What does P244 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P244?

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, P244 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H270May cause or intensify fire; oxidiser.

How many hazard statements is P244 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P244 is provided for the classes of 1 H statements in total: 1 physical hazard statement. The lowest-numbered example is H270 and the highest-numbered is H270. 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 P244 in the prevention group:

• P241Use explosion-proof [electrical/ventilating/lighting/…] equipment.
• P242Use non-sparking tools.
• P243Take action to prevent static discharges.
• P250Do not subject to grinding/shock/friction/… .
• P251Do not pierce or burn, even after use.
• P260Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.

How is P244 read?

The text of P244 is 9 words long. The text is a single instruction without options and is written as it appears in Annex IV.

Where is P244 written in the SDS?

In the SDS, P244 is written in Section 2.2 (label elements) with its code and the text "Keep valves and fittings free from oil and grease.". 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 P244 appear on the label?

On the label P244 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 P244 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 P244 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P244 appears in 1 class/category entries (1 different H statements). Priority split: secondary (priority 2) in 1 entries. Of these entries, 1 carry the signal word “Danger”, 0 carry “Warning” and 0 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS03 (1).

The class families it appears in most often: Ox. Gas (1).

Classes that P244 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 P244

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P244 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P370+P376In case of fire: Stop leak if safe to do so. (1)
• P220Keep away from clothing and other combustible materials. (1)
• P403Store in a well-ventilated place. (1)

Where does P244 stand in the prevention group?

P244 is number 19 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 P244 feed?

Because of its number and its prevention kind, P244 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 P244

• P244 should agree with Section 7; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 9 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P244 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 P244 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 P244 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