Safety Policies and Procedures Manual
Hot Work Safety
SPPM 8.10
For more information contact:
WSU Fire Safety and Compliance
509-335-7471
Contents
1.0 Overview and Purpose
Hot work (i.e., work that uses or can produce open flames, sparks, or heat) is sometimes necessary for construction, maintenance, and repair activities. This policy establishes requirements that promote student, faculty, and staff safety during hot work activities that control fire and other hot-work-related hazards and adhere to International Fire Code (IFC) requirements.
2.0 Applicability
This policy applies to WSU employees and supervised students within the jurisdiction where the hot work program was approved.
3.0 Requirements
3.1 Permits
An operational permit is required for hot work that includes, but is not limited to:
- Public exhibitions and demonstrations where work is conducted;
- Use of portable hot work equipment inside a structure;
- Exception: Work that is conducted under a construction permit.
- Fixed-site hot work equipment, such as welding booths;
- Hot work conducted within a wildfire risk area; and
- Applications of roof coverings using an open-flame device.
Where approved, the fire code official issues a hot work program permit. This program allows approved personnel to regulate their facility’s hot work operations. The approved personnel must be trained in the fire safety aspects denoted in this policy and are responsible for complying with the requirements listed within this policy.
3.2 Restricted Areas
Hot work must only be conducted in areas designed or authorized for that purpose by the personnel responsible for a hot work program. Hot work may not be conducted in the following areas unless approval has been obtained from the fire code official:
- Indoor areas where the fire sprinkler system is impaired or absent;
- Areas where there exists the potential of an explosive atmosphere, such as locations where flammable gases, liquids, or vapors are present;
- Areas with readily ignitable materials, such as storage of large quantities of bulk sulfur, baled paper cotton, lint, dust, or loose combustible materials;
- On board ships at dock or ships under construction or repair; or
- At other locations, as specified by the fire code official.
(IFC 3501.3)
3.3 Operators
Employees engaged in hot work or who supervise students performing hot work must be capable of performing such operations safely and must demonstrate a working knowledge of relevant policies, hot work equipment, hazards, and hazard controls, including personal protective equipment.
Students performing hot work must be directly supervised.
See UPPM 50.32 for information regarding supervision and safety of minors.
3.4 Combustibles
For fire safety, the following combustible restrictions apply:
- Hot work areas must not contain combustibles or must be provided with appropriate shielding to prevent sparks, slag or heat from igniting exposed combustibles;
- Openings or cracks in walls, floors, ducts or shafts within the hot work area must be tightly covered to prevent the passage of sparks to adjacent combustible areas, shielded by metal fire-resistant guards, or curtained to prevent passage of sparks or slag;
- Floors must be kept clean within the hot work area;
- Fixed hot work areas must have floors with noncombustible surfaces;
- Partitions or walls segregating hot work areas from other areas of the building must be noncombustible;
- In fixed hot work areas, the partitions must be securely connected to the floor such that gaps do not exist between the floor and the partition; and
- Partitions must prevent the passage of the sparks, slag and heat from the hot work area.
(IFC 3504.1.1-3504.1.9)
3.5 Pre-Hot-Work Check
A pre-hot-work check (i.e., hot-work checklist) must be conducted prior to work to ensure that all equipment is safe and hazards are recognized and protected. A report of the pre-hot-work check or completed checklist must be kept at the work site during the work and available upon request. The pre-hot-work check determines the following:
- Hot work equipment to be used is in satisfactory operating condition and in good repair;
- Hot work site is clear of combustibles or combustibles are protected/shielded;
- Exposed construction is of noncombustible materials or, if combustible, then protected/shielded;
- Openings are protected;
- Floors are kept clean;
- Exposed flammable or combustible materials are not located on the opposite side of partitions, walls, ceilings or floors;
- Fire watches, where required, are assigned;
- Approved actions have been taken to prevent accidental activation of fire protection system equipment; and
- Not less than one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 2-A:20-BC rating is in ready access within 30 feet of the location where hot work is performed (see SPPM 8.22).
(IFC 3504.3.1)
3.6 Fire Watch
A fire watch is required during hot work activities and must continue for not less than 30 minutes after completing work. The fire code official, or the responsible manager under a hot work program, is authorized to extend the fire watch based on the hazards or work being performed. Exception: A fire watch is not required when the hot work area has no fire hazards or exposure to combustible materials.
The fire watch includes the entire hot work area. Hot work conducted in areas with fire exposures not observable by a single person must have additional personnel assigned to fire watch to ensure monitoring of all potentially exposed or unshielded areas.
The individuals responsible for performing the hot work and individuals responsible for providing the fire watch must have fire extinguishing equipment readily available and must be trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers (see SPPM 8.22). Individuals assigned to fire watch duty are responsible for extinguishing spot fires and communicating an alarm. At least one portable fire extinguisher must be provided and maintained by WSU Facilities Life/Safety or a certified vendor.
(IFC 3504.2-3504.2.6)
3.7 Inspections
The fire code official in the jurisdiction the permit is issued may conduct an inspection prior to work being done. If permitted under a hot work program the fire code official and/or the WSU Fire Safety Compliance Officer or campus fire safety representative may inspect the location at any time to verify adherence to this policy.
3.8 Outdoor Hot Work
- In addition to the above, hot work taking place outdoors requires the following considerations:
- Removal, protection or wetting of combustibles in the vicinity such as grass and dry vegetation,
- Traffic and access to the work area while work is in progress, and
- Possible weather impacts on safe hot work operations.
4.0 Related Policies
SPPM 2.80 Compressed Gases and Gas Cylinders
SPPM 8.15 General Combustible Material Storage
5.0 International Code Council Permissions
Sections 3501.3, 3504.1.1, 3504.1.2, 3504.1.3, 3504.1.5, 3504.1.6, 3504.1.7, 3504.1.8, 3504.1.9, 3504.2, 3504.2.1, 3504.2.2, 3504.2.3, 3504.2.4, 3504.2.6, and 3504.4.3.1 are copyrighted excerpts from the 2021 International Fire Code. Copyright © 2020. International Code Council, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. www.ICCSAFE.org.
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Revisions: Sept. 2026 (Rev. 150 – NEW).