2.11 UIHC Hot Work Program - Constructors who engage in hot work must utilize the UIHC Hot Work Program. The Scope and Purpose of the Hot Work Program is to establish a basic policy regarding operations at UIHC that involve hot work.
2.11.1 Hot Work is defined as any operation that produces a flame, heat or sparks such as, but not limited to: welding, abrasive cutting, soldering, grinding, torch work, and brazing activities.
2.11.2 The program is intended to reasonably reduce the risk of injury and loss by fire caused by hot work activities.
2.11.3 The program requires those who engage in hot work operations to comply with University of Iowa and Factory Mutual Global policies, which incorporates National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommendations and OSHA standards.
2.11.4 The Hot Work Program prohibits hot work activities in/on University facilities, until specific safety precautions are taken and the Work has been properly authorized by the issuance of a Hot Work Tag.
2.11.5 UIHC Safety & Security is responsible for issuing Hot Work Tags to Constructors and Subcontractors. (A sample of the Hot Work Tag is included at the end of this section.)
2.11.5.1 Hot Work Tags can be obtained through the UIHC Safety and Security Office, UIHC Room RCP 0085. For projects at IRL the Safety & Security office is located in Room 0320, or call their mobile phone at 319-467-6133.
2.11.5.2 A single Hot Work Tag shall be issued to each hot worker and is valid for the duration of the worker’s shift or completion of the hot work task, whichever is less.
2.11.5.3 A single Hot Work Tag is valid for large areas or multiple hot work tasks that can be continuously monitored by the Fire Watch named on the Hot Work Tag.
2.11.5.4 The Hot Work Tag shall be displayed at the hot work site for the duration of the specific hot work, including the required post hot work fire watch.
2.11.5.5 The Constructor is responsible for completing the Hot Work Tag fire watch section after each hot work project is completed, and for ensuring that building alarms and fire protection systems, if present, are operational (activated and checked) before leaving the site, unless specific area(s) have been deactivated for a specified duration and approved by the OR in writing.
2.11.5.6 The Constructor will return the “Hot Work Tag” to UIHC Safety & Security at the end of the hot work task or at the end of the workers’ shift, whichever is less.
2.11.6 The Constructor is responsible for ensuring that all employees and subcontractors are adequately trained in all aspects of conducting hot work safely.
2.11.6.1 Workers who perform the hot work must be properly trained and/or certified to perform the Work; trained/qualified to operate the equipment; and trained/qualified in fire watch procedures.
2.11.6.2 Equipment shall be appropriate for the Work and must be in safe operating condition.
2.11.6.3 Proper personal protective equipment must be used to protect the worker from hot work hazards, including eye injury, through the use of proper shielding, ventilation, or other methods as required by OSHA.
2.11.7 The Constructor is responsible for providing a fire watch that meets the following criteria and as defined by NFPA, OSHA, and FM Global:
2.11.7.1 Shall be aware of the inherent hazards of the Work site and of the hot work.
2.11.7.2 Shall ensure that safe conditions are maintained during hot work operations.
2.11.7.3 Shall have authority to stop the hot work operation if unsafe condition develops.
2.11.7.4 Shall have fire-extinguishing equipment readily available and shall be trained in its use.
2.11.7.5 Shall be familiar with the facilities and procedures for sounding an alarm in the event of a fire.
2.11.7.6 Shall watch for fires in all exposed areas and shall attempt to extinguish them only when the fires are obviously within the capacity of the equipment available. If the fire watch determines the fire is not within the capacity of the equipment, the fire watch shall sound the fire alarm immediately.
2.11.8 The Constructor is required to provide the appropriate length of fire watch (considering the site conditions) but in no case shall the fire watch be less than one (1) hour after hot work has ceased.
2.11.8.1 Impaired/Deactivated or Non-Sprinkled Areas - A continuous four (4) hour fire watch or equivalent measures for fire prevention, detection and reporting, is required.
2.11.8.2 UIHC Safety & Security may approve equivalent measures such as thermal scanning, portable smoke/fire detection systems, and area wetting as an alternate method to the continuous four (4) hour fire watch. Equivalent measures do not eliminate the requirement for a minimum one-hour fire watch after hot work has ceased.
2.11.9 The Constructor shall be fully liable for any damage to UIHC property as a result of any hot work that is not in compliance with this program.
2.11.10 Required Compliance
2.11.10.1 The Constructor shall comply with the Owner’s Hot Work Program. The Constructor shall inspect areas where they have issued Hot Work Tags to ensure full compliance with the requirements of this procedure. UIHC Departments, including Risk Management personnel, may monitor Hot Work Tag issuance and site work conditions for compliance.