UC Santa Barbara Policy 5465
Policies
Issuing Unit: Administrative Services Date: April 6, 1992
WELDING, CUTTING, AND HOT WORK OPERATIONS
I. REFERENCES:
California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Article 1, Section 1.09
(b), Standard Prevention Practices, adopts the Uniform Fire Code
1991 Edition.
II. POLICY:
A. Welding, Cutting or Hot Work Permit:
1. A permit (Attachment A) must be obtained from one of the
following individuals prior to starting any welding,
cutting or hot work operations:
a. For Residence Halls or the University Center, contact
Maintenance Supervisor, extension 3312.
b. For Apartment Living and Family Student Housing,
contact Maintenance Supervisor, extension 3082.
c. For all other buildings, contact Central Control,
Facilities Management, extension 4096.
2. The individual taking out the permit must personally
examine the location where the work is to be done and
insure that all safety precautions have been taken. These
specific fire safety requirements are outlined on the back
of the Hot Work Permit. The permit will be issued to one
person responsible for work to be accomplished. Permits
will be issued to welding shops on an annual basis.
Renewal requests will be made on a case by case basis.
Contractor permits may be issued for the duration of a
contract or specific job from the applicable individual,
as stated above. Periodic inspections may be made. This
requirement applies to all contract work, no matter what
department the work is performed in. The Hot Work Permit
must be displayed at the job site, preferably attached to
or near the welding or cutting equipment. Permits issued
to shops will be displayed in a prominent place at the
approved work area.
B. General Safety Rules for Welding, Cutting and Hot Work
1. No device or attachment facilitating or permitting mixture
of air or oxygen without combustible gases prior to
consumption, except at the burner or in a standard torch
or blowpipe, shall be allowed unless approved for the
purpose.
2. The user shall not transfer gases from one cylinder to
another to mix gases in a cylinder.
3. Under no conditions shall acteylene gas be generated,
piped (except in approved cylinder manifolds), or utilized
at pressure, except when dissolved in a suitable solvent
in cylinders manufactured according to Interstate Commerce
Commission requirements.
4. The use of liquid acetylene is prohibited.
5. Acetylene gas shall not be brought in contact with
unalloyed copper except in blowpipe or torch.
6. Oxygen shall never be used from cylinders through torches
or other devices equipped with shutoff valves, without
reducing the pressure through a suitable regulator
attached to the cylinder valve or manifold.
7. Fuel gas shall never be used from cylinders through
torches or other devices equipped with shutoff valves,
without reducing the pressure through a suitable regulator
attached to the cylinder valve or manifold.
8. Cylinders, valve regulators, hose and other apparatus and
fittings containing or using oxygen shall be kept free
from oil and grease. Oxygen cylinders and apparatus and
fittings shall not be handled with oily hands, gloves or
greasy materials.
9. When moving compressed gas cylinders by crane, suitable
cradles shall be used in order to reduce the possibility
of dropping. Ordinary rope slings or electro-magnets
shall not be used.
10. Oxygen and fuel gas cylinders and acetylene generators
shall be placed far enough away from the welding position
that they will not be unduly heated by radiation from
heated materials, by sparks or slag, or by misdirection of
the torch flame.
11. No gas welding or cutting shall be done in or near rooms
or locations where flammable liquids or vapors, lint, dust
or loose combustible stocks are so located or arranged
that sparks or hot metal from the welding or cutting
operations may cause ignition or explosion of such
materials.
12. When such welding or cutting must be done above or within
ten feet of combustible construction or material, or above
a place where workers are employed, or where persons are
likely to pass, noncombustible shields shall be interposed
to protect such materials and persons from sparks and hot
metal or oxide.
13. One or more first aid fire-extinguishing appliances of a
suitable type shall be kept at the location where welding
or cutting is being done.
14. When welding or cutting is done above or within ten feet
of combustible construction or material, a fire watch
shall be kept to make use of fire-extinguishing equipment,
if needed.
15. A fire watch shall be maintained for at least a half hour
after completion of cutting or welding operations to
detect and extinguish possible smoldering fires. This
time may be increased in extremely flammable areas or wood
frame buildings.
III. ATTACHMENTS:
A. Hot Work Permit
B. Information Sheet for Hot Work Permits
Contact Environmental Health and Safety.
For questions or comments regarding the format of the above information, please contact webcontact@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu.
Last Modified By: HMW, 5/21/97
Return to the UC Santa Barbara Policies Home Page