The Boston Hot Work Safety Certificate Program was created by NFPA in cooperation with the City of Boston to assist in advancing safety. It is designed to help those in various disciplines in the construction industry develop awareness and understanding of both dangers and safety procedures that can help promote safety on the work site where hot work occurs.
Starting in January 2017, the City of Boston requires that in order to receive a permit to do hot work you will need to obtain a Hot Work Safety Certificate and ensure that all persons engaged in hot work operations on the work site also hold a Hot Work Safety Certificate. This certificate is obtained by taking the Hot Work training class and successfully completing an assessment of your learning.
Who conducts the training classes and where are they held?
Training classes for the Hot Work Safety Certificate Program are conducted by instructors who have been trained by NFPA. Classes are held in several locations in Boston, MA.
What is the training program like?
The Boston Hot Work Safety Certificate Program provides in-person training to meet these learning objectives:
- Describe the various types of hot work
- Identify common fuel sources and ignition sources
- Cite relevant standards, regulations, and ordinances that are applicable to hot work
- Define the duties and responsibilities of each person on the hot work team
- Read and understand a hot work permit.
What is Hot Work?
The definition of “hot work” per the amended Boston Fire Prevention Code includes:
- Welding and allied processes
- Heat treating
- Grinding
- Thawing pipes
- Powder-driven fasteners
- Hot Riveting
- Torch-applied roofing
- Any similar applications producing or using sparks, flame or heat.
Why do I have to attend a Hot Work Safety Certificate Program training? When was the Hot Work Safety Certificate Program created?
In June 2016, the Boston City Council passed an ordinance amending the Boston Fire Prevention Code requiring that, effective January 1, 2017, all persons engaged in hot work operations must obtain a Hot Work Safety Certificate.
Why was this requirement created?
The City of Boston passed the ordinance in response to the tragic March 2014 fire in Boston’s Back Bay area that took the lives of two firefighters and that was subsequently identified by investigators as being started by hot work operations in a nearby building.
How do I sign up for a Hot Work Safety Certificate Program training class?
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For organized labor
Hot Work Safety Certificate Program classes will be offered at your Local. Please contact your Local Administrator for more information. Your Local Administrator, and not NFPA, will be determining the time and place for these training sessions.
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For all others
Please go to www.nfpa.org/hotwork to register for a Hot Work Safety Certificate Program training class offered in Boston. Preregistration is required, and classes are subject to cancellation. 
How will I be notified if I pass my Hot Work Safety Certificate Program training class assessment and receive my Hot Work Safety Certificate?
- For organized labor classes:
Your Local Administrator will let you know if you passed the assessment and will provide your Hot Work Safety Program Certificate once this information is received from NFPA.
- For all other classes:
NFPA will be contacting you directly (via email) to let you know if you’ve passed the Hot Work Safety Certificate Program training assessment and, if you have, provide you with your Hot Work Training Certificate.
Will I be certified in Hot Work when I complete the program?
It’s important to understand the program is not a certification program. The NFPA is not certifying that those completing the training are capable of performing hot work but rather that it has assessed each attendee’s learning against a set of identified learning objectives and has determined whether or not the attendee has achieved these learning objectives at that point in time.