Guide · workplace and site safety
What does a Hazchem code mean?
A Hazchem code, also called an emergency action code, is the short code on a dangerous goods placard, like 2YE or 3Z. It is written for firefighters: in three characters it says what to fight a fire with, what to wear, what to do with a spill, and whether to think about evacuating.
In one paragraph
Read it left to right. The number is the firefighting medium: 1 is coarse spray (jets), 2 fine spray (fog), 3 foam, 4 dry agent, with water not to be used. The letter says what protective equipment crews need and whether a spill should be diluted and washed away or contained so it cannot reach drains. An E on the end means consider evacuating people nearby.
The number: what to fight it with
| Number | Firefighting medium |
|---|---|
| 1 | Coarse spray: water jets |
| 2 | Fine spray: water fog |
| 3 | Foam |
| 4 | Dry agent; do not use water |
What we print for this
Proofed before they run
The letter and the E
The letter, from P to Z, combines two things: the protective equipment crews need (from breathing apparatus to full chemical protective clothing), and whether a spill can be diluted and washed to drain or must be contained. Some letters also warn that the substance can react violently. The full list is published with the Australian Dangerous Goods Code; it is the reference fire services work from, so check a specific letter there rather than from a summary.
An E after the letter means the incident commander should consider evacuating the area around it.
Common questions
Where do you see a Hazchem code?
On the emergency information panel of a vehicle carrying dangerous goods in bulk, and on the outer warning placard at the entrance of premises that store dangerous goods above certain quantities, alongside the UN number and the class label.
What does 2YE mean on a Hazchem sign?
The 2 means fight a fire with fine spray (water fog). The Y sets the protective equipment and says a spill should be contained, not washed away. The E means consider evacuating the surrounding area.
What is the difference between a Hazchem code and a UN number?
The UN number, four digits, identifies the substance itself, such as 1203 for petrol. The Hazchem code tells emergency crews how to respond to it. A placard usually carries both.
Who decides the Hazchem code on our placard?
The code comes from the substance’s dangerous goods classification, not from the sign maker, and the occupier or transporter is responsible for displaying the right one. Get it from the safety data sheet or your dangerous goods adviser, then have the placard made to the regulated size and layout.
Can you print a Hazchem placard?
We print signs to the layout and wording you specify, on ACM or other rigid board for outdoor use. Send the placard specification and the code, and we quote it. We do not decide the code or certify the placard: that stays with the occupier.
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