17350_FirePrevention.pdf

SECTION 017350 - FIRE PREVENTION PRECAUTIONS FOR HOT WORK

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 SUMMARY

A. This section applies to safeguards to be observed in performing hot work, including welding, soldering, brazing and other operations where open flames or implements utilizing heat are used.

1.2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

A. The Contractor shall ensure that operations involving the use of open-flame, electrical arc equipment or flammable substances are not conducted until a permit for welding, cutting, and burning has been completed, signed and issued by the GSA Building Manager.

B. Prior to commencing operations, a positive determination shall be made that it is impractical to conduct the hot work in a shop area or outside of the building. Coordinate suitable locations for hot equipment operations agreeable to the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

1.3 NOTIFICATION

A. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative of the area of operations for each day and of all subsequent changes that occur.

B. Hot work permit must be completed and submitted to Building Management and Government no less than 72 hours prior to work to commencing.

C. The Contractor shall notify the Building Manager of all locations where hot work has been performed not less than 30 minutes or more than 90 minutes after work is completed or stopped for the day.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS (Not Applicable)

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 INSPECTION

A. Before starting operations, the Contractor shall furnish trained personnel to provide fire watches for locations where hot work is to be performed. One fire watcher may observe several locations in a relatively small contiguous area if approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

1. Contractor shall furnish suitable fully-charged, operable portable fire extinguisher to each fire watcher.

2. The Contractor shall provide fire watchers who know how to operate the fire extinguisher, how to turn on a fire alarm and how to summon the fire department.

B. Before starting operations, take suitable precautions to minimize the hazard of a fire communicating to the opposite side of walls, floors, ceilings and roofs from the operations.

SIDNEY YATES BUILDING

EXTERIOR REPAIR WORK AND MASONRY RE-POINTING 08 MARCH 2013

PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT – FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Do not remove this notice – Properly destroy documents when no longer needed

FIRE PREVENTION PRECAUTIONS FOR HOT WORK 017350 - 1

3.2 SAFETY MEASURES

A. Hot work shall not be conducted in or near rooms or areas where flammable liquids or explosive vapors are present or thought to be present. A combustible gas indicator (explosimeter) test shall be conducted to assure that each area is safe. The Contractor is responsible for arranging and paying for each test.

B. Insofar as possible, the Contractor shall remove and keep the area free from all combustibles, including rubbish, paper and waste within a radius of 25 feet (7.62 m) from hot operations.

1. If combustible material cannot be removed, the Contractor shall furnish fireproof blankets to cover such materials. At the direction of the Building Manager or Contracting Officer's Representative, floors, walls, and ceilings of combustible material shall be wetted thoroughly with water before, during, and after operations sufficiently to afford adequate protection.

2. Where possible, the Contractor shall furnish and use baffles of metal or gypsum board to prevent the spraying of sparks, hot slag and other hot particles into surrounding combustible material.

C. The Contractor shall prevent the spread of sparks and particles of hot metal through open windows, doors, and holes and cracks in floors, walls, ceilings and roofs. Suitable fully-charged portable fire extinguisher shall be available nearby at all times during hot work operations.

D. Cylinders of gas used in hot work shall be placed a safe distance from the work. The Contractor shall provide hoses and equipment free of deterioration, malfunction and leaks. Suitable supports shall be provided to prevent accidental overturning of cylinders. All cylinder control valves shall be shut off while the equipment is unattended. Cylinders shall be in an upright position while in use with the gas pressure regulator set at 15 psi or less.

E. When hot work operations are completed for the day, each location of the day’s work shall be inspected again by the Contractor 1 hour after completion of operations to detect for hidden or smoldering fires or warm substrate. Contractor shall clean up the work area and remove all gas cylinders from the jobsite at the end of each shift.

F. Where sprinkler protection exists, the sprinkler system shall be maintained without interruption while operations are being performed. If operations are performed close to automatic sprinkler heads, gypsum board sheets or damp cloth guards may be used to shield the individual heads temporarily. The heads shall be inspected by the Contractor immediately after hot work operations cease, to ensure all materials have been removed from the heads and that the heads have not been damaged.

G. A logbook shall be kept at the base of scaffold for initialing by the contractor that these end-of-shift procedures have been completed.

H. If any of the above safeguards are not employed, or are violated, the Contracting Officer’s Representative may, by written notice, stop the work until compliance is obtained. Such stoppage shall not relieve the Contractor form performing his work within the Contract period for the Contract price.

END OF SECTION 017350

SIDNEY YATES BUILDING

EXTERIOR REPAIR WORK AND MASONRY RE-POINTING 08 MARCH 2013

PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT – FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Do not remove this notice – Properly destroy documents when no longer needed

FIRE PREVENTION PRECAUTIONS FOR HOT WORK 017350 - 1