Hot Works/ Impairment Programs

VCU's Office of Environmental Health and Safety has a Hot Works permit program in place to monitor welding, torch cutting and roof torch work to ensure that the sparks and flames necessary for doing this type of work do not result in a fire.  Only trained and authorized Fire Safety personnel can issue a Hot Works permit.  Contractors or in-house employees must complete a Hot Works Permit form and review the Hot Works procedures before a permit can be granted.

The purpose of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety's Impairment Program is to ensure fire protection systems are functional when one or more systems are down.  Fire protection systems must be disabled during construction, repairs and testing.  When impaired, whether planned or not, a systematic procedure is implemented to return the system to full service as soon as possible.  An "informal" Impairment Policy is implemented for impairments that are expected to last less than 24 hours.  Every effort must be made to return the system to normal service as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the day.  Before a system can be taken "Out of Service" the Physical Plant Control Center must be notified.

When a system is taken "out of service" it must be physically disabled so that the building alarms will not activate.  Whenever this occurs, whether by Fire Safety, Physical Plant, Hospital Plant Operations, or qualified contractor, an individual must be at the fire alarm panel to be able to restore the system in the event of an emergency.  The person at the fire alarm panel must maintain radio or cell phone communications with the person(s) performing the repair and the Control Center.

For impairments that are expected to last longer than 24 hours, the University Impairment Policy is implemented.

If you have any questions about OEHS's Hot Works or Impairment programs you may call Bill Willis at 828-0040.