Safety data sheet reference · CAS 56-81-5
Glycerin SDS
also: glycerin MSDS · safety data sheet · HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OH · CAS 56-81-5 · glycerol · glycerine
Official PDF from supplier
This page is a reference, not the legal document.
CAS number
56-81-5
Molecular formula
HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OH
No harmonised EU classification
Glycerin has no entry in CLP Annex VI — there is no harmonised EU-wide classification for it. That is not evidence of safety. Suppliers remain obliged to self-classify it under CLP, and workplace hazards (dust, asphyxiation, thermal) can exist without a harmonised entry. Always obtain the supplier's SDS for the product you actually use.
Published emergency-response data does exist for glycerin and is reproduced below — first aid, fire fighting and spill response come from US federal sources, not from a harmonised classification.
§ 03 · Composition and identifiers
Glycerin molecular structure
Glycerin is a molecular compound. The skeletal formula below is drawn from its PubChem SMILES string, and every value in this section is computed from that structure.
2D skeletal formula · HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OH
Functional group
alcohol
Hybridisation
C sp³ ×3 · O sp³ ×3
Electron count
38 valence e⁻ · 6 lone pairs
Identifiers from PubChem (NIH, public domain). Structure diagram drawn with RDKit from the SMILES string. Geometry and hybridisation are computed from the connection table, not measured.
§ 04 · First-aid measures
Glycerin first aid measures
Call your national emergency number first. These are published first-aid measures, not medical advice, and they do not replace emergency services, a poison control centre or the supplier's safety data sheet.
§4–§6 below reproduce the CAMEO Chemicals entry GLYCERINE. CAMEO publishes response data per product entry, so the entry can describe a solution, a refrigerated liquid or a molten form rather than the pure substance in §9 — check it matches what you are handling.
EYES
First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.
SKIN
IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. If symptoms such as redness or irritation develop, IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital for treatment.
INHALATION
IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) should be used; if not available, use a level of protection greater than or equal to that advised under Protective Clothing.
INGESTION
DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. If the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give 1 or 2 glasses of water to dilute the chemical and IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center. Be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital if advised by a physician. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure that the victim's airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital.
Source: NTP, 1992 — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), public domain.
§ 05 · Fire-fighting measures
Glycerin fire fighting measures
Fire and explosion hazard
This chemical is combustible.
Source: NTP, 1992 — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), public domain. Entry: GLYCERINE.
§ 08 · Exposure controls
Glycerin exposure limits (IDLH)
IDLH
NIOSH lists glycerin in the Pocket Guide but has not established an IDLH value for it.
NIOSH Pocket Guide — Glycerin →
IDLH from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (CDC, U.S. public domain), via CAMEO Chemicals. Occupational exposure limits — OSHA PEL, NIOSH REL and EU IOELV — are not published on this page yet.
MSDS vs SDS
Glycerin MSDS vs SDS: is there a difference?
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the older name for the same document. In the US, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (2012) adopted the GHS-standardised 16-section Safety Data Sheet; in the EU the format is set by REACH Annex II. So a "glycerin MSDS" and a "glycerin SDS" refer to the same document — today it is issued as an SDS. Full breakdown of the differences →
Compliance hub
From classification to SDS
The classification above corresponds to Section 2 of a Safety Data Sheet. Learn how a compliant 16-section SDS is structured and authored →
GHS label maker
Build the label for glycerin
Pictograms, signal word and H-statements combined into a compliant label layout →
§ 16 · Sources
- Classification: Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex VI
- Transport: UN ADR 2025 (UNECE), Table A
- Reactivity: NOAA CAMEO Chemicals reactive-group matrix (public domain)
- Physical properties: CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA, public domain) — per-value source references stored in the database
- Emergency response (§4–§6): ERG 2024 (PHMSA) · NIOSH Pocket Guide (CDC) · CHRIS (USCG) · NTP · EPA — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), all US federal public domain, reproduced verbatim
- Substance data: PubChem · ECHA
Reference aid only. This page summarises the harmonised EU classification and computed storage guidance — it is not a Safety Data Sheet and does not replace one. Always verify hazards, handling and storage against the supplier's SDS (sections 7 and 10) and local regulations before use. Page updated 2026-08-11.
Frequently asked questions about glycerin
Is an MSDS the same as an SDS?
In practice, yes. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the older name for the same document. In the US, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (2012) adopted the GHS-standardised 16-section Safety Data Sheet; in the EU the SDS format is set by REACH Annex II. A document you find labelled "glycerin MSDS" is today issued as an SDS.
Where can I download an official glycerin SDS PDF?
From your own supplier — an SDS is issued per product and supplier, so the correct PDF for an inspection is the one matching the product you actually purchased. The supplier links on this page lead to the official SDS libraries of major distributors.