1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A): When a Fire Watch Is Required for Hot Work
Fire watchers must be required whenever welding or cutting is done where more than a minor fire might develop, or when appreciable combustibles are closer than 35 feet; are more than 35 feet away but easily ignited by sparks; are exposed by wall or floor openings within a 35-foot radius; or are on the other side of metal walls, ceilings or roofs and likely to ignite by conduction or radiation.
Key takeaways
- 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 9 times in the last 3 years, in 9 inspections, with $49,422 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.252(a) Fire prevention and protection (192 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A) is one requirement inside 1910.252 General requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart Q). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(A) Fire watchers shall be required whenever welding or cutting is performed in locations where other than a minor fire might develop, or any of the following conditions exist: 9 citations
(1) Appreciable combustible material, in building construction or contents, closer than 35 feet (10.7 m) to the point of operation.
(2) Appreciable combustibles are more than 35 feet (10.7 m) away but are easily ignited by sparks.
(3) Wall or floor openings within a 35-foot (10.7 m) radius expose combustible material in adjacent areas including concealed spaces in walls or floors.
(4) Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of metal partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited by conduction or radiation.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.252.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A).
At 4:00 p.m. on October 22, 2024, an employee working as a machine maintenance technician was on an inclined conveyor preparing to maintain its gearbox. The employee was on top of the "naturals" conveyor (#C8) associated with the Colorbiotics mulch dye machine while a coworker…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.252(a) Fire prevention and protection 192 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2) Special precautions 138 citations
- 1910.252(a)(3) Welding or cutting containers 40 citations
- 1910.252(a)(3)(i) Used containers 33 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(vii) Relocation of combustibles 28 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(xiii) Management 28 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(vi) Prohibited areas 20 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(vi)(C) 19 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(xiii)(C) 16 citations
- 1910.252(a)(1) Basic precautions 14 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(iii) Fire watch 13 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(iv) Authorization 13 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When is a fire watch required for welding?
Whenever welding or cutting is done where other than a minor fire might develop, or any of the listed conditions exist.
What distance triggers a fire watch?
Appreciable combustible material closer than 35 feet to the point of operation, or openings within a 35-foot radius exposing combustibles.
Can combustibles on the other side of a metal wall matter?
Yes. A fire watch is needed if they are likely to be ignited by conduction or radiation.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.252 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-21
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.