The GHS Flame Pictogram: What It Means

Short answer: the flame pictogram warns that a chemical is a fire hazard: it is flammable, can catch fire on its own in air, heats itself, gives off flammable gas in contact with water, or can catch fire when heated. It is one of the eight pictograms OSHA requires on chemical labels. Do not confuse it with the flame over circle, which means oxidizer.

What the flame pictogram covers

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard pictogram QuickCard (OSHA 3491, 2024 revision) lists:

• Flammables
• Pyrophorics — catch fire spontaneously if exposed to air
• Self-heating
• Emits flammable gas (in contact with water)
• Self-reactives
• Organic peroxides
• Desensitized explosives

Hazard statements and signal words

A selection of the categories in Appendix C to 29 CFR 1910.1200, section C.4:

Where the flame does not appear: flammable liquids in category 4 (“Combustible liquid”), flammable gases in category 2 and aerosols in category 3 have no flame pictogram. The most explosive self-reactives and organic peroxides (Type A) use the exploding bomb instead, and Type B uses both the exploding bomb and the flame.

What it looks like

Appendix C to 29 CFR 1910.1200 defines every pictogram the same way: a square set at a point with a black hazard symbol on a white background and a red frame wide enough to be clearly visible (C.2.3.1), which is why pictograms look like red diamonds. A red frame with no symbol inside is not a pictogram and is not permitted on a label, and each pictogram may appear only once on a label even when several hazards call for it (C.2.3.4).

Flame vs. flame over circle

They look alike and mean different things. The flame means the chemical itself burns. The flame over circle means oxidizer: the chemical supplies oxygen and “May cause or intensify fire” (oxidizing gases) or “May intensify fire; oxidizer” (oxidizing liquids and solids), even if it does not burn itself. Store the two apart — see chemical storage compatibility.

Where you will see it at work

Solvents, fuels and many aerosol sprays commonly carry it — see our guides to acetone and isopropyl alcohol — and flammable liquids drive the flammable storage cabinet rules.

Common products that carry the flame

Fuels and solvents are where most workplaces meet it: gasoline, methanol and denatured alcohol are flammable liquids, while propane and acetylene are flammable gases that also carry the gas cylinder pictogram. Each guide links to the manufacturer’s current sheet so you can check section 2 yourself. If you decant a flammable liquid into a smaller container, the free GHS label maker prints a label with the flame on it.

Frequently asked questions

What does the flame pictogram mean?

It warns of a fire hazard. Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard it is used for flammables, pyrophorics, self-heating chemicals, chemicals that emit flammable gas in contact with water, self-reactives, organic peroxides and desensitized explosives.

What is the difference between the flame and the flame over circle pictogram?

The flame means the chemical itself is flammable or can catch fire. The flame over circle means oxidizer: the chemical may cause or intensify a fire by supplying oxygen, even if it does not burn itself.

Does every flammable liquid show the flame pictogram?

No. Categories 1 to 3 do, with Danger for categories 1 and 2 and Warning for category 3. Category 4 flammable liquids are labeled Combustible liquid with the signal word Warning and no pictogram.

Are physical hazards such as flammables and oxidizers represented in the standard pictograms?

Yes. Flammables are represented by the flame pictogram, oxidizers by the flame over circle, explosives by the exploding bomb, and gases under pressure by the gas cylinder.

This guide summarises the cited rules for general information and is not legal advice.

Related guides

• The Health Hazard Pictogram
• The Corrosion Pictogram
• The Skull and Crossbones Pictogram
• The Gas Cylinder Pictogram
• The Environment Pictogram
• Free GHS Label Maker (print secondary container labels)
• The GHS Flame Over Circle Pictogram
• The GHS Exploding Bomb Pictogram
• Flammable Storage Cabinet Requirements
• Chemical Storage Compatibility
• GHS Pictograms Explained: The 9 Hazard Symbols
• The GHS Exclamation Mark Pictogram
• GHS Signal Words: Danger vs. Warning
• GHS Label Requirements
• Secondary Container Labeling Under GHS
• The 16 Sections of an SDS Explained