Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS)

The Hazardous Materials Identification System or as it is more commonly known, HMIS was developed by the National Paint and Coatings Association in the early 1970’s for use as an in-plant labeling system. The HMIS rating is a color-coded, alphanumeric system which gives information about the health, flammability and reactivity of the chemical in question. The system rates a material from a minimal hazard through a serious hazard. It also recommends the appropriate personal protective equipment to be worn when handling the particular chemical.

The rating system is based on some general rules. For the health rating, the information is based on animal test data and can be estimated for the eye and skin irritation sections. The flammability and reactivity ratings are generally based on flash point and exothermic reaction potential. Below are the ratings:
 

HEALTH (BLUE)

0 - Minimal Hazard

• Oral Toxicity is > 5000 mg/kg
• Dermal Toxicity is > 2000 mg/kg
• Inhalation Toxicity is > 20 mg/L
• Skin Irritation - essentially non-irritating (Draize = 0)
• Eye Irritation - essentially non-irritating with effects
• clearing in less than 24 hours (Draize = 0)
  
  

1 - Slight Hazard

• Oral Toxicity is >500 but <5000 mg/kg
• Dermal Toxicity is >1000 but <2000 mg/kg
• Inhalation Toxicity is >2 but <20 mg/L
• Skin Irritation - slightly or mildly
  irritating (Draize >0<5)
• Eye Irritation - slightly to mildly irritating but
  reversible within 7 days (Draize >0 < or = 25)
  
  

 2 - Moderate Hazard

• Oral Toxicity is >50 but < 500 mg/kg
• Dermal Toxicity is > 200 but <1000 mg/kg
• Inhalation Toxicity is >0.5 but <2 mg/L
• Skin Irritation - moderately irritating; primary irritant;
  sensitizer (Draize > or = 5 with no destruction of tissue
• Eye Irritation - moderately to severely irritating with reversible
  corneal opacity; corneal irritation clearing in 8-21 days
  (Draize = 26-110, with reversible effects)
  
  

3 - Serious Hazard

• Oral Toxicity is >1 but < 50 mg/kg
• Dermal Toxicity is >20 but <200 mg/kg
• Inhalation Toxicity is >0.05 but < 0.5 mg/L
• Skin Irritation - Severely irritating and/or corrosive;
• skin burns (Draize >5-8 with destruction of tissue)
• Eye Irritation - Corrosive; irreversible destruction of
  eye tissue; corneal irritation which persists for more
  than 21 days (Draize > 80; with effects irreversible in 21 days)
  
  

4 - Severe Hazard

• Oral Toxicity is < or = 1 mg/kg
• Dermal Toxicity is < or = 20 mg/kg
• Inhalation Toxicity is < or = 0.05 mg/L
• Skin Irritation - NOT USED as part of rating
• Eye Irritation - NOT USED as part of rating
  
  

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FLAMMABILITY (RED)

0 - Minimal Hazard

• Materials that will not burn. Usually includes any material that will not burn in air when exposed to a temperature of 1500°F. for a period of 5 minutes
  
  

1 - Slight Hazard

• Materials that must be preheated before ignition can occur.
• Includes:
  1. Materials that will burn in air when exposed to a temperature of 1500°F. for a period of 5 minutes or less;
  2. Liquids, solids, and semisolids having a flash point above 200°F.;
  3. Most ordinary combustible materials
     
     

2 - Moderate Hazard

• Materials that must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperatures
  before ignition can occur.
• Includes:
  1. Liquids having a flash point at or above 100°F. but not exceeding 200°F.
  2. Solid materials in the form of coarse dusts that may
  3. rapidly burn but that generally do not form explosive atmospheres
  4. Solids in a fibrous or shredded form that may burn rapidly and create flash fire hazards such as
     cotton or hemp
  5. Solids and semisolids that readily give off flammable vapors
     
     

 3 - Serious Hazard

• Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions.
• Includes:
  1. Liquids having a flash point below 73°F and a boiling point at or above 100 F.
  2. Liquids having a flash point at or above 73°F. and below 100°F.
  3. Materials that burn with extreme rapidity by reason of self-contained oxygen (nitrocellulose and
     organic peroxides)
  4. Materials that on account of their physical form or environmental conditions can form explosive mixtures in air such as dusts from flammable solids or mists from combustible or flammable liquids.
     
     

4 - Severe Hazard

• Materials that will rapidly or completely vaporize at atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperatures
• Includes:
  1. Flammable Gases
  2. Flammable Cryogenic Materials
  3. Materials that ignite spontaneously in air
  4. Any liquid or gaseous material that is liquid when under pressure and has a flash point below 73°F
     and a boiling point below 100°F.
     
     

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REACTIVITY (YELLOW)

0 - Minimal Hazard

• Materials that are normally stable even under fire conditions.
• Includes:
  1. Materials that do not react with water
  2. Materials that exhibit an exotherm at > 300°C but < 500°C.
  3. Materials that do not exhibit at temperatures
  4. < or = to 500°C.
     
     

1 - Slight Hazard

• Materials that are normally stable but that can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures.
• Includes:
  1. Materials that decompose or change on exposure to air, light or moisture
  2. Materials that exhibit an exotherm temperature
  3. 150°C. but <300°C.
     
     

2 - Moderate Hazard

• Materials that readily undergo violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures.
• Includes:
  1. Materials that may react violently with water form or potentially explosive mixtures with water.
  2. Materials that exhibit an exotherm at temperatures
  3. < or = 150°C.
     
     

3 - Serious Hazard

• Materials that are capable of detonation or explosive
• decomposition but that require a strong initiating source
• Includes:
  1. Materials that are sensitive to thermal or mechanical shock at elevated temperatures and pressures
  2. Materials that react explosively with water without requiring heat or confinement .
     

4 - Severe Hazard

• Materials that are readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or explosive reaction at normal temperatures and pressures.
• Includes materials that are sensitive to localized thermal or mechanical shock at normal temperatures
  and pressures .
  
  

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HMIS Label

Below is an example of a HMIS label. This particular label has an asterisk in one of the health boxes. The asterisk indicates that the product has a chronic health hazard associated with it.

The HMIS system also includes a recommendation for personal protective equipment. Below is a description of the various PPE recommendations and the pictographs of the PPE.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also created a similar color-coded, number system to be used for fire personnel. The main differences between the two systems are:

1. HMIS is a rectangular box and the NFPA is a diamond
2. HMIS health ratings are for normal working conditions; NFPA health ratings are for emergency conditions
   such as a fire or spill
3. HMIS ratings include information on chronic hazards; NFPA is for acute hazards only
   

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact the Safety, Health & Environmental Group.

PREPARED BY: Kathryn F. Strang
Manager, Safety, Health & Environmental
August 1, 1997
610-832-4304

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

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