☣️ HAZMAT HUB  ·  IDENTIFY  ·  TACTICS  ·  EQUIPMENT

Hazmat Hub for Firefighters

Search UN/NA numbers, explore DOT Classes 1–9, and connect identification to regulations, incident types, PPE, monitoring, decon, equipment, and career paths. Built for training & preplanning — always follow SOP/SOG + current ERG.

🚒☣️
UN LOOKUP · INCIDENT TYPES · TACTICS
⚠️ Training/quick-reference only. For real incidents, consult the current ERG and follow your agency's SOP/SOG.
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Hazmat Response Library

Start with identification, then move into regulations, incident type, tactics, equipment, and career planning.

6 pillars
Identification

UN Lookup & DOT Classes

Identify products by UN/NA number, DOT class, placard family, and common firefighter size-up clues.

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UN LookupDOT Classes 1-9NFPA 704
Regulations

Regulations & Standards

OSHA HAZWOPER, DOT HMR, ERG 2024, NFPA 470, HazCom, EPA RMP, EPCRA, and NIOSH references.

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HAZWOPERERG 2024NFPA 470
Incident Types

Incident Types

Fixed facility, clandestine lab, agricultural, residential gas/CO, pipeline/port, CBRNE, and disaster releases.

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Industrial releaseAgricultural chemicalsCBRNE recognition
Tactics

PPE, Monitoring & Decon

PPE level selection, air monitoring action levels, decontamination, product control, ICS, and plume modeling.

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PPE levelsAir monitoringDecon
Equipment

Equipment & Technology

Four-gas meters, PIDs, radiation meters, chemical ID tools, protective suits, SCBA/APR, and hazmat cache planning.

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Four-gas meterPIDProtective suits
Data & Reports

Original Data & Reports

Original analysis of federal hazmat incident data — which materials, classes, and states actually generate fire department and EMS responses.

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Fire/EMS Response Analysis
Career

Hazmat Career Path

Awareness, operations, technician, specialist, incident commander, regional team path, and salary planning.

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Operations levelTechnician levelJoin a team
🔎 UN / NA Quick Lookupe.g. 1203, 1978, 1017
Find the 4-digit number on the placard, orange panel, or shipping papers.

Popular lookups

UN 1203 Gasoline UN 1978 Propane UN 1017 Chlorine UN 1001 Acetylene UN 1005 Ammonia
🟦 NFPA 704 Diamond Basics

What the 0–4 numbers mean across blue, red, and yellow quadrants — fast size-up reminder.

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🚒 First 5 Minutes Checklist

Initial actions before the Hazmat team arrives — isolation, zones, ERG, accountability.

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UN Numbers by DOT Class

Quick-reference links. Always consult current ERG + SOP/SOG for incident actions.

1 Explosives
UN 0004 Ammonium picrate, d… UN 0012 Cartridges for weap… UN 0027 Black powder (gunpo… UN 0028 Black powder, compr… UN 0030 Detonators, electri… All Class 1 →
2 Gases
UN 1001 Acetylene, dissolved UN 1002 Air, compressed UN 1003 Air, refrigerated l… UN 1005 Ammonia, anhydrous UN 1006 Argon, compressed All Class 2 →
3 Flammable Liquids
UN 1088 Acetal UN 1089 Acetaldehyde UN 1090 Acetone UN 1091 Acetone oils UN 1104 Amyl acetates All Class 3 →
4 Flammable Solids
UN 1183 Ethyldichlorosilane UN 1242 Methyldichlorosilane UN 1295 Trichlorosilane UN 1309 Aluminum powder, co… UN 1310 Ammonium picrate, w… All Class 4 →
5 Oxidizers & Organic Peroxides
UN 1438 Aluminum nitrate UN 1439 Ammonium dichromate UN 1442 Ammonium perchlorate UN 1444 Ammonium persulphate UN 1445 Barium chlorate, so… All Class 5 →
6 Toxic & Infectious Substances
UN 1098 Allyl alcohol UN 1135 Ethylene chlorohydr… UN 1163 Dimethylhydrazine, … UN 1181 Ethyl chloroacetate UN 1182 Ethyl chloroformate All Class 6 →
7 Radioactive Materials
UN 2908 Radioactive materia… UN 2909 Radioactive materia… UN 2910 Radioactive materia… UN 2911 Radioactive materia… UN 2912 Radioactive materia… All Class 7 →
8 Corrosives
UN 1052 Hydrogen fluoride, … UN 1604 Ethylenediamine UN 1715 Acetic anhydride UN 1716 Acetyl bromide UN 1718 Acid butyl phosphate All Class 8 →
9 Miscellaneous
UN 1350 Sulphur UN 1365 Cotton, wet UN 1841 Acetaldehyde ammonia UN 1845 Carbon dioxide, sol… UN 1931 Zinc hydrosulphite All Class 9 →
Can't find a UN? Use the full UN Lookup →

DOT Hazmat Classes 1–9

Tap a class for firefighter-level overview, hazards, first actions, and UN examples.

Class Guides
CLASS 1

Explosives

Blast/fragmentation hazards and rapid energy release—treat as high-risk, high-consequence.

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CLASS 2

Gases

Compressed, liquefied, or dissolved gases—pressure, BLEVE potential, toxic/asphyxiation risk.

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CLASS 3

Flammable Liquids

Ignitable vapors, rapid fire spread, and runoff—control ignition and protect exposures.

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CLASS 4

Flammable Solids

Materials that ignite easily, react with water, or spontaneously combust—avoid incompatible actions.

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CLASS 5

Oxidizers & Organic Peroxides

Can intensify fire and accelerate burning—cooling and isolation often critical.

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CLASS 6

Toxic & Infectious Substances

Inhalation/skin hazards and potential contamination—limit exposure and control zones.

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CLASS 7

Radioactive Materials

Control time, distance, and shielding—limit exposure and follow specialized procedures.

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CLASS 8

Corrosives

Chemical burns, toxic vapors, and container failure—avoid contact and control runoff.

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CLASS 9

Miscellaneous

Wide range: lithium batteries, environmentally hazardous substances, elevated temperature materials—case-by-case.

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🚒 First 5 Minutes Checklist

Initial approach
  • Stage uphill / upwind when possible
  • Establish isolation perimeter; deny entry
  • ID placards & UN markings from safe distance
  • Request Hazmat team early — don't wait
Command & safety
  • Accountability & hot/warm/cold zones
  • Protect exposures without unnecessary entry
  • Consult current ERG for isolation distances
  • Follow SOP/SOG — no freelancing
ICS / Unified CommandAir monitoringDecontaminationIncident types

🟦 NFPA 704 Diamond — Quick Reference

0–4 scale meaning
  • 0 = Minimal hazard
  • 1 = Slight hazard
  • 2 = Moderate hazard
  • 3 = Serious hazard
  • 4 = Severe / extreme hazard
Quadrant colors
  • Blue = Health hazard
  • Red = Flammability
  • Yellow = Reactivity / instability
  • White = Special hazards (OX, W̶ etc.)
  • Fixed facilities only — does not replace SDS/ERG
NFPA 704 guideOSHA HazComFixed facility incidents

FAQ

Find the UN/NA number on the placard, orange panel, shipping papers, or container markings, then consult the current ERG and your SOP/SOG. This hub helps you identify the class and common hazards quickly during training or preplanning.

No. This is a training and quick-reference aid only. Always follow your department's SOP/SOG and the current Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) for incident-specific protective actions.

The 9 DOT hazmat transport classes are: Class 1 Explosives, Class 2 Gases, Class 3 Flammable Liquids, Class 4 Flammable Solids, Class 5 Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides, Class 6 Toxic and Infectious Substances, Class 7 Radioactive Materials, Class 8 Corrosives, and Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods.

NFPA 704 uses a diamond-shaped sign with four colored quadrants: blue (health hazard), red (flammability), yellow (reactivity), and white (special hazards). Numbers 0 to 4 indicate severity, where 0 is minimal and 4 is severe. It is commonly found on fixed facilities and provides fast hazard awareness during size-up.
Sources: DOT/PHMSA class definitions, NFPA 704 standard overview, ERG usage principles. Always consult the current ERG for field operations.
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