Hazchem

A sample Hazchem plate for petrol.

A tanker carrying Kerosene with a Hazchem plate

affixed to the side of the tank.
Hazchem (/ˈhæzkɛm/; from hazardous
chemicals)[1] is a warning plate system
used in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand,
India and the United Kingdom for vehicles
transporting hazardous substances, and
on storage facilities. The top-left section
of the plate gives the Emergency Action
Code (EAC) telling the fire brigade what
actions to take if there's an accident or
fire. The middle-left section containing a 4
digit number gives the UN Substance
Identification Number describing the
material. The lower-left section gives the
telephone number that should be called if
special advice is needed. The warning
symbol in the top right indicates the
general hazard class of the material. The
bottom-right of the plate carries a
company logo or name.

There is also a standard null Hazchem

plate to indicate the transport of non-
hazardous substances. The null plate does
not include an EAC or substance
identification.

The National Chemical Emergency Centre

(NCEC) in the United Kingdom provides a
Free Online Hazchem Guide.[2]
Emergency Action Code
The Emergency Action Code (EAC) is a
three character code displayed on all
dangerous goods classed carriers, and
provides a quick assessment to first
responders and emergency responders
(i.e. fire fighters and police) of what
actions to take should the carrier carrying
such goods become involved in an
incident (traffic collision, for example).
EAC's are characterised by a single
number (1 to 4) and either one or two
letters (depending on the hazard).

NCEC was commissioned by the

Department for Communities and Local
Government (CLG) to edit the EAC List
2013 publication, outlining the application
of Hazchem Emergency Actions Codes
(EACs) in Britain for 2013. The Dangerous
Goods Emergency Action Code (EAC) List
is reviewed every two years and is an
essential compliance document for all
emergency services, local government and
for those who may control the planning for,
and prevention of, emergencies involving
dangerous goods. The current EAC List is
20013. NCEC has been at the heart of the
UK EAC system since its inception in the
early 1970s, publishing the list on behalf of
the UK Government until 1996 and
resuming its management in 2008.
The printed version of the book can be
purchased from TSO directly
(ISBN 9780117541184) or downloaded as
a PDF file from NCEC’s website.

HazChem fire suppression …

The number leading the EAC indicates the

type of fire-suppressing agent that should
be used to prevent or extinguish a fire
caused by the chemical.

Number Action

1 Coarse water spray

2 Water fog or fine spray[3]

•2 Alcohol-resistant foam, or fine water spray if necessary*

3 Foam

•3 Alcohol-resistant foam, or normal foam if necessary*

4 Dry agent - never water

* These indicators are used only in product
documentation and are displayed on
vehicle plates as 2 and 3 respectively.

The system ranks suppression media in

order of their suitability, so that a fire may
be fought with a suppression medium of
equal or higher EAC number.[4] For
example, a chemical with EAC number 2 -
indicating water fog - may be fought
additionally with media 3 (foam) or 4 (dry
agent), but not with 1 (coarse spray).[4]
This is especially important for chemicals
requiring medium 4 (dry agent), as these
chemicals react violently with water and
so using lowered-number media will be
actively dangerous.

HazChem safety parameters …

Each EAC contains at least one letter,

which determines which category the
chemical falls under, and which also
highlights the violence of the chemical (i.e.
likelihood to spontaneously combust,
explode etc.), what personal protective
equipment to use while working around
the chemical and what action to take when
disposing of the chemical.
Category Violence Protection Substance control

P V
Full
R

S BA
V Dilute
S BA for fire only

T BA

T BA for fire only

W V
Full
X

Y BA
V Contain
Y BA for fire only

Z BA

Z BA for fire only

E Consider evacuation
Comparison denoting the difference between PPE
deployment with 3YE chemicals

Each category is assigned a letter to

determine what actions are required when
handling, containing and disposing of the
chemical in question. Eight 'major
categories' exist which are commonly
denoted by a black letter on a white
background. Four subcategories exist
which specifically deal with what type of
personal protective equipment responders
must wear when handling the emergency,
denoted by a white letter on a black
background. In Australia with the update
of the Australian Dangerous Goods Code
volume 7 as of 2010, the white letter on a
black background has been removed,
making BA (breathing apparatus) a
requirement at all large incidents
regardless of whether the substance is
involved in a fire.

If a category is classed as violent, this

means that the chemical can be violently
or explosively reactive,[3] either with the
atmosphere or water, or both (which could
be marked by the Dangerous when Wet
symbol).
Protection is divided up into three
categories of personal protective
equipment, Full, BA and BA for fire only. Full
denotes that full personal protective
equipment provisions must be used
around and in contact with the chemical,
which will usually include a portable
breathing apparatus and water tight and
chemical proof suit. BA (acronym for
breathing apparatus) specifies that a
portable breathing apparatus must be
used at all times in and around the
chemical, and BA for fire only specifies that
a breathing apparatus is not necessary for
short exposure periods to the chemical but
is required if the chemical is alight. BA for
fire only is denoted within the emergency
action code as a white letter on a black
background, while a black letter on a white
background denotes breathing apparatus
at all times. When changing the
background colour is not possible (such
as with handwriting), the use of brackets
means the same as a black background.
"3[Y]E" means the same as a white letter
on a black background.

Substance control specifies what to do

with the chemical in the event of a spill,
either dilute or contain. Dilute means that
the chemical may be washed down the
drain with large quantities of water.
Contain requires that the spillage must not
come in contact with drains or water
courses.

In the event of a chemical incident, the

EAC may specify that an evacuation may
be necessary as the chemical poses a
public hazard which may extend beyond
the immediate vicinity. If evacuation is not
possible, advice to stay in doors and
secure all points of ventilation may be
necessary. This condition is denoted by an
E at the end of any emergency action
code. It is an optional letter, depending on
the nature of the chemical.
Examples …

Use foam or dry agent, substance reacts violently/is explosive, BA use is essential,
3 Y E
evacuate vicinity, contain spill.

Use foam or dry agent, substance reacts violently/is explosive, Use BA if fire present,
3 Y E
evacuate vicinity, contain spill.

2 R Use fog, foam or dry agent, substance is not violent, use full PPE, dilute spill.

4 X Use dry agent only, substance is not violent, full PPE essential, contain spill.

1 S E Use jets, fog, foam or dry agent; BA for fire only; evacuate vicinity; dilute spill.

A very commonly displayed example is

3YE on petrol tankers. This means that a
fire must be fought using foam or dry
agent (if a small fire), that it can react
violently and is explosive, that fire fighters
must wear a portable breathing apparatus
at all times, or if a white on black Y, only if
there is a fire, and that the run-off needs to
be contained. It also indicates to the
incident controller that evacuation of the
surrounding area may be necessary.

Calculation of Hazchem action code

for multi-loads or sites with …

multiple Hazchem codes

Example:[5][6]

There are three substances to be carried

as a multi-load, having emergency action
codes of 3Y, •2S and 4WE.

1st Character (Number): The first

character of the EAC for each of the three
substances is 3, 2 and 4. The highest
number must be taken as the first
character of the code for the multi-load
and therefore the first character will be 4.
The bullet in •2S is not assigned to the
mixed load because other EACs do not
include a bullet.

2nd Character (Letter): The second

character for the EAC for each of the three
substances is Y, S and W. Taking the Y
along the top row of the chart and the S
along the left hand column, the
intersection is at Y and therefore the
character for the first two substances
would be Y. This resultant character (Y) is
then taken along the top row and the
character for the third substance (W) is
taken along the left hand column. The
intersection point is now W. The second
character of the code for the three
substances is therefore W.

Letter ‘E’: The third substance has an ‘E’ as

a third character and therefore the multi-
load must also have an ‘E’.

The resultant Hazchem Code for the three

substances carried as a multi-load will
therefore be 4WE.

See also
Hazmat
NFPA 704—the equivalent system for
marking the presence of dangerous
goods buildings and fixed storage tanks
in the United States, intended for
emergency services.
ADR—the equivalent system used for
identifying dangerous goods while being
transported in mainland Europe.
Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labelling of
Chemicals—a new international
standard for marking hazardous
materials.
Hazardous Materials Identification
System—a system for marking
 dangerous materials in the United
States, intended for workers.

References
1. "Hazchem" . Oxford English Dictionary
(3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
September 2005. (Subscription or UK
public library membership required.)

2. "Free Online Hazchem Guide" .

Archived from the original on 2014-
05-12. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
3. NSW Rural Fire Service Firefighters'
Pocket Book pg. 18
4. SafeWork SA (2000) Safeguards.
Retrieved 2010-10-03 from
 http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/upload
ed_files/ds9i.pdf Archived 2011-02-
21 at the Wayback Machine. (page 1:
The system permits a medium of a
higher numeric classification to be
used than that indicated, however, a
medium with a lower numeric
classification than that indicated
should not be used.)
5. Australian Dangerous Goods Code, 7th
Edition, Section C2.7
. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2015-01-20. Retrieved
2015-01-20.

External links
NCEC Dangerous Goods Emergency
Action List 2017
EAC List 2013
Example of UK Hazchem Panel with
Hazchem Emergency Action Code
(EAC)
General 'Hazchem Information for UK
Emergency Services' Site
Dangerous Goods Emergency Action
Code List
Dangerous Goods-Hazmat Group , a
Yahoo-hosted global network for
discussion of dangerous goods and
hazardous materials storage and
handling issues.
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Hazchem&oldid=968263075"

Last edited 24 days ago by 2A00:23C6:F421:5B01:3DB2:B3C5:184D:EE6B

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