers are in service if they are in the structure. Welding and other Hot Work have been found to be high ranking causes of fires. Sprinkler systems must remain in service in the hot work area, unless specifically approved by the PSFC.

11. Hot Work Permits • Required Precautions: • Cutting and welding equipment • in good repair. Gas hoses, backflow preventers, fire resistive tarpaulins and curtains are on site, the appropriate size and type of portable fire extinguisher are available and other cutting and welding equipment must be in good repair before the permit is issued.

12. Hot Work Permits • Required Precautions: • Precautions within 35 ft. (10 m.) of work. • Floors swept clean of combustibles. • Combustible floors wet down, covered with damp sand or • fire-resistive sheets. • Flammable liquids removed; other combustibles, if not • removed protected with fire-resistive tarpaulins or metal shields. • Explosive atmosphere in area eliminated. • All wall and floor openings covered. • Fire-resistive tarpaulins suspended beneath work. • Work on Walls or Ceilings • Construction is noncombustible and without combustible • covering or isolation. • Combustibles moved away from other side of wall. • Work on Enclosed Equipment • Enclosed equipment cleaned of all combustibles. • Containers purged of flammable liquids. Anything that can burn must be removed from the immediate work area.

13. Hot Work Permits • Required Precautions: • Fire Watch • Fire watch will be provided during and for at least 30 minutes • after work, and during any coffee or lunch breaks. • Fire watch is supplied with suitable extinguishers, or charged • small hose. • Fire watch is trained in use of this equipment and in • sounding alarm. 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 the permit is issued.

14. Hot Work Permits • Required Precautions: • Fire Watch • Fire watch will be provided during and for at least 30 minutes • after work, and during any coffee or lunch breaks. • Fire watch is supplied with suitable extinguishers, or charged • small hose. • Fire watch is trained in use of this equipment and in • sounding alarm. Fire Watch personnel may not do other jobs which detract from their primary responsibility. Fire Watch personnel must be trained to use fire extinguishment media provided. Fire Watch personnel must be aware of how to report emergencies, and in emergency evacuation procedures. Fire Watch personnel must be identified and their qualifications verified, before permits are issued.

15. Hot Work Permits Required Precautions: CAN THE JOB BE AVOIDED? IS THERE A SAFER WAY? Before beginning any hot work, ask yourself if the work can be done a safer way. Hot work is very hazardous and should be avoided if not absolutely necessary.

16. Hot Work Permits Final Checkup By Welder Work area and all adjacent areas to which sparks and heat might have spread (such as floors above and below and on opposite side of walls) were inspected after the work was completed and were found fire safe. Before leaving the area for the day, at least 60 minutes after the last hot work has been completed, verify that no smoldering fires have developed within walls, cracks in floors, or in ceiling areas where you have been working.

17. Hot Work Permits - Summary • Jobs like electric arc welding, brazing, gas soldering, and • oxygen-acetylene cutting and welding should have hot • work permits issued by the Park Structural Fire Coordinator (PSFC) • before work begins. • Permits are issued for a specific job, for a • specific time frame, to a specific person. • 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 60 minutes after work is done. • A fire inspection must be conducted by the person doing the hot work • before leaving the job site. • Permits are to be returned to the person who issued them.

18. NFPA 909Standard for the Protection of Cultural Resources Including Museums, Libraries, Places of Worship, and Historic Properties3-6 Hot Work.Hot work shall not be permitted unless there is no other viable alternative.3-6.1 Hot Work Permit.A hot work permit shall be issued by the PSFC to authorize work with any open flame devices used in soldering, brazing, cutting, and welding.

19. NFPA 909Standard for the Protection of Cultural Resources Including Museums, Libraries, Places of Worship, and Historic Properties3-6.2 Permit Requirements.The hot work permit shall prescribe measures to protect the collections and ensure life safety, and shall include the following requirements as a minimum:(a) A person trained in the use of fire extinguishers shall be stationed in the vicinity of the hot work operation for the duration of the work and for 60 minutes thereafter with frequent monitoring during the following 3 hours (b) All combustibles within 35 ft (11 m) of the work site shall be relocated or be covered with noncombustible or fire-retardant coated tarpaulins or otherwise shielded with metal or noncombustible guards or curtains.

20. Where to get questions answered? • Your supervisor is responsible for all necessary equipment • and for contacting the person in your park or work unit that • can provide additional assistance, such as the PSFC. • The PSFC will issue all permits and answer any specific questions about fire protection systems, fire prevention measures and precautions. • National Structure Fire Program Office, NIFC, Boise Idaho 208-387-5209 or 208-387-5245.

21. Another historic structure damaged • 3/18/02, 11:53 pm • 212 firefighters, 33 engines, 19 trucks, 8 medical/rescue and 18 overhead responded to a report of “flames showing.” • Renovation/adaptive reuse of a 196,000sf., 4 story NPS owned historic cannery building • Cause – “Accidental (welding operation)”

22. Historic NPS structure damaged from lack of enforced Hotwork Permitting • Estimated property value = $10,000,000.00 • Estimated contents value = $10,000,000.00 • Estimated property damage = $6,000,000.00 • Estimated content damaged =$5,000,000.00

23. These losses could have been easily prevented had a hot work permitting process been in place and enforced!Don’t let this happen to you!