Hot Work Permit Guidelines
2408 Wanda Daley Drive
Ames, Iowa 50011-3602
(515) 294-5359 | www.ehs.iastate.edu
Copyright 2014 ©
Reviewed 2018
Hot Work Permit Guidelines
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
Directory of Service and Emergency Providers
Services
Environmental Health and Safety
2408 Wanda Daley Drive | (515) 294-5359
Iowa State University Occupational Medicine Department
G11 Technical and Administrative Services Facility (TASF), 2408 Pammel Drive | (515) 294-2056
McFarland Clinic PC, Occupational Medicine
1018 Duff Avenue | (515) 239-4496
Thielen Student Health Center
2647 Union Drive | (515) 294-5801
Emergency
Emergency - Ambulance, Fire, Police
911
Department of Public Safety/ Iowa State University Police
Armory, 2519 Osborn Drive | (515) 294-4428
Mary Greeley Medical Center
1111 Duff Avenue | (515) 239-2011
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
Table of Contents
Directory of Service and Emergency Providers 3
A. Introduction 5
B. Who’s involved in the Hot Work Permit process? 6
C. What is the process for obtaining a Hot Work Permit? 7
The 35-Foot Rule 8
Fire Detection and Suppression 8
Fire Watch 8
General Guidelines 9
E. Is a Hot Work Permit always required? 10
Designated Hot Work Rooms 10
Operations Not Requiring a Hot Work Permit 10
F. Are there any situations when hot work is not allowed? 11
Non-permissible Hot Work Situations 11
G. What hot work safety training is required? 12
EH&S Training 12
Departmental Training 12
H. Are there hot work requirements for contractors? 13
Do you have hot work related questions? 13
I. Hot Work Fire Facts 14
Non-discrimination Statement 15
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
A. Introduction
Hot work operations include welding, brazing, torch cutting, grinding,
and torch soldering. These operations create heat, sparks, and hot
slag that have the potential to ignite flammable and combustible
materials in the area surrounding hot work activities. The United
States averages 12,630 hot work fires resulting in $308.9 million in
property damages and 31 deaths per year. A single hot work fire can
be devastating, as occurred in the hot work fire at the Old Capitol in
Iowa City (above). The repairs and restoration work associated with
this fire resulted in the expenditure of over $5 million.
Hot work is frequently performed in Iowa State University facilities. The
university Hot Work Permit Program was developed in accordance
with OSHA regulations, NFPA recommendations, and the Hot Work
Permit Policy with the goal of preventing hot work fires. The purpose of
this booklet is to outline the requirements of the Iowa State University
Hot Work Permit Program.
Fire caused by hot work
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
B. Who’s involved in the Hot Work Permit process?
Department Supervisors oversee the Hot Work Permit program
for hot work operations under their supervision. Supervisors are
responsible for designating employees as Permit Authorizing
Individuals (PAI), who will issue Hot Work Permits. EH&S will provide
blank hot work permit forms Request Blank Hot Work Permit Forms.
A sample of the hot work permit form, Hot Work Permit Form.
• Any employee who has successfully completed hot work safety
training may be a PAI.
• Hot Work Operators are allowed to be PAI, but they are not
allowed to issue their own hot work permits.
A Permit Authorizing Individual (PAI) inspects hot work sites prior
to the start of hot work operations using the checklist found on the
Hot Work Permit Form. When a fire watch is required, the PAI will
designate an employee to serve as Fire Watch. Once all requirements
on the forms have been satisfied and the form is signed by a PAI, the
document becomes a Hot Work Permit and must be posted in the
area where hot work is to be performed.
Hot Work Operators (HWOs) are employees who perform hot work
operations. An HWO must always obtain a Hot Work Permit before
beginning hot work.
A Fire Watch is posted to monitor the safety of hot work operations
and watch for fires. Fire Watches are posted by a PAI if the situation
requires one, during hot work, and for at least 30 minutes after work
has been completed. Any employee who has successfully completed
hot work safety training can serve as the Fire Watch. See page 6 for
information regarding circumstances that require a Fire Watch.
A HWO performing hot work.
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
C. What is the process for obtaining a Hot Work Permit?
A Hot Work Operator determines a need for hot work.
The Hot Work Operator ensures the area around hot work activities is in
compliance with the safety requirements of the Hot Work Permit.
The Hot Work Operator contacts a Permit Authorizing Individual.
The Permit Authorizing Individual inspects the hot work site
and completes the Hot Work Permit Form.
The Permit Authorizing Individual posts a Fire Watch if the situation requires
one.
Once all permit safety guidelines are satisfied, the Permit Authorizing Individual
signs and posts the permit.
The Hot Work Operator can then begin hot work.
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
D. What safety measures are required by the Hot Work
Permit?
The 35-Foot Rule
• All flammable and combustible materials within a 35-foot radius
of hot work must be removed.
• When flammable and combustible materials within a 35-foot
radius of hot work cannot be removed, they must be covered
with flame-retardant tarps and a fire watch must be posted.
• Floors and surfaces within a 35-foot radius of the hot work area
must be swept free of combustible dust or debris.
• All openings or cracks in the walls, floors, or ducts that are
potential travel passages for sparks, heat, and flames must be
covered.
Fire Detection and Suppression
• A fire extinguisher must be readily available and accessible.
• Entire building smoke detection and alarms systems cannot be
shut down. Instead, smoke detectors in the area of hot work
may be covered for the duration of hot work to prevent false
alarms.
• Automatic sprinkler systems may not be shut down to perform
hot work. Instead, individual sprinkler heads in the area of hot
work may be covered with a wet cloth to prevent accidental
activation.
Fire Watch
A Fire Watch must be posted by a PAI if the following conditions
exist:
• Combustible materials cannot be removed from within a 35-foot
radius of the hot work.
• Wall or floor openings within a 35-foot radius of hot work expose
combustible materials in adjacent areas, including concealed
spaces in walls or floors.
• Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of
partitions, walls, ceilings or roofs and are likely to be ignited.
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
General Guidelines
• Work should be performed using alternative methods other than
hot work whenever possible.
• Hot work should be performed in designated hot work rooms
whenever it is practical.
• A Hot Work Permit is valid for one day and one area and should
be posted in the area of hot work for the duration of the activity.
• A copy of every permit shall be filed by the PAI in a location
designated by the supervisor and kept for a period of at least
six months.
• A fire extinguisher must be present when performing hot work.
Hot work performed next to a
fire extinguisher
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
E. Is a Hot Work Permit always required?
Designated Hot Work Rooms
A designated hot work room is a permanent location designed
for hot work. These rooms do not require a permit to perform hot
work. For a room to be classified as a designated hot work room,
it must meet the following requirements:
• It must be of noncombustible fire-resistive construction,
essentially free of combustible and flammable contents.
• It must be suitably segregated from adjacent areas.
Designated hot work room • It must be equipped with fire extinguishers.
• It must be inspected and approved by EH&S.
Upon request, EH&S will inspect departmental hot work locations
to receive Designated Hot Work Area status. Designated Hot
Work Areas must be inspected and certified by EH&S Fire Safety.
All hot work completed in areas not certified by EH&S must be
performed under the Hot Work permitting process. Designated
Hot Work Areas will be reinspected and certified by EH&S Fire
Safety annually.
Request Designated Hot Work Area Inspection.
Operations Not Requiring a Hot Work Permit
Operations that produce a flame, sparks, hot slag or enough heat
A worker using a fixed grinding to ignite combustible materials should be considered hot work
wheel with a few exceptions. The following operations do not require a
Hot Work Permit:
• bunsen burners in laboratories
• fixed grinding wheels
• electric soldering irons
• cooking operations
All operations that produce open flames, hot sparks, or metals
that could ignite combustible materials should be handled with
care and treated with fire safety in mind.
If you are unsure if an operation is considered hot work, please
contact Environmental Health and Safety at (515) 294-5359.
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
F. Are there any situations when hot work is not allowed?
Non-permissible Hot Work Situations
Hot work is not permitted when the following conditions exist:
• In sprinklered buildings where the entire sprinkler system is
impaired.
• When an entire building fire detection system is shut down.
• In the presence of explosive atmospheres where mixtures of
flammable gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts may exist.
• In tanks, drums, or other containers and equipment that contain
or previously contained materials that could create explosive
atmospheres.
Hot work equipment
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
G. What hot work safety training is required?
EH&S Training
Individuals involved in hot work are required to complete hot work
training, including supervisors, permit authorizing individuals, hot
work operators, and fire watch personnel. The following EH&S
courses must be completed
• Hot Work Permit Training - required upon initial assignment and
refresher training required every five years.
• Fire Extinguisher Training - required once a year. The hands-on
classroom training must be completed for the initial class. The
online fire extinguisher training course may be completed for
the yearly refresher requirement.
Departmental Training
Managers shall train employees on departmental Hot Work
Permit procedures and specific safety procedures for the type of
hot work equipment used. This training shall be completed upon
initial assignment and cover the following subjects:
• Safety procedures specific to the equipment used.
• Required personal protective equipment for job tasks.
• Identification of Permit Authorizing Individuals and how they can
be contacted.
• Where to file copies of completed Hot Work Permits.
• Locations of designated hot work rooms where a Hot Work
Permit is not required.
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
H. Are there hot work requirements for contractors?
Outside contractors working on the Iowa State University campus
are required to have hot work safety procedures as a part of their
project safety programs. Contractors working on capital projects at
Iowa State University are required to follow the hot work guidelines
outlined in project specifications.
Do you have hot work related questions?
If you have any questions regarding hot work or would like more
information, call Environmental Health and Safety at (515) 294-
5359.
A contractor performing hot work
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
I. Hot Work Fire Facts
The top ten materials most frequently ignited by
welding torches in non-residential structure fires
1. Thermal or acoustical insulation (11%)
2. Unclassified form of material (9.8%)
3. Structural member or framing (9.6%)
4. Rubbish, trash or waste (6.7%)
5. Dust, fiber, or lint (6.6%)
6. Exterior roof covering or finish (5.8%)
7. Accelerant or other gas or liquid in or from pipe or container
(4.0%)
8. Fuel (3.9%)
9. Interior wall covering (3.9%)
10. Box, carton, or bag (3.7%)
The top ten areas of fire origin for non-residential
welding torch structure fires
1. Maintenance shop or area (11.9%)
2. Process or manufacturing area (8.8%)
3. Attic, ceiling/roof assembly, or concealed space (6.5%)
4. Wall assembly or concealed space (6.5%)
5. Garage (6.5%)
6. Machinery room or area (5.6%)
7. Product storage area, tank, or bin (4.9%)
8. Exterior roof surface (4.6%)
9. Exterior wall surface (3.6%)
10. Duct (3.0%)
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Hot Work Permit Guidelines
Non-discrimination Statement
“Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national
origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability,
or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of
Equal Opportunity, 3350 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515 294-7612, email
eooffice@iastate.edu”
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