Shipyard Fire Protection Frequently Asked Questions 

(FAQs) 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

Directorate of Standards and Guidance 

Office of Maritime 

March, 2006 
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Shipyard Fire Protection FAQs 

This document provides general guidance about OSHA's shipyard fire protection standard (29 

CFR Part 1915, Subpart P). The questions and answers in this document do not themselves 

impose enforceable obligations; such obligations are imposed only by the standard. The FAQs 

are divided into three sections: general questions, fire watch questions, and questions about fuel 

gas and oxygen supply lines. 

A. General Questions

A-1. When did the final rule go into effect? 

The final rule went into effect on December 14, 2004. Some of the training requirements 

did not go into effect until 90 days later, on March 14, 2005. OSHA delayed 

enforcement of the requirement to train fire watch workers using live fire training. 

Employers were given until June 30, 2005 to conduct the practical portion of the live fire 

training for fire watch employees. 

A-2. Who is required to comply with the new standard? 

The standard applies to shipyard employment. Contractors are covered only when they 

are engaged in shipyard employment. The standard does not apply to employment in 

general industry or construction; these employers are covered by the 29 CFR Part 1910 

and 29 CFR Part 1926 standards, respectively. If you have questions about whether or 

not you are covered by the new standard, contact your local OSHA or State Plan office. 

A-3. Does the standard apply to municipal or volunteer fire departments? 

No. Federal OSHA does not have jurisdiction over State and municipal fire departments 

or volunteers in States under the jurisdiction of Federal OSHA, so in those States the 

standard does not cover them. In those States with jurisdiction over occupational safety 

and health, State and local workers are covered by the State’s standards and information 

can be obtained from the State. OSHA intends to promote coordination between the 

shipyard and local fire response organizations so they can work together safely. OSHA 

believes that any fire response organization that expects to respond to shipyard fires will 

benefit from the coordination of activities required by this standard, and will be able to 

respond to fires faster, more effectively, and with greater safety for the shipyard workers 

and their own fire response members. 

A-4. The standard incorporates a number of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 

standards. If I am using a more recent edition of an NFPA standard than the one used in 

the OSHA standard, could I be cited for not following the NFPA standard listed in the 

OSHA Standard? 

Yes. However, under OSHA's de minimis policy, where OSHA has adopted an earlier 

consensus standard, employers who are in compliance with the updated version will not 

be cited for a violation of the old version as long as the new one is at least equally 

protective (OSHA Field Inspection Reference Manual, CPL 02-00-103). OSHA has 

reviewed the newer NFPA standards in the following table and found that they all 
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provide equal or greater protection than the NFPA standards incorporated in the OSHA 

rule. Therefore, employers will not be cited for using the newer NFPA standards in the 

table. OSHA is updating the shipyard fire protection standard to incorporate these newer 

NFPA standards. 

Section Paragraph NFPA Standards Currently 

Incorporated by Reference 

in Subpart B of 29 CFR Part 

1915 

Latest Version of 

NFPA Standard

1915.505 

Fire 

Response 

(e)(3)(v) NFPA 1981-1997 Standard on 

Open-Circuit Self-Contained 

Breathing Apparatus for the Fire 

Service

NFPA 1981-2002 Standard on 

Open-Circuit Self-Contained 

Breathing Apparatus for Fire and 

Emergency Services

(b)(1) NFPA 10-1998 Standard for 

Portable Fire Extinguishers

NFPA 10-2002 Standard for 

Portable Fire Extinguishers

(c)(6) NFPA 72-1999 National Fire 

Alarm Code

NFPA 72-2002 National Fire 

Alarm Code

(d)(1) NFPA 14-2000 Standard for the 

Installation of Standpipe, Private 

Hydrant, and Hose Systems

NFPA 14-2003 Standard for the 

Installation of Standpipe and Hose 

Systems 

NFPA 13-1999 Standard for the 

Installation of Sprinkler Systems 

NFPA 13-2002 Standard for the

Installation of Sprinkler Systems

(d)(2) 

NFPA 750-2000 Standard on 

Water Mist Fire Protection 

Systems 

NFPA 750-2003 Standard on 

Water Mist Fire Protection

Systems

NFPA 11-1998 Standard for LowExpansion Foam(d)(3) 

NFPA 11A-1999 Standard for 

Medium- and High-Expansion 

Foam Systems 

NFPA 11-2005 Standard for Low-, 

Medium-, and High-Expansion 

Foam Systems 

NFPA 12A-1997 Standard on 

Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing 

Systems 

NFPA 12A-2004 Standard on 

Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing 

Systems 

NFPA 12-2000 Standard on 

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing 

Systems

NFPA 12-2005 Standard on Carbon 

Dioxide Extinguishing Systems

1915.507 

Land-side 

fire 

protection 

systems 

(d)(5) 

NFPA 2001-2000 Standard on 

Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing 

Systems 

NFPA 2001-2004 Standard on

Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing 

Systems 
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A-5. The standard requires employers to provide ways for employees to participate in 

reviewing the programs and policies required by the standard (§1915.501(c)). Does 

OSHA require employers to document employee participation? 

No. Some employers may decide to document their employee participation activities, but 

the standard does not require employers to produce written documentation of employee 

participation. 

A-6. When multiple employers have responsibility for fire protection at a single facility, the 

standard requires the host employer or employers to coordinate their activities, assign fire 

protection duties to other employers, and communicate relevant fire hazard information 

to each other (§1915.501(d)(iii)). When the ship acts as a host employer, who is in 

charge, the ship’s master or the shipyard employer? 

When there are multiple host employers, the standard does not designate or require either 

party to be “in charge” of the overall fire protection activity. The employers are jointly 

responsible for determining which responsibilities will be assigned to each host 

employer. It is extremely important for the host employers to agree on the details of the 

incident command system that will be used in the event of a fire. If a fire occurs, a clear 

chain of command is needed to ensure the effectiveness of fire response and suppression 

activities. 

A-7. The standard includes requirements for fire emergency plans (§1915.502). Do I still need 

to comply with the §1910.38 and §1910.39 standards requiring fire prevention and 

emergency plans? 

Yes. Shipyard employers who are currently complying with §§1910.38 and 1910.39 will 

now also be required to comply with the additional requirements of §1915.502. 

However, there is no need to produce three separate emergency plans. OSHA will accept 

one unified plan that meets all of the requirements in §§1910.38, 1910.39, and 1915.502. 

A-8. When employees are working in a space onboard a vessel or vessel section that is 

equipped with a fixed fire extinguishing system, the standard requires employers to 

protect employees from the accidental discharge of that system with physical isolation, or 

by providing employees with specific training (§1915.506(b)). Does this requirement 

apply only to hot work, or to any kind of work? 

The requirement applies to any work done in a space on a vessel or vessel section with a 

fixed fire extinguishing system. While hot work has the greatest potential for causing 

accidental activation of the system, other work, such as rigging material into or out of a 

space, can also result in accidental activation. Moreover, when a vessel is undergoing sea 

or dock trials, the employer must ensure that all fire extinguishing systems remain 

operational (§1915.506(c)). 
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A-9. What types of training are required by the new standard? 

The standard requires four levels of training that become more complex for workers who 

are expected to perform more sophisticated fire response and suppression. The training 

that must be performed includes evacuation procedures for all employees, basic 

firefighting for employees who may be called upon to fight incipient stage fires, 

additional firefighting training for fire watch employees, and advanced training for fire 

response employees. The details of each type of training can be found at §1915.508. 

A-10. Why does the standard use a definition of “hot work” that is different from the definition 

in 29 CFR Part 1915 Subpart B - Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous 

Atmospheres in Shipyard Employment? 

 29 CFR Part 1915 Subpart B uses a definition of hot work that excludes grinding, 

drilling, blasting, and other spark producing operations that are physically isolated from 

any atmosphere containing more than 10% of the lower explosive limit of a flammable or 

combustible substance. That definition is appropriate for protecting workers from the 

hazards posed by confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres. 

Subpart P uses a broader definition of hot work to ensure that all hot work operations are 

evaluated for fire hazards. 

B. Fire Watch Questions

B-1. Is a fire watch always needed when an employee is performing hot work, such as welding 

or cutting? 

No. A fire watch is only required under certain circumstances outlined in the standard at 

§1915.504(b), when the following conditions are present during hot work: 

(1) Slag, weld splatter, or sparks might pass through an opening and cause a fire; 

(2) Fire-resistant guards or curtains are not used to prevent ignition of combustible 

materials on or near decks, bulkheads, partitions, or overheads; 

(3) Combustible material closer than 35 ft. (10.7m) to the hot work in either the 

horizontal or vertical direction cannot be removed, protected with flameproof covers, or 

otherwise shielded with metal or fire-resistant guards or curtains; 

(4) The hot work is carried out (performed) on or near insulation, combustible coatings, 

or sandwich-type construction that cannot be shielded, cut back, or removed, or in a 

space within a sandwich-type construction that cannot be inerted; 

(5) Combustible materials adjacent to the opposite sides of bulkheads, decks, overheads, 

metal partitions, or sandwich-type construction may be ignited by conduction or 

radiation; 

(6) The hot work is close enough to cause ignition through heat radiation or conduction 

on the following: 
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(i) Insulated pipes, bulkheads, decks, partitions, or overheads; or 

(ii) Combustible materials and/or coatings; 

(7) The work is close enough to unprotected combustible pipe or cable runs to cause 

ignition; or 

(8) A Marine Chemist, a U.S. Coast Guard-authorized person, or a Shipyard Competent 

Person, as defined in 29 CFR Part 1915, Subpart B, requires that a fire watch be posted. 

 

B-2. Do I need to remove all combustible and flammable materials closer than 35 feet before 

performing hot work? 

 

No. The standard states that you must evaluate hot work areas to make sure the area is 

free of fire hazards (§1915.503(a)(2)) and maintain fire-hazard free conditions 

(§1915.503(b)(1)). The most effective method is to remove combustible and flammable 

materials a safe distance away from ignition sources (35 feet). The next most effective 

methods are to shield the combustible or flammable material with metal or flameresistant guards, use flame-proof covers, or inert sandwich type material with appropriate 

precautions. When these methods are not used, a fire watch must be posted. 

B-3. Is the “35-foot” rule for hot work a new requirement? 

 

No. OSHA’s general industry welding and brazing rules at 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(vii) 

and NFPA’s 51B-2003 Standard for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other 

Hot Work, use a 35-foot limit as an appropriate safety measure. 

B-4. When hot work is to be performed at a location within 35 feet of combustible material, 

can I choose to post a fire watch instead of removing or shielding the combustible 

material, even though it could be removed or shielded? 

Yes. You can authorize employees to perform hot work only in areas that are free of fire 

hazards, or that have been controlled by physical isolation, fire watches, or other positive 

means (§1915.503(a)(2)(ii)). 

B-5. Is a fire watch required if the combustible material is treated to be fire-resistant or fire 

retardant? 

No. If the employer has purchased fire-resistant or fire retardant material, or has treated 

normally combustible material so that it is no longer combustible, then a fire watch is not 

required. 

B-6. Can a worker performing hot work, such as welding, act as his or her own fire watch? 

No. A worker who is performing hot work is concentrating on his or her own work, and 

may be too distracted to quickly observe a fire as it ignites. Therefore, another employee 

or employees must be assigned the fire watch duty. 
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B-7. Can an employee engaged in fire watch duties also perform other kinds of work? 

No. When a worker is actively engaged in fire watch duty, he or she cannot perform 

other duties (§1915.504(c)(1). Because the situations requiring a fire watch carry a high 

risk of fire, a fire watch must have only one task at hand – to watch for and respond to 

fires that occur during hot work. The fire watch employee must also have the authority to 

stop the hot work and assist with fire prevention activities, such as wetting down a fire 

blanket, repositioning a fire curtain, and removing combustible debris that has entered the 

area. After the hot work is completed, the fire watch must remain in the area for at least 

30 minutes to ensure that there is no further fire hazard, unless the employer or its 

representative surveys the area and determines that there is no further fire hazard. During 

this 30-minute period, the fire watch can perform other duties. 

B-8. Can one employee perform fire watch duty for more than one employee performing hot 

work? 

Yes. One employee can perform fire watch duty for several employees performing hot 

work, as long as the fire watch meets all the requirements of the standard. For example, 

the fire watch employee must have a clear view of and immediate access to all areas 

included in the fire watch, must be able to communicate with all workers exposed to hot 

work, and must be authorized to stop work and restore safe conditions when necessary 

(§1915.504(c)(2)). If the fire watch employee stops work for one employee performing 

hot work to restore safe conditions, he or she must also stop the remaining hot work 

covered by the fire watch. 

B-9. Are there situations where more than one fire watch employee is needed? 

Yes. A fire watch employee must have a clear view of all areas assigned. Depending on 

the specific circumstances, two or more employees may be required in the fire watch to 

ensure that all areas are within view. For example, a fire watch employee may be needed 

on each side of a bulkhead on which hot work is being performed. Similarly, where hot 

material from hot work could spread or fall over more than one level, as in trunks and 

machinery spaces, a fire watch must be stationed at each affected level unless positive 

means are available to prevent the spread or fall of hot material. 

B-10. Can the fire watch or an employee performing hot work be the designated employer 

representative to determine that it is safe to vacate the watch before the 30-minute period 

is over? 

Yes. The employer can designate any employee to perform this function. Of course, 

OSHA requires that person to have the necessary training, experience, or both to make 

appropriate decisions concerning the monitoring of recently completed hot work. 

B-11. The employer is required to ensure that employees assigned to fire watch duty are 

physically capable of performing the work. How does the employer determine the 

physical qualifications of employees assigned to perform fire watch duty? 

OSHA expects the employer to evaluate the hot work, the environment in which it is 

performed, and the employee to make sure that the employee can physically perform the 
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work. The employee must have the strength and physical ability to handle fire 

extinguishing equipment, to access and exit the location, to observe fires, and to 

extinguish incipient stage fires. The physical requirements may vary. For example, if the 

hot work in question is in an area that can only be accessed with ladders, an employee 

who cannot climb ladders is not physically capable of performing fire watch duty. 

However, the employee may be capable of performing fire watch duties at ground level. 

B-12. Do I have to train all fire watch employees with live fire exercises? 

Yes. Each fire watch employee is expected to extinguish one fire using a fire 

extinguishing method the employee is likely to use (§1915.508(e)). You do not have to 

use live fire training for each medium or extinguishing method the employee may use; 

only one is required. Merely watching another employee extinguish a fire does not meet 

the requirements of the standard. 

B-13. Must a shipyard build a permanent training facility or contract for the use of a 

geographically separated training facility for live fire training? 

No. Employers may decide to build a permanent facility or contract with a facility to 

provide the training, but they are not required to do so. OSHA specifies the material the 

training must cover, and that it must be performed by an instructor with adequate fire 

watch knowledge and experience, but does not specify the location where training must 

be given or provide other specifications for the training. Shipyard employers are free to 

determine the training methods and locations that meet their needs, and may consider 

quality, cost and convenience issues when making these decisions. Alternative ways to 

provide training include building permanent facilities, contracting with an outside 

facility, using shipyard areas designated for hot work, using other safe areas of the 

shipyard, or using off-site locations. Likewise, some shipyards will employ their own 

trainers, some will use contract trainers, and others may obtain training from a local fire 

department. 

B-14. Has OSHA thought of the practical realities, cost, and time needed to seek permits for 

live fires, assuming the local jurisdiction will permit them? 

Yes. OSHA recognizes that some shipyard employers will need to seek permission from 

local authorities to set the fires that are needed to provide live fire training. OSHA 

expects employers to make a diligent effort to obtain any needed permits or licenses to 

provide this important training. OSHA believes that most local authorities will grant this 

permission when they understand the need for the training and that the employer will be 

using very short-lived fires in a controlled environment under the supervision of a 

knowledgeable and experienced instructor. It is also likely that local authorities will 

issue annual or blanket authorizations so that employers are not required to obtain 

permits for each individual fire. The standard recognizes that a few employers may not 

be able to get permission from local authorities. When this occurs, despite their diligent 

efforts, the employer may use simulated fire training. 
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B-15. Has OSHA developed acceptable alternatives to reduce the number of fire watch 

personnel who must be trained? 

No. Paragraph 1915.504(b) sets forth the eight specific circumstances when employers 

are required to post a fire watch. However, as long as fire watches are used in these 

circumstances and otherwise follow the requirements of the standard, shipyards are free 

to seek alternatives to control the cost of the training. For example, a shipyard could train 

a limited number of personnel and then use them exclusively for fire watch duties. The 

shipyard could schedule work to reduce the need for fire watches, or make greater use of 

designated hot work areas. A shipyard could also contract fire watch duties to a specialty 

service and then use the contract personnel on an “as needed” basis. Others may find that 

it is better to train large numbers of employees so fire watches can be assigned quickly. 

OSHA expects that each shipyard will find the most effective method for its individual 

circumstances. 

B-16. How does a shipyard provide training to subcontractor employees performing work in the 

shipyard? 

In general, each covered employer is required to train its own employees. Section 

1915.501(d) of the standard requires host and contract employers to share information 

about their fire safety plans and share information about fire-related hazards associated 

with their work. The host employer is required to make sure that responsibilities for fire 

protection are assigned to other employers as appropriate. These requirements extend to 

fire watches and fire watch training, and employers are expected to coordinate their 

activities to make sure that any employees performing fire watch are properly trained. 

C. Fuel Gas and Oxygen Hose Line Management Questions

C-1. The standard requires employers to ensure that unattended fuel gas and oxygen hose lines 

or torches are not left in a confined space (§1915.503(b)(2)(i)). Can a fire watch 

employee attend these hose lines when the employee performing hot work exits the 

confined space? 

Yes. Any employee can attend the lines to make sure that they are not damaged. 

C-2. Can the fire watch employee attend the hose lines for one worker while performing fire 

watch duty for another worker? 

No. When a worker is actively engaged in fire watch duty, he or she cannot perform 

other duties (§1915.504(c)(1)). 

C-3. The standard requires employers to make sure that charged fuel gas and oxygen hose 

lines are not left unattended in an enclosed space for more than 15 minutes 

(§1915.503(b)(2)(ii)). For hose lines that pass through several enclosed spaces, does the 

entire length of hose line have to be pulled back to open air when unattended? 

No. If the charged hose line (any hose line that is connected to the manifold and filled 

with gas) is going to be left unattended for more than 15 minutes, the employer can either 
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roll back the hose lines to open air or disconnect the lines at the manifold to allow the gas 

to discharge. If the hose lines are left in place and disconnected at the manifold, then the 

employer is required to make sure that the hose lines are given a positive means of 

identification to keep them from being improperly reconnected. When the hose lines are 

reconnected, they must be tested to ensure their integrity before the work can resume. 

C-4. If the torch hose line assembly has a quick disconnect device, or the torch is left attached 

to the hose line, will this be sufficient to allow the torch to be disconnected without 

pulling the hose line from a confined or enclosed space? 

No. The objective is to remove unattended gas-filled hose lines from enclosed and 

confined spaces. In the situation described above, the hose line is still filled with 

flammable fuel or oxygen gases and is a potential fire and health hazard. The hose line 

must be rolled back and/or disconnected at the manifold if left unattended for more than 

15 minutes in an enclosed space, and immediately from an unattended confined space. 

((§1915.503(b)(2)). 

C-5. Can a hose line be disconnected at the manifold or cylinder instead of being removed 

from a confined space? 

No. A fuel gas and oxygen hose line in a confined space must always be removed or 

attended.