1107:
240:
43:
1047:
1424:
39:
1006:
922:
976:
95:
1056:
192:
259:, and white containing codes for special hazards. Each of health, flammability and reactivity is rated on a scale from 0 (no hazard) to 4 (severe hazard). The latest version of NFPA 704 sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 for the specifications of each classification are listed below. The numeric values in the first column are designated in the standard by "Degree of Hazard" using
44:
227:" which is used to quickly and easily identify the risks posed by hazardous materials. This helps determine what, if any, special equipment should be used, procedures followed, or precautions taken during the initial stages of an emergency response. It is an internationally accepted safety standard, and is crucial while transporting
1122:
after a fire at the
Charlotte Chemical Company in 1959 led to severe injuries to many of the firefighters. Upon arrival, the fire crew found a fire burning inside a vat that firefighters assumed to be burning kerosene. The crew tried to suppress the fire, which resulted in the vat exploding due to
1130:
The
Charlotte Fire Department developed training to respond to fires involving hazardous materials, ensured that protective clothing was available to those responding, and expanded the fire prevention inspection program. Fire Marshal J. F. Morris developed the diamond shaped placard as a marking
1126:
At the time, such vats were not labelled with the materials they contained, so firefighters did not have the necessary information to recognize that hazardous materials were present, which required a specific response. In this case, sodium was able to react with water to release hydrogen gas and
45:
42:
851:
These hazard codes are not part of the NFPA 704 standard, but are occasionally used in an unofficial manner. The use of non-standard codes may be permitted, required or disallowed by the authority having jurisdiction (e.g., fire department).
60:
263:(0, 1, 2, 3, 4), not to be confused with other classification systems, such as that in the NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, where flammable and combustible liquid categories are designated by "Class", using
660:
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.,
301:), including intrinsically noncombustible materials such as concrete, stone, and sand. Materials that will not burn in air unless exposed to a temperature of 820 °C (1,500 °F) for more than 5 minutes.
367:). Liquids having a flash point below 22.8 °C (73 °F) and having a boiling point at or above 37.8 °C (100 °F) or having a flash point between 22.8 and 37.8 °C (73 and 100 °F).
1140:
1123:
metallic sodium being stored in the kerosene. Thirteen firefighters were injured, several of whom had critical injuries while one lost both ears and most of his face from the incident.
1304:
349:
and multiple finely divided suspended solids that do not require heating before ignition can occur). Flash point between 37.8 and 93.3 °C (100 and 200 °F).
638:
Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or may form explosive mixtures with water (e.g.,
67:
1186:
1279:
377:
Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily (e.g.,
1389:
1187:"Proposed Amendments on Revisions to the Recommended System for the Identification of The Fire Hazards of Materials / NFPA No. 704M — 1969"
359:
Liquids and solids (including finely divided suspended solids) that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions (e.g.,
311:
Materials that require considerable preheating, under all ambient temperature conditions, before ignition and combustion can occur (e.g.,
1345:
1131:
system to indicate when a building contained hazardous materials, with their levels of flammability, reactivity and health effects.
424:
Poses no health hazard, requires no precautions, and would offer no hazard beyond that of ordinary combustible materials (e.g.,
1311:
1240:
1193:
216:
1397:
733:
The white "special notice" area can contain several symbols. The following symbols are defined by the NFPA 704 standard.
74:
159:
472:
Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury (e.g.,
178:
131:
1254:
138:
116:
337:
Must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperature before ignition can occur (e.g.,
53:
688:
1370:
145:
1197:
323:). Includes some finely divided suspended solids that do not require heating before ignition can occur.
219:. First "tentatively adopted as a guide" in 1960, and revised several times since then, it defines the "
1414:
1226:"NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response"
1119:
770:
127:
112:
209:
NFPA 704: Standard System for the
Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response
1352:
1444:
105:
519:
256:
1449:
1145:
1111:
747:
591:
Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water (e.g.,
16:
Hazard symbol used by emergency personnel to identify the risks posed by hazardous materials
1428:
1401:
511:
286:
1338:
1225:
1106:
862:
No special notice (the correct format is to leave the white square blank, but sometimes a
8:
905:
704:
243:
Standard System for the
Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response
700:
616:
Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures (e.g.,
541:
477:
459:
152:
1018:
958:
755:
670:
561:
557:
1371:"Pamphlet produced by the City of Milwaukee summarizing NFPA 704 code requirements"
897:
751:
696:
662:
639:
621:
545:
527:
437:
1165:
1072:
515:
503:
320:
294:
290:
260:
502:
Short exposure could cause serious temporary or moderate residual injury (e.g.,
1405:
1155:
996:
828:
800:
603:
481:
455:
264:
879:, allows chemicals to burn without an air supply (the correct symbol is "OX")
1438:
1385:
1150:
901:
786:
692:
625:
523:
507:
473:
401:
substances. Flash point below room temperature at 22.8 °C (73 °F).
398:
252:
212:
196:
1046:
239:
1398:"Safety in the Chemistry Laboratory: NFPA 704 Hazard Identification System"
966:
390:
248:
1280:"July marks 62 years since Charlotte Fire invented Haz-Mat safety measure"
712:
338:
324:
312:
247:
The four divisions are typically color-coded with red on top indicating
1005:
992:
921:
684:
485:
450:
Exposure would cause irritation with only minor residual injury (e.g.,
1141:
Globally
Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
1377:
1068:
1030:
1026:
1022:
962:
889:
643:
540:
Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury (e.g.
382:
228:
94:
975:
946:
876:
808:
782:
743:
596:
553:
549:
394:
378:
1055:
285:
Materials that will not burn under typical fire conditions (e.g.,
191:
1160:
832:
820:
774:
666:
617:
451:
386:
364:
360:
316:
200:
1092:
988:
804:
778:
647:
592:
346:
824:
816:
565:
429:
342:
298:
1127:
large amounts of heat, which has the potential to explode.
934:
893:
863:
812:
489:
433:
425:
708:
746:, allows chemicals to burn without an air supply (e.g.,
831:
vapor withdrawal systems and where large quantities of
1412:
119:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1224:
827:). The SA symbol shall also be used for liquified
1184:
1436:
1185:Dornette, W. H. L.; Woodworth, Miles E. (1969).
1255:"Fact Friday 153 - Charlotte's Haz-Mat History"
1118:The development of NFPA 704 is credited to the
41:
1390:Occupational Safety and Health Administration
691:at normal temperatures and pressures (e.g.,
1305:"History of the Charlotte Fire Department"
773:in an unusual or dangerous manner (e.g.,
195:NFPA 704 safety squares on containers of
179:Learn how and when to remove this message
1346:"Frequently Asked Questions on NFPA 704"
1105:
327:at or above 93.3 °C (200 °F).
238:
190:
251:, blue on the left indicating level of
1437:
1219:
1217:
1241:"Decoding the City: The Fire Diamond"
1194:National Fire Protection Association
217:National Fire Protection Association
117:adding citations to reliable sources
88:
1214:
13:
211:" is a standard maintained by the
37:
14:
1461:
1332:
1422:
1054:
1045:
1004:
974:
920:
93:
580:Instability–reactivity (yellow)
104:needs additional citations for
1297:
1272:
1247:
1233:
1178:
1:
1171:
845:Non-standard symbols (white)
835:are used in confined areas.
7:
1339:NFPA 704 (2022) Free Access
1134:
66:
10:
1466:
1101:
255:, yellow on the right for
73:
1120:Charlotte Fire Department
1067:
1017:
987:
957:
888:
850:
843:
732:
725:
578:
411:
272:
52:
32:
21:
234:
59:
689:explosive decomposition
1386:"Hazard Communication"
1115:
727:Special notice (white)
520:hexafluorosilicic acid
244:
204:
48:
1146:GHS hazard pictograms
1112:hydrofluosilicic acid
1109:
748:potassium perchlorate
242:
194:
47:
1402:University of Oregon
512:calcium hypochlorite
287:carbon tetrachloride
113:improve this article
906:potassium hydroxide
705:manganese heptoxide
683:Readily capable of
257:chemical reactivity
1116:
1110:"Fire diamond" of
701:nitrogen triiodide
542:aluminum phosphide
478:ammonium phosphate
460:potassium chloride
274:Flammability (red)
245:
205:
49:
27:safety square
1378:City of Milwaukee
1099:
1098:
959:Biological hazard
839:
838:
771:Reacts with water
756:hydrogen peroxide
719:
718:
671:hydrogen peroxide
572:
571:
562:hydrofluoric acid
558:methyl isocyanate
405:
404:
189:
188:
181:
163:
87:
86:
1457:
1427:
1426:
1425:
1418:
1409:
1404:. Archived from
1393:
1381:
1375:
1366:
1364:
1363:
1357:
1351:. Archived from
1350:
1326:
1325:
1323:
1322:
1316:
1310:. Archived from
1309:
1301:
1295:
1294:
1292:
1291:
1276:
1270:
1269:
1267:
1266:
1251:
1245:
1244:
1237:
1231:
1230:
1228:
1221:
1212:
1211:
1209:
1208:
1202:
1196:. Archived from
1191:
1182:
1058:
1049:
1008:
978:
924:
841:
840:
752:ammonium nitrate
723:
722:
697:chlorine dioxide
663:ammonium nitrate
640:white phosphorus
622:ammonium acetate
576:
575:
546:hydrogen cyanide
528:sodium hydroxide
438:propylene glycol
409:
408:
270:
269:
184:
177:
173:
170:
164:
162:
121:
97:
89:
78:
77:
69:
62:
55:
40:
19:
18:
1465:
1464:
1460:
1459:
1458:
1456:
1455:
1454:
1435:
1434:
1433:
1423:
1421:
1413:
1396:
1384:
1373:
1369:
1361:
1359:
1355:
1348:
1344:
1335:
1330:
1329:
1320:
1318:
1314:
1307:
1303:
1302:
1298:
1289:
1287:
1284:Queen City News
1278:
1277:
1273:
1264:
1262:
1253:
1252:
1248:
1239:
1238:
1234:
1223:
1222:
1215:
1206:
1204:
1200:
1189:
1183:
1179:
1174:
1137:
1104:
1089:
1082:
1073:liquid nitrogen
1065:
1040:
1015:
985:
955:
943:
931:
915:
886:
873:
859:
846:
796:
767:
740:
728:
680:
657:
635:
613:
600:
588:
581:
537:
516:carbon monoxide
504:liquid hydrogen
499:
469:
447:
421:
414:
374:
356:
334:
321:ethylene glycol
308:
295:perfluorohexane
291:silicon dioxide
282:
275:
261:Arabic numerals
237:
185:
174:
168:
165:
122:
120:
110:
98:
83:
82:
81:
80:
75:
71:
64:
57:
50:
46:
38:
25:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1463:
1453:
1452:
1447:
1445:NFPA Standards
1432:
1431:
1411:
1410:
1408:on 2015-03-10.
1394:
1382:
1367:
1342:
1334:
1333:External links
1331:
1328:
1327:
1296:
1271:
1261:. 22 June 2018
1246:
1232:
1213:
1176:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1169:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1156:HMIS Color Bar
1153:
1148:
1143:
1136:
1133:
1103:
1100:
1097:
1096:
1090:
1087:
1084:
1083:
1080:
1077:
1076:
1066:
1063:
1060:
1059:
1051:
1050:
1042:
1041:
1038:
1035:
1034:
1016:
1013:
1010:
1009:
1001:
1000:
997:alpha-amanitin
986:
983:
980:
979:
971:
970:
956:
953:
950:
949:
944:
941:
938:
937:
932:
929:
926:
925:
917:
916:
913:
910:
909:
887:
884:
881:
880:
874:
871:
868:
867:
860:
857:
854:
853:
848:
847:
844:
837:
836:
829:carbon dioxide
803:(specifically
801:asphyxiant gas
797:
794:
791:
790:
768:
763:
760:
759:
741:
738:
735:
734:
730:
729:
726:
717:
716:
681:
678:
675:
674:
658:
655:
652:
651:
636:
633:
630:
629:
614:
611:
608:
607:
604:carbon dioxide
598:
589:
586:
583:
582:
579:
570:
569:
538:
535:
532:
531:
500:
497:
494:
493:
482:carbon dioxide
470:
467:
464:
463:
456:sodium bromate
448:
445:
442:
441:
422:
419:
416:
415:
412:
403:
402:
375:
372:
369:
368:
357:
354:
351:
350:
335:
332:
329:
328:
309:
306:
303:
302:
283:
280:
277:
276:
273:
267:(I, II, III).
265:Roman numerals
236:
233:
187:
186:
101:
99:
92:
85:
84:
72:
65:
58:
51:
36:
35:
34:
33:
30:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1462:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1442:
1440:
1430:
1429:United States
1420:
1419:
1416:
1407:
1403:
1399:
1395:
1391:
1387:
1383:
1379:
1372:
1368:
1358:on 2017-07-16
1354:
1347:
1343:
1340:
1337:
1336:
1317:on 2023-04-07
1313:
1306:
1300:
1285:
1281:
1275:
1260:
1256:
1250:
1242:
1236:
1227:
1220:
1218:
1203:on 2016-03-03
1199:
1195:
1188:
1181:
1177:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1151:Hazard symbol
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1138:
1132:
1128:
1124:
1121:
1113:
1108:
1094:
1091:
1086:
1085:
1079:
1078:
1074:
1070:
1062:
1061:
1057:
1053:
1052:
1048:
1044:
1043:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1028:
1024:
1020:
1012:
1011:
1007:
1003:
1002:
998:
994:
990:
982:
981:
977:
973:
972:
968:
964:
960:
952:
951:
948:
945:
940:
939:
936:
933:
928:
927:
923:
919:
918:
912:
911:
907:
903:
902:sulfuric acid
899:
895:
891:
883:
882:
878:
875:
870:
869:
865:
861:
856:
855:
849:
842:
834:
830:
826:
822:
818:
814:
810:
806:
802:
798:
793:
792:
788:
787:sulfuric acid
784:
780:
776:
772:
769:
766:
762:
761:
757:
753:
749:
745:
742:
737:
736:
731:
724:
721:
714:
710:
706:
702:
698:
694:
693:nitroglycerin
690:
686:
682:
677:
676:
672:
668:
664:
659:
654:
653:
649:
645:
641:
637:
632:
631:
627:
626:carbonic acid
623:
619:
615:
610:
609:
605:
601:
594:
590:
585:
584:
577:
574:
567:
563:
559:
555:
551:
547:
543:
539:
534:
533:
529:
525:
524:zinc chloride
521:
517:
513:
509:
508:sulfuric acid
505:
501:
496:
495:
491:
487:
483:
479:
475:
474:diethyl ether
471:
466:
465:
461:
457:
453:
449:
444:
443:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
418:
417:
413:Health (blue)
410:
407:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
376:
371:
370:
366:
362:
358:
353:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
331:
330:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
305:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
279:
278:
271:
268:
266:
262:
258:
254:
253:health hazard
250:
241:
232:
230:
226:
222:
221:Safety Square
218:
214:
210:
202:
198:
197:ethyl alcohol
193:
183:
180:
172:
161:
158:
154:
151:
147:
144:
140:
137:
133:
130: –
129:
125:
124:Find sources:
118:
114:
108:
107:
102:This article
100:
96:
91:
90:
79:
70:
63:
56:
31:
28:
24:
23:NFPA 704
20:
1450:Safety codes
1406:the original
1360:. Retrieved
1353:the original
1319:. Retrieved
1312:the original
1299:
1288:. Retrieved
1286:. 2021-06-28
1283:
1274:
1263:. Retrieved
1258:
1249:
1235:
1205:. Retrieved
1198:the original
1180:
1129:
1125:
1117:
967:rabies virus
764:
720:
573:
406:
397:). Includes
391:hydrogen gas
249:flammability
246:
225:Fire Diamond
224:
220:
208:
206:
175:
166:
156:
149:
142:
135:
123:
111:Please help
106:verification
103:
26:
22:
1341:on NFPA.org
1019:Radioactive
713:Picric acid
339:diesel fuel
325:Flash point
313:mineral oil
1439:Categories
1362:2016-03-04
1321:2022-02-22
1290:2022-02-22
1265:2022-02-22
1207:2016-03-04
1172:References
993:strychnine
685:detonation
486:chloroform
399:pyrophoric
169:April 2024
139:newspapers
128:"NFPA 704"
1069:Cryogenic
1031:carbon-14
1027:cobalt-60
1023:plutonium
989:Poisonous
963:flu virus
892:; strong
890:Corrosive
866:is used)
644:potassium
383:acetylene
229:chemicals
1259:704 Shop
1135:See also
947:Alkaline
877:Oxidizer
809:nitrogen
783:diborane
744:Oxidizer
554:diborane
550:phosgene
395:diborane
379:gasoline
1229:. 2022.
1161:Hazchem
1102:History
1071:(e.g.,
1021:(e.g.,
991:(e.g.,
961:(e.g.,
900:(e.g.,
833:dry ice
821:krypton
799:Simple
775:caesium
667:caesium
618:propene
452:acetone
387:propane
365:ethanol
361:acetone
317:ammonia
215:-based
201:acetone
153:scholar
1415:Portal
1166:Hazmat
1093:Oxygen
823:, and
805:helium
779:sodium
648:sodium
593:helium
347:sulfur
223:" or "
155:
148:
141:
134:
126:
1374:(PDF)
1356:(PDF)
1349:(PDF)
1315:(PDF)
1308:(PDF)
1201:(PDF)
1190:(PDF)
825:xenon
817:argon
566:sarin
430:sugar
343:paper
299:water
235:Codes
160:JSTOR
146:books
1095:gas
1088:G OX
1081:CRYO
935:Acid
930:ACID
914:CORR
898:base
894:acid
864:dash
813:neon
490:DEET
434:salt
426:wood
213:U.S.
199:and
132:news
1064:CRY
1039:RAD
984:POI
954:BIO
942:ALK
896:or
885:COR
872:OXY
789:).
758:).
711:,
709:TNT
687:or
492:).
115:by
1441::
1400:.
1388:.
1376:.
1282:.
1257:.
1216:^
1192:.
1075:)
1033:)
1029:,
1025:,
1014:RA
999:)
995:,
969:)
965:,
908:)
904:,
819:,
815:,
811:,
807:,
795:SA
785:,
781:,
777:,
754:,
750:,
739:OX
715:)
707:,
703:,
699:,
695:,
673:)
669:,
665:,
650:)
646:,
642:,
628:)
624:,
620:,
606:)
602:,
595:,
568:)
564:,
560:,
556:,
552:,
548:,
544:,
530:)
526:,
522:,
518:,
514:,
510:,
506:,
488:,
484:,
480:,
476:,
462:)
458:,
454:,
440:)
436:,
432:,
428:,
393:,
389:,
385:,
381:,
363:,
345:,
341:,
319:,
315:,
297:,
293:,
289:,
231:.
1417::
1392:.
1380:.
1365:.
1324:.
1293:.
1268:.
1243:.
1210:.
1114:.
858:—
765:W
679:4
656:3
634:2
612:1
599:2
597:N
587:0
536:4
498:3
468:2
446:1
420:0
373:4
355:3
333:2
307:1
281:0
207:"
203:.
182:)
176:(
171:)
167:(
157:·
150:·
143:·
136:·
109:.
76:W
68:4
61:4
54:4
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
