ERG 2024 · Guide 170

Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)

UN1333 · Cerium, slabs, ingots or rods

Class 9

CHEMTREC · 24/7

1-800-424-9300

Right now: Move upwind. Isolate 100 m minimum. Deny entry. Call CHEMTREC with shipping paper in hand.

More contacts →

Potential Hazards

Health

Oxides from metallic fires are a severe health hazard.
Inhalation or contact with substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death.
Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.

Fire or explosion

May react violently or explosively on contact with water.
Some are transported in flammable liquids.
May be ignited by friction, heat, sparks or flames.
Some of these materials will burn with intense heat.
Dusts or fumes may form explosive mixtures in air.
Containers may explode when heated.
May re-ignite after fire is extinguished.

Public Safety

General

CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.
Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
Keep unauthorized personnel away.

Protective clothing

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.

Evacuation

Immediate precautionary measure
Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.
Large Spill
Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 50 meters (160 feet).
Fire
If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.

Emergency Response

Fire

DO NOT USE WATER, FOAM OR CO2.
Dousing metallic fires with water will generate hydrogen gas, an extremely dangerous explosion hazard, particularly if fire is in a confined environment (i.e., building, cargo hold, etc.).
Use DRY sand, graphite powder, dry sodium chloride-based extinguishers, or class D extinguishers.
Confining and smothering metal fires is preferable rather than applying water.
If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

Fire Involving Tanks, Rail Tank Cars or Highway Tanks

If impossible to extinguish, protect surroundings and allow fire to burn itself out.

Spill or leak

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.
Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
Stop leak if you can do it without risk.
Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.

First Aid

Refer to the “General First Aid” section.

ERG 2024 · Guide 170

Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)

UN1333 · Cerium, slabs, ingots or rods

Class 9

CHEMTREC · 24/7

1-800-424-9300

Right now: Move upwind. Isolate 100 m minimum. Deny entry. Call CHEMTREC with shipping paper in hand.

More contacts →

Potential Hazards

Health

Oxides from metallic fires are a severe health hazard.
Inhalation or contact with substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death.
Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.

Fire or explosion

May react violently or explosively on contact with water.
Some are transported in flammable liquids.
May be ignited by friction, heat, sparks or flames.
Some of these materials will burn with intense heat.
Dusts or fumes may form explosive mixtures in air.
Containers may explode when heated.
May re-ignite after fire is extinguished.

Public Safety

General

CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.
Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
Keep unauthorized personnel away.

Protective clothing

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.

Evacuation

Immediate precautionary measure
Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.
Large Spill
Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 50 meters (160 feet).
Fire
If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.

Emergency Response

Fire

DO NOT USE WATER, FOAM OR CO2.
Dousing metallic fires with water will generate hydrogen gas, an extremely dangerous explosion hazard, particularly if fire is in a confined environment (i.e., building, cargo hold, etc.).
Use DRY sand, graphite powder, dry sodium chloride-based extinguishers, or class D extinguishers.
Confining and smothering metal fires is preferable rather than applying water.
If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

Fire Involving Tanks, Rail Tank Cars or Highway Tanks

If impossible to extinguish, protect surroundings and allow fire to burn itself out.

Spill or leak

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.
Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
Stop leak if you can do it without risk.
Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.

First Aid

Refer to the “General First Aid” section.