GUIDE
138

Substances - Water-Reactive
(Emitting Flammable Gases)

• Produce flammable gases on contact with water.
• May ignite on contact with water or moist air.
• Some react vigorously or explosively on contact with water.
• May be ignited by heat, sparks or flames.
• May re-ignite after fire is extinguished.
• Some are transported in highly flammable liquids.
• Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.

• Inhalation or contact with vapors, substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death.
• May produce corrosive solutions on contact with water.
• Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
• Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.

• CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.
• Keep unauthorized personnel away.
• Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
• Ventilate closed spaces before entering, but only if properly trained and equipped.

• Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
• Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is NO RISK OF FIRE.
• Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.

• Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

• Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 300 meters (1000 feet).

• If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.

• Dry chemical, soda ash, lime or sand.

• DRY sand, dry chemical, soda ash or lime or withdraw from area and let fire burn.
• If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

• Use dry chemical, DRY sand, sodium chloride powder, graphite powder or class D extinguishers; in addition, for Lithium you may use Lith-X® powder or copper powder.
  Also, see GUIDE 170.

• Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles.
• Do not get water inside containers.
• Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.
• Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank.
• ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames.

• ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.
• Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
• Stop leak if you can do it without risk.
• Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material.
• DO NOT GET WATER on spilled substance or inside containers.

• Cover with DRY earth, DRY sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to minimize spreading or contact with rain.
• Dike for later disposal; do not apply water unless directed to do so.

• Cover powder spill with plastic sheet or tarp to minimize spreading and keep powder dry.
• DO NOT CLEAN-UP OR DISPOSE OF, EXCEPT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A SPECIALIST.

• In case of contact with substance, wipe from skin immediately; flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes.

ERG 2024