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Free Fabora tool

Free hot works permit generator for site welding and steelwork.

Use this free Fabora tool to build a practical hot works permit-style checklist for welding, grinding, cutting, burning and other spark or heat-producing work. It helps structure the checks before, during and after the task, but final review, approval and site suitability stay with your business or site duty holder.

Open generatorView Fabora RAMS
Built forSite welding and steelwork
PromptsFire watch and sign-off points
OutputPrintable permit-style record
Use withJob-specific RAMS and site rules

Free tool

Permit-style checklist for hot work

Build a simple record for fire-risk checks, fire watch, PPE, equipment, close-out and sign-off. The result stays free and does not need an account.

  • Job details and hot work type
  • Pre-work fire control checks
  • Fire watch and after-work close-out
  • Print or copy the summary
Use the tool

Use note

Checklist only, not approval

Use the output alongside site rules, competent review, fire risk assessment and job-specific RAMS. It does not authorise the work by itself.

View Fabora RAMS

Use the tool

Build your hot works permit checklist

Add the job information, choose the hot work type, tick the checks that have been confirmed and use the attention prompts to spot items needing review before the work starts.

Inputs

Build a practical hot works permit checklist

Fill in the job details, hot work type, pre-work checks, fire watch requirements and close-out checks. The permit-style record updates on the page as you work.

Free tool

A. Job details

Permit and site information

B. Hot work type

Select the work being controlled

C. Pre-work checks

Check the area before hot work starts

D. Fire watch and close-out

Set the watch and after-work checks

Output

Hot works permit-style record

Print this record or copy the summary for your job pack. Keep final review and approval with the responsible business or site duty holder.

Live summary

On mobile, use Print / Save as PDF or Share permit to send the checklist by email, WhatsApp, Messages or to your office.

Attention prompts

Review before starting

  • Do not start hot works until suitable fire-fighting equipment has been confirmed.
  • Hot works permits should normally sit alongside job-specific RAMS or risk assessment arrangements.
  • Where combustibles cannot be removed, confirm protection, fire watch and close-out checks before starting.
FABORAGenerated by Fabora's free Hot Works Permit Generator

Permit-style checklist

Hot works permit-style checklist

Site / work area not entered

Permit NoNot entered
Date12 May 2026
TimeNot entered

Job details

Company / contractor name-
Client / principal contractor-
Site name-
Work area / exact location-
Permit number, optional-
Date12 May 2026
Permit start time-
Permit finish time-
Responsible person / supervisor-
Operative carrying out hot work-
Fire watch person, optional-
Emergency contact / site contact, optional-

Hot work type

No hot work type selected yet.

Pre-work checks

Not confirmed
Work area inspected before starting
Not confirmed
Combustible materials removed where reasonably practicable
Not confirmed
Combustible materials protected where they cannot be removed
Not confirmed
Hidden voids, floors, walls, panels or adjacent areas considered
Not confirmed
Flammable liquids, gases, dusts or residues considered
Not confirmed
Gas cylinders secured and kept clear of ignition sources
Not confirmed
Welding/cutting/grinding equipment visually checked
Not confirmed
Electrical leads, plugs and connections visually checked
Not confirmed
Ventilation or fume controls considered
Not confirmed
Suitable PPE selected
Not confirmed
Suitable fire extinguishers available
Not confirmed
Fire alarm / detection isolation agreed if applicable
Not confirmed
Nearby workers or other trades considered
Not confirmed
Public or client interface considered
Not confirmed
Escape routes kept clear
Not confirmed
Site rules / client permit process checked
Not confirmed
RAMS reviewed or briefed before work starts

Fire watch requirements

Continuous watch during hot worksNot confirmed
Fire watch after completionNot confirmed
Fire watch duration30 minutes

After-work checks

Not confirmed
Final area check completed
Not confirmed
Adjacent areas checked
Not confirmed
Waste, sparks and hot materials cleared
Not confirmed
Gas cylinders closed and equipment isolated
Not confirmed
Fire alarm / detection reinstated if isolated
Not confirmed
Permit closed by responsible person

Notes

No additional notes entered.

Sign-off

Requested by
Authorised by
Operative
Fire watch
Closed by

This permit-style checklist is general guidance only. It does not replace site rules, competent review, fire risk assessment, RAMS, principal contractor permits or legal duties. Final review, approval and suitability remain with the user's business or site duty holder.

Created with Fabora's free Hot Works Permit Generator. Need RAMS to go with this permit? Visit faboraplatform.com/fabora-rams

Hot works guidance

What the checklist is helping you structure

The tool is designed for practical site use: clear the area where possible, protect what cannot be removed, agree the watch, close the permit properly and keep the wider RAMS or risk assessment route intact.

What is a hot works permit?

A hot works permit is a formal permit-style record used to control work that can create heat, flame, sparks or hot material. For steelwork teams, that can include site welding, grinding, cutting, burning, heating, brazing and similar work.

When site welding may need hot works controls

Site welding often needs tighter checks where combustible materials, adjacent spaces, public or client areas, other trades, gas cylinders, temporary alarm arrangements or refurbishment conditions are involved.

What to check before hot work starts

Useful checks include the exact location, site rules, RAMS briefing, combustible material removal or protection, hidden voids, suitable extinguishers, PPE, fume controls, equipment condition and escape routes.

Fire watch and close-out checks

A fire watch helps keep attention on the work area during and after the task. The close-out stage should check the work area, adjacent spaces, waste, hot material, cylinders, equipment isolation and any alarm or detection reinstatement.

Hot works permit vs RAMS

A permit-style checklist helps structure task controls at the point of work. RAMS cover the wider job pack, including scope, hazards, method steps, PPE, COSHH, equipment, supervision, risk scoring and review.

Why copied permits and old RAMS can cause problems

Copied files can carry old locations, stale names, missed fire-watch needs and generic wording. A fresh permit-style record helps the team look again at the actual site, task and day.

Official context

HSE guidance points reflected in this tool

This page uses HSE guidance as a practical reference point, while keeping the tool positioned as general guidance only. The output still needs site-specific review by the people responsible for the work.

Permit-to-work context

HSE guidance describes permit-to-work as a more formal system for work needing extra care and gives hot work such as welding as an example. It also says a permit is not a replacement for robust risk assessment.

HSE permit-to-work guidance

Welding fire watch context

HSE welding guidance refers to clearing flammable materials before welding and maintaining fire watch during and after hot work where hot work cannot be done in a safe area or combustibles cannot be removed.

HSE welding safety risks

Construction fire context

HSE construction fire guidance says hot work generating heat, sparks or flame can cause fire, and points to combustible material control, suitable extinguishers, careful watch and PTW on larger projects.

HSE process fire risks
This page does not create a permit with any special status or any compliance guarantee. It helps structure a permit-style record for review.

Related Fabora links

Keep the permit connected to the wider job pack

A hot works permit checklist is most useful when it sits alongside job-specific RAMS, site rules, competent review and practical briefing before the work starts.

Fabora RAMSStart FreeAll Fabora toolsHot works permits guideSite welding RAMS guideSteelwork RAMS guide

Fabora RAMS

Need RAMS to go with the hot works permit?

A hot works permit helps structure fire-risk checks around the task. Fabora RAMS helps UK steelwork teams build the wider editable RAMS pack, including job details, hazards, PPE, COSHH, equipment, method steps, supervision, risk scoring, revisions and PDF export.

Editable RAMS packsSite welding and steelworkReusable company librariesFinal review stays with the business
View Fabora RAMSStart Free

Tool FAQ

Short answers on hot works permits and RAMS

These answers keep the tool in the right place: useful for structure, not a replacement for site rules, principal contractor permits or competent review.

Use alongside RAMS

Read the site welding RAMS guide or view Fabora RAMS if you need the wider editable RAMS workflow.

View all Fabora tools
What is a hot works permit?

A hot works permit is a permit-style record used to control work that can generate heat, flame, sparks or hot material. For steelwork teams this can include welding, grinding, cutting, burning, brazing and similar site or workshop tasks.

Does this tool replace a site permit system?

No. This free tool creates a practical permit-style checklist only. It does not replace a principal contractor permit, site permit-to-work process, competent review, fire risk assessment, RAMS or legal duties.

Do I still need RAMS for hot works?

Usually, yes. A hot works permit helps structure fire-risk checks around the task, but RAMS or risk assessment arrangements should still cover the wider job, method, hazards, controls, PPE, COSHH, equipment, supervision and review.

How long should fire watch continue after hot works?

HSE welding guidance refers to fire watch being maintained for at least 30 minutes after hot work completion, and longer, such as 60 minutes, where unintended ignition may be hard to detect or slow to develop. Treat this as a review point rather than a universal fixed rule.

Can I use this for welding, grinding and cutting?

Yes. The checklist is aimed at common hot work tasks including MIG/MAG welding, TIG welding, MMA/stick welding, oxy-fuel cutting, plasma cutting, grinding, disc cutting, burning, heating, brazing and other spark-producing work.

Can this be used on construction sites?

It can support a construction-site conversation, but it does not replace site rules or the principal contractor's permit process. HSE construction fire guidance points to managing ignition sources, combustible materials, suitable extinguishers, careful watch and permit-to-work systems on larger projects.

Does Fabora guarantee compliance?

No. Fabora does not guarantee compliance. This tool is general guidance and a practical checklist only. Final review, approval, legal duties and site suitability remain with the user's business or site duty holder.