Chapter 4: Hazardous Materials Identification

The HAZCHEM Code This information is designed to assist

(Emergency Action Code)
The HAZCHEM code was designed as a
generic first three minutes action code
for early intervention. The HAZCHEM code
is a two or three character code that gives
firefighters and other emergency response
personnel the information they need for
initial response in a hazardous materials
incident involving the bulk transportation of
dangerous goods. At present, the HAZCHEM
code for dangerous goods must appear
as part of the information displayed on
emergency information panels, which are
fitted to all vehicles transporting dangerous
goods in bulk.
emergency personnel to determine the most
appropriate actions to take at an incident.
Note: This code is generally issued
to firefighters and is carried on all fire
appliances.
The HAZCHEM code has a two or three
character code that indicates the actions
required in the event of a dangerous goods
incident. The information contained within the
code is outlined in the following in Figure 48
below.
Note: The HAZCHEM Code does not apply
to radioactive substances, explosives or
infectious substances.

Additional Information
HAZCHEM Substance
Class
UN NO. DRY AGENT
Emergency Label
Water must not be allowed to come into contact
HAZCHEM
Action Code with the substance at risk.
FOR FIRE OR SPILLAGE Conatcts
ALCOHOL RESISTANT FOAM 2 or 3
Alcohol resistant foam is the preferred medium.
1 WATER JET If not available:
2 FOG - If 2 use Fine Spray or Water Fog
3 FOAM - If 3 use Normal Foam
4 DRY AGENT
V
. ALCOHOL RESISTANT FOAM Substance can be violently or even explosively
reactive, including combustion.
P V FULL
FULL Full body protective clothing with BA.
R
DILUTE DILUTE
S V
BA May be washed to drain with large quantities of
T water.
W V CONTAIN
FULL
X Prevent, by any means available, spillage from
CONTAIN entering drains or water courses.
Y V
BA E
Z
People should be warned to stay indoors with all
doors and windows closed, -but evacuation may
need to be considered.
E PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD Consult Control, Police and product expert.

Figure 46 Hazchem Pocket Card (Emergency Action Code)

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Parts of the HAZCHEM code Bullets

Where the Hazchem code is preceded by

HAZCHEM Substance
Class
a bullet symbol this indicates that alcohol
UN NO.
Emergency Label
resistant foam is the preferred medium.
HAZCHEM
Action Code
Conatcts
FOR FIRE OR SPILLAGE
If unavailable, default to the number that
1 WATER JET
follows the bullet symbol in the HAZCHEM
2 FOG code.
3 FOAM
4 DRY AGENT Example 1:
. ALCOHOL RESISTANT FOAM
. 2YE
P
R
V
FULL
.
The here indicates
alcohol resistant If alcohol resistant foam
foam is the preferred is unavailable, use fine
DILUTE water or fog as next
S V firefighting medium.
BA most effective medium.
T
W V
FULL Example 2:
X
Y V
BA
CONTAIN
CONTAI
T N
. 3YE
Z
.
The here indicates
alcohol resistant If alcohol resistant foam
foam is the preferred is unavailable, use
E PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD normal foam as next
firefighting medium.
most effective medium.

Figure 48 use of bullet symbol in HAZCHEM code

Figure 47 types of extinguishing media here

The firefighting extinguishing media When reading the HAZCHEM code, read
is determined by reference to the first from left to right. Each column on the code
characters of the emergency action code will be numbered to assist you in interpreting
(EAC) as follows: the information presented.

1 Denotes course water jet.

2 Denotes fog or spray.
3 Denotes normal foam i.e. foam, that is not
alcohol resistant.
4 Denotes dry agent water MUST NOT
be allowed to come into contact with
substance.
Note: Any number higher than the one shown
can be used but a lower number may not be
used.

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Column 1
HAZCHEM Substance
Provides a trigger to identify the appropriate Emergency UN NO.
Class
Label

personal protective clothing and equipment Action Code HAZCHEM

(PPC/PPE) and strategy required for the FOR FIRE OR SPILLAGE Conatcts

incident.
1 WATER
A JE
JET
T
2 FOG
3 FOAM
HAZCHEM Substance
Class 4 DRY
R AGENT
UN NO.
Emergency Label . ALCOHOL RESISTANT
T FOAM
HAZCHEM
Action Code
FOR FIRE OR SPILLAGE Conatcts
P V
FULL
1 WATER
A JE
JET
T
R
DILUTE
2 FOG S V
BA
3 FOAM T
4 DRY
R AGENT W V
. ALCOHOL RESISTANT
T FOAM FULL
X
CONTAIN
CONTAI
T N
Y V
P V BA
FULL Z
R
DILUTE
S V
BA E PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD
T
W V
FULL
X
CONTAIN
CONTAI
T N Figure 50 violent reaction likely indicator
Y V
BA
Z This may happen if the substance:
F is intrinsically unstable;
E PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD
F has a flash point below 61C;

F has the ability to cause an explosion, or

Figure 49 trigger for personal protection
Column 2 violent reaction
If the letter V appears in this column, a
violent reaction or explosion can be expected
under certain conditions.
greatly contribute to the intensity of a fire,
when in contact with organic or other
combustible material, (powerful oxidizers
belong to this category);
F will react violently with water. For example,
the application of water to fuming
sulphuric acid causes a violent reaction
and produces a large amount of heat;
F will react with water to give off flammable
gas; and
F may cause a dust explosion.

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In these situations, precautions such as the The information appearing in column 3

following should be taken: details the level of protective clothing
required for an incident:
F consider removing the general public from
the area; and F FULL indicates that a splash suit, BA,
chemical protective gloves and rubber
F if possible, operate from a safe distance
boots are required.
and from behind cover.
F BA indicates that BA and full structural
Column 3 personal protection to be
PPC is required.
worn by firefighters at an incident
Some chemicals may require a gas-tight suit
but the HAZCHEM code will not indicate this.
HAZCHEM Substance
Class
UN NO.
Emergency Label
Column 4 contain or dilute
HAZCHEM
Action Code
FOR FIRE OR SPILLAGE Conatcts

1 WATER
A JE
JET
T HAZCHEM Substance
Class
UN NO.
2 FOG Emergency Label
HAZCHEM
3 FOAM Action Code
FOR FIRE OR SPILLAGE Conatcts
4 DRY
R AGENT
. ALCOHOL RESISTANT
T FOAM
1 WATER
A JE
JET
T
2 FOG
P V
FULL 3 FOAM
R 4 DRY
R AGENT
DILUTE
S V . ALCOHOL RESISTANT
T FOAM
BA
T
W V P V
FULL FULL
X R
CONTAIN
CONTAI
T N DILUTE
Y V S V
BA BA
Z T
W V
FULL
E PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD X
CONTAIN
Y V
BA
Z
Figure 51 level of PPC required
E PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD

Figure 52 whether to contain or dilute spill

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 Chapter 4: Hazardous Materials Identification

The letters P, R, S or T indicate dilution while

the letters W, X, Y or Z indicate containment. HAZCHEM Substance
Class
These letters are designed to reduce Emergency UN NO. Label
HAZCHEM
the hazard or prevent the incident from Action Code
FOR FIRE OR SPILLAGE Conatcts
escalating.
1 WATER
A JE
JET
T
F Dilute the letters P, R, S or T mean that the 2 FOG
run off and decontamination may be diluted 3 FOAM
4 DRY
R AGENT
with large quantities of water. However, in . ALCOHOL RESISTANT
T FOAM
most instances, it is unacceptable for envir-
onmental reasons to allow substances to P V
FULL
be diluted or washed away. If possible, R
DILUTE
these substances should be contained S V
BA
and prevented from entering drains and T
waterways. Unnecessary dilution should W V
FULL
be avoided, as it increases the volume of X
CONTAI
T N
CONTAIN
Y V
hazardous waste that needs to be managed. BA
Z
(A notable exception is concentrated hydro-
chloric acid, for which modest dilution can
E PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD
stop the release of fumes.)
F Contain the letters W, X, Y or Z mean
that run off and decontamination must Figure 53 consider need to evacuate public
be prevented from entering drains or Any decision to take action to protect the
watercourses. They also allow the recovery public needs to take into consideration the
of the substance where such a procedure circumstances involved such as:
is safe and practicable.
F the type and quantity of chemicals
Evacuation involved;

In some instances the letter E will also F wind direction and weather;

appear at the end of the code. F size of area affected;

The letter E is appended to the HAZCHEM F the environment; and

code when a public safety hazard exists.
People should be warned to stay indoors
with doors and windows closed. The
presence of the letter E in the HAZCHEM
code does not mean that an evacuation is
automatic but it may be considered.
F whether it would be safer to leave
residents where they are.
At a hazardous materials incident, the
decision to evacuate, and what area will
be evacuated, is made by the Incident
Controller. Alternatively, protect in place
should be considered.

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 Chapter 4: Hazardous Materials Identification
An example: Phosphine Ether has the
HAZCHEM code 2PE.
hazchem
2PE
Figure 54 HAZCHEM Code for Phosphine Ether
2 Indicates that water in the form of a fine
water spray or fog is to be applied but
cannot be used in the form of a coarse
spray or jet.
P Indicates that:
a violent reaction or explosion may
occur;
a splash suit, BA, and chemical
protective gloves and rubber boots are
required. In some situations Structural
PPC may also be required; and
it can be diluted.
E Indicates a public safety hazard and so
there is a need to consider evacuation of
an area.
Note: Additional information is usually
provided adjacent to, or on the reverse of, the
HAZCHEM code to assist with interpreting the
HAZCHEM code.
Transport Documentation
In a transport incident, materials can
be identified by accessing the shipping
documents (only if safe to do so).
72
It is a regulatory requirement that transport
documents be located in a special folder in a
pocket on the inside of the drivers front door.
Where a pocket cannot be fitted to the door,
a sticker must be affixed identifying where in
the cabin the papers are located.
Figure 55 example of door sticker showing location
of emergency procedure guide
Shipping documents are prepared by the
consigner, and typically provide the names
and quantities of the chemicals carried by
the vehicle, and the type of packaging.
Depending on the circumstances, road
vehicles transporting dangerous goods may
carry some or all of the following documents
in the cabin:
F Commercial manifests listing all the
goods being transported, including
dangerous goods, other chemical products
(those which are not dangerous goods),
and other (non-chemical) products.
Information included for dangerous goods:
name and address of the prime
contractors and consignors;
name of the substance;
UN class;
UN number;
packing group designation;
SAFETY FIRST Edn 2 June 2008
HAZMAT Awareness
 Chapter 4: Hazardous Materials Identification

type of packaging;
total quantity by weight, volume and/or
packaging; and
hazard Class/Division label.
F Dangerous goods manifests listing the
dangerous goods being transported, with
additional information.
F Emergency Procedure Guides or SAA/
SNZ HB 76 Dangerous Goods Initial
Emergency Response Guide as required
by the ADG Code.
Note: For transport by rail, similar documentation
for each wagon which is carrying dangerous
goods should be carried in a separate, specially
marked envelope. All such envelopes for a train
Figure 56 Emergency Information Book (EIB);
should be carried in the locomotive cab. front cover and main sections

Storage Manifest (Emergency

Information Book)
Under the Dangerous Goods Regulations,
site occupiers who store and handle
dangerous goods beyond manifest quantity
are required to prepare and maintain an
Emergency Information Book (EIB), as shown
in Figure 58, above right.
CFAs Dangerous Goods Department ensures
that the Emergency Information Books
information and formatting is firefighter
friendly and relevant to responding fire crews.
The EIB is to be placed at the main
entrance(s) to the site or building, in
a position that can be easily seen by
responding fire crews, and located in a red
weatherproof container.

Figure 57 red weatherproof container housing the EIB

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The EIB should contain the following ADR RID

information:
F name and address of the premises;
F emergency contacts;
F information about;
the classes of dangerous goods on site;
dangerous goods in bulk dangerous
goods in packages;
dangerous goods in manufacture; and
dangerous goods in transit; and
F a plan of the premises, showing the location
of dangerous goods, essential services and
installed firefighting equipment.
If set up and properly maintained by the site
occupier, the information contained in the
EIB becomes a valuable resource for the
firefighter, and should be accessed by first
on-scene crews as soon as practicable.
At all sites where there is an Emergency
Information Book, there is also an Emergency
Plan that has been scrutinised by CFAs
Dangerous Goods Department. If the site
is occupied at the time of the incident,
responding crews should be confident that
they can obtain good advice on the dangerous
goods present, and any other resources.
This code system is used in the European
Union, and could appear as a placard on
shipping containers, tanks and other types
of vessels containing chemicals coming into
the port areas from Europe.
The ADR RID code consists of an orange
placard containing two numbers.
F Top section the top number can consist
of one, two or sometimes three digits. The
most important of these digits is the first,
which is the dangerous goods class of
the material.
F Bottom section the lower number is the
UN Number for the material.
An example of an ADR RID code for Benzene
is shown below.
The first 3 in the top number indicates the
material is a flammable liquid (Dangerous
Goods Class 3), and the lower number is the
UN number for Benzene.
33
1114
Figure 58 ADR RID code for Benzene

Note: If at any time fire crews find the EIB

inaccurate or illegible, or it is evident that
the site Emergency Plan is ineffective, they
should contact their Regional Duty Officer,
Regional CFA Headquarters or the Dangerous
Goods Department at CFA Headquarters to
have the situation rectified.

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National Fire Protection Reactivity (yellow section):

Association Code (USA) 4 readily capable of detonation at normal

temperature and pressure;
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Code is represented by a diamond-shaped 3 capable of detonation; sensitive to noise
or shock;
placard, and is found on shipping containers,
tanks and other types of vessels containing 2 normally unstable;
chemicals that have come from the USA. 1 unstable at high temperatures; and
0 stable.
Special circumstances (white section):
4 The white section will usually be blank, except
in special circumstances where a material
4 4 may be water reactive, possess combustion
support or other special properties.
W In such cases an informative pictogram will
be present as illustrated below.

Figure 59 NFPA code symbol

The code and its meanings are as follows.

W Water reactive properties pictogram.

Each of the coloured sections contain a

number; they are interpreted as follows. OXY Oxidising properties pictogram.
Health (blue section):
Radioactive properties pictogram.
4 lethal;
Figure 60 NFPA code; special circumstances
3 extremely hazardous;
2 hazardous to health;
1 slightly hazardous; and
0 no unusual hazard.

Flammability (red section):

4 very flammable gases or liquids;
3 can ignite at normal temperatures;
2 moderate heat required for ignition;
1 preheating required for ignition; and
0 will not burn.

Edn 2 June 2008 SAFETY FIRST 75

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Notes

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Chapter 4
Summary
F When responding to a hazardous materials
incident, you may be able to use the
following to assist you in identification of
the hazardous materials:
emergency information panels;
proper shipping names;
product names, trade names, common
names;
chemical names;
dangerous goods class or division
labels;
UN numbers;
placarding;
transport documents; and
storage manifests.
F Vehicles carrying bulk quantities of dangerous
goods must be marked with an EIP.
F Dangerous goods class labels are
colour-coded labels that identify the type
of dangerous goods being stored and
transported.
F The HAZCHEM code was designed as a
generic first three minutes action code
for early intervention.
F The HAZCHEM code does not apply to
radioactive substances, explosives or
infectious substances.
Edn 2 June 2008 SAFETY FIRST
HAZMAT Awareness
F A HAZCHEM sign (outer warning placard)
or composite warning placard at an
entrance to a premises indicates that
dangerous goods are located on the
premises.
F Class labels (diamonds ) are arranged into
nine broad classifications and are used to
identify types of dangerous goods being
stored, handled or transported. In some
cases these classes are broken down into
divisions.
F Containers often have distinctive
markings or colours to indicate the hazard
presented.
F Containers in excess of 450 litres volume
are required to display a bulk dangerous
goods placard on the container.
F The HAZMAT Action Guide (HAG) system
provides firefighters with guidance when
selecting:
initial personal protection;
other appropriate PPE;
hazards of the substance or compound;
appropriate action required;
firefighting medium required;
appropriate decontamination guidelines;
and
effect with water.
77
 Chapter 4: Hazardous Materials Identification

F When transporting dangerous goods

or hazardous materials is a regulatory
requirement that transport documents
be located in a special folder in a pocket
on the inside of the drivers front door. In
the event of an incident these document
can provide valuable information to assist
firefighters.
F ADR RID codes could appear as a placard
on shipping containers, tanks and other
types of vessels containing chemicals
coming from Europe.
F NFPA Codes (a diamond shaped placard),
could appear on shipping containers,
tanks and other types of vessels containing
chemicals coming from the USA.

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Chapter 4
Self Assessment
True or False ( box)
1 Proper shipping names, dangerous goods class labels and UN numbers can be used to
assist in identifying hazardous materials.

True False

2 Vehicles carrying hazardous materials in bulk are not required, by the Australian
Dangerous Goods Code, to placard the vehicle.

True False

3 Dangerous goods class labels give detailed information about the hazardous materials
being transported.

True False

4 Some dangerous goods classifications have their own divisions.

True False

5 The UN number is a four digit number developed by the United Nations Committee of
Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

True False

6 The HAZCHEM code will indicate whether a splash suit or gas-tight suit is required.

True False

7 An outer warning placard will show the word HAZCHEM in red on a silver background.

True False

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Short Answer
1 Referring to the emergency information panel below, match the appropriate number to the
correct description:

F number _______________ is the emergency telephone number;

F number _______________ is the UN number;
F number _______________ is the dangerous goods class label;
F number _______________ is the proper shipping name or technical name;
F number _______________ is the specialist advice; and
F number _______________ is the HAZCHEM code.

L.P. Gas
(1)

1075
(2)

2YE
(3) (5)
SPECIALIST ADVICE
IN EMERGENCY DIAL FISKVILLE
000, POLICE OR CHEMICALS
(4)
FIRE BRIGADE LTD (6)
(03) 5366 7200

2 What does the presence of a HAZCHEM sign (outer warning placard) or composite
warning placard at the entrance to a premises indicate?
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

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3 Referring to the HAZCHEM code for fire or spillage, what action would you take for the
following:

2SE Action to take

Extinguishing medium:

Violently reactive:

Protective equipment:

Dilute/contain:
Other:

4ZE Action to take

Extinguishing medium:
Violently reactive:

Protective equipment:

Dilute/contain:
Other:

If you require any assistance with this material see your Brigade Training Officer or Training Manager.

Edn 2 June 2008 SAFETY FIRST 81

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Notes

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