[DISCLAIMER: This blog series is not a comprehensive Safety Data Sheet. You MUST refer to the appropriate SDS for your facility’s Ammonia usage.]

Let’s be honest—Anhydrous Ammonia isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think "flammable." But that doesn’t mean fire risks are off the table. When ammonia meets heat, confined spaces, or the wrong chemicals, things can escalate fast.

That’s why Section 5 of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) exists: to equip you and your response team with the knowledge needed to fight (or avoid) fire safely and smartly.

SDS Section 5 | Firefighting Measures for Anhydrous Ammonia

1. Suitable Extinguishing Media

You might think, “Just grab the water hose!” Not so fast.

• Use: ✔️ Water spray ✔️ Fog ✔️ Dry chemical ✔️ CO₂ ✔️ Alcohol-resistant foam

• Avoid: ❌ Direct water streams—they can spread ammonia vapors and increase risk

2. Specific Hazards That Arise During Fire

• Ammonia can form explosive mixtures with air under the right (or wrong!) conditions.

• It releases toxic gases when burned—mainly ammonia gas and nitrogen oxides.

• If heated in a pressurized container, ammonia can rupture violently. Yes, we’re talking BLEVE territory (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion).

3. Special Protective Equipment for Firefighters

Let’s be clear: ammonia + fire = not your average blaze.

Firefighters need:

• Full turnout gear

• Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

• Thermal protection that stands up to corrosive and toxic vapors

  
  

Also: keep your distance, stay upwind, and don’t rush into a cloud just because it’s “just ammonia.” It’s not.

Bonus Tip: What Should You Do?

If you’re not part of an emergency response team:

• Evacuate the area

• Notify the fire department immediately

• Keep yourself upwind and uphill from any potential leak or flame source (look for that wind sock on top of the building!)

• Don’t play hero—let trained responders take the lead

Short Story: “That One Time the Torch Was Left On…”

Steve was doing some quick welding in the pipe corridor—not uncommon at the food processing plant where he worked. He shut his torch off… or so he thought. What he didn’t know was that a slow ammonia leak had been pooling in the enclosed crawlspace nearby.

Within minutes, someone yelled: “I smell ammonia—and it’s strong!” The maintenance team pulled the fire alarm and called 911. The fire department arrived and took all the right precautions—ventilation fans, SCBAs (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus), and NO open flames.

The ammonia leak didn’t ignite, but it could have. A single spark, and they’d have been dealing with a toxic cloud and a blast zone. Steve? He triple-checks every shut-off now.

Why This Matters

Firefighting measures aren’t just for when things are on fire. They’re for:

• Preventing escalation

• Responding calmly and correctly

• Keeping people and property safe when seconds matter

So when you're reading the SDS, don’t skip Section 5. 

Because when the heat is on, knowledge is your fire extinguisher.

Next Up: Section 6 – Accidental Release Measures. 

"What to do when ammonia escapes into the wild (aka your facility)". Stay tuned.

Previous Post:

Part 2 | The Ammonia Safety Playbook: SDS Edition | Sections 3 & 4 | What’s in

Anhydrous Ammonia, Exactly? What if Someone Has Been Exposed? | Blog No. 82

For a comprehensive training on Anhydrous Ammonia, click here for our PSM Academy Ammonia Awareness training, to learn and earn a certificate of completion. Training is in English and Spanish. Use code SDS20 for a 20% discount on the entire purchase. For more information, email us at academy@machapsm.com.