UK trade-and-hazard guidance by the Riskora Editorial Team
Welding, brazing, grinding and oxy-cutting are responsible for a disproportionate share of construction fires. The Joint Code of Practice (JCoP) for the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation, now in 9th edition, is the insurance-backed standard the UK construction industry runs on — projects that don't comply will struggle to get cover. A welding RAMS must reference the JCoP, document a permit-to-work, name the fire watcher (and their post-work duration), and account for hot metal travel and combustible deposits.
Build RAMS for this trade and hazardNo account required for the preview · No card required
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Articles 8 & 9
The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and put preventive and protective measures in place. On a construction site this duty sits with the principal contractor, but each contractor must contribute their own assessment for hot works.
JCoP 9th Edition (Joint Code of Practice)
Section 12 (Hot Works)
Hot works permit required. Combustibles within 10m removed or screened. Fire watcher present during work and for at least 60 minutes after completion. Final inspection at +60 minutes and recorded.
Construction (Design and Management) Regs 2015
Regulations 30 & 32
Emergency procedures and means of fighting fire must be in place and tested on site.
Every UK RAMS reviewer applies the hierarchy of controls in the order below. Defaulting straight to PPE is the single most common reason a RAMS fails review.
1. Eliminate
Pre-fabricate steel sections off-site in a controlled welding shop. Use bolted connections in lieu of site welding where the structural design allows.
2. Substitute
Use cold-cutting (Lissmac saw, nibbler) instead of oxy-cutting where the section permits. Substitute MIG for stick where spatter is a concern.
3. Engineering controls
Welding curtains and fire blankets to all combustibles within 10m. Bunded screens to contain hot slag. Local exhaust ventilation for fume.
4. Administrative controls
Hot works permit issued daily, named fire watcher, post-work fire watch logged at 60 min minimum. Site-wide hot works ban during refurbishment finishing stage. Welder competency cards (CCNSG / CSCS) checked.
5. PPE (last line)
Welding helmet (auto-darkening, shade 11+ for MIG/MMA), leather welding gauntlets, leather apron, FR-rated overalls, R-class respirator for stainless/galvanised work.
Naming a fire watch period shorter than 60 minutes, or failing to name the fire watcher individually. The JCoP 60-minute post-work watch is non-negotiable for insurance, and 'site supervisor will check' is not a named fire watcher.
An illustrative extract structured for principal-contractor review. Site-specific facts must be substituted and checked by a competent person.
Hot works permit (form HWP-2026 series) issued by site supervisor before any welding, grinding or cutting commences. All combustibles within 10m of the work position will be removed or screened with FR-rated welding blankets (Tenmat WB-500, certified to BS EN 1869). Named fire watcher (J. Adams, Fire Marshal certificate ref FM-2024-091) present throughout the work and for 60 minutes after completion. Final fire-watch sign-off recorded on the permit. CO2 and water extinguishers (5kg / 9L) within 6m at all times. Welding fume controlled by local on-torch extraction (Lincoln Statiflex 200) — F-class filter.
Hot works permit review at sign-on. Daily fire-watch competency check. Extinguisher serviceability check (BS 5306 servicing date). LEV filter status. Photo record of welding curtain positions.
Why 60 minutes after work stops?
Smouldering combustibles can take up to an hour to produce visible flame. Most JCoP-recorded hot works fires originate after the welder has packed up. The 60-minute post-work watch is the single most-violated and most-important control.
Does grinding count as hot works?
Yes — abrasive grinding on steel produces incandescent particles capable of igniting combustibles up to 10m away. The JCoP treats grinding identically to welding for permit purposes.
Do I need a permit for welding in my own workshop?
Off a construction site, the JCoP doesn't apply, but the Fire Safety Order and your insurer almost certainly require a documented hot works procedure. A permit-to-work system is best practice in any fixed workshop too.
Riskora prompts the right hazards for your trade, you confirm what applies on your site, and the document downloads to clean PDF in minutes.
Or browse all trade × hazard guides.