Fire watches are usually the youngest and lowest paid crew member on the job. But why is this? After all they are the difference between a job done safely and the potential loss of an entire business. Most people think hotwork fires are rare – and they would be WRONG! Anyone who subscribes to my incident alerts can tell you that each week I report two or three significant hotwork fires. And even then, I am only reporting those that are significant enough to make the news and I only report those that are industrially related. Anyone can do a Google search and see there are dozens of Hot Work incidents each week that displace hundreds of residents from their homes and I do not list those where a family member was using a torch to kill weeds or thaw pipes. But this article is meant to settle the debate as to when is a fire watch actually required. Here is what OSHA, NFPA, and IFC state:
General Industry Requirements
1910.252(a)(2)(iii) Fire watch.
1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A) Fire watchers shall be required whenever welding or cutting is performed in locations where other than a minor fire might develop, or any of the following conditions exist:
1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A)(1) Appreciable combustible material, in building construction or contents, closer than 35 feet (10.7 m) to the point of operation.
1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A)(2) Appreciable combustibles are more than 35 feet (10.7 m) away but are easily ignited by sparks.
1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A)(3) Wall or floor openings within a 35-foot (10.7 m) radius expose combustible material in adjacent areas including concealed spaces in walls or floors.
1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A)(4) Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of metal partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited by conduction or radiation.
1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(B) Fire watchers shall have fire extinguishing equipment readily available and be trained in its use. They shall be familiar with facilities for sounding an alarm in the event of a fire. They shall watch for fires in all exposed areas, try to extinguish them only when obviously within the capacity of the equipment available, or otherwise sound the alarm. A fire watch shall be maintained for at least a half hour after completion of welding or cutting operations to detect and extinguish possible smoldering fires.
Construction Requirements
1926.352(e) When the welding, cutting, or heating operation is such that normal fire prevention precautions are not sufficient, additional personnel shall be assigned to guard against fire while the actual welding, cutting, or heating operation is being performed, and for a sufficient period of time after completion of the work to ensure that no possibility of fire exists. Such personnel shall be instructed as to the specific anticipated fire hazards and how the firefighting equipment provided is to be used.
NFPA 51B (2014)
Chapter 5 Fire Prevention Precautions
5.5 Fire Watch.
5.5.1* A fire watch shall be required by the PAI when hot work is performed in a location where other than a minor fire might develop or where the following conditions exist:
(1)* Combustible materials in building construction or contents are closer than 35 ft (11 m) to the point of operation.
(2) Combustible materials are more than 35 ft (11 m) away from the point of operation but are easily ignited by sparks.
(3) Wall or floor openings within a 35 ft (11m) radius expose combustible materials in adjacent areas, including concealed spaces in walls or floors.
(4) Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited.
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.
5.5.3* More than one fire watch shall be required if combustible materials that could be ignited by the hot work operation cannot be directly observed by the initial fire watch.
NOTE: NFPA 51B has an EXCELLENT “Fire Watch Decision Tree” in Annex A.5.5.1. If you are a high risk facility I strongly encourage you to spend the $ and get a copy of 51B.
It should be noted that OSHA will accept compliance with NFPA 51B over 1910.252(a) requirements. These two sets of requirements closer mirror each other, as 1910.252 was taken from a much earlier version of NFPA 51B.
And of course, we have the OH Fire Code
2604.2 Fire watch. Fire watches shall be established and conducted in accordance with paragraphs (D)(2)(a)(2604.2.1) to (D)(2)(f)(2604.2.6) of this rule.
2604.2.1 When required. A fire watch shall be provided during hot work activities and shall continue for a minimum of 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 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: Where the hot work area has no fire hazards or combustible exposures.
2604.2.2 Location. The fire watch shall include the entire hot work area. Hot work conducted in areas with vertical or horizontal fire exposures that are not observable by a single individual shall have additional personnel assigned to fire watches to ensure that exposed areas are monitored.
2604.2.3 Duties. Individuals designated to fire watch duty shall have fire-extinguishing equipment readily available and shall be trained in the use of such equipment. Individuals assigned to fire watch duty shall be responsible for extinguishing spot fires and communicating an alarm.
2604.2.4 Fire training. The individuals responsible for performing the hot work and individuals responsible for providing the fire watch shall be trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers.
2604.2.5 Fire hoses. Where hoselines are required, they shall be connected, charged and ready for operation.
2604.2.6 Fire extinguisher. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with paragraph (F)(906) of rule 1301:7-7-09 of the Administrative Code and with a minimum 2-A:20-B:C rating shall be readily accessible within 30 feet (9144 mm) of the location where hot work is performed.