What does P231+P232 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P231+P232?

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, P231+P232 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H260In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously.
• H261In contact with water releases flammable gases.

Parts of the combined statement

• P231
• P232

How many hazard statements is P231+P232 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P231+P232 is provided for the classes of 2 H statements in total: 2 physical hazard statements. The lowest-numbered example is H260 and the highest-numbered is H261. 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 P231+P232 in the prevention group:

• P235+P410Keep cool. Protect from sunlight.

How is P231+P232 read?

The text of P231+P232 is 10 words long. It contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps the option that fits the product and deletes the others. Because it is a combined statement, it replaces 2 separate statements in a single line; the parts are listed below.

Where is P231+P232 written in the SDS?

In the SDS, P231+P232 is written in Section 2.2 (label elements) with its code and the text "Handle and store contents under inert gas/…. Protect from moisture.". Being a prevention statement, it sits among the prevention lines. The statement should also agree with the safe handling precautions in Section 7.

How does P231+P232 appear on the label?

On the label P231+P232 appears together with its text; under CLP Article 28(3) a label usually carries at most 6 precautionary statements. 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 P231+P232 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 P231+P232 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P231+P232 appears in 1 class/category entries (1 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 1 entries. Of these entries, 0 carry the signal word “Danger”, 0 carry “Warning” and 1 need no signal word.

The class families it appears in most often: Water-react. * (1).

Classes that P231+P232 is assigned to

The first 1 rows of 1 entries in the CLP Annex IV assignment table (by priority and hazard order):

Statements assigned together with P231+P232

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P231+P232 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P370+P378In case of fire: Use… to extinguish. (1)
• P302+P335+P334IF ON SKIN: Brush off loose particles from skin. Immerse in cool water [or wrap in wet bandages]. (1)
• P223Do not allow contact with water. (1)
• P231+P232Handle and store contents under inert gas/…. Protect from moisture. (1)
• P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. (1)

Where does P231+P232 stand in the prevention group?

P231+P232 is number 37 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 P231+P232 feed?

Because of its number and its prevention kind, P231+P232 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 P231+P232

• The text contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps only the option that fits the product.
• The text ends with “…”; the supplier supplies the completion.
• P231+P232 should agree with Section 7; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 10 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P231+P232 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 P231+P232 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 P231+P232 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