NFPA 704 HazCom 2012

Purpose Provides basic information for emergency 

personnel responding to a fire or spill and 

those planning for emergency response.

Informs workers about the hazards of 

chemicals in workplace under normal 

conditions of use and foreseeable emergencies.

Number 

System:

NFPA Rating 

and OSHA’s 

Classification 

System

0-4

0-least hazardous

4-most hazardous

1-4

1-most severe hazard

4-least severe hazard

• The Hazard category numbers are NOT 

required to be on labels but are required on 

SDSs in Section 2.

• Numbers are used to CLASSIFY hazards to 

determine what label information is required.

Information 

Provided on 

Label

• Health-Blue

• Flammability-Red

• Instability-Yellow

• Special Hazards*-White

*OX Oxidizers

W Water Reactives

SA Simple Asphyxiants

• Product Identifier

• Signal Word

• Hazard Statement(s)

• Pictogram(s)

• Precautionary statement(s); and 

• Name address and phone number of 

responsible party.

Health 

Hazards on 

Label

Acute (short term) health hazards ONLY.

Acute hazards are more typical for emergency 

response applications.

Chronic health effects are not covered by 

NFPA 704.

Acute (short term) and chronic (long term) 

health hazards. Both acute and chronic health 

effects are relevant for employees working with 

chemicals day after day. Health hazards include 

acute hazards such as eye irritants, simple 

asphyxiants and skin corrosives as well as 

chronic hazards such as carcinogens.

Flammability/

Physical 

Hazards on 

Label

NFPA divides flammability and instability 

hazards into two separate numbers on the label. 

Flammability in red section 

Instability in yellow section

A broad range of physical hazard 

classes are listed on the label including 

explosives, flammables, oxidizers, reactives, 

pyrophorics,combustible dusts and corrosives.

Where to get 

information 

to place on 

label

Rating system found in NFPA Fire Protection 

Guide to Hazardous Materials OR

NFPA 704 Standard System for Identification 

of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency 

Response 2012 Edition. Tables 5.2, 6.2, 7.2 and 

Chapter 8 of NFPA 704

OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 

1910.1200 (2012).

1) Classify using Appendix A (Health Hazards) 

and Appendix B (Physical Hazards)

2) Label using Appendix C

Other The hazard category numbers found in section 

2 of the HC2012 compliant SDSs are NOT to be 

used to fill in the NFPA 704 diamond.

Supplemental information may also appear on 

the label such as any hazards not otherwise 

classified, and directions for use.

website www.nfpa.org/704 www.osha.gov OR

www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html

Comparison of NFPA 704 and HazCom 2012 Labels

OSHA 3678-08 2013

QUICK

CARDTM

National Fire 

Protection Association

www.nfpa.org 

(800) 344-3555

For more information:
The substance: “NOMIXUP 7042012”

To create an OSHA label per HazCom 2012:

Step 1: Perform the classification in accordance with Appendix A: Health Hazards 

& Appendix B Physical Hazards of 29 CFR 1910.1200 — this is where you find the 

criteria for each hazard class and hazard category.

Class: Flammable Gas, Category 1

Class: Carcinogen, Category 1B

Class: Specific Target Organ Toxicity 

(Single Exposure), Category 3

Class: Substances and Mixtures 

Which, in Contact with Water, Emit 

Flammable Gases, Category 3

Step 2: Gather labeling information 

(Pictograms, Signal Word, Hazard 

Statements) from Appendix C of 29 

CFR 1910.1200 based on the chemical’s hazard class and category.

Step 3: Create the Label

To Create NFPA 704 label:

Step 1: Collect information on hazards from applicable sections of SDS. Some 

SDSs may provide the NFPA diamond symbol with hazard rating numbers filled 

in already. Note: Do NOT use the hazard category numbers given in section 2 of 

HazCom 2012 compliant SDS on 704 label!

If the diamond is not provided on the SDS you can 

obtain the information under the following sections 

of the SDS. Note that additional information may be 

provided in other sections of the SDS.

• Health hazard information under Section 11

• Flammability information under Section 9

• Instability information under Section 10

• Special information under Section 9, 10, 11

Step 2: Obtain current edition copy of NFPA 704 or view on line at www.nfpa.org/704. 

Compare the criteria on the SDS sections as shown above with the criteria shown in 

Tables 5.2 (Health), 6.2 (Flammability), 7.2 (Instability) and 8.2 (Special Hazards).

Step 3: Place numbers for the degree of hazard associated with the criteria 

obtained in Step 2 in the correct quadrant of NFPA 704 placard.

OSHA 3678-08 2013

QUICK

CARDTM

National Fire 

Protection Association

www.nfpa.org 

(800) 344-3555

For more information: