NFPA 704 Symbols

Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response

label example

This label can help you quickly identify the risks posed by hazardous materials you may encounter when entering rooms, buildings, or designated areas around campus.

The higher the number found in the Flammability (red), Health (blue), or Reactivity (yellow) section of the label, the higher the risk for that type of hazard.

Codes and special symbols (white) warn of other dangerous properties.

Flammability

0 inside a red diamond shape

Will not burn under normal conditions.

1 inside a red diamond shape

Flash point above 200° F / 93° C; Requires considerable preheating to burn.

Flash point below 200° F / 93° C; Requires moderate heating or high ambient temperatures to burn.

3 inside a red diamond shape

Flash point below 100° F / 38° C; Flammable.

4 inside a red diamond shape

Flash point below 73° F / 23° C; Highly flammable; Rapidly vaporizes under normal conditions.

Health

0 inside a blue diamond shape

Not normally harmful.

1 inside a blue diamond shape

Can cause irritation or inflict a minor injury.

2 inside a blue diamond shape

Continued exposure can cause temporary incapacitation or inflict an injury.

3 inside a blue diamond shape

Even short exposure can cause serious injury and permanent damage.

4 inside a blue diamond shape

Any exposure can kill.

Reactivity

0 inside a yellow diamond shape

Stable when exposed to heat, pressure, and water.

1 inside a yellow diamond shape

Can become unstable under high heat or high pressure.

2 inside a yellow diamond shape

Reacts violently to either high heat, high pressure, or water.

3 inside a yellow diamond shape

Explodes when triggered by either high heat, severe shock, or water.

4 inside a yellow diamond shape

Explodes under normal conditions.

Special Notices and Extensions to the Standard

OXY inside a white diamond shape

Oxidizer; Allows other chemicals to burn without an air supply.

OX inside a white diamond shape

Oxidizer; Allows other chemicals to burn without an air supply.

SA inside a white diamond shape

Simple asphyxiant.

W inside a white diamond shape

Reacts violently with water.

radioactive symbol inside a white diamond shape

Radioactive

RAD inside a white diamond shape

Radioactive

RA inside a white diamond shape

Radioactive

skull and crossbones inside a white diamond shape

Poisonous

POI inside a white diamond shape

Poisonous

biological hazard symbol inside a white diamond shape

Biological Hazard

BIO inside a white diamond shape

Biological Hazard

COR inside a white diamond shape

Corrosive; strong acid or alkaline (base).

ACID inside a white diamond shape

Strong Acid

ALK inside a white diamond shape

Strong Alkaline (base)

CRYO inside a white diamond shape

Cryogenic

CYL inside a white diamond shape

Cryogenic