Chlorinated solvents kept 200 feet away in 4 checks

Key takeaways

• Record the distance from the welding arc to the nearest chlorinated solvent. The rule requires keeping the use of chlorinated solvents at least 200 feet from the exposed arc, unless shielded, according to Washington State Legislature.
• Surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents must be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces, according to Washington State Legislature.
• You must not use oxygen for ventilation purposes, comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or for cleaning the work area, according to Washington State Legislature.

Keep chlorinated solvents at least 200 feet from the arc unless the page says they are shielded

The core requirement is a 200-foot separation between the use of chlorinated solvents and the exposed welding arc. This distance applies unless the solvents are shielded from the arc. The rule also requires that any surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on those surfaces. Washington State Legislature states, "You must keep the use of chlorinated solvents at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc, and surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents must be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces."

UpCodes presents the same federal wording in its reprint of the welding ventilation section. It states, "The use of chlorinated solvents shall be kept at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc, and surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents shall be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces." This confirms the 200-foot figure and the dry-surface condition are consistent across these sources.

The Legal Information Institute publishes the federal standard with identical language. It reads, "The use of chlorinated solvents shall be kept at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc, and surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents shall be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces." The "unless shielded" exception is the key variable here.

What each official page requires for this check

It states that local exhaust systems providing a minimum air velocity of 100 lineal feet each minute in the welding zone shall be used, according to California Department of Industrial Relations. The same page addresses respiratory protection based on the metals involved in the work. It notes that in operations involving beryllium-containing base or filler metals, only supplied-air respirators shall be used, according to California Department of Industrial Relations. For other operations, the page clarifies that except for operations involving beryllium, cadmium, lead, or mercury, respiratory protective equipment is not required when natural or mechanical ventilation is sufficient to remove welding fumes from the breathing zone of the workers, according to California Department of Industrial Relations. Additionally, the page requires that hazardous materials used in welding and cutting shall bear precautionary labels as required by Section 5150 of the General Industry Safety Orders, according to California Department of Industrial Relations.

The Washington State Legislature page provides specific ventilation requirements for construction welding. It mandates that because of its high toxicity, you must perform work involving beryllium with both local exhaust ventilation and air line respirators, according to Washington State Legislature. This requirement pairs the exhaust system with a specific type of respirator for beryllium work. The page also addresses welding on stainless steel. It states that when inert-gas metal-arc welding is being performed on stainless steel, you must meet the requirements of subdivision (b) of subsection (3) of this section to protect against dangerous concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, according to Washington State Legislature. This rule focuses on protecting workers from specific gas concentrations generated during the welding of stainless steel.

When recording these checks on your site, note that the California page provides a specific air velocity number for local exhaust systems, while the Washington page specifies the combination of equipment needed for beryllium work. The California page also lists specific metals that trigger respiratory protection requirements, whereas the Washington page highlights the nitrogen dioxide risk associated with stainless steel welding. Ensure your record reflects the specific metal being welded and the ventilation method in use, as the requirements differ based on the material and the state regulation applied.

Where the pages use different words or numbers

The three scoped sources all print the same 200-foot solvent distance from the exposed arc. Washington State Legislature states that you must keep the use of chlorinated solvents at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc. UpCodes uses the same wording, requiring that the use of chlorinated solvents shall be kept at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc. Legal Information Institute also requires that the use of chlorinated solvents shall be kept at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc.

The 200-foot line is a distance measurement for solvent placement, not an air speed. The number 200 appears consistently across all three sources as the minimum distance for chlorinated solvents.

Each source also includes a condition about surface dryness. Washington State Legislature adds that surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents must be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces. UpCodes mirrors this, stating surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents shall be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces. Legal Information Institute repeats the requirement that surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents shall be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces.

A filled reference table of the four publisher pages

Use one row for each publisher page and only that page's own lines.

The California Department of Industrial Relations page specifies a minimum air velocity of 100 lineal feet each minute for local exhaust systems in the welding zone, according to California Department of Industrial Relations. This air speed number is distinct from the solvent distance number found on other pages. The Washington State Legislature page requires that the use of chlorinated solvents be kept at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc, according to Washington State Legislature. The same Washington page also states that you must not use oxygen for ventilation purposes, comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or for cleaning the work area, according to Washington State Legislature. Additionally, the Washington page requires that local exhaust ventilation must consist of freely movable hoods intended to be placed by the welder or burner as close as practicable to the work, according to Washington State Legislature.

The UpCodes page reprints the federal wording and states that the use of chlorinated solvents shall be kept at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc, according to UpCodes. It also states that oxygen shall not be used for ventilation purposes, comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or for cleaning the work area, according to UpCodes. UpCodes is a reprint of the federal wording, not a separate state rule. The table above shows that the 100 lineal feet each minute figure appears only on the California page, while the 200-foot solvent distance appears on the Washington, UpCodes, and Legal Information Institute pages. Do not merge the 100 lineal feet air-speed line with the 200-foot solvent line. Write the specific distance from the arc to the nearest chlorinated solvent and whether oxygen is being used to ventilate before the arc starts.

Illustrative example of a solvent distance check

An open yard holds the arc at a marked point and a chlorinated solvent container 200 feet away. Another container sits nearer, so it is moved out to 200 feet before the arc starts. The wiped surface stays unused until thoroughly dry.

What to record before the arc starts

Record the specific measurements for your site before the arc starts. According to Washington State Legislature, you must keep the use of chlorinated solvents at least 200 feet, unless shielded, from the exposed arc. Record whether the surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents are thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces. According to Washington State Legislature, you must not use oxygen for ventilation purposes, comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or for cleaning the work area. According to Washington State Legislature, local exhaust ventilation must consist of freely movable hoods intended to be placed by the welder or burner as close as practicable to the work. Confirm the hoods are movable and positioned correctly.

How to make the check on today's site

Before welding starts today, write the distance from the arc to the nearest chlorinated solvent and whether oxygen is being used to ventilate. See Hot-work handoff: 6 checks before the crew welds.

1. Verify the solvent distance. Measure the straight-line distance from the welding arc to the nearest chlorinated solvent. Record this measurement in your daily log with the Construction Daily Log Checklist for Supervisors. The specific 200-foot requirement for chlorinated solvents is detailed in the section "Keep chlorinated solvents at least 200 feet from the arc unless the page says they are shielded."

2. Confirm the oxygen ban. Check if any crew member is using an oxygen cylinder for ventilation, comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or cleaning the work area. According to Washington State Legislature, "(f) You must not use oxygen for ventilation purposes, comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or for cleaning the work area." This prohibition is also printed in the UpCodes reprint of the federal section, which states, "Oxygen shall not be used for ventilation purposes, comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or for cleaning the work area."

3. Check local exhaust ventilation. According to UpCodes, "Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, and paragraph (c)(2) of this section, either general mechanical or local exhaust ventilation meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section shall be provided whenever welding, cutting, or heating is performed in a confined space." Read Confined space entry records: 6 permit checks.

4. Direct exhausted air safely. Ensure that contaminated air exhausted from the working space is discharged into the open air or otherwise clear of the source of intake air. According to Legal Information Institute, "(4) Contaminated air exhausted from a working space shall be discharged into the open air or otherwise clear of the source of intake air."

FAQ about welding solvent distance

Which pages print the 200-foot solvent line?

The 200-foot distance requirement for chlorinated solvents appears in the text from the Washington State Legislature, which states you must keep the use of chlorinated solvents at least 200 feet from the exposed arc unless shielded, according to Washington State Legislature. The same 200-foot rule is printed in the UpCodes reprint of the federal section, according to UpCodes. It is also present in the federal text published by the Legal Information Institute, according to Legal Information Institute.

What does California print instead for air speed?

California requires local exhaust systems providing a minimum air velocity of 100 lineal feet each minute in the welding zone, according to California Department of Industrial Relations. This 100 lineal feet each minute figure is a distinct number from the 200-foot solvent distance found in other sections.

May oxygen be used to ventilate?

No, the use of oxygen for ventilation is prohibited in this context.

What metal triggers the beryllium line?

Beryllium triggers that line, including beryllium-containing base or filler metals.

What do I write before the arc starts?

Write the measured distance from the welding arc to the nearest chlorinated solvent source. Also record whether oxygen is being used for ventilation, noting that it is prohibited for that purpose. Ensure the surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents are thoroughly dry before welding is permitted, as required by the Washington State Legislature, according to Washington State Legislature.