Aerosols fall under which hazard class in typical classifications?

• A. Flammables
• B. Corrosives
• C. Oxidizers
• D. Biohazards

Answer: (A)

Aerosols are usually classified as flammable because they are pressed containers that release a product together with a propellant, and that propellant is typically a flammable hydrocarbon. The combination of product and flammable propellant makes the entire aerosol a fire hazard, so safety classifications label it as flammable and require handling and storage precautions to prevent ignition.

Corrosives, oxidizers, and biohazards describe other kinds of hazards that aerosols don’t typically represent, unless the specific formulation is designed for one of those properties. Most common sprays won’t corrode materials, won’t provide an oxidizing environment, and aren’t biological materials, so the flammable classification best fits the usual aerosols.