Many of us in the PSM/RMP arena use NFPA 51B as our Hot Work Safety Standard, rather than 1910.252(a) and with that said I thought I should update us on NFPA’s 2019 edition of 51B which includes several key improvements. Probably the biggest changes from the 2014 edition are:
- the term FIRE WATCH is now officially defined,
- the FIRE WATCH TIME PERIOD after completion of hot work operations has been extended,
- the new “fire monitoring” requirements which now look a lot like our property conservation insurer requirements
- the wording around doing HW in areas where fixed suppression systems have been removed from service
In 2014 Edition, the period fire watch time period in 51B matched that which is found in 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(B). In the 2019 Edition of 51B, the FIRE WATCH TIME PERIOD after completion of hot work operation is now… (emphasis by me)
NOTE 1: Please don’t forget to do your MOC to update your program, permit, practices, and training related to Hot Work being done in, on and/or adjacent to your covered processes.
NOTE 2: CLICK HERE for FREE access to NFPA 51B-2019
Fire Watch Updates:
2014 Edition
5.5.2 A fire watch shall be maintained for at least 1∕ 2 hour after completion of hot work operations in order to detect and extinguish smoldering fires. The duration of the fire watch shall be extended if the PAI determines the fire hazards warrant the extension.
2019 Edition
The official definition of an FW is now:
Fire Watch. A person or persons responsible for continuously observing the hot work area, maintaining fire-safe conditions, and responding to emergencies during hot work operations and in the established period following.
5.6.1.1 A fire watch shall be maintained for 1 hour after completion of hot work operations in order to detect and extinguish smoldering fires.
5.6.1.2 The duration of the fire watch shall be permitted to be extended if the PAI determines the fire hazards warrant the extension.
NEW Fire Monitoring Requirements in 2019 Edition:
5.6.3 Following the completion of the established fire watch time period, fire monitoring shall be provided within the hot work area for up to an additional 3 hours as determined by the PAI.
Hot work area monitoring can be provided by any of the following:
(1) Personnel working in the area
(2) Automatic smoke detection
(3) Security or maintenance rounds through the hot work area every 30 minutes
(4) Security cameras with smoke or fire detection capability
HW when fire Suppression is out of Service:
NFPA has made this HW prohibition a little easier to manage with new language and suggestions as to “additional precautions” …
5.4 * Nonpermissible Areas.
Hot work shall not be permitted in the following:
…
(2) In buildings where fire protection systems are impaired, UNLESS ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS are taken as determined by the PAI or AHJ
…
Precautions in addition to those in Section 5.5 for hot work performed during fire protection system impairments can include the following:
(1) Charged hose lines
(2) Additional fire extinguishers
(3) Fire department/brigade presence
(4) Discontinuation of hazardous operations
(5) Additional fire watch personnel
(6) Isolation of combustibles with a 30-minute fire-rated barrier
(7) More frequent inspections by the PAI
(8) Temporary fire detection
(9) Personnel stationed at manual fire protection release stations