Construction · CAS Database
Asphalt
Asphalt (CAS 8052-42-4) — Paving and roofing binder; hot-process asphalt fume is an inhalation hazard addressed under 29 CFR 1926.55 / 1910.1000. 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 8052-42-4 · also known as Bitumen, Asphalt fume, Petroleum asphalt
Overview
Paving and roofing binder; hot-process asphalt fume is an inhalation hazard addressed under 29 CFR 1926.55 / 1910.1000
Asphalt on the job site
Asphalt (bitumen) is the roofer's and paver's material — built-up roofing, hot-applied membranes, and hot-mix paving. It has no OSHA PEL (NIOSH recommends a 5 mg/m³ REL for the fume), but it carries two very tangible hazards. Hot asphalt causes severe thermal burns: at kettle temperatures it sticks to skin and keeps burning, and you don't pull it off. And the fume rising off the kettle and hot material is a respiratory and eye irritant and a possible carcinogen.
So the controls are burn prevention and fume avoidance: long sleeves and gauntlet gloves rated for the heat, face and eye protection at the kettle, careful transfer to avoid splashing hot material, and positioning and ventilation so workers aren't standing in the rising plume. For a hot-asphalt burn, cool with water — do not try to peel the asphalt off. Keep the kettle attended and away from combustibles.
Key takeaways
- Hot asphalt sticks and keeps burning — cool a burn with water, never peel it off; wear heat-rated sleeves and gauntlets.
- The kettle/fume plume is an irritant and possible carcinogen (NIOSH REL 5 mg/m³) — stay out of the rising fume.
- Attend the kettle, keep it from combustibles, and avoid splashing during transfer.
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 Asphalt 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 | See SDS §8 | 29 CFR 1926.55 Table 1 + SDS Section 8 |
| Action level | See SDS / standard | Not all substances define an action level |
| Averaging period | See SDS §8 | Compare with ACGIH TLV / NIOSH REL — often more protective than the OSHA PEL |
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.
What actually governs this substance
Asphalt fumes are NOT listed in Table Z-1 — verified against the table. The absence of a PEL is not the absence of a duty: the general duty clause and the employer's own hazard assessment still govern hot-application work.
Asphalt is a residue whose composition depends on the crude and on the refining route; air-blowing (oxidation) changes it again, which is why oxidised grades carry their own CAS number and their own fume profile.
Control the fume at the kettle and the paver — temperature control is the most effective single measure, because fume generation rises steeply with application temperature. Note the neighbouring rule: 29 CFR 1926.1101 expressly does NOT apply to asbestos-containing asphalt roof coatings, cements and mastics.
Where Asphalt shows up on the job
Trades that commonly handle Asphalt, each with an OSHA HazCom guide built for the chemicals and tasks on that kind of site:
OSHA & HazCom Compliance Requirements
For construction work, Hazard Communication is governed by 29 CFR 1926.59 (adopts 29 CFR 1910.1200). Employers who use Asphalt must:
- •Maintain an accessible SDS for Asphalt (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 Asphalt 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 Asphalt 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 Asphalt 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 Asphalt
Also on a roofing job
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Asphalt (CAS 8052-42-4)?
Paving and roofing binder; hot-process asphalt fume is an inhalation hazard addressed under 29 CFR 1926.55 / 1910.1000
What are the OSHA HazCom requirements for Asphalt on a construction site?
For construction work, Hazard Communication is governed by 29 CFR 1926.59 (adopts 29 CFR 1910.1200). Employers who use Asphalt 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 Asphalt?
The applicable exposure limit (OSHA PEL, and where stricter, the ACGIH TLV or NIOSH REL) for Asphalt is listed in Section 8 of its Safety Data Sheet. OSHA construction air-contaminant limits are in Table 1 to 29 CFR 1926.55; many OSHA PELs predate current science, so an SDS may cite a more protective ACGIH/NIOSH value.
When does the updated HCS 2024 labeling apply to Asphalt?
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 Asphalt?
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 Asphalt 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 Asphalt?
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(6) and (g)(7), the manufacturer, importer or distributor that sold you Asphalt 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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