Flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to form an ignitable mixture with air. It is a property of the vapour rather than the liquid: liquids do not burn, their vapours do, and below the flash point there is insufficient vapour to ignite.
It is one of the most consequential figures attached to a chemical product, because it determines how the material must be handled, stored, labelled and transported. Low flash point materials attract hazard classification as flammable, require areas rated for explosive atmospheres, and are subject to dangerous goods rules in transport - see chemical transport and dangerous goods and ATEX-rated manufacturing.
For contract manufacturing, flash point is often the single fact that decides which manufacturers can take the work. A site without appropriate rated areas and storage cannot handle flammable liquids regardless of its other capabilities, so establishing this early avoids wasted discussion - see flammable liquid manufacturing.
Flash point is a measured value that depends on test method, so specifications should state which was used. It appears on the safety data sheet for any relevant material, which is where to look first when assessing a formulation's handling requirements.
Establish your product's flash point before approaching manufacturers, since it determines which sites can handle it. Sharing the safety data sheets for your raw materials at first contact lets a manufacturer rule themselves in or out immediately.
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Last reviewed: August 2026. Regulation and guidance change — verify anything you rely on against the primary source. Tell us if something here is out of date.
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