What does P271 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P271?

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, P271 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H330Fatal if inhaled.
• H331Toxic if inhaled.
• H332Harmful if inhaled.
• H335May cause respiratory irritation.
• H336May cause drowsiness or dizziness.

How many hazard statements is P271 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P271 is provided for the classes of 5 H statements in total: 5 health hazard statements. The lowest-numbered example is H330 and the highest-numbered is H336. 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 P271 in the prevention group:

• P263Avoid contact during pregnancy and while nursing.
• P264Wash … thoroughly after handling.
• P270Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
• P272Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
• P273Avoid release to the environment.
• P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.

How is P271 read?

The text of P271 is 8 words long. The text is a single instruction without options and is written as it appears in Annex IV.

Where is P271 written in the SDS?

In the SDS, P271 is written in Section 2.2 (label elements) with its code and the text "Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.". 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 P271 appear on the label?

On the label P271 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 P271 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 P271 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P271 appears in 5 class/category entries (4 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 3 entries and secondary (priority 2) in 2 entries. Of these entries, 3 carry the signal word “Danger”, 2 carry “Warning” and 0 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS06 (3) and GHS07 (2).

The class families it appears in most often: Acute Tox. (4) and STOT SE (1).

Classes that P271 is assigned to

The first 5 rows of 5 entries in the CLP Annex IV assignment table (by priority and hazard order):

Statements assigned together with P271

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P271 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P304+P340IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. (5)
• P403+P233Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed. (4)
• P405Store locked up. (4)
• P501Dispose of contents/container to … (4)
• P261Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray. (3)

Where does P271 stand in the prevention group?

P271 is number 28 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 P271 feed?

Because of its number and its prevention kind, P271 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 P271

• P271 should agree with Section 7; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 8 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P271 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 P271 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 P271 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