A hot work permit is the written control for any job that makes flame, sparks or enough heat to start a fire: welding, torch cutting, brazing, soldering, grinding, and torch-applied roofing. It makes someone other than the operator check the area before work starts, puts a trained fire watch beside the job, and keeps the area under watch after the work finishes — because many hot work fires start an hour later, in a wall cavity or under a pile of dust nobody looked at. This permit follows that order: describe the work, check the precautions, authorize, watch, and close out. You can fill it in here and download a finished PDF without creating an account.
Could it be done cold?
The first question on any hot work permit is whether the job needs heat at all. A cold method — a saw, a pipe cutter, a bolted or pressed joint — or moving the item to a workshop removes the fire risk instead of controlling it. The permit asks the question and records the answer, so the reason for choosing hot work is written down.
The precautions that matter most
Fire codes, insurers and site rules differ in detail, but they agree on the core. In the US, NFPA 51B and OSHA 1910.252 are the usual references; elsewhere, local fire codes and insurer guidance set the rules. Most come down to these:
- Combustibles moved at least 35 ft (about 10 m) from the work, or covered with fire-resistant blankets where they cannot be moved.
- Gaps and openings in floors, walls and ducts within that distance covered, so sparks cannot fall or drift through.
- The far side of any wall, floor or ceiling being worked on checked, and combustibles moved away from it.
- Sprinklers left in service; smoke detection isolated only under the building's own procedure, and restored afterwards.
- A suitable, charged extinguisher at the work, and someone trained to use it.
- Gas cylinders secured and upright, hoses sound, and flashback arrestors fitted.
The fire watch
A fire watch is a trained person whose only job is to watch for fire during the work and for a set time after it, with an extinguisher and a way to raise the alarm. Common requirements run from 30 minutes to an hour after the work stops, often followed by a later check of the area; your insurer or site rules may set longer. The permit records who the fire watch was, how long they stayed, and what they found.
Close-out
A permit is not finished when the welding stops. It is finished when the fire watch has ended, the area has been checked again, any isolated detectors are back on, and the issuer has signed it closed. Any precaution answered No, any hot spot found and any fire are listed in the report's summary of findings, so the permit doubles as the record of what went wrong.
On the phone, speak while you walk, and the document writes itself: walk the area, say what you see, and the precautions tick themselves. The issuer, operator and fire watch can each sign on the screen.
Common questions
What counts as hot work?
Any work that produces flame, sparks or heat capable of igniting materials nearby: welding, torch cutting, brazing, soldering, thermal spraying, grinding and abrasive cutting, and torch-applied roofing. Some sites also include heat guns and hot air tools.
Who can issue a hot work permit?
A person authorized by the site owner or principal contractor — often called the permit authorizing individual — who understands the hazards and has walked the area. The operator should not issue their own permit.
How long should the fire watch stay after hot work?
At least as long as your fire code, insurer and site rules require. Thirty minutes is a long-standing minimum in US regulations; many insurers and the current edition of NFPA 51B call for an hour, sometimes with a later check of the area.
How long is a hot work permit valid?
Only for the work, location and time written on it — commonly one shift at most. If the job moves, changes, or runs past the expiry time, close the permit and issue a new one.
Do I need a gas test before hot work?
Where flammable vapor or gas could be present — near tanks, fuel lines, process pipework, sewers, or anything that has held flammable material — yes. The permit has a gas test section that appears when you say it is needed.