What does P377 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P377?

Response statements (P3xx) say what to do after an accident, spill, fire or exposure: first-aid steps, rinsing and washing, calling a doctor or a poison centre, choosing the extinguishing medium. They usually open with a situation such as IF IN EYES or IF INHALED.

Which hazards is it used for?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P377 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H220Extremely flammable gas.
• H221Flammable gas.

How many hazard statements is P377 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P377 is provided for the classes of 2 H statements in total: 2 physical hazard statements. The lowest-numbered example is H220 and the highest-numbered is H221. 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 P377 in the response group:

• P374Fight fire with normal precautions from a reasonable distance.
• P375Fight fire remotely due to the risk of explosion.
• P376Stop leak if safe to do so.
• P378Use… to extinguish.
• P380Evacuate area.
• P381In case of leakage, eliminate all ignition sources.

How is P377 read?

This statement is a 12-word text. The text opens with the situation "Leaking gas fire"; the instruction applies only when that situation occurs.

Where is P377 written in the SDS?

If P377 is on the list of precautionary statements in Section 2.2, it is printed with its code and the text "Leaking gas fire: Do not extinguish, unless leak can be stopped safely.". The statement should also agree with the firefighting measures in Section 5.

How does P377 appear on the label?

P377 shows up on a label only if it is selected: the candidates from Annex IV are reduced to at most 6 under Article 28(3). In the Chemoris selection method, response statements are considered in position 1. 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 P377 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 response candidate is selected.

Which classes and which priority is P377 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P377 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: Flam. Gas * (1).

Classes that P377 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 P377

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P377 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P381In case of leakage, eliminate all ignition sources. (1)
• P210Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. (1)
• P403Store in a well-ventilated place. (1)

Where does P377 stand in the response group?

P377 is number 47 of the 82 statements in the P3xx group. The group holds 30 combined and 11 withdrawn statements and 46 single valid statements. Combined statements merge several situations on one line; withdrawn statements are replaced by their current equivalents.

Which SDS section does P377 feed?

Because of its number and its response kind, P377 relates to Section 5 Firefighting 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 P377

• P377 should agree with Section 5; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 12 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P377 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 P377 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 P377 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