Nfpa Diamond Label Meaning

The hmis color bar is similar to the fire diamond created by the national fire protection association nfpa.

Nfpa diamond label meaning. Nfpa 704 fire diamond. Red blue yellow and white. The nfpa s fire protection guide to hazardous materials 2010 edition includes nfpa 704 standard system for the identification of. Some of the more widely adopted and used nfpa codes that require 704 labels for specific.

It tells you how to label when another code standard or an ahj authority having jurisdiction such as the local fire department requires such labeling. There are 4 squared sections within the diamond each with its own color. Nfpa 704 sometimes is called a fire diamond because the diamond shaped sign indicates flammability of a substance and also communicates essential information about how emergency response teams should deal with a. Most people have seen these types of labels as the diamond shape with colors and numbers on the label is easily recognizable.

This standard presents a simple readily recognized and easily understood system of markings commonly referred to as the nfpa hazard diamond that provides an immediate general sense of the hazards of a material and the severity of these hazards as they relate to emergency response. In the past some chemical manufacturers used nfpa diamonds on their products but now labels are required to use ghs labeling. While nfpa codes cover several aspects of flammable materials pertinent to sds s perhaps the most significant is the nfpa 704 hazard identification ratings system the familiar nfpa hazard diamond shown on the right for health flammability and instability. Standard system for the identification of the hazards of materials for emergency response is a standard maintained by the u s based national fire protection association.

First tentatively adopted as a guide in 1960. This standard 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. Before 2002 the fire diamond and the color bar both had sections colored blue red white and yellow. Nfpa 704 is a supplemental labeling system specifically intended for emergency responders though other people can read and benefit from these labels in normal working conditions.

The nfpa 704 diamond system is intended to provide basic information to fire fighting emergency and other personnel. The national fire protection association nfpa in the united states uses a standard called nfpa 704 as a chemical hazard label.