NFPA 704
The Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response is a hazard identification system developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the United States. The system, commonly known as NFPA 704 or the NFPA Diamond, provides a readily recognized and easily understood method for identifying specific hazards and their severity. It addresses the health, flammability, instability, and related hazards that may be presented as short-term, acute exposures most likely to occur as a result of fire, spill, or similar emergency situations.
NFPA 704 Diamond[edit | edit source]
The NFPA 704 Diamond is a visual representation of the hazard identification system, consisting of a square divided into four smaller squares. Each smaller square represents a specific hazard category and is color-coded as follows:
- Blue: Health hazards
- Red: Flammability hazards
- Yellow: Instability hazards
- White: Special hazards
Each colored square contains a number from 0 to 4, indicating the severity of the hazard within that category, with 0 representing no hazard and 4 representing the most severe hazard.
Health Hazards[edit | edit source]
The blue square in the NFPA 704 Diamond represents health hazards. The numerical rating indicates the risk associated with exposure to the material:
- 0: No significant health hazard
- 1: Slight hazard, causing irritation or minor reversible injury
- 2: Moderate hazard, causing temporary incapacitation or residual injury
- 3: Serious hazard, causing serious or permanent injury
- 4: Severe hazard, causing life-threatening or potentially fatal injury
Flammability Hazards[edit | edit source]
The red square in the NFPA 704 Diamond represents flammability hazards. The numerical rating indicates the likelihood of the material to ignite and burn:
- 0: Will not burn
- 1: Must be preheated for ignition
- 2: Ignites when moderately heated
- 3: Ignites at normal temperatures
- 4: Extremely flammable and readily vaporizes at normal temperatures
Instability Hazards[edit | edit source]
The yellow square in the NFPA 704 Diamond represents instability hazards. The numerical rating indicates the potential of the material to react, decompose, or explode:
- 0: Stable and not reactive with water
- 1: Unstable if heated or mixed with water
- 2: Violent chemical change or decomposition with heating or high pressure
- 3: Capable of detonation or explosive decomposition with strong initiation or heating under confinement
- 4: Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures
Special Hazards[edit | edit source]
The white square in the NFPA 704 Diamond represents special hazards, which are indicated by specific symbols:
- W: Reacts with water in a hazardous manner
- OX: Oxidizer, capable of contributing to the combustion of other materials
- SA: Simple asphyxiant gas
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response
External Links[edit | edit source]
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Hazard Communication Standard
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Chemical Safety
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Hazard Communication Standard
- Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
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