# Guide 133: Flammable Solids

**Citation:** ERG 2024 Guide 133  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2024-04-04

ERG2024 response Guide 133: Flammable Solids.

## Document text

GUIDE
133
Flammable Solids
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
FIRE OR EXPLOSION
•
Flammable/combustible material.
•
May be ignited by friction, heat, sparks or flames.
•
Some may burn rapidly with flare-burning effect.
•
Powders, dusts, shavings, borings, turnings or cuttings may explode or burn with explosive violence.
•
Substance may be transported in a molten form at a temperature that may be above its flash point.
•
May re-ignite after fire is extinguished.
•
•
•
•
HEALTH
Fire may produce irritating and/or toxic gases.
Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes.
Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes.
Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.
PUBLIC SAFETY
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.
Keep unauthorized personnel away.
Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
•
•
•
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 for at least 25 meters (75 feet) in all directions.
Large Spill
Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 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.
Page 196
ERG 2024

Flammable Solids
GUIDE
133
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FIRE
Small Fire
•
Dry chemical, CO2, sand, earth, water spray or regular foam.
Large Fire
•
Water spray, fog or regular foam.
•
•
If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.
Fire Involving Metal Pigments or Pastes (e.g. “Aluminum Paste”)
Aluminum Paste fires should be treated as a combustible metal fire. Use DRY sand, graphite powder, dry
sodium chloride-based extinguishers or class D extinguishers. Also, see GUIDE 170.
Fire Involving Tanks, Rail Tank Cars or Highway Tanks
•
Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.
•
For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw
from area and let fire burn.
•
Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank.
•
ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames.
SPILL OR LEAK
•
ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.
•
Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
Small Dry Spill
•
With clean shovel, place material into clean, dry container and cover loosely; move containers from spill
area.
Large Spill
•
Wet down with water and dike for later disposal.
•
Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.
FIRST AID
Refer to the “General First Aid” section.
Specific First Aid:
•
Removal of solidified molten material from skin requires medical assistance.
In Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product.
Please consult the shipping paper and/or the "ERAP" section.
ERG 2024
Page 197

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=133>
- Source ID: `phmsa-erg-2024`
- SHA-256: `2b02be56cc61a737d21ebd29f5af3558868759c4ca305f56b59558ed9100b983`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-13T11:31:32.574Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T07:58:16.274Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-erg-2024-guide-133`

### Source metadata

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