The following is guidance on how an area on a Polygon Construction site could be considered a Hot Work Designated Area so that a daily Hot Work Permit is not required.

The Permit Authorizing Individual (PAI) is the Site Superintendent or another worker on site designated to act on behalf of Polygon Construction Management Ltd. in regard to coordinating Hot Work (i.e. the CSO).

Areas always prohibited from being designated

1. Within any wood framed structure;
2. An area not explicitly authorized by a PAI;
3. Areas where toxic, explosive, or oxygen-enriched atmospheres exist or could develop;
4. Areas exposed to accumulations of combustible dusts;
5. On or in proximity to containers or equipment that contain, or previously contained, materials that could develop explosive atmospheres; 
6. On a partition, wall, ceiling, or roof that has a combustible covering or insulation, or on walls or partitions of combustible sandwich-type panel construction; and
7. On pipes or other metal that is in contact with combustible walls, partitions, ceilings, roofs, or other combustibles if the work is close enough to cause ignition by conduction.

Conditions

The following requirements must be verified by the PAI and documented.

1. The hot work equipment used for the task must be in satisfactory operating condition and in good repair.
2. Where combustible materials, such as paper clippings, wood shavings, or textile fibers, are on the floor, the floor must be swept clean for a radius of 15 m (50 ft). Combustible floors must be kept wet; covered with damp sand; or protected by a listed welding blanket, welding pad, or equivalent.
3. Combustibles must be relocated at least 15 m (50 ft) in all directions from the hot work area.
   1. If relocation is impractical, combustibles must be shielded by a barrier constructed of non-combustible materials or otherwise protected by a listed welding curtain, welding blanket, welding pad, or equivalent.
   2. To prevent the entrance of sparks, the edges of covers at the floor must be tight, including at the point where covers overlap.
4. Openings or cracks in walls, floors, or ducts within 15 m (50 ft) of the hot work site must be covered or sealed with listed fire-rated or non-combustible material to prevent the passage of sparks to adjacent areas.
5. Ducts and conveyor systems that might carry sparks to distant combustibles must be shielded, shut down, or both.
6. If hot work is done near combustible walls, partitions, ceilings, or roofs, they must be protected by a listed welding curtain, welding blanket, welding pad, or equivalent.
7. If hot work is done on one side of a non-combustible* wall, partition, ceiling, or roof, the criteria of one of the following must apply:
   1. The PAI must verify that no combustibles are at risk of ignition on the other side.
   2. Precautions must be taken to prevent ignition of combustibles on the other side by relocating the combustibles.
   3. If it is impractical to relocate combustibles, a fire watch must be provided on the side opposite from where the work is being performed.
8. A fire extinguisher, dedicated to the task, appropriate for the type of possible fire, fully charged, and operable must be immediately available at the work area.
9. The operator and nearby personnel must be suitably protected against dangers such as heat, sparks, and slag.
10. In instances where the scope of work and the tools used to conduct hot work result in possible travel of slag, sparks, spatter, or similar mobile sources of ignition farther than 15 m (50 ft), the PAI must be permitted to extend the distances and areas addressed in 2 through 4.

Inspections

Prior to the start of hot work in a designated area, at a minimum, the hot work operator must verify all the following:

1. The location is fire resistant,
2. Combustibles must be relocated at least 15 m (50 ft) in all directions from the hot work area,
3. Dedicated fire extinguishers are in working condition and readily available,
4. Ventilation is working properly, and
5. Equipment is in working order.

Areas designated for hot work must be reviewed at least once per working day by the PAI.

Examples

Areas of a construction project that are likely to meet the above conditions for being a Hot Work Designated Area are:

• Within an excavation or otherwise on non-combustible ground cover (e.g. gravel)
• Specific locations within a concrete parkade
• Specific locations on an above ground concrete structure
• Elevator shaft of a concrete tower
   

*Types of non-combustible walls, partitions, ceilings, or roofs are those constructed of reinforced-concrete, masonry block, or steel stud and drywall assemblies