Hot works
Any work producing heat, sparks or flame, including welding, cutting, grinding and torch-applied roofing, controlled by a permit and a fire watch.
Hot works are the leading cause of construction fires, and insurers treat them accordingly: most contractors' policies make a hot works permit system a condition of cover. The permit confirms the precautions before ignition: the area cleared of combustibles or protected, openings and voids sealed, flammable liquids and gases removed, extinguishers to hand and the right type, the person doing the work competent, a fire watch in place during the work and for a set period afterwards (commonly an hour), and the area checked again at the end of the shift.
The fire watch after the last spark is the part that gets missed and the part that matters most: smouldering insulation or timber can take an hour to become a fire, long after the welder has packed up. Insurers ask for the completed permit, with the fire watch signed off, after any claim.
Where it comes from
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: the responsible person's duties on a construction site.
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 regs.29 and 30: prevention of risk from fire, emergency procedures.
- Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.
- Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites (the JCoP), a condition of most contract works insurance.
Questions people ask
Does grinding count as hot works?
Yes. Anything producing sparks or heat sufficient to ignite: welding, flame cutting, grinding, soldering, torch-applied membranes, hot-air guns near combustibles. If in doubt, permit it.
How long should the fire watch last?
The JCoP asks for continuous monitoring during the work and for at least 60 minutes afterwards, with a final check before leaving site. Your insurer may specify longer. Record the times on the permit.
Hot works, handled on a phone
SiteLynx puts the RAMS, permits, inspections, audits, plant checks and records behind every term in this glossary on the crew's phones, signed on site, with a PDF at the end. 14 days free, no card.
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