Torch-down roofing and propane

Torch-down work has two hazards in one: an open flame and a tank full of propane. Start with the tank. Keep the cylinder standing upright on a flat, solid spot, and secure it so it cannot tip. Keep it away from the torch flame and the hot work area, and keep the hose out of foot traffic where it can be kinked, cut, or melted. Check the hose, the regulator, and every fitting before you light up. If you smell gas or hear a hiss, shut the tank valve first and find the leak with soapy water, never with a flame. At the end of the day, close the tank valve and burn the gas out of the hose. Propane tanks get stored outside, never inside the building.

Now the flame. Before you light, walk the roof and look for what can catch. Wood nailers, curbs, cant strips, old felt, foam insulation, and the gap where the roof meets a wall are the usual places a fire starts. Never point the torch into a gap, a crack, a vent, or under flashing where you cannot see what is behind it. Fire can run into the wall or the roof deck and stay hidden. For tight spots and edges, use a heat gun or a cold-applied product if the job allows it. Keep the torch moving and set it on its stand, pointed at the sky, when you put it down. Do not walk around with a lit torch.

Have a fire extinguisher on the roof, charged and within reach of the torch station, before you light. Know who is the fire watch. After the last torch goes out, someone stays and watches for at least as long as your company plan says. Look for smoke, smell for burning, and feel the edges and curbs with the back of your hand. A hidden fire can show up long after the torch is off. Do not leave the roof until the fire watch is done and the area is cool. If a fire gets bigger than one extinguisher, get off the roof and call 911. Your life is worth more than the building.