What does P222 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P222?

Prevention statements (P2xx) describe the measures that stop exposure or an accident before it happens: staying away from heat and ignition sources, wearing personal protective equipment, not breathing vapour or dust, washing hands after work. They are the rules a user applies before starting to work with the product.

Which hazards is it used for?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P222 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H250Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air.

How many hazard statements is P222 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P222 is provided for the classes of 1 H statements in total: 1 physical hazard statement. The lowest-numbered example is H250 and the highest-numbered is H250. Whether a mixture label carries this statement depends on those classes really applying to the mixture.

Neighbouring statements of the same kind

The statements closest in number to P222 in the prevention group:

• P211Do not spray on an open flame or other ignition source.
• P220Keep away from clothing and other combustible materials.
• P221Take any precaution to avoid mixing with combustibles…
• P223Do not allow contact with water.
• P230Keep wetted with…
• P231Handle and store contents under inert gas/…

How is P222 read?

The length of P222 is 6 words. The text is a single instruction without options and is written as it appears in Annex IV.

Where is P222 written in the SDS?

When you prepare an SDS, P222 goes into Section 2.2; options in the text (slashes or square brackets) are narrowed down to the product before it is written. The statement should also agree with the safe handling precautions in Section 7.

How does P222 appear on the label?

The classes and the use of the product decide whether it reaches the label; not all candidates are written, at most 6 statements remain. In the Chemoris selection method, prevention statements are considered in position 2. If the core statements exceed 6, Article 28(3) allows up to 8; when a combined statement is chosen, its individual parts are not repeated on the label. As P222 is on the list of precautionary statements of Annex IV, it can be used in current labels and SDSs; Chemoris writes it into the document only when the relevant prevention candidate is selected.

Which classes and which priority is P222 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P222 appears in 2 class/category entries (1 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 2 entries. Of these entries, 0 carry the signal word “Danger”, 0 carry “Warning” and 2 need no signal word.

The class families it appears in most often: Pyr. Liq. * (1) and Pyr. Sol. * (1).

Classes that P222 is assigned to

The first 2 rows of 2 entries in the CLP Annex IV assignment table (by priority and hazard order):

Statements assigned together with P222

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P222 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P370+P378In case of fire: Use… to extinguish. (2)
• P210Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. (2)
• P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. (2)
• P302+P334IF ON SKIN: Immerse in cool water or wrap in wet bandages. (1)
• P302+P335+P334IF ON SKIN: Brush off loose particles from skin. Immerse in cool water [or wrap in wet bandages]. (1)

Where does P222 stand in the prevention group?

P222 is number 7 of the 38 statements in the P2xx group. The group holds 2 combined and 4 withdrawn statements and 33 single valid statements. Combined statements merge several situations on one line; withdrawn statements are replaced by their current equivalents.

Which SDS section does P222 feed?

Because of its number and its prevention kind, P222 relates to Section 7 Handling and storage of the SDS; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text. Statements in the same number range feed the same section.

Checklist when writing P222

• P222 should agree with Section 7; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 6 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P222 in other languages

When a product is exported to the EU, the SDS and label are expected in the official language of the Member State where it is placed on the market (REACH Article 31(5)). The table gives the official wording of P222 from the CLP Annex III/IV language versions published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Source: EUR-Lex CELEX 02008R1272-20260701.

Next steps

To read a statement like P222 correctly on a label and in an SDS, see the guide How to read H and P codes; to pick the class and prepare the label automatically, use the free label tool.

Where does it appear in the safety data sheet?

Precautionary statements are given with their code and full text in Section 2.2 (label elements) of the safety data sheet. Alternatives separated by a slash or in square brackets (e.g. gloves/protective clothing) are narrowed down to suit the product.

Frequently asked questions