Physico-Chemical Properties1

Code Letter(s) & Danger

Description
Meaning Symbol
Solid, liquid, pasty or gelatinous substances and preparations
which may
E react exothermically without atmospheric oxygen thereby
Explosive quickly evolving gases, and which under defined test
conditions detonate, quickly deflagrate or upon heating
explode when partially confined.

Liquid substances and preparations having an extremely

F+ low flash point and a low boiling point and gaseous
Extremely Flammable substances and preparations which are flammable in contact
with air at ambient temperature and pressure.

a. Substances and preparations which may become hot

and finally catch fire in contact with air at
ambient temperature without any application of
energy,
b. Solid substances and preparations which may readily
catch fire after brief contact with a source of ignition
F and which continue to burn or to be consumed after
Highly Flammable removal of the source of ignition,
c. Liquid substances and preparations having a very
low flash point, or
d. Substances and preparations
which, in contact with water or damp air, evolve
extremely flammable gases in dangerous quantities.1

(none) (no
Liquid substances and preparations having a low flash point.
Flammable symbol)

Substances and preparations which give rise to a

O
highly exothermic reaction in contact with other substances,
Oxidizing
particularly flammablesubstances.

Note: Some of the letters/symbols used in these tables are also used

as TSCA, HMIS and/or DoD HMIRS codes, all of which have completely different
meanings and applications! See why we dislike code systems?

Health Effects1
Note: Some symbols appear more than once in the following table. Please study the first column
carefully.
Code Letter(s) & Danger
Description
Meaning Symbol

C Substances and preparations which may, on contact with living

Corrosive tissues, destroy them.
 Substances and preparations which, were they to enter into the
environment, would present or might present an immediate or
N delayed danger for one or more components of the environment.
Dangerous For The
Environment Does not apply to preparations. In certain cases, some
substances do not need to be labelled with the danger symbol for
this category.

Substances and preparations which in very low quantities cause

T+
death or acute or chronic damage to health
Very toxic
when inhaled, swallowedor absorbed via the skin.

Substances and preparations which in low quantities cause death

T
or acute or chronic damage to health
Toxic
when inhaled, swallowed orabsorbed via the skin.

Non-corrosive substances and preparations which, through

Xi
immediate, prolonged or repeated contact with the skin or
Irritant
mucous membrane, may cause inflammation.

Substances and preparations which may cause death

Xn
or acute or chronic damage to health
Harmful
when inhaled, swallowed or absorbed via the skin.

Sensitizing
Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or if
Xn
they penetrate the skin, are capable of eliciting a reaction
Sensitizing by inhalation
byhypersensitization such that on further exposure to the
substance or preparation, characteristic adverse effects are
Xi (i.e. Xn or
produced.
Sensitizing by skin Xi)
contact
Carcinogenic
(depends Substances and preparations which, if they
T - Category 1  1
on are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may
T - Category 2 category) induce cancer or increase its incidence
Xn - Category 3
Mutagenic
(depends Substances and preparations which, if they
T - Category 1 1 on are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may
T - Category 2 category) induce inheritable genetic defects or increase their incidence.
Xn - Category 3
Toxic for reproduction Substances and preparations which, if they
(depends are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may produce
T - Category 1 1 on or increase the incidence of non-inheritable adverse effects in the
T - Category 2 category) progeny and/or of male or female reproductive functions or
Xn - Category 3 capacity.