A permit shall be required of each company, corporation, copartnership or owner-operator performing welding or cutting operations, except as provided in Subsection B of this section.
Application for a permit required by this article
shall be made by the company, corporation, copartnership or owner-operator
performing the welding or cutting operation, or by his duly authorized
agent.
A permit for welding or cutting operations shall not
be issued unless the individuals in charge of performing such operations
are capable of doing such work in a safe manner. Demonstration of
a working knowledge of the provisions of this article shall constitute
acceptable evidence of compliance with this requirement.
Companies, corporations, copartnerships and owner-operators
required to have a permit shall maintain a record of all locations
where welding or cutting operations are performed and have it available
for inspection.
Before welding or cutting operations are begun in
areas not designed or approved for the purpose, specific authorization
shall be obtained from the owner of the premises or his duly authorized
agent.
When welding or cutting operations are performed as
above or within 35 feet of combustible construction or material exposed
to the operation or within 35 feet of floor, ceiling or wall openings
so exposed:
A fire watcher shall be provided to. watch for fires,
make use of portable fire extinguishers or fire hose and perform similar
fire prevention and protection duties. The fire watcher shall remain
on the job at least 30 minutes after the welding or cutting operations
have been completed to ensure that no fire exists. A signed inspection
report attesting to that fact shall be filed and available for inspection.
Welding or cutting shall not be done in or near rooms
or locations where flammable gases, liquids or vapors, lint dust or
loose combustible stocks are present, when sparks or hot metal from
the welding or cutting operations may cause ignition or explosion
of such materials.
Except as provided in Subsection F of this section, welding or cutting shall not be performed on containers and equipment which contain or have contained flammable liquids, gases or solids until these containers and equipment have been thoroughly cleaned or inerted or purged.
Hot tapping may be permitted on tanks and pipelines, provided that such operations are performed by companies, corporations, copartnerships or owner-operators not required to have a permit under § 104-53B(2).
Sprinkler protection shall not be shut off while welding
or cutting work is being performed. When welding or cutting is done
close to automatic sprinkler heads, five-eighths-inch gypsum Sheetrock,
Type X, rated Fire Code 60, or damp cloth guards may be used to shield
the individual heads but shall be removed when the work is completed.