The certificate requirement can be found in the safety regulations for hot work in your insurance contract.

A safety regulation is a requirement in the insurance terms and conditions that the insured must take certain measures to prevent damage or that in certain cases the insured must have certain qualifications or certificates.

Persons who use machinery and equipment according to the definitions of hot work in all environments where there is a risk of fire occurring must have a valid certificate from the Norwegian Fire Protection Association or a cooperating organization in other Nordic countries.

No , there is no requirement for a certificate in Norwegian laws or regulations. The requirement for a certificate is found in the safety regulations for hot work, which are part of the non-life insurance contract between a policyholder and the insurance company.

In connection with certificate requirements, hot work is understood as work where machines and equipment are used that generate sparks and heat that can lead to fire.

Hot work includes the use of open flames, hot air, welding, cutting and/or grinding equipment.

No , except for hot work that is carried out in specially adapted rooms as part of the daily operations. The room must be separated from other activities as a separate fire cell.

If there is a connection between an injury and a violation of safety regulations, you risk that the insurance company will refuse to pay compensation in whole or in part.

Hot work performed at a random workplace without a certificate is a violation of safety regulations.

Some employers may reject you at the workplace if you cannot document that you have a valid certificate.

The certificate is renewed by taking a new certification course, including an exam and firefighting exercise.

Hot worker online course: Hot worker online course | Hot worker online course (gtmkompetanse.no)

Hot workers - in-house course: Hot workers course | In-house | GTM Expertise

You can order a new certificate here.

No. If your certificate has expired, you cannot perform hot work until you have completed and been approved for a new hot work course.

Yes , practical firefighting exercises must be carried out in connection with all hot work courses.

Certificate for various professional categories

Hot work at a random workplace requires a certificate. Occupational category is not decisive. However, one can take the occupational category as a starting point to highlight - as a guide - in which cases a certificate is or is not required. In practice, there are also a wide range of other occupational categories that are not mentioned in this guide where a certificate will be relevant. It is emphasized that the sure way to determine whether a certificate is required or not is to read the insurance terms and conditions.

 

Hot work in workplaces where there is a risk of fire occurring requires a certificate under the scheme "Fire protection when carrying out hot work". This guide provides an overview of some occupational categories, and describes whether there is a requirement for a certificate within these categories. In addition, this document describes the use of certain types of work equipment whether there is a certificate requirement or not, and whether a certificate requirement may be triggered. The list is not complete, so it must always be checked with the insurance contract whether the work in question is subject to a certificate requirement.

 

Asphalting

Asphalting and maintenance asphalting on roads often require heating the surface with an open flame. This does not comply with the definition of hot work and is not subject to certification.

 

Car recovery

Car recovery carried out by a car recovery company or similar, for example using a cutting torch or angle grinder, is carried out in an environment where there is a risk of fire. Such work requires a certificate.

 

Car repair shops

A workplace for a fitter, mechanic, etc. with a garbage rack in one corner, a stack of tires in the other corner and empty packaging on the workbench and other flammables is not specially adapted for hot work. A certificate is then required. If the car repairer takes the welding equipment etc. with him to use it elsewhere in the workshop, outside the workshop, in the car owner's own garage, in a car park etc., then it is not a specially adapted workplace. A certificate is then required. A certificate is not required for hot work when the work is carried out in a specially adapted workshop room that constitutes a separate fire cell. The workshop room must have non-combustible surfaces.

 

Fire department

A certificate is not required for hot work that the fire department performs as an emergency response in its capacity as a fire and rescue service. When fire department crews use angle grinders, welding equipment, etc. for repairs and maintenance on and in their own buildings, a certificate is required.

 

Farmers and agricultural workers

The majority of farmers have safety regulations for hot work in their fire insurance contracts. A certificate is required when hot work is carried out in an environment where there is a risk of fire. A certificate is also required for relief workers and others who perform hot work on behalf of the farmer in environments where there is a risk of fire. In specially adapted workshop rooms designed as a separate fire cell with non-combustible surfaces, a certificate is not required.

Concrete roof tiles, concrete slabs, etc.

See tiles.

 

Container

When working in an open container, a certificate is required.

Electricians and electrical fitters/energy fitters

For electricians and electrical fitters/energy fitters, the requirement for a certificate applies to hot work. A certificate is required, for example, when using a gas soldering iron in a switchboard cabinet. Hot work in environments without a fire risk is not subject to a certificate.

 

Tiles

Cutting ceramic tiles, concrete roof tiles, concrete slabs, stone slabs, etc. with an angle grinder and other equipment that can create sparks is work that requires a certificate.

 

​Gold and silversmiths

Goldsmiths and silversmiths melt metal and metal alloys over a gas torch, i.e. using an open flame. The work is done in a fixed, adapted workplace. The individual work also has very small dimensions. There is no requirement for a certificate. The same applies to dental technicians.

 

Floor layers

"Welding" of floor coverings with hot air is work that requires a certificate.

 

​Induction heating

High-frequency current can be used to heat metals, e.g. bolts and nuts. Induction heating is often used as an aid to loosen nuts and bolts that are firmly attached and difficult to loosen in any other way. When using a coil to heat bolts and nuts, local heating occurs and a certificate will normally not be required. The prerequisite is that the work is carried out in accordance with the supplier's instructions.

 

Coppersmiths and tinsmiths

The liability insurance for copper and tinsmiths requires a certificate for hot work. Soldering with hot air and an open flame on a roof is work that requires a certificate. This applies to both new and previously thatched roofs. Soldering with a soldering iron without the use of an open flame and without hot air is not required.

 

Shrinking of pallet caps/plastic film

Shrinkage using hot air or open flame requires a certificate in all environments with a fire risk, e.g. in a storage room. In environments without a fire risk, e.g. in a separate fire cell (ref. safety regulations), a certificate is not required.

 

Laboratory work

In a laboratory, for example, heating test tubes or sterilizing work equipment is carried out over a gas burner, i.e. using an open flame. The work is carried out at a fixed, adapted workplace. The individual work also has very small dimensions. There is no requirement for a certificate.

 

Painters

Removing old paint with hot air is work that requires a certificate.

 

Offshore

The certification scheme does not apply to offshore operations.

 

Plastic welding

The manufacture and repair of tarpaulins, truck covers, etc. is often done by "welding" plastic with hot air. This is work that requires a certificate.

 

Plumbers

Soldering with an open flame in an unadapted workplace is subject to certification. Soldering with a soldering iron without the use of an open flame and without hot air is not subject to certification even if the work takes place in an unadapted workplace.

 

Shipyard

Generally

The safety regulations for hot work with the requirement for a certificate apply to the scope of the Insurance Contracts Act. In practice, this includes virtually all land-based commercial and industrial activities. Buildings, cranes, quay facilities, etc. at a shipyard have insurance under the scope of the Insurance Contracts Act. If hot work is carried out on buildings, cranes, quay facilities and other equipment, a certificate is required. If hot work is carried out on a machine part that has been transported into a fixed fire cell specially adapted for hot work, a certificate is not required.

 

New ships

The insurance companies' safety regulations for hot work do not apply to insurance that falls under the Norwegian Maritime Insurance Plan. A relevant insurance under the Norwegian Maritime Insurance Plan is construction risk for ships. The practical consequence of this is as follows: The ship itself that is under construction has construction risk insurance under the Norwegian Maritime Insurance Plan's scope. For welding, cutting and other forms of hot work on ships under construction, there is therefore no requirement for a certificate in principle. When building ships in an early phase with mostly only steelwork, the fire risk is small. In the outfitting phase, the fire risk is significantly greater. Many shipyards have therefore been required in their insurance contracts to have a certificate also for ships under construction, cf. the individual insurance contract. Many shipyards also require a certificate for all subcontractors who will perform hot work for the shipyard. It is also the case that hired labor will have, as stated in this labor liability insurance, a requirement for a certificate - even when working on ships that have construction risk coverage.

 

Ship repair

Hot work repairs on ships/boats carried out by the shipyard's own employees or other hired labour will normally require a certificate. Boats/ships that have hull insurance through the Norwegian Maritime Insurance Plan do not normally have regulated requirements for certificates for hot work repairs carried out by the ship's own crews.

 

Foresters

If a machine operator who does not have liability insurance carries out repair welding on forestry machinery in the forest, there is no requirement for a certificate. If the work is done by a professional welder in the forest, the welder will have a requirement for a certificate in his liability insurance. If the work is done in the machinery company's garage/building, regardless of who does the work, a certificate will be required. There is no requirement for a certificate for hot work when the work is done in a specially adapted workshop room that constitutes a separate fire cell. The workshop room must have non-combustible surfaces. It is recommended that machine operators who carry out hot work on forestry machinery have a certificate in hot work.

 

​Sharpening skates

Grinding of skates is usually done with special machines with emery discs that produce sparks. Such grinding is defined as hot work. If the grinding takes place in a non-industrial enterprise, the grinding is initially defined as hot work that does not require a certificate. However, it must be clarified with the building owner whether the insurance contract contains requirements for hot work. See point 2. of the Safety Regulations for Hot Work.

 

Stone slabs

See tiles.

 

Roofers

Roofing using open flames, hot air or hot exhaust gases from combustion is work that requires a certificate.

 

Dental technicians

See goldsmiths and silversmiths.

 

Weed burning

Weed burning can be done with infrared radiation, hot air or flame. Equipment that produces flame from a nozzle and equipment that produces flame under a cover is hot work requiring certification. Equipment that produces flame in a combustion chamber so that only the hot exhaust gas comes out of the nozzle or under a cover is also hot work requiring certification.

 

Water sampling

During water sampling, a small gas burner with an open flame is used for a short time (10-15 seconds) towards the outlet of the tap to disinfect it. This use of a gas burner is defined as hot work. In environments where there is no fire risk, this will not be work requiring a certificate. In environments with a fire risk, the work will be subject to a certificate.

 

Road maintenance

When maintaining road markings, open flames are often used to remove existing markings. In environments where there is no fire risk, a certificate is not required. In environments with a fire risk, a certificate is required when performing hot work.

 

Vocational education – students and apprentices

There is no requirement for a certificate for students in vocational upper secondary school when performing hot work when the work is done as part of the teaching under the supervision of a teacher with a certificate. For apprentices in a company, some insurance companies see it as a requirement for a certificate (similar to foreign labor), while other companies will not require a certificate as long as the hot work is done under the supervision of someone who has a certificate. For apprentices, as for everyone else, it is crucial for the issue of liability and compensation whether the person concerned has been grossly negligent or not and whether there is a causal connection between the breach and the damage.

 

Vocational education – teachers

The vocational upper secondary schools' teaching rooms for metalworking only are considered permanent, specially adapted workshop rooms. Thus, there is no requirement for a certificate for the vocational school teacher. If teaching takes place in rooms that are used for more than just metalworking, including woodworking, this is not to be considered permanent, specially adapted workshop rooms. There is then a requirement for a certificate for the vocational school teacher. ​Source: Stiftelsen Norsk brannvernforening

Both the insurance industry and Norwegian authorities set requirements for the performance of hot work. Requirements from the authorities are laid down and described in Norwegian laws and regulations.

Central legislation

Key laws are the Working Environment Act and the Fire and Explosion Protection Act. These describe in a general way how to behave in risky work. Among important regulations that have specific provisions for hot work is the Regulations on the Performance of Work. It sets requirements for risk assessment when using equipment that can produce heat or sparks, and that flammable material in the vicinity of the workplace must be removed or shielded with non-flammable material. Responsibility for information and training lies with the employer with the participation of employees and other personnel with HSE tasks.

Fire prevention measures

The Fire Prevention Regulations also contain provisions regarding activities that involve a risk of fire. "Everyone is obliged to exercise caution when carrying out activities that may lead to fire," the regulations state. The requirement of caution includes both a duty to assess fire risk and to stop or take appropriate precautions to minimize the risk.

Internal control requirements

Companies that perform hot work, like other types of businesses, are also required to follow the provisions of the regulations on systematic health, environment and safety work in businesses (Internal Control Regulations). Internal control means, among other things, that the company must map hazards and problems and, on this basis, assess risk, as well as prepare associated plans and measures to reduce risk conditions. The process must be documented in writing and repeated each time hot work is performed. This applies to both whether the workplace for performance is arranged or random.

Work placement

In cases where a client outsources work to a contractor, the Internal Control Regulations state that the client must base the activities covered by the assignment on the contractor's internal control system. In addition, the client must provide information about any common rules and the like and ensure that any deficiencies are corrected or necessary adjustments are made to its own or the contractor's internal control. This means that the client must ensure that the contractor has a satisfactory internal control system. In order to meet the requirements in its own insurance agreement, the client must also ensure that the performer has a certificate in hot work, if this takes place at a random workplace.

Competence requirements

Basic fire and safety expertise and awareness related to this is a prerequisite for being able to carry out hot work safely. The purpose of the certification scheme in hot work is precisely to ensure this competence requirement. Therefore, clients should require that all practitioners are certified, regardless of the type of hot work involved.

There is a requirement that suitable fire extinguishing equipment in proper condition, a minimum of 2 6 kg/liter hand-held fire extinguishers, must be easily accessible. One hand-held fire extinguisher can be replaced with a fire hose with water attached to the spray pipe.

Yes. The checklist for performing hot work published by Finans Norge or a similar checklist must be completed and signed before performing work.

The checklist can be found here: Checklist for performing hot work

Yes. A named fire watchman must be present and continuously assess the risk of fire during work, during breaks and for at least one hour after work has ended.

Where the fire risk is considered low, the contractor can act as a fire watchman.

Firefighters must have a valid certificate for performing hot work.

For Hot work, a certificate of competence is issued by the Norwegian Fire Protection Association. This is sent electronically, normally within 30 days. You must allow for longer if there is a high demand for them.

No , you can't. There should always be at least two fire extinguishers available, in case one of the appliances fails.

Here you have some options.

1. Book the online course and practical fire extinguishing exercise through us, and we'll take care of the rest.
2. Contact your local fire department.
3. Sign up for a scheduled course/fire drill

Yes , angle grinders qualify as hot work.

It can generate powerful sparks that can potentially cause fires even far away from the actual work area.

Yes , a heat gun qualifies as hot work.

Heat guns use hot air to generate high temperatures, and these types of tools can pose a fire risk if not used properly.

In Norway, everyone who is going to perform hot work must complete a course in hot work. This applies to both self-employed persons, employees and apprentices. The requirement for a course applies regardless of the industry or type of business and is stipulated in the regulations on the performance of work, Section 10-2.

The certification schemes in use in the Nordic countries have many similarities, but there are also some unique features. In Norway and Finland we find only one certificate related to the performance of hot work. This certificate covers a wide range of hot work. The Norwegian and Finnish certificate is valid in all the Nordic countries, with the exception of Sweden.

Denmark, on the other hand, has two different types of certificates for performing hot work. One certificate is aimed at roofing, while the other covers hot work other than roofing. The Danish certificates are valid in Norway and Finland, but only within their respective areas.

In Sweden, there is a transition period during which Nordic certificates issued before 30 June 2023 will be recognized for the remaining validity period. However, from 1 July 2023, only certified concept owners in accordance with the SBF 2022 standards will be approved. This means that Norwegian certificates issued after 1 July 2023 will not be valid in Sweden. The same applies to Finnish and Danish certificates.