Flammable and combustible materials are classified by their:

Flammable and combustible materials are classified by their flash points, which is the minimum temperature at which a liquid will produce enough vapor to ignite in the presence of an ignition source. This classification is essential because it helps determine the safe handling, storage, and use of these materials in various environments.

Understanding flash points is critical for ensuring workplace safety and compliance with regulations. For instance, materials with low flash points are considered flammable and can ignite easily at room temperature, whereas combustible materials have higher flash points and require more heat for ignition. This distinction is integral in emergency response scenarios, where quick identification of materials can influence the response strategy used to mitigate fire risks.

While factors like toxicity, evaporation rates, and volumes are important for assessing materials in different contexts, they are not used specifically to categorize flammable and combustible substances in the same direct manner as flash points.