NFPA 704 label

One solution that appears reasonable is to restrict container labels to only the most pertinent hazards, utilizing NFPA-704 Labels for tanks and areas, and providing expanded material safety data sheets in the workplace. 

Figure 8-5. Sample of NFPA 704 label for storage containers of hazardous materials.

Hazardous materials labeling as received from manufacturer, inhouse labeling, and DOT and NFPA labeling. 

National Fire Protection Association s (NFPA) label—Has a diamond shape and uses the same color code as the HMIS label, but has different and more specific meanings for the numbers in each hazard category. 

Another feature that differs from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) label system is that HMIS allows an asterisk to designate a material... 

HAZMAT labeled with approved labels. No NFPA labels (diamond shaped) ... 

The NFPA code is represented in a diamond containing 4 sectors, respectively toxicity, inflammability, reactivity and special risks . A coloured code that will appear on glass labels, at the back of transport vehicles, room doors etc enables the danger to be better noted. It is used by American companies although some French companies have also adopted it and it appears to be an efficient device. 

Pyrophoric and other spontaneously combustible substances will generally be identified as such on their product literature, material safety data sheets (MSDSs), or International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs). If transported, these substances should be identified as DOT/UN Hazard Class 4.2 materials for shipping purposes and labeled as spontaneously combustible. For pyrophoric substances, the NFPA 704 diamond for container or vessel labeling has a red (top) quadrant with a rating of 4, indicating the highest severity of flammability hazard (NFPA 704, 2001). Note that pyrophoric materials often exhibit one or more other reactivity hazards as well, such as water reactivity. 

When the NFPA diamond is used for container or vessel labeling, and the white (bottom) quadrant contains the W symbol, the material will react violently or explosively with water, and a chemical reactivity hazard obviously exists. However, if the W symbol is not present, the material may still be water reactive, but at a slower rate, since the pur-pose of the NFPA symbol is to alert emergency responders to significant, immediate water reactivity n. hazards. Water reactivity is often very rapid, but can j also be slow. The reaction may generate sufficient gas Twy to rupture a closed container or vessel. The reaction of f an organic material with water may be delayed due to reaction only occurring at the interface. 

When the NFPA diamond is used for container or vessel labeling, and the white (bottom) quadrant contains OX, the material possesses oxidizing properties. It may be either an oxidizer or an organic peroxide. In either case, it should be considered to pose a chemical reactivity hazard. 

A main control and annunciator panel should be installed when the fire alarm system requires more than a single alarm zone. The panel should be installed in the control room or other continuously staffed location. Separate detection zones should be provided for each distinct fire area and identified by a permanent label. A detailed map of the area should also be provided at the annunciator that identifies which zone relates to which annunciator lamp. Systems with more than ten separate zones should be provided with an electric or electroniczone "mimic" panel showingthe location of all alarms on the graphic display of the platform. Basic arrangements of equipment and system design should be in accordance with NFPA 72. A locked main fire panel and control cabinet should be provided. 

Chemical hazard pictorial Several different pictorials are used on labels to indicate the level of a chemical hazard. The most common is the "fire diamond NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) pictorial shown at left. A zero indicates a minimal hazard and a four indicates a severe risk. Special information includes if the chemical reacts with water, OX for an oxidizer, COR ACID for a corrosive acid, and COR ALK for a corrosive base. The "Flealth" hazard level is for acute toxicity only. 

The diamond label in Figure 1.13, called the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) diamond provides information at a glance and should be mounted on all containers. Each of the smaller diamonds within the larger one has a different color. The top diamond is red and gives flammability information. The left diamond is blue and tells to what extent the material is a health hazard. The right diamond is yellow and provides reactivity information. The bottom diamond is white and gives special information about the material. The numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are placed in the top three smaller diamonds to indicate the severity of the hazard, 1 the least hazardous and 4 the most hazardous. 

Worker safety, according to recent social science research, is apparently enhanced by labeling only for major hazards and by establishing a general danger symbol, perhaps patterned on NFPA s 704 System or the DOT/UN Hazard Diamond Labels, l ile detailed labels do increase the amount of information available, they also raise anxiety levels and probably reduce reader retention and understemding. 

The definitions in the NFPA System include the products of combustion as part of their scope. This differs om most other systems. It is a worthwhile Eind useful refinement to keep in mind when preparing instructions for the In Case of Fire section of a label. NFPA, incidentally, publishes a wide range of fire related data, including their extremely useful memual of heizardous chemical reactions. A complete list of these publications can be obtained from NFPA. 

This standard was first tentatively adopted in 1960, officially adopted by the National Fire Protection Association in 1961, and revised in 1964,1966,1975 and 1980. It grew out of development work begun in 1952 by the NFPA sectional committee on Classification, Labeling, and Properties of Flammable Liquids. As originally conceived, this standard is to safeguard the lives of those who are concerned with fires and fire control and prevention, in industrial plants or storage locations. It is particularly useful where the fire hazards of materials may not be readily apparent. 

Chapter Six and Appendix A of the 1980 NFPA 704 Standard are reproduced below. Appendix A provides a good recap of the general system. One should obtain a copy of the complete 704 System from NFPA before attempting to implement this label system. Contact Mr. Martin F. Henry, Secretary, Committee on Fire Hazards of Materials, NFPA, Battery March Park, Quincy, MA 02269, for further information on this system. 

Richard J. Lewis, Sr., Division of Technical Service, The Industrial Hygiene Branch of The National Institute for Occupational Safety Health, had primary responsibility for the development of this recommended Standard. Although Lewis led the project, input was received from General Motors Corporation, Olin Corporation and Shell Oil Company, the Michigan Department of Health, The University of Missouri, and of course various offices and divisions of NIOSH. The work draws heavy upon NFPA s 704 system and CMA s LAPI Guide to Precautionary Labeling. The recommended colors follow NFPA, as do the three major hazard classes health, reactivity, and flammability. 

However, NIOSH has provided, based primarily upon the CMA label guide, recommended label statements for health, fire, reactivity, disposal, and first aid. The NIOSH system proposes a label that includes a numeric NFPA-type... 

This steuidard requires labels for all containers, placards for areas and buildings and a MSDS available in the work place. It briefly refers to hazard training for employees but does not present a program to accomplish this portion of the standard. In that sense this standard falls short of being a complete communication system. In spite of this, it remains a good workable compromise between a hazard alert system such as NFPA 704 and the LAPI-based ANSI system which relies primarily upon worker-oriented label statements. 

This proposal draws on the DOT and NFPA concepts that utilize signs or label shapes with fixed colors for various hazard classes. The ASTM proposal uses the three LAPI signal words, Danger , Warning , and Caution to represent level of hazard, but in a change from other systems also uses color to indicate level of hazard. This system, thus, reinforces level of hazard by fixed shape, word and color. 

The label system employed by the HMI System is a derivative of the NFPA and NIOSH concepts ratings, from one (1) to five (5) are assigned for health, flammability, and reactivity. The NFPA-NIOSH colors are also used blue for health, red for flammability, and yellow for reactivity. 

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