8/30/24, 4:09 PM NFPA 704 - Wikipedia

NFPA 704
"NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of
NFPA 704
the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response" is safety square
a standard maintained by the U.S.-based National Fire
Protection Association. First "tentatively adopted as a guide" 4
in 1960,[1] and revised several times since then, it defines the 4 4
"Safety Square" or "Fire Diamond" which is used to W
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 chemicals.

Codes
The four divisions are
typically color-coded
with red on top
indicating NFPA 704 safety squares on
flammability, blue on containers of ethyl alcohol and
the left indicating level acetone.
of health hazard, yellow
on the right for
chemical reactivity, 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).
Standard System for the Identification of The latest version of NFPA 704 sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 for
the Hazards of Materials for Emergency the specifications of each classification are listed below.
Response The numeric values in the first column are designated in
the standard by "Degree of Hazard" using Arabic numerals
(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 Roman numerals (I, II, III).[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFPA_704 1/5
8/30/24, 4:09 PM NFPA 704 - Wikipedia

Flammability (red)
Materials that will not burn under typical fire conditions (e.g., carbon tetrachloride, silicon dioxide,
perfluorohexane, water), including intrinsically noncombustible materials such as concrete, stone, and sand.
0 Materials that will not burn in air unless exposed to a temperature of 820 °C (1,500 °F) for more than
5 minutes.

Materials that require considerable preheating, under all ambient temperature conditions, before ignition and
1 combustion can occur (e.g., mineral oil, ammonia, ethylene glycol). Includes some finely divided suspended
solids that do not require heating before ignition can occur. Flash point at or above 93.3 °C (200 °F).
Must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperature before ignition can occur (e.g.,
2 diesel fuel, paper, sulfur 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).

Liquids and solids (including finely divided suspended solids) that can be ignited under almost all ambient
3 temperature conditions (e.g., acetone, ethanol). 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).

Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in
4 air and will burn readily (e.g., gasoline, acetylene, propane, hydrogen gas, diborane). Includes pyrophoric
substances. Flash point below room temperature at 22.8 °C (73 °F).

Health (blue)
Poses no health hazard, requires no precautions, and would offer no hazard beyond that of ordinary
0 combustible materials (e.g., wood, sugar, salt, propylene glycol)

Exposure would cause irritation with only minor residual injury (e.g., acetone, sodium bromate, potassium
1 chloride)

Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury
2 (e.g., diethyl ether, ammonium phosphate, carbon dioxide, chloroform, DEET).
Short exposure could cause serious temporary or moderate residual injury (e.g., liquid hydrogen, sulfuric acid,
3 calcium hypochlorite, carbon monoxide, hexafluorosilicic acid, zinc chloride, sodium hydroxide)

Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury (e.g. aluminum phosphide, hydrogen cyanide,
4 phosgene, diborane, methyl isocyanate, hydrofluoric acid, sarin)

Instability–reactivity (yellow)
Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water (e.g., helium, N2, carbon
0 dioxide)

Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures (e.g., propene, ammonium
1 acetate, carbonic acid)
Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or
2 may form explosive mixtures with water (e.g., white phosphorus, potassium, sodium)

Capable of detonation or explosive decomposition but requires a strong initiating source, must be heated
3 under confinement before initiation, reacts explosively with water, or will detonate if severely shocked (e.g.,
ammonium nitrate, caesium, hydrogen peroxide)
Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures (e.g.,
4 nitroglycerin, chlorine dioxide, nitrogen triiodide, manganese heptoxide, TNT, Picric acid)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFPA_704 2/5
8/30/24, 4:09 PM NFPA 704 - Wikipedia

Special notice (white)

The white "special notice" area can contain several symbols. The following symbols are defined by the NFPA 704
standard.

Oxidizer, allows chemicals to burn without an air supply (e.g., potassium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate,
OX hydrogen peroxide).

W Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner (e.g., caesium, sodium, diborane, sulfuric acid).

Simple asphyxiant gas (specifically helium, nitrogen, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon). The SA symbol shall
SA also be used for liquified carbon dioxide vapor withdrawal systems and where large quantities of dry ice are
used in confined areas.[2]

Non-standard symbols (white)

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).[3]

— No special notice (the correct format is to leave the white square blank, but sometimes a dash is used)

OXY Oxidizer, allows chemicals to burn without an air supply (the correct symbol is "OX")

COR
CORR Corrosive; strong acid or base (e.g., sulfuric acid, potassium hydroxide)

ACID Acid

ALK Alkaline

BIO
Biological hazard (e.g., flu virus, rabies virus)

POI
Poisonous (e.g., strychnine, alpha-amanitin)

RA
RAD
Radioactive (e.g., plutonium, cobalt-60, carbon-14)

CRY
Cryogenic (e.g., liquid nitrogen)
CRYO
G OX Oxygen gas

History
The development of NFPA 704 is credited to the Charlotte Fire Department after a fire at the
Charlotte Chemical Company in 1959 led to severe injuries to many of the firefighters.[4][5] Upon
arrival, the fire crew found a fire burning inside a vat that firefighters assumed to be burning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFPA_704 3/5
8/30/24, 4:09 PM NFPA 704 - Wikipedia

kerosene. The crew tried to suppress the fire, which resulted in

the vat exploding due to 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.

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 "Fire diamond" of hydrofluosilicic
present, which required a specific response. In this case, acid.
sodium was able to react with water to release hydrogen gas
and large amounts of heat, which has the potential to explode.

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 system to indicate when a building contained hazardous materials, with their
levels of flammability, reactivity and health effects. [6]

See also
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
GHS hazard pictograms
Hazard symbol
HMIS Color Bar
Hazchem
Hazmat

References
1. Dornette, W. H. L.; Woodworth, Miles E. (1969). "Proposed Amendments on Revisions to the
Recommended System for the Identification of The Fire Hazards of Materials / NFPA No. 704M
— 1969" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232503/http://www.nfpa.org/Assets/files/About
TheCodes/704/TCRF-1975-704M.pdf) (PDF). National Fire Protection Association. Archived
from the original (https://www.nfpa.org/Assets/files/AboutTheCodes/704/TCRF-1975-704M.pdf)
(PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
2. "NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency
Response" (https://link.nfpa.org/free-access/publications/704/2022). 2022.
3. "Decoding the City: The Fire Diamond" (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/decodin
g-the-city-the-fire-diamond-18494224/).
4. "Fact Friday 153 - Charlotte's Haz-Mat History" (https://704shop.com/blogs/fact-friday/fact-frida
y-153-charlottes-haz-mat-history). 704 Shop. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
5. "July marks 62 years since Charlotte Fire invented Haz-Mat safety measure" (https://www.fox4
6.com/news/local-news/july-marks-62-years-since-charlotte-fire-invented-haz-mat-safety-meas
ure/). Queen City News. 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
6. "History of the Charlotte Fire Department" (https://web.archive.org/web/20230407222759/http
s://charlottenc.gov/Fire/about-us/Documents/CFD%20History%20Final%20Jan%209%202014.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFPA_704 4/5
8/30/24, 4:09 PM NFPA 704 - Wikipedia

pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (https://charlottenc.gov/Fire/about-us/Documents/CFD%

20History%20Final%20Jan%209%202014.pdf) (PDF) on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2022-02-22.

External links
NFPA 704 (2022) Free Access (https://link.nfpa.org/free-access/publications/704/2022) on
NFPA.org
"Frequently Asked Questions on NFPA 704" (https://archive.today/20170716160209/http://ww
w.nfpa.org/assets/files/aboutthecodes/704/704_faqs.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (htt
p://www.nfpa.org/Assets/files/AboutTheCodes/704/704_FAQs.pdf) (PDF) on 2017-07-16.
Retrieved 2016-03-04.
"Pamphlet produced by the City of Milwaukee summarizing NFPA 704 code requirements" (htt
p://www.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/User/dnscms/pdf/broc/hazmat12.pdf) (PDF). City of
Milwaukee.
"Hazard Communication" (https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html). Occupational Safety
and Health Administration.
"Safety in the Chemistry Laboratory: NFPA 704 Hazard Identification System" (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20150310145104/http://chemlabs.uoregon.edu/Safety/NFPA.html). University of
Oregon. Archived from the original (http://chemlabs.uoregon.edu/Safety/NFPA.html) on 2015-
03-10.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NFPA_704&oldid=1242832924"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFPA_704 5/5