Flash Point

Little Pro on 2016-01-13

Flash point is the lowest temperature at which a chemical can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. A lower flash point indicates higher flammability. Measuring a flash point (open-cup or close-cup) requires an ignition source. At the flash point, the vapor may cease to burn when the ignition source is removed. You can often find it in the section 9 of a safety data sheet (SDS).

It shall be note that flash point is different from auto-ignition temperature at which a chemical can burn without an ignition source.

Regulatory Implications of Flash Point

Flash point is mainly used to distinguish flammable liquids from combustible liquids and non-flammable liquids. The picture below is an example of GHS classification criteria for flammable liquids. A liquid with a flash point between 23 and 60 Celsius degrees will be classified as flammable liquid category 3. A liquid with a flash point above 93 Celsius degrees does not meet GHS classification criteria and will not be regarded as a flammable liquid or a hazardous chemical.

Under dangerous goods regulations, a liquid with a flash point below 60 Celsius degrees will be classified as Class 3 Dangerous Goods FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. Materials with flash points below 100 °F (38 °C) are regulated in the United States by OSHA as potential workplace hazards.

Under REACH, a flash point test does not need to be conducted if:

• a chemical is inorganic, or
• a chemical only contains volatile organic components with flash-points above 100 °C for aqueous solutions, or
• the estimated flash-point is above 200 °C, or
• the flash-point can be accurately predicted by interpolation from existing characterised materials.

More Physicochemical Properties and Their Regulatory Implications

• Physical State, Appearance & Odour;
• Melting point;
• Boiling Point;
• Relative Density;
• Flash Point;
• Vapor Pressure;
• Henry's Law Constant;
• Surface Tension;
• Water Solubility;
• n-Octanol/Water Partition Coefficient;
• pH;
• Flammability;
• Oxidising Properties;
• Explosive Properties;
• Granulometry;
• Explosive Limits;
• Viscosity;
• Dissociation Constant;

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 Tags: Topics - CRA, Physiochemical Property