【Q&A】July 10, 2017

A hot work permit is required; there must be a supervisor and fire extinguishing measures in place

1. Strictly abide by the regulations on “three-level hot work” and the “six prohibitions against illegal hot work.” 2. Before carrying out hot work, it is necessary to prepare a construction plan along with specific safety and technical measures; meanwhile, strong leadership should be provided, and special safety protection measures should be taken when needed. Unrelated personnel are prohibited from entering the site. 3. Sufficient and effective fire extinguishing equipment must be available at the work site. 4. Open-flame operations are not allowed in warehouses or business premises; open flames are prohibited within 100 meters of warehouses and within 25 meters of business premises. 5. Duty personnel are not allowed to smoke or cook inside warehouses or business premises, and it is strictly forbidden to burn garbage or miscellaneous items inside warehouses. 6. Electrical equipment and its installation and use must meet fire and explosion prevention safety requirements. Electrical equipment is not allowed to be installed in warehouses; if installation is necessary, the equipment and materials used must comply with ** standards. 7. The maintenance of electrical facilities must be carried out by specialized personnel in accordance with ** regulations. 8. A unified and standardized power distribution room should be established, located away from warehouses. Electricians must hold a special operation safety certificate before they can work, and they must follow operating procedures strictly during their tasks. 9. Lighting fixtures installed in warehouses must have explosion-proof covers, and switches should be installed outdoors; waterproof and dustproof types should be chosen. 10. When hot work is required in a warehouse, it must be approved properly first. Unrelated personnel must be evacuated, and dangerous items removed before work can proceed.

To obtain a valid hot work permit, it is necessary to inspect the area surrounding the site where hot work will be carried out and remove any flammable materials. A sufficient amount of fire extinguishing equipment must be available at the work site, and there should be someone assigned to supervise the operation. In case of any abnormal situation, hot work must be stopped immediately. After the work is completed, all remaining sources of fire at the site must be eliminated.

To obtain a valid hot work permit, it is necessary to inspect the area surrounding the site where hot work will be carried out and remove any flammable materials. A sufficient amount of fire extinguishing equipment must be available at the work site, and there should be someone assigned to supervise the operation. In case of any abnormal situation, hot work must be stopped immediately. After the work is completed, all remaining sources of fire at the site must be eliminated.

Fire water is available, fire extinguishers are present, there are adequate fire watch personnel, and no flammable materials or gases are present at the site

1. Be completely isolated from the system. 2. Ensure proper cleaning and purging. 3. Remove all flammable materials in the vicinity. 4. Conduct hot work analysis on time. 5. Implement fire prevention measures and have someone supervise

Identify the flammable materials in the vicinity, provide fire extinguishing equipment, and assign someone to monitor the area

(1) The area where welding will take place must be properly isolated; welding repairs must not be carried out until reliable isolation measures have been implemented. One measure for reliable isolation is to designate fixed hot work areas within the plant or workshop. Any item that can be removed and moved to a designated welding area must be taken there for welding, in order to minimize welding operations within the explosion-proof workshops and buildings. Another measure for reliable isolation is to use blind flanges with sufficient strength to disconnect the welded containers and pipes from other connected pipelines and equipment, thereby completely isolating them from the production area. (2) Thoroughly clean and purge, and strictly control the concentration of combustible gases. Containers and pipelines that have not been cleaned or purged, or that have been cleaned and purged but for which the combustible gas concentration has not been analyzed to determine whether it is within acceptable limits, must not be welded or repaired without proper procedures. Before welding repairs, the equipment and the inside and outside of the pipes must be thoroughly cleaned. Typically, methods such as steam treatment and gas displacement are used to remove any flammable or toxic substances from within the containers; common displacement gases include nitrogen, carbon dioxide, steam, or water. During the purging process, samples must be taken for analysis continuously until the concentration of flammable gases drops below a safe level (well below the lower explosive limit); this is key to preventing explosions during purging welding. (3) Air analysis and monitoring. During the displacement process and within half an hour before starting any welding or hot work, gas samples must be taken from various locations inside and outside the container for testing and analysis; welding and repair can only begin once the combustible gases meet the required standards. During the hot work, continuous monitoring with instruments is required; if the concentration of combustible gases rises and approaches dangerous levels, the hot work must be stopped immediately for corrective action. (4) Ensure the pressure relief area. When welding and repairing a sealed container, it is necessary to first open the access holes, manholes, cleaning holes, and vent pipes of the container; it is strictly prohibited to weld and repair a sealed container without such openings. (5) Ensure proper safety organization and management for hot work. Carry out the necessary approvals, communications, supervision, and other tasks as required by regulations. Before starting any work involving fire, it is also necessary to have the appropriate fire-fighting equipment ready, as well as to ensure adequate lighting conditions.

To obtain a valid hot work permit, it is necessary to inspect the area surrounding the site where hot work will be carried out and remove any flammable materials. A sufficient amount of fire extinguishing equipment must be available at the work site, and there should be someone assigned to supervise the operation. In case of any abnormal situation, hot work must be stopped immediately. After the work is completed, all remaining sources of fire at the site must be eliminated.

To obtain a valid hot work permit, it is necessary to inspect the area surrounding the site where hot work will be carried out and remove any flammable materials. A sufficient amount of fire extinguishing equipment must be available at the work site, and there should be someone assigned to supervise the operation. In case of any abnormal situation, hot work must be stopped immediately. After the work is completed, all remaining sources of fire at the site must be eliminated.