Solvents · CAS Database
n-Hexane
n-Hexane (CAS 110-54-3) — Extraction solvent and cleaning agent. Get the SDS and OSHA HazCom guidance you need to store, label, and handle it safely on the job site.
Verified vs OSHA sources · October 5, 2026
CAS Registry Number CAS 110-54-3 · also known as Hexane
Overview
Extraction solvent and cleaning agent
n-Hexane on the job site
n-Hexane is the solvent in many contact cements, adhesives, and some cleaning products. It has a hazard the other hexane isomers and most common solvents don't: chronic inhalation causes peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage that starts as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet and can progress to weakness. It builds quietly over weeks and months of daily use, so it isn't linked to any single bad day.
That makes ventilation and substitution the real controls: use hexane-free adhesives where you can, and never do repeated gluing in an enclosed, unventilated space day after day. n-Hexane is also a flammable liquid (500 ppm PEL), so ignition control applies too, but the neuropathy is the hazard crews underestimate because it has no immediate warning.
Key takeaways
- Chronic n-hexane exposure causes nerve damage (numbness/weakness in hands and feet) that builds over weeks.
- Substitute hexane-free adhesives and ventilate — never glue daily in an enclosed space.
- It's also flammable (500 ppm PEL) — control ignition, but the slow neuropathy is the underestimated hazard.
Field guidance for planning and training — not a substitute for the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, which controls the exposure limit, PPE, and handling for your specific product.
OSHA Exposure Limits
OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) and secondary limit for n-Hexane on a US construction site. Where a substance-specific 1926 standard applies, its codified limit is shown; otherwise the figure comes from Table 1 to 29 CFR 1926.55, the construction air-contaminants table. Where 1926.55 does not list the substance, the Safety Data Sheet (Section 8) controls.
| Limit | Value | Basis / citation |
|---|---|---|
| OSHA PEL (8-hr TWA) | 500 ppm | 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1 |
| Action level | See SDS / standard | Not all substances define an action level |
| Averaging period | 8-hour TWA | Compare with ACGIH TLV / NIOSH REL — often more protective than the OSHA PEL |
This is the general-industry figure. Construction air contaminants are listed separately in Table 1 to 29 CFR 1926.55, and on 33 substances the two differ — sometimes by a wide margin. Where they differ, the construction value governs work on a jobsite.
Many OSHA PELs date to 1971 and may be less protective than current ACGIH/NIOSH values; always check the manufacturer SDS (Section 8) for the controlling limit and engineering-control guidance. Not legal advice.
GHS Classification
Physical Properties
OSHA & HazCom Compliance Requirements
For construction work, Hazard Communication is governed by 29 CFR 1926.59 (adopts 29 CFR 1910.1200). Employers who use n-Hexane must:
- •Maintain an accessible SDS for n-Hexane (readily accessible during each work shift, 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8))
- •Label all containers with GHS-compliant labels (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1) shipped / 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6) workplace)
- •Include it in the workplace chemical inventory
- •Train employees on hazards before initial assignment
- •Retain employee exposure and medical records per 29 CFR 1910.1020 — 30-year retention applies to exposure/medical records, not to SDSs generically
HazCom (1910.1200 / construction 1926.59) covers labels, SDSs, and training only — it does not impose chemical storage segregation. Flammable & combustible liquid storage for construction is 29 CFR 1926.152; segregation of incompatibles is planned from SDS Sections 7 and 10. Not legal advice; state-plan states may have stricter rules.
Handling & Secondary-Container Labeling
When you transfer n-Hexane into a workplace (secondary) container, OSHA gives two compliant options under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6):
- •(f)(6)(i): full GHS label elements (as on the shipped container)
- •(f)(6)(ii): product identifier + words/pictures/symbols (or combination) that provide AT LEAST general information on the hazards
There is no volume/size cutoff for secondary containers — the ≤100 ml / ≤3 ml accommodations (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(12) (added by the HCS 2024 final rule)) apply only to the manufacturer's shipped container. A portable container filled for the immediate use of the worker who fills it needs no label (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8)).
GHS Hazard Classification under OSHA HCS
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard adopts the GHS (primarily GHS Revision 7 (HCS 2024)). It requires 8 hazard pictograms (Appendix C, Figure C.1). The Environment pictogram (GHS09) is not required by OSHA — Not in App C; outside OSHA jurisdiction; voluntary.
The 8 OSHA-required pictograms:
For flammable liquids, OSHA classifies by flash point and boiling point (App B.6.1 / 1910.106(a)):
- •Category 1: FP < 73.4°F AND BP <= 95°F
- •Category 2: FP < 73.4°F AND BP > 95°F
- •Category 3: FP >= 73.4°F AND <= 140°F
- •Category 4: FP > 140°F AND <= 199.4°F
The specific GHS classification of n-Hexane comes from its Safety Data Sheet (Section 2). Use the live classification panel above and the manufacturer SDS to confirm pictograms and categories.
HCS 2024 Update Deadlines
Under the Hazard Communication Standard 2024 update (aligned primarily GHS Revision 7):
- •May 19, 2026 — manufacturers, importers, and distributors update substance labels & SDSs (1910.1200(j)(2)(i))
- •November 20, 2026 — employers update workplace labeling, the written program & training (1910.1200(j)(2)(ii))
During the interim, parts may comply with the 2012 HCS, the 2024 HCS, or both.
Quick Actions
Put n-Hexane on your written inventory, print the workplace label your containers need, and keep your supplier’s sheet reachable on the jobsite.
The safety data sheet for your product comes from the supplier who sold it to you — no public registry can provide it. For the underlying chemistry, the public record is on PubChem.
Where this fits in your HazCom program
- SDS management — collecting the sheet, keeping it current, and making it readable during each work shift.
- GHS labels & workplace labeling — what has to appear on the shipped container, and what a secondary container needs instead.
Free Compliance Tools for n-Hexane
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is n-Hexane (CAS 110-54-3)?
Extraction solvent and cleaning agent
What are the OSHA HazCom requirements for n-Hexane on a construction site?
For construction work, Hazard Communication is governed by 29 CFR 1926.59 (adopts 29 CFR 1910.1200). Employers who use n-Hexane must maintain an accessible Safety Data Sheet (SDS), label containers with GHS-compliant labels, include the chemical in the workplace chemical inventory, and train workers on its hazards before initial assignment.
What is the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for n-Hexane?
OSHA's permissible exposure limit for n-Hexane is 500 ppm (8-hour TWA), per 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1. That figure is the GENERAL-INDUSTRY limit; construction air contaminants are listed separately at 29 CFR 1926.55 Table 1, and where the two differ the construction value governs work on a jobsite. Where the ACGIH TLV or NIOSH REL is more protective, follow the lower value, and confirm the limit for your specific task against Section 8 of the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet.
When does the updated HCS 2024 labeling apply to n-Hexane?
Under the Hazard Communication Standard 2024 update (aligned primarily GHS Revision 7), chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors must update substance labels and SDSs by May 19, 2026, and employers must update workplace labeling, the written program, and training for substances by November 20, 2026. During the interim, parties may comply with the 2012 HCS, the 2024 HCS, or both.
How do I label a secondary (workplace) container of n-Hexane?
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6) you have two options: (i) the full GHS label elements as on the shipped container, or (ii) the product identifier plus words, pictures, symbols, or a combination that provide at least general hazard information. There is no volume/size cutoff for secondary containers. A portable container filled for the immediate use of the worker who fills it does not require a label (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8)).
How long must SDS and exposure records for n-Hexane be kept?
Under 29 CFR 1910.1020, 30-year retention applies to employee exposure and medical records (medical records: duration of employment plus 30 years) — not to SDSs generically. Where an SDS is not retained, a record of the chemical's identity, where it was used, and when must be kept for at least 30 years.
Where can I find the SDS for n-Hexane?
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(6) and (g)(7), the manufacturer, importer or distributor that sold you n-Hexane must send its Safety Data Sheet with the first shipment, and again with the first shipment after the sheet is updated. HazComFast keeps the sheets you collect in one inventory per jobsite, searchable by product, manufacturer or CAS number, and your jobsite's SDS load onto the phone on their own.
Sources & Primary References
Regulatory data on this page is sourced from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (29 CFR 1926.59 / 1910.1200 and substance-specific 1926 standards), last verified October 5, 2026 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register. Physical-property data comes from PubChem. Confirm it against the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
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