SDS Section 5 (Tab "5 Firefighting")

Details

Quick start

In this section you provide advice on fighting a fire caused by the product; or one that is burning in the vicinity of the product.

Þ    Fields and other items that are “required” — recommended to generate a substantially complete SDS — have burgundy titles or applicability notes on the entry form.[1]

Þ    Enter either the requested information or “No data available.” for each required field (use the [N]o data button).

 

1.     Suitable extinguishing media — Enter both suitable and unsuitable fire-extinguishing media.

2.     Special hazards — Enter any special hazards arising from the chemical, such as the nature of any hazardous combustion products.

3.     Advice for firefighters — Enter any special protective equipment requirements and/or precautions for firefighters.

4.     Further information (optional) — Enter any other information not previously covered, that may be relevant to firefighting.

5.     Next, click on the “6 Accidental release” tab.

 

 


Managing help

·       If this help window opened automatically when you started the program, then you have automatic help turned on. To change automatic help, click on the “Auto-help is” on/off pushbutton, on this window.

·       When automatic help is off, you can display or refresh this help window manually, by using the [Ctrl]-9 shortcut (“Background for this section”).[2]

·       To get an overview:

o   Take the Brief tour on how the SDS entry form works:

§  Entering SDS content

§  Navigating the form

§  Shortcuts and convenience features

§  Translation features

§  Generating the SDS and GHS labels

To start the tour, click on the Help button and select “Brief tour”.

o   Watch the video on this tab (click on the Video button, if the label is in blue text).

o   Navigate to Tab "1 Identification" and view or refresh the background help. Read the section, “Features common to most SDS form sections/tabs”.

·       For brief tips, hover with your mouse over the object of interest.

·       To get assistance on a particular field: Click into the field, then click on the Help button, and select “Guide this item” (shortcut: [Ctrl]-5).

·       To get stepwise assistance for all areas on this tab: Click on the Help button and select “Guide this section” (shortcut: [Ctrl]-6).

·       To learn additional details and requirements, including guidance from regulatory agencies (US-OSHA, UN, EU, and Health Canada) read the details section, below.

 


 

SDS Section 5 (Tab "5 Firefighting") – details

Contents

I.     Features of this section

Entry areas

II.    OSHA guidance

III.       UN guidance

A4.3.5 SECTION 5: Fire-fighting measures

A4.3.5.1 Suitable extinguishing media

A4.3.5.2 Specific hazards arising from the chemical

A4.3.5.3 Special protective actions for fire-fighters

IV.       European Union guidance

SECTION 5: Firefighting measures

5.1. Extinguishing media

5.2. Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture

5.3. Advice for firefighters

V.    Health Canada guidance

 

      I.         Features of this section

Entry areas


Tab "5 Firefighting"

Refer to the field descriptions in the Quick start section, above.

    II.         OSHA guidance

From: “OSHA Brief: Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets”, https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3514.html.

This section provides recommendations for fighting a fire caused by the chemical. The required information consists of:

·       Recommendations of suitable extinguishing equipment, and information about extinguishing equipment that is not appropriate for a particular situation.

·       Advice on specific hazards that develop from the chemical during the fire, such as any hazardous combustion products created when the chemical burns.

·       Recommendations on special protective equipment or precautions for firefighters.

 

  III.         UN guidance

From: United Nations (2017). Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), Seventh Revised Edition. https://unece.org/ghs-rev7-2017. United Nations. Reprinted with permission.

A4.3.5 SECTION 5: Fire-fighting measures

This section covers the requirements for fighting a fire caused by the substance or mixture, or arising in its vicinity.

A4.3.5.1 Suitable extinguishing media

Provide information on the appropriate extinguishing media. In addition, indicate whether any extinguishing media are inappropriate for a particular situation involving the substance or mixture (e.g. avoid high pressure media which could cause the formation of a potentially explosible dust-air mixture).

A4.3.5.2 Specific hazards arising from the chemical

Provide advice on specific hazards that may arise from the chemical, such as hazardous combustion products that form when the substance or mixture burns.

For example:

(a) “may produce toxic fumes of carbon monoxide if burning”; or

(b) “produces oxides of sulphur and nitrogen on combustion”.

A4.3.5.3 Special protective actions for fire-fighters

A4.3.5.3.1 Provide advice on any protective actions to be taken during fire fighting. For example, “keep containers cool with water spray”.

 

 IV.         European Union guidance

From: "COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2020/878 of 18 June 2020, amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)”. Official Journal of the European Union, 26.6.2020.

SECTION 5: Firefighting measures

This section of the safety data sheet shall describe the requirements for fighting a fire caused by the substance or mixture, or arising in its vicinity.

5.1. Extinguishing media

Suitable extinguishing media:

Information shall be provided on the appropriate extinguishing media.

Unsuitable extinguishing media:

Indications shall be given whether any extinguishing media are inappropriate for a particular situation involving the substance or mixture (e.g. avoid high pressure media which could cause the formation of a potentially explosible dust-air mixture).

5.2. Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture

Information shall be provided on hazards that may arise from the substance or mixture, like hazardous combustion products that form when the substance or mixture burns, such as “may produce toxic fumes of carbon monoxide if burning” or “produces oxides of sulphur and nitrogen on combustion”.

5.3. Advice for firefighters

Advice shall be provided on any protective actions to be taken during firefighting, such as “keep containers cool with water spray”, and on special protective equipment for firefighters, such as boots, overalls, gloves, eye and face protection and breathing apparatus.

 

   V.         Health Canada guidance

From: "Technical Guidance on the Requirements of the Hazardous Products Act and the Hazardous Products Regulations, WHMIS 2015 Supplier Requirements", Cat.: H129-64/1-2016E-PDF. December 2016. ©2016, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Health.

This section provides information for fighting a fire caused by the product. The required information consists of:

·       Information about suitable extinguishing equipment and media, and information about extinguishing equipment and media that are not appropriate for a particular situation involving the hazardous product

·       Information on specific hazards that may arise as a result of a  re caused by or involving the product, such as the nature of any hazardous combustion products

·       Information on special protective equipment and precautions for firefighters

 

 

[rev. 4.8.2021]


[1] Minimum SDS requirements vary with jurisdiction. In some cases, instead of a burgundy label, a field may include a note identifying particular jurisdiction(s) requiring it.

[2] This shortcut is equivalent to clicking on the Help button on the entry form, and selecting “Background for this section”.