Chemical categorization fire hazards

The characteristics of a chemical or substance that would categorize it as a reactive material include (1) it reacts violently with water, (2) it forms potentially explosive mixtures with water, or (3) when mixed widi water or other chemicals, it generates toxic gases, vapors or fumes in a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment. Because water is the most common fire suppressant, the characteristic of reactivity is especially relevant since the application of water to eliminate or prevent the spread fires may be counterpro-ductive rather than helpful. Several categories of chemicals will be discussed from this standpoint however, several of these same chemicals also present additional hazards. 

An emergency response to an incident that involves the accidental or intentional release of toxic chemicals or materials will typically be categorized as a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incident. With the greater emphasis placed on this type of response, HAZMAT incident response plans have become increasingly standardized across the country. Specialized HAZMAT teams are routinely activated to respond in such situations. HAZMAT teams are typically part of the fire services and will possess chemical detection equipment. The first responders, typically the police or fire... 

The primary hazards related most closely to vapor degreasing can be categorized as health, fire, and chemical reactivity hazards. 

---