Cooking equipment, temporary electrical distribution and lighting, and heating equipment were the leading equipment-related causes in NFPA’s 2017–2021 data on fires in structures under construction. The strongest prevention plan addresses both ignition and consequences: control hot work and temporary systems, manage combustible materials, provide suitable extinguishers, prepare workers and responders, and protect the site after hours.
Why construction sites are especially exposed
Construction brings temporary power, heaters, cooking appliances, hot work, and combustible materials into buildings whose permanent protections may not yet be complete. Sprinklers, alarms, or smoke detection may be unfinished or unavailable, while workers, materials, and site access change as the project advances. These conditions make it important to reassess fire controls as the work and site layout change—not just at project start.
The figures below come from NFPA Research’s Fires in Structures Under Construction report. They describe fires in structures under construction, not every outdoor jobsite, renovation, or construction-related incident. The cause, injury, and damage percentages are annual averages for 2017–2021.
Which causes matter most—and why frequency is not enough
Cooking equipment led the reported fire count, but electrical and intentional fires accounted for disproportionately large shares of direct property damage. Heating equipment stands out for reported civilian injuries. The figures are category shares, so they do not predict the risk at an individual site; use them to identify hazards for a site-specific assessment.
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| Category | Share of fires | Other reported share |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking equipment | 19% | 19% of reported civilian injuries |
| Electrical distribution and lighting equipment | 15% | 46% of direct property damage |
| Heating equipment | 14% | 39% of reported civilian injuries; 7% of direct property damage |
| Intentionally set fires | 8% | 45% of direct property damage |
| Smoking materials | 2% | 1% of direct property damage |
All values in the table are NFPA Research annual averages for 2017–2021. The report also found that fixed or portable space heaters were involved in 6% of fires and 29% of civilian injuries; torches, burners, or soldering irons in 7% of fires and 13% of direct property damage. Waste materials were first ignited in 7% of fires but accounted for 15% of direct property damage. Flammable or combustible liquids or gases, piping, or filters accounted for 6% of fires and 20% of reported injuries.
Timing is another planning consideration, not proof of cause: January accounted for 11% of annual fires, the highest monthly share, while midnight to 6 a.m. accounted for 18% of fires but 51% of direct property damage. NFPA notes that a fire may spread more easily undetected overnight when workers are less likely to be present. Those associations support after-hours safeguards; they do not establish that the time of day caused the damage.
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NFPA’s separate construction safety fact sheet reports annual averages of 4,300 construction-site fires, five civilian deaths, 62 civilian injuries, and $376 million in direct property loss for 2016–2020. These figures cover a different period and description from the cause shares above and should not be treated as a current estimate without a newer NFPA report.
Control ignition sources before work begins
Hot work and open flames
Welding, cutting, grinding, soldering, and roofing can place sparks, molten material, or flame near fuel. Establish the site’s hot-work permit and safeguard process before the work starts. The process should identify nearby combustibles and require controls under the applicable site procedure and rules. OSHA’s construction standards include 29 CFR 1926.350, Gas welding and cutting, and 29 CFR 1926.352, Fire prevention. Requirements such as fire-watch duration depend on the applicable rule and conditions; do not assume one duration applies to every job.
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Temporary electrical distribution and lighting
Temporary wiring or lighting can overheat or spark if installed or maintained poorly. OSHA requires construction electrical wiring and equipment used for light, heat, or power to comply with Subpart K. Have qualified electrical personnel install and review temporary systems regularly, and route concerns through site procedures rather than attempting unqualified repairs. Electrical fires were 15% of the reported fires but 46% of direct property damage in NFPA’s 2017–2021 annual averages.
Heating and cooking equipment
Use heaters and cooking equipment for their intended purpose, and include break-area appliances in the hazard assessment. Keep combustible materials clear of heaters and lights. OSHA’s construction fire-protection standard addresses clearance around lights and heating units to prevent ignition. The prominence of cooking equipment in NFPA’s fire counts is a reason to manage ordinary appliance use as carefully as more obvious sources such as hot work.
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Smoking, storage, and combustible waste
OSHA prohibits smoking at or near operations that constitute a fire hazard and requires conspicuous “No Smoking or Open Flame” postings. The standard also addresses housekeeping, storage, access, and clearance in the circumstances it covers. Remove unnecessary combustible waste, dispose of smoking materials safely, and store combustible or flammable materials in accordance with applicable requirements. NFPA’s data show why waste deserves attention: it was the first material ignited in 7% of fires yet accounted for 15% of direct property damage in the report’s 2017–2021 annual averages.
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Place suitable extinguishers and preserve access
OSHA’s open-yard provision, 29 CFR 1926.151(c)(6), requires portable extinguishing equipment suitable for the hazard at convenient, conspicuously accessible yard locations. Under that provision, extinguishers must be rated at least 2A and arranged so the travel distance to the nearest unit is no more than 100 feet. Those figures are specific to the open-yard rule; they are not a universal specification for every room or hazard. Keep exits and firefighting access available under the provisions that apply to the site.
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Train workers and plan for evacuation
Workers should know the site’s fire hazards, how to report an emergency, where to evacuate, and what responsibilities have been assigned to them. OSHA fire-safety guidance calls for training on hazards and emergency response, defined emergency assignments, and an evacuation plan. Establish the fire plan before demolition and update it as the project changes.
Coordinate with responders and code officials
Coordinate early among contractors, design professionals, emergency responders, and code officials. Some jurisdictions may require a pre-construction meeting or a fire-prevention coordinator; these are not universal requirements. Confirm what applies with the authority having jurisdiction and incorporate relevant access and response arrangements into site planning.
Keep safeguards in place after workers leave
When the site is unoccupied, a small fire can remain unnoticed longer, and unauthorized entry can create additional ignition risks. NFPA’s Construction Site Fire Safety fact sheet says sites should be safeguarded around the clock. Make after-hours security, housekeeping, and fire-safety responsibilities explicit; check that temporary systems and materials remain managed as work pauses or shifts.
Apply the rules that govern the specific site
The OSHA provisions cited here are U.S. federal construction standards. State-plan rules, local fire and building codes, site conditions, and the authority having jurisdiction can affect what is required. NFPA’s fact sheet references the 2022 edition of NFPA 241 and notes that it is not a comprehensive list of requirements. Use the applicable standards, permits, and local direction to determine the controls and specifications for a particular project.
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