Flammable and combustible chemicals include liquids such as organic solvents, oils, greases, tars, oil base paints, and lacquers, as well as flammable gases. Flammable gases are discussed in the Georgia Tech Dangerous Gas Safety Program.
The emphasis of this section is on flammable and combustible liquids.
Flammable and combustible liquids are defined by their flash points. The flash point of a liquid is the minimum temperature at which it gives off sufficient vapor to form an ignitable mixture with the air near its surface or within its containment vessel. A liquid’s flash point is a function of its vapor pressure and boiling point. Generally, the higher the vapor pressure and the lower the boiling point of a liquid, the lower its flash point will be. The lower the flash point, the greater the fire and explosion hazard
Flammable and combustible liquids are classified by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) based on their flash points:
Flammable Liquids (Class I):
Liquids with flash points below 100°F (37.8°C) and vapor pressures not exceeding 40 pounds per square inch (absolute) at 100°F (37.8°C). Flammable Class I liquids are subdivided as follows:
- Class IA: Liquids having flash points below 73°F (22.8°C) and boiling points below 100°F (37.8°C). Flammable aerosols (spray cans) are included in Class IA. (These are 4 on an NFPA Diamond)
- Class IB: Liquids having flash points below 73°F (22.8°C) and having boiling points at or above 100°F (37.8°C). (These are a 3 on an NFPA Diamond)
- Class IC: Liquids having flash points at or above 73°F (22.8°C) and below 100°F (37.8°C). The boiling point is not considered. (Also a 3 on an NFPA Diamond)
Combustible Liquids (Classes II and III):
Liquids having flash points at or above 100°F (37.8°C). Combustible liquids in Classes II and III are subdivided as follows:
- Class II: Liquids having flash points at or above 100°F (37.8°C) and below 140°F (60.0°C).
- Class IIIA: Liquids having flash points at or above 140°F (60.0°C) and below 200°F (93.4°C).
Storage requirements are provided below. Consult the chemical’s Safety Data Sheet for specific storage and incompatibility.