TITLE:	ES&H Manual
DOCUMENT ID:	6122 Appendix T2 Fire Protection: Hot Work Permit

1.0 Purpose

A Hot Work Permit (HWP) is the primary tool used to prevent fire at Jefferson Lab. This appendix provides direction for the use of a HWP at Jefferson Lab. Any work activity that requires an open flames (greater than a BIC lighter); welding or brazing activities; and spark producing grinding or cutting operations are restricted and require a HWP unless they are performed in approved areas established as a weld shop by a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

2.0 Scope

A HWP authorizes hot work performance outside approved areas including Tungsten Inert Gas/Manual Inert Gas (TIG/MIG) welding.

Electron beam welding and vacuum brazing are excluded from this requirement.

The Fire Protection Engineer is responsible for approving HWPs. The issuance of a HWP demonstrates that specific actions have been taken which reduce the risk for a defined time period not to exceed five consecutive days.

3.0 Responsibilities

Supervising Authority/ Subcontracting Officer’s Technical Representative (SOTR) (the individual responsible for the successful outcome of the hot work operation)

· Prepares the HWP.

· Identifies site-specific flammable materials, fire hazards, or hazardous processes present or likely to be present in a hot work area, including areas below and adjacent to the hot work area.

· Assures safe operation during the hot work activities.

· Designates fire watches when the circumstances justify. More than one fire watch is required if combustible materials could be ignited by the hot work operation and cannot be directly observed by the initial fire watch.

· Verifies that the job preplanning and notifications have been accomplished.

· Forwards the HWP to the Fire Protection Engineer for the final authorization.

· Posts the completed HWP in the work area.

· Re-inspects the hot work area daily and validates the continuation of activities by initialing the posted HWP.

· Submits expired HWP to Fire Protection Engineer to assure removal from service.

Fire Protection Engineer

• Ensures that the building’s fire protection systems are configured to accommodate the intended hot work and provide designed protection throughout the duration of the HWP.
• Approves the HWPs when hazards have been mitigated for the described work.
• Retains a copy of the HWP on file. Returns the original to the Supervising Authority for the duration of the hot work activity.

Hot Work Operator

· Has current Fire Safety Training

· Reviews fire watch responsibilities with the designated fire watch.

· Ensures the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is used during the work.

Fire Watch

· As defined in ES&H Manual Chapter 6122 Welding, Cutting, Brazing, and Grinding

· Has current Fire Safety Training.

· Reviews fire watch responsibilities with Hot Work Operator.

· Maintains watch for 30 minutes after completion of the hot work operation in order to detect and extinguish smoldering fires.

4.0 Process Steps

The HWP form can be accessed at:

4.1 Introduction

Provide initial information describing the work. The “Start Date” is the date the permit is required.

4.2 Fire Watch

A fire watch is required if the hot work is performed in a location where any of the following conditions exist:

· Combustible materials in building construction or contents are closer than 35ft (10.7 m) from the point of operation.

· Combustible materials are more than 35ft (10.7 m) away but are easily ignited by sparks.

· Wall or floor openings within 35ft (10.7 m) radius expose combustible materials in adjacent areas, including concealed spaces in walls or floors, or if people are in these adjacent areas.

· Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited.

· Oxy–fuel gas welding and cutting operations in an underground structure.

· Roof of a building; at any elevated level.

· Outdoors within 35ft (10.7 m) of vehicles, mulched areas, or vegetation.

4.3 Supervising Authority Inspection Checklist

a. Inspect the equipment to be used for the hot work. Verify that it is in satisfactory operating condition and in good repair. Do not continue until it is.

b. Move all combustibles at least 35ft (10.7 m) away from the hot work area or provide appropriate protection. Be aware of combustibles that, because of their characteristics (dust, fibers, fumes), could ignite even though they may be >35ft from the work area. Be especially alert to fragments that may be hurled by grinders. Mitigate hazards.

c. Assess the work area for processes that may be directly or indirectly affected by the hot work. (Examples: cryogenics, pneumatics, electrical, compressed gas systems.) Denote the hazard and the control used. (Example: lockout/tagout.)

4.4 Fire System Safety

a. Determine if the sprinkler system is fully functional. Contact Facilities Management (ext. 7400) for information or assistance.

b. Determine if smoke and heat detectors need to be temporarily disarmed. Contact Facilities Management x7400 to disarm alarms.

i. Develop an alternative alarm mechanism, if necessary, for periods when alarms are disarmed.

c. Ensure that there is a fully charged, operable, and appropriate type fire extinguisher available to the fire watch. A fire watch must possess a dedicated appropriate type fire extinguisher at all times during the watch. Facilities Management (x7400) can provide the appropriate type.

d. Note the location of the nearest fire alarm pull station

e. Note the location of the nearest building fire extinguisher

4.5 Other Considerations

a. Communicate potential hazards to any potentially affected individuals.

· Brief any affected workers on the system of the heat and smoke alarm status.

b. Evaluate the ventilation system (if in doubt, contact Jefferson Lab safety staff for guidance before beginning the work)

c. Determine and provide appropriate PPE to workers.

d. Additional industrial hazards may be involved with the planned work that must be considered and mitigated. Determine if the work involves:

· Pressurized Systems

· Radioactive Materials

· Hazardous Chemicals

4.6 Special Precautions

Note any special precautions taken (fire resistive blankets, wetting of floors, screens, etc.).

4.7 Authorizations

a. Supervising Authority – signs to indicate that all job preplanning and notifications have been accomplished.

b. Fire Protection Engineer – signs to denote final approval of HWP.

ISSUING AUTHORITY	APPENDIX AUTHOR	APPROVAL DATE	EFFECTIVE DATE	EXPIRATION DATE	REV.
ESH&Q Division	Dave Kausch	01/15/2009	01/15/2009	01/15/2012	1

This document is controlled as an on line file. It may be printed but the print copy is not a controlled document. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that the document is the same revision as the current on line file. This copy was printed on 10/12/2009.