NFPA 704
NFPA 704 is a standard maintained by the
U.S. National Fire Protection Association. It defines the colloquial "
fire diamond" used by emergency personnel to quickly and easily identify the risks posed by nearby hazardous materials. This is necessary to help determine what, if any, specialty equipment should be used, procedures followed, or precautions taken during the first moments of an emergency response.
The four divisions are typically color-coded, with blue indicating level of
health hazard, red indicating
flammability, yellow (chemical)
reactivity, and white containing special codes for unique hazards. Each of health, flammability and reactivity is rated on a scale from 0 (no hazard; normal substance) to 4 (severe risk).
Blue/Health
*
4. Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. (e.g.,
hydrogen cyanide)
*
3. Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. (e.g.,
chlorine gas)
*
2. Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. (e.g.,
chloroform)
*
1. Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. (e.g.,
turpentine)
*
0. Exposure under fire conditions would offer no hazard beyond that of ordinary combustible material. (e.g.,
peanut oil)
Red/Flammability
*
4. Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily. (e.g.,
propane)
Flash point below 73°F.
*
3. Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. (e.g.,
gasoline) Flash point below 100°F but above 73°F.
*
2. Must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperature before ignition can occur. (e.g.
diesel fuel) Flash point between 100°F and 200°F.
*
1. Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. (e.g.,
canola oil) Flash point over 200°F.
*
0. Will not burn. (e.g.,
water)
Yellow/Reactivity
*
4. Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures. (e.g.,
Nitroglycerin)
*
3. Capable of detonation or explosive decomposition but requires a strong initiating source, must be heated under confinement before initiation, reacts explosively with water, or will detonate if severely shocked. (e.g.,
flourine)
*
2. Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or may form explosive mixtures with water. (e.g.,
calcium)
*
1. Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. (e.g.,
phosphorus)
*
0. Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. (e.g.,
liquid nitrogen)
White/Special
The white "special notice" area can contain several symbols:
* '
W' - reacts with
water in an unusual or dangerous manner (e.g.
Cesium)
* 'OX' -
oxidizer* 'COR' -
corrosive; strong
acid or
base** 'ACID' and 'ALK' to be more specific.
* 'BIO' -
Biohazardous
* The
radioactive trefoil (
) - is radioactive
* 'CRYO' -
CryogenicNote: Only 'W' and 'OX' are officially part of the NFPA 704 standard, but other self-explanatory symbols are occasionally used in an unofficial manner.*
List of NFPA 704 ratings*
List of NFPA 704 ratings by severity*
Hazchem*
Hazmat*
Listing of NFPA Ratings for many chemicals*
About NFPA 704: Standard for the Identification of Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response*
University of Oregon Chem Labs - NFPA Hazard Identification System
