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Fire Prevention Precautions For Hot Work
FIRE PREVENTION PRECAUTIONS FOR HOT WORK
PART 1---GENERAL
1.01 SUMMARY
A. The following safeguards shall be observed in performing
hot work, such as welding, cutting, soldering, brazing,
and other operations where open flames or implements
utilizing heat are used.
l.02 QUALITY ASSURANCE
A. Regulatory Requirements:
1. The contractor shall ensure that operations
involving the use of open-flame or electrical ARC
equipment are not conducted until a GSA Form 1755;
Permit for Welding, Cutting, and Burning has been
completed and signed by the Buildings Manager each
day such activity is to occur.
2. Prior to commencing operations, a positive
determination shall be made if it is impractical to
conduct the hot work in a shop area or outside of
the building. This determination shall be made by
the Government Engineer, Buildings Manager, or
responsible Government supervisor at the job site.
3. Prior to operations, the job site shall be visited
and suitable locations established for the portable
equipment during actual operations and storage
during non-working hours. The responsible
supervisor for the Contractor and the Government
representative (as designated in the preceding
paragraph) shall confer and decide upon such
locations with the Government representative's
decision being final in event of disagreement.
4. The Contractor shall notify the local Government
Representative of the area of operations for each
day and of all subsequent changes that occur. This
is necessary to assure inspection of all areas by a
Government representative.
5. The Contractor shall notify the local Government
representative of all locations where hot work is
to be performed no later than the morning the work
is to be performed.
PART 2---PRODUCTS
[Not Applicable]
PART 3---EXECUTION
3.01 EXAMINATION
A. Prior to commencing operations, a positive determination
shall be made that it is impractical to conduct the hot
work in a shop area or outside of the building. This
determination shall be made by the Government Engineer,
Building Manager, or responsible Government supervisor at
the job site.
B. Before operations commence, the Contractor shall furnish
personnel to serve as a fire watch (or watches) for
location(s) where hot work is to be done. (One fire
watcher may observe several locations in a relatively
small contiguous area if approved by the Government
representative.) Each fire watch shall have a
Contractor-furnished, suitable type, fully charged,
operable fire extinguisher. The Contractor is responsible
that the fire watcher knows how to operate the fire
extinguisher and how to turn on a fire alarm and/or
summon the fire department.
C. Check the opposite side of walls, floors, ceilings, or
roofs before starting operations and take suitable
precautions to minimize the hazard for a fire starting or
communicating to the opposite side from operations.
3.02 ERECTION, INSTALLATION, APPLICATION
A. Combustible Material:
1. Hot work shall not be done in or near rooms or in
areas where flammable liquids or explosive vapors
are present or thought to be present. In the latter
case, a combustible gas indicator (explosimeter)
test shall be made to assure that the area is safe.
The Contractor is responsible for arranging for
such test and he shall bear such charges as may be
incurred.
2. Insofar as possible, the Contractor shall remove
and keep the area free from all combustibles, i.e.,
rubbish, paper, waste, etc., within a twenty-five
(25) foot radius from operations.
3. If combustible material cannot be removed, the
Contractor shall furnish fireproof blankets and
cover such materials with them, insuring that no
openings exist into which sparks can penetrate. At
the direction of the Government representative,
wood floors, walls, and ceiling shall be wet down
thoroughly with water before, during, and after
operations to afford adequate protection. NOTE:
TAKE SPECIAL CARE NOT TO DAMAGE HISTORIC WOOD
FABRIC DURING THIS PROCESS. CONSULT FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER
FOR TECHNICAL ADVICE AND RHPO ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION MATTERS BEFORE
PERFORMING THIS WORK.
4. Where possible, the Contractor shall furnish and
use baffles of metal or gypsum board to prevent the
spraying of sparks, hot slag, etc., into
surrounding combustible material.
B. Safety Measures:
1. The Contractor shall prevent the extension of
sparks and particles of hot metal through open
windows, doors, holes, and cracks in floors, walls,
ceilings, roofs, and the like.
2. Where cylinders of gas are used in hot work, they
shall be placed a safe distance from work. The
Contractor shall check hoses and equipment for
deterioration, malfunction, and leaks prior to
starting operations. He shall provide suitable
supports to prevent accidental overturning of
cylinders. All cylinder control valves shall be
shut off while the equipment is unattended.
Acetylene cylinders shall be in an upright position
while in use with the gas pressure regulator set at
15 psi or less.
3. When hot work operations are completed or ended for
the day, each location of the day's work shall be
inspected by the supervisor representative of the
Contractor not sooner than thirty (30) minutes
after completion of operations to detect hidden or
smoldering fires and to insure that proper
housekeeping is maintained.
4. Where sprinkler protection exists, it shall be
maintained without interruption while operations
are being performed. If operations are done quite
close to automatic sprinkler heads, gypsum board
sheets or damp cloth guards may be used to shield
the individual heads temporarily.
5. If any of the above safeguards are not employed, or
are violated, the responsible Government supervisor
may by verbal command followed by written notice, stop the work until
compliance is obtained. Such stoppage shall not
relieve the Contractor from performing his work
within the contract period for the contract price.
END OF SECTION
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