Flammable solids are any materials in the
solid phase of matter that can readily undergo
combustion
Combustion, or burning, is a high-temperature exothermic redox chemical reaction between a fuel (the reductant) and an oxidant, usually atmospheric oxygen, that produces oxidized, often gaseous products, in a mixture termed as smoke. Combustion ...
in the presence of a source of
ignition under standard circumstances, i.e. without:
*Artificially changing variables such as pressure or density; or
*Adding
accelerants.
Divisions
Division 4.1: Flammable solid
Flammable solids are any of the following four types of materials:
#Desensitized explosives: explosives that, when dry, are explosives of Class 1 other than those of compatibility group A, which are wetted with sufficient water, alcohol, or
plasticizer to suppress explosive properties; and are specifically authorized by name either in the 49CFR 172.101 Table or have been assigned a shipping name and
hazard class by the associate administrator for
hazardous materials
Dangerous goods are substances that are a risk to health, safety, property or the Natural environment, environment during transport. Certain dangerous goods that pose risks even when not being transported are known as hazardous materials (syll ...
safety.
#Self-reactive materials: materials that are thermally unstable and that can undergo a strongly
exothermic decomposition even without the participation of oxygen. Certain exclusions to this group do apply under 49 CFR.
#Generic types: Division 4.1 self-reactive materials are assigned to a generic system consisting of seven types. A self-reactive substance identified by technical name in the Self-Reactive Materials Table in 49CFR 173.224 is assigned to a generic type in accordance with that table. Self-reactive materials not identified in the Self-Reactive Materials Table in 49CFR 173.224 are assigned to generic types under the procedures of paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.
#Readily combustible solids: materials that are solids which may cause a fire through
friction
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and material elements sliding against each other. Types of friction include dry, fluid, lubricated, skin, and internal -- an incomplete list. The study of t ...
, such as
matches; show a
burning rate faster than 2.2 mm (0.087 inches) per second when tested in accordance with UN Manual of Tests and Criteria; or are any metal powders that can be ignited and react over the whole length of a sample in 10 minutes or less, when tested in accordance with UN Manual of Tests and Criteria.
Division 4.2: Spontaneously combustible
Spontaneously combustible material is:
#Pyrophoric material: A
pyrophoric material is a liquid or solid that, even in small quantities and without an external ignition source, can ignite within five minutes after coming in contact with air when tested according to the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria.
#Self-heating material: A self-heating material is a material that, when in contact with air and without an
energy supply, is liable to self-heat.
Division 4.3: Dangerous when wet
Dangerous when wet material is material that, by contact with water, is liable to become spontaneously flammable or to give off flammable or toxic gas at a rate greater than 1 liter per kilogram of the material, per hour, when tested in accordance with the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. Pure
alkali metal
The alkali metals consist of the chemical elements lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K),The symbols Na and K for sodium and potassium are derived from their Latin names, ''natrium'' and ''kalium''; these are still the origins of the names ...
s are known examples of this.
Placards
Compatibility table
References
*49 CFR 173.124(a)
*49 CFR 173.124(b)
*49 CFR 173.124(c)
{{Hazardous materials
Hazardous materials