Ethyl Alcohol SDS: Key Hazards, Handling, and Safety Data

An ethyl alcohol SDS (safety data sheet) classifies the chemical as a highly flammable liquid (GHS Category 2, H225) with a flash point of 55°F, well below room temperature, and an eye irritation hazard (Category 2A, H319). That combination drives most of the handling, storage, and PPE requirements EHS teams need to know before ethyl alcohol (ethanol, CAS 64-17-5) enters the workplace, whether it's used as a solvent, disinfectant, fuel additive, or lab reagent.

This guide breaks down what's on the safety data sheet, in plain language, so you can brief your team without digging through eight pages of formatting.

What is ethyl alcohol?

Ethyl alcohol, also labeled ethanol or grain alcohol, formula C₂H₅OH, is a clear, colorless, volatile liquid with a characteristic odor. It's one of the most common industrial and laboratory solvents, used in cleaning and disinfecting products, extraction processes, coatings, and as a fuel additive. Its CAS number is 64-17-5, and it carries UN1170 for shipping under DOT hazmat rules, typically as a Class 3 flammable liquid.

What are the key hazards on an ethyl alcohol SDS?

Two hazard classes dominate the SDS: flammability and eye/skin irritation.

Flammability. Ethanol's flash point of 55°F (12.8°C) puts it in OSHA's Class IB flammable liquid category — flash point below 73°F, boiling point at or above 100°F. Its boiling point is 172.9°F (78.2°C), and its autoignition temperature is 685°F (363°C). Vapor density is 1.6 (air = 1.0), meaning ethanol vapor is heavier than air, can travel along floors and work surfaces to a distant ignition source, and flash back to the source container. NFPA 704 rates ethanol Health 2, Flammability 3, Instability 0.

Irritation. Ethanol causes serious eye irritation (Category 2A) and can irritate skin with prolonged or repeated contact. It's not classified as acutely toxic at typical occupational exposure levels, but high-concentration vapor exposure causes headache, drowsiness, and central nervous system effects.

Reactivity. Ethanol is incompatible with strong oxidizers, acetyl chloride, acetyl bromide, bromine pentafluoride, sodium, and potassium dioxide. Store it away from these materials as mixing can cause fire or violent reaction.

What are ethyl alcohol's exposure limits?

• OSHA PEL (TWA): 1,000 ppm
• NIOSH REL (TWA): 1,000 ppm
• ACGIH STEL: 1,000 ppm (15-minute short-term exposure limit)
• IDLH: 3,300 ppm

(Sources: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1; NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards; ACGIH TLVs.)

These limits sit relatively high compared to many industrial solvents, but flammability, not toxicity, is the primary driver of ethanol's risk profile in most workplaces.

How should you store and handle ethyl alcohol?

Because ethanol is a Class IB flammable liquid, storage and handling fall under OSHA's flammable liquids standard (29 CFR 1910.106) as well as general hazard communication requirements (29 CFR 1910.1200). In practice, that means:

• Store in a dedicated flammable liquids cabinet or storage room, away from ignition sources, direct sunlight, and incompatible oxidizers.
• Ground and bond containers during transfer to prevent static discharge.
• Use explosion-proof electrical, ventilation, and lighting equipment in storage and use areas.
• Keep containers tightly closed when not in use, and use only non-sparking tools nearby.
• Maintain good general ventilation or local exhaust where large volumes are handled, since vapor can accumulate at floor level.

What PPE does ethyl alcohol require?

Standard PPE for routine handling includes chemical splash goggles, nitrile or butyl rubber gloves, and a lab coat or flame-resistant clothing when handling larger volumes. Gloves should be inspected before each use and removed using proper technique to avoid transferring contamination to skin. Facilities handling bulk quantities should also assess the need for flame-resistant garments and grounding straps as part of a broader hazard identification and risk management program.

What's the first aid response for ethyl alcohol exposure?

• Inhalation: Move the person to fresh air. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
• Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothing immediately and rinse skin thoroughly with water.
• Eye contact: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing and seek medical attention if irritation persists.
• Ingestion: Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting. Seek medical attention, showing the SDS to the attending physician if possible.

How do you fight an ethyl alcohol fire?

Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or alcohol-resistant foam. Standard aqueous film-forming foam breaks down quickly in polar solvents like ethanol, so alcohol-resistant foam is the more reliable choice for larger spills or fires. Water spray can cool exposed containers, but straight water streams can spread a burning liquid rather than extinguish it. Because ethanol vapor is heavier than air and can travel to remote ignition sources, responders should evaluate the full spill or leak area — not just the immediate fire — before entering.

Why keeping SDS data organized matters

An ethyl alcohol SDS is only useful if the right person can find it during a spill, exposure incident, or OSHA inspection — not after searching through email attachments or a shared drive. Teams managing dozens or hundreds of chemicals typically centralize safety data sheets in a searchable system tied to their chemical inventory, so hazard data, exposure limits, and handling requirements stay current and accessible from the field. EHS Insight's SDS dashboard keeps this data connected to the rest of your safety management software, so updates to a chemical's classification flow straight to the people handling it — a particular advantage for chemical manufacturers and processors managing high volumes of flammable and reactive materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ethyl alcohol the same as ethanol on an SDS? Yes. Ethyl alcohol, ethanol, and grain alcohol all refer to the same compound (C₂H₅OH, CAS 64-17-5). SDS documents may use any of these names depending on the manufacturer, so confirm the CAS number matches when comparing sheets.

What hazard class is ethyl alcohol? Ethyl alcohol is classified as a Category 2 flammable liquid under GHS (H225: highly flammable liquid and vapor) and a Category 2A eye irritant (H319). Under OSHA's older flammable liquids categories, it falls into Class IB.

What is the flash point of ethyl alcohol? Pure ethanol has a flash point of 55°F (12.8°C). Denatured alcohol and lower-concentration solutions can have different flash points, so always check the specific product's SDS rather than relying on this figure alone.

Can you use water to put out an ethanol fire? Water spray can help cool nearby containers, but a straight stream can spread burning ethanol rather than extinguish it. Alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide are the recommended extinguishing agents.

What PPE is required for handling ethyl alcohol? At minimum: chemical splash goggles and nitrile or butyl rubber gloves. Facilities handling larger volumes should add flame-resistant clothing and grounding equipment to control static discharge risk.