NFPA Journal - Fall 2021 - 86

NFPA Research The Reports
Exterior roof surfaces (12
percent) and processing
or manufacturing areas (11
percent) were the leading
areas of origin for nonhome
fires.
Other Hot Work, provides
essential guidance to help
prevent these incidents.
NFPA also offers the Hot
Work Safety Certificate
Training Program.
REPORT SUMMARY
Structure Fires Started
by Hot Work
By Marty Ahrens
N
FPA's Applied Research group recently released an
updated report about structure fires in the United
States that were started by hot work from 2014 to
2018. NFPA defines hot work as " any activity or
process that involves open flames or that generates
sparks or heat. " Although hot work is a routine part of manufacturing,
construction, installation, demolition, repair, maintenance,
art, and many hobbies, its open flames, sparks, and heat too often
result in fire.
US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 4,580
structure fires involving hot work per year in 2014-2018. These
fires caused an average of 22 civilian deaths, 171 civilian injuries,
and $484 million in direct property damage per year. The 2021
NFPA report examines the circumstances and prevention of these
fires. Descriptions of hot work incidents are included as examples.
Non-fire hot work hazards are also discussed.
KEY
FINDINGS
Read the full
report at
nfpa.org/
hotworkreport
More than two out of every
five (43 percent) hot-workrelated
fires occurred in
or on homes, including
one- or two-family homes
and apartments or other
multifamily homes, while
the remaining 57 percent
occurred in or on nonhome
properties.
The most common types
of equipment involved
in hot work fires varied
by occupancy. The five
leading types of equipment
in home hot work
fires included soldering
equipment (33 percent),
welding torches (31
86 | NFPA JOURNAL * FALL 2021
percent), cutting torches
(13 percent), burners (13
percent), and heat treating
equipment (8 percent). For
non-home hot work fires,
the leading types of equipment
included welding
torches (40 percent), cutting
torches (25 percent),
heat treating equipment
(19 percent), burners (9
percent), and soldering
equipment (6 percent).
The leading areas for
home fires involving hot
work were wall assemblies
or concealed spaces (16
percent) and bathrooms
or lavatories (13 percent).
The percentage of hot
work fires beginning with
structural members or
framing was three times
as high for home fires (24
percent) as for non-home
fires (8 percent). The
percentage of insulation
fires was twice as high (20
percent vs. 9 percent). The
percentage of non-home
hot work fires beginning
with flammable or combustible
liquid or gas (17
percent) was more than
three times the percentage
of home hot work fires
(5 percent).
Four out of five structure
fires involving hot work (81
percent) occurred in properties
that were in normal
use. Occupants of a structure
may be going about
their usual activities while
hot work is performed. In
addition, 7 percent of the
hot work fires occurred
in properties that were
under construction and
5 percent occurred in
structures under major
renovation.
When doing hot work, it is
essential to be aware of the
environment and materials
nearby that could catch
fire. NFPA 51B, Standard
for Fire Prevention During
Welding, Cutting, and
Hot work by definition
involves heat, which can
itself trigger chemical
reactions beyond fire.
Welding fumes can cause
both immediate and
long-term health issues
for workers. According
to estimates from
the Consumer Product
Safety Commission's
National Electronic Injury
Surveillance System, an
estimated 11,500 people
visited hospital emergency
departments in 2018 due
to injuries associated with
welding, soldering, and
cutting tools considered
consumer products.
In most cases, no fire
occurred. Radiation burns
to the eyeball accounted
for 38 percent, 20 percent
were caused by foreign
bodies in the eye, and
thermal burns from either
flames or contact with hot
objects caused 16 percent.
The American Welding
Society provides safety
and health fact sheets
addressing a wide variety
of safety concerns,
including eye and face
protection and other types
of personal protective
equipment, occupational
exposure limits, and safety
requirements for specific
types of welding.
MARTY AHRENS is manager of fire analysis services at NFPA.
GETTY IMAGES
http://www.nfpa.org/notworkreport http://www.nfpa.org/notworkreport
NFPA Journal - Fall 2021

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