GHS hazard statement
H208: Fire hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced
- H208
- Physical hazards
- Warning
H208 means “Fire hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced”. It is a GHS hazard statement for Desensitized explosives (Category 4), shown with GHS02 under the signal word “Warning”.
Hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | Pictogram | Signal word | UN transport class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desensitized explosives | Category 4 |  | Warning | Class 3 or Div 4.1 |
What H208 means
Desensitized explosives are solid or liquid explosive substances that have been wetted with water or alcohol, or diluted with other substances, to suppress their explosive properties.
The material is only safe to handle while it stays desensitized. If it dries out or the desensitizing agent is lost, it can revert to behaving as an explosive.
What to do
Keep the material wetted or diluted exactly as the supplier specifies, do not let it dry out, keep it away from heat, sparks and flames, and store and handle it in the quantities and containers the supplier states.
This is general guidance for the hazard class. The safety data sheet for your product always takes precedence.
Precautionary statements for H208
The GHS lists these precautionary statements for this hazard. Which ones appear on a label depends on the supplier's classification.
| Code | Statement |
|---|---|
| P210 | Keep away from heat, hot surface, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. |
| P212 | Avoid heating under confinement or reduction of the desensitized agent. |
| P230 | Keep wetted with ... |
| P233 | Keep container tightly closed. |
| P280 | Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/... |
| P371+P380+P375 | In case of major fire and large quantities: Evacuate area. Fight fire remotely due to the risk of explosion. |
| P401 | Store in accordance with ... |
| P501 | Dispose of contents/container to ... |
Chemicals carrying H208
No chemicals in our database are classified with H208 yet.
H208 frequently asked questions
What does H208 mean?
H208 means "Fire hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced". It is a GHS hazard statement in the physical hazards group, covering Desensitized explosives (Category 4).
Which pictogram goes with H208?
H208 is shown with GHS02 (Flame).
What signal word goes with H208?
The signal word for H208 is "Warning".
Which precautionary statements go with H208?
The GHS data lists 8 precautionary statements for H208, including P210, P212, P230, P233, P280. They cover prevention, response, storage and disposal. The full list is on this page.
Hazard statements describe the hazard of a classified substance or mixture. The classification of a specific product can differ, so use the supplier's SDS.
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ghs/ghscode_10.txt (UN GHS Revision 10, retrieved 2026-10-12)