The common HazMat
"Diamond" is technically known as the National
Fire Prevention Association standard 704 for the classification of
hazardous materials. It is a standard hazard rating system which provides
a readily recognized, easily understood system for identifying specific
hazards and their severity using spatial, visual, and numerical methods
to describe in simple terms the relative hazards of a material. It addresses
the health, flammability, instability, and related hazards that may be
presented as short-term, acute exposures that are most likely to occur
as a result of fire, spill, or similar emergency.
General
Description
Meaning
of Colors
The hazards are
arranged spatially as follows: health at nine o'clock position, flammability
at twelve o'clock position, and instability at three o'clock position.
In addition to the spatial orientation that can be used to distinguish
the hazards, they are also color coded as follows:
Hazard
Severity
Hazard severity is
indicated by a numerical rating that ranges from zero (0) indicating a
minimal hazard, to four (4) indicating a severe hazard.
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Detailed
Information
|
0
|
Material will not
burn. |
|
1
|
Material must be
pre-heated before ignition can occur. |
|
2
|
Material must be
moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperature before
ignition can occur. |
|
3
|
Liquids and solids
that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. |
|
4
|
Materials that will
rapidly or completely vaporize at atmospheric pressure and normal ambient
temperature, or that are readily dispersed in air and that will burn readily. |
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|
0
|
Material that in
itself is normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is
not reactive with water. |
|
1
|
Material that in
itself is normally stable, but which can become unstable at elevated temperatures
and pressures. |
|
2
|
Material that readily
undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures
or which reacts violently with water or which may form explosive mixtures
with water. |
|
3
|
Material that in
itself is capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or reaction
but requires a strong initiating source or which must be heated under confinement
before initiation or which reacts explosively with water. |
|
4
|
Material that in
itself is readily capable of detonation or of explosive decomposition or
reaction at normal temperatures and pressures. |
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|
0
|
Material that on
exposure under fire conditions would offer no hazard beyond that of ordinary
combustible material. |
|
1
|
Material that on
exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury |
|
2
|
Material that on
intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation
or possible residual injury. |
|
3
|
Material that on
short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. |
|
4
|
Material that on
very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. |
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Special
Precautions
Protective
Gear Required
|
|
Material shows unusual
reactivity with water (i.e. don't put water on it). |
|
OX
|
Material possesses
oxidizing properties |
|
ACID
|
Material is an acid. |
|
ALK
|
Material is a base
(alkaline). |
|
COR
|
Material is corrosive. |
|
Material is radioactive |
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|
