WELDING, CUTTING, AND BRAZING

General Requirements - Fire Prevention and Protection

Complying with the basic precautions for prevention of fires in welding is not enough. Special precautions must also be taken. These include having the proper fire extinguishing equipment available and having fire watchers present, if needed.

Suitable fire extinguishing equipment shall be maintained in a state of readiness for instant use. Such equipment may consist of pails of water, buckets of sand, hoses, or portable extinguishers depending upon the nature and quantity of the combustible material exposed.

Fire watchers are required whenever welding or cutting is performed in locations where more than a minor fire might develop, or where any of the following conditions exist:

Appreciable combustible materials, in building construction or contents, closer than 35 feet to the point of operation

Appreciable combustible materials more than 35 feet away, but are easily ignited by sparks.

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.

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