A short story…Several years ago, I visited a company to talk about safe hot work fabrics. The manager turned down the options at the time and said he ‘was satisfied’ with the canvas his workers were using. Shortly after the visit, I received a call asking for a presentation on the FM approved fabrics as the canvas they were using ‘satisfactorily’ caught on fire from welding sparks. The incident nearly destroyed the facility. Since then, this company only uses rated hot work fabrics.

— Ken Warnick – Tempro Tec Inc

Hot work is a necessary part of industry. Those who perform hot work have special skills and tooling, and take extreme precautions to pro-tect themselves and their work environment. Yet, for many years, hot work fabrics such as welding curtains, blankets and pads were not considered a critical item when performing this work.

Accidents happened. Serious fires resulted from stray molten sparks. In fact, unprotected hot wok is still a leading cause of industrial fires.

Nearly ten years ago FM came out with a testing standard for hot work fabrics. Now referenced as the ANSI/FM 4950 Standard, it rates hot work fabrics based on severity of use, rather then just tempera-ture. This enables safety professionals to quickly and accurately determine which level of fire protection is needed for a specific hot work application. Hot work fabrics must be submitted for indepen-dent and rigorous testing to be certified and approved to carry FM

Approved label. It has taken nearly a decade for industry to become aware of the availability of these approved fire blankets.

NFPA Brings The Issue to the ForefrontIn 2009, NFPA updated its 51B Standard and that was the impetus for industry change. The NFPA 51B Standard for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting and Other Hot Work specifically includes a new requirement for listed and/or approve weld-ing blankets, pads and curtains. (Figure 1) In addition to the requirement of “listed or ap-proved” fabrics, the Standard also includes two very important changes pertaining to the proper use of hot work fabrics noted on their Hot Work Permit and in their 35 Foot (11m) rule:

1. Regarding contractor responsibility: Before starting any hot work, contractors and their clients shall discuss the planned project completely, including type of hot work to be conducted and the hazards in the area. Such a discussion should lead to a dis-cussion of the fabric used to protect the worker and the area. (Figure 2)

2. A specific reference to ‘listed or approved’ materials under the “Requirements within the 35ft (11m) of hot work. (See Figure 3)

NFPA 2009 is now the recognized hot work protocol referenced by both government and private industry groups in both Canada and the U.S including the Standards Council of Canada, ANSI Z49.1, API and 10CFR851- OSHA.

Know What You Are Getting – Life Depends On ItFire blankets are indeed a critical safety item in today’s environment. When recommending and/or purchasing these hot work fabric for your work place ask a few questions.• What are the true, tested and sustainable temperature limitations of

the fire blankets?• Are they labeled as required by FM Approvals?• Will the supplier guarantee and stand by the data reported in their

literature?• Who is the manufacturer of the hot work fabric?• Will the supplier provide copies of test reports?

Tempro Tec offers the largest selection of FM Approved hot work fab-rics for any kind of horizontal or vertical hot work procedure thereby providing you with the safest choice for welding, grinding, chipping, heat-treating or sand blasting applications. Tempro Tec’s products are prominently labeled both on the packaging and on the products themselves to avoid confusion and misrepresentation. Know what you are getting. Life depends on it.

7210C 5 Street SE | Calgary, Alberta T2H 2L9 | 800.565.3907 | www.temprotec.com

In order for curtains, blankets and pads to meet the ANSI/FM4950 they must undergo and pass stringent third-party testing, certification and ongoing audit procedures and meet the conditions for safety, perfor-mance and quality. In addition, manufacturers of the hot work fabrics must maintain a quality control program and submit to manufacturing facility inspections as part of the approval process.

Is it Time to Review Your Hot Works Procedures?Begin by Insisting on FM Approved Hot Work Fire Blankets

FMC

US

The Importance of Using Rated

and Approved Fire Protection Fabrics

When Safety is Critical, Trust Auburn Manufacturing Inc.,

the Leader in Fire Protection Fabrics

First to have its hot work fabrics FM Approved to ANSI/FM 4950, the first performance-based standard for hot work fabrics — all made in USA.

1-800-264-6689 | www.auburnmfg.com

From NFPA 51B 2009 Edition - Hot Work Permit

The NFPA 51B 2009 Edition includes a new requirement for listed and/or approved welding blankets, pads, and curtains.

Included here are two important changes pertaining to the proper use of hot work fabrics: 1) Hot Work Permitting and 2) 35-Foot

(11m) Rule.

NPFA 51B 2009 is Recognized

Hot Work Standard

NFPA 51B 2009 is now the hot work protocol

referenced by both government and private

industry groups:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA)

Department of Energy (DOE)

American Petroleum Institute (API)

American Welding Society (AWS)

CA Adopts NFPA 51B 2009 Standard

The State of California updated its fire

prevention and suppression procedures and

methods requirements to incorporate the

2009 edition of NFPA 51B. The use of listed

and/or FM approved (third-party certified)

welding blankets, pads and curtains is now a

requirement throughout the State of California.

*AMI Note: According to NFPA 51B regarding contractor responsibility: Before starting

any hot work, contractors and their clients shall discuss the planned project completely,

including the type of hot work to be conducted and the hazards in the area.

**AMI Note: Bullet #6 under “Requirements within 35 ft (11 m) of hot work” is a re-

quirement that listed or approved materials be used.

*

**

Figure 1

FMC US

The Importance of Using Rated and Approved Fire Protection Fabrics

When Safety is Critical, Trust Auburn Manufacturing Inc., the Leader in Fire Protection Fabrics

First to have its hot work fabrics FM Approved to ANSI/FM 4950, the first performance-based standard for hot work fabrics — all made in USA.

1-800-264-6689 | www.auburnmfg.com

From NFPA 51B 2009 Edition - Hot Work Permit

The NFPA 51B 2009 Edition includes a new requirement for listed and/or approved welding blankets, pads, and curtains. Included here are two important changes pertaining to the proper use of hot work fabrics: 1) Hot Work Permitting and 2) 35-Foot (11m) Rule.

NPFA 51B 2009 is Recognized Hot Work Standard

NFPA 51B 2009 is now the hot work protocol referenced by both government and private industry groups:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)Department of Energy (DOE)American Petroleum Institute (API) American Welding Society (AWS)

CA Adopts NFPA 51B 2009 Standard

The State of California updated its fire prevention and suppression procedures and methods requirements to incorporate the 2009 edition of NFPA 51B. The use of listed and/or FM approved (third-party certified) welding blankets, pads and curtains is now a requirement throughout the State of California.

*AMI Note: According to NFPA 51B regarding contractor responsibility: Before starting any hot work, contractors and their clients shall discuss the planned project completely, including the type of hot work to be conducted and the hazards in the area.

**AMI Note: Bullet #6 under “Requirements within 35 ft (11 m) of hot work” is a re-quirement that listed or approved materials be used.

*

**

Figure 2

Figure 3