Pipe marking

Pipes are used extensively in commercial and industrial buildings and on industrial plant (e.g. oil refineries) to transfer fluids between items of plant and equipment. Positive identification assists operations personnel to correctly identify plant when carrying out routine or maintenance activities, and for emergency personnel when responding to emergencies. Pipe marking is particularly important for identification where pipes run along pipe racks, through walls and bulkheads and through floors.

A range of corporate, national and international codes, standards and regulations are in use around the world.

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In the United States, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations recommend following American Society of Mechanical Engineers Standard A13.1-2015 - Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems.{{cite web |last1=Occupational Safety & Health Administration |authorlink1=Occupational Safety and Health Administration |title=1910.261 - Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills. |url=https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.261 |website=osha.gov |accessdate=21 March 2019 |date=November 2016 |quote=1910.261(a)(3)(ii) Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems, A13.1—1956.}}

The standard states that labels should be placed where easily viewed by a person standing near the pipe at any of the following points:

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• Valves and flanges.
• Approximately every {{convert|25|ft|m}} to {{convert|50|ft|m}} on straight sections.
• A pipe passes through a wall or floor.
• Any pipe direction changes, such bends or junctions.

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File:Acetone - Pipe Marker (GHS) (R).svg

2015 revisions added oxidizing materials to the existing 'Flammables' classification. The other major change allowed and encouraged labels to incorporate the GHS signal word, hazard pictograms, and hazard statements. This addition helped identify additional dangers when dealing with materials that fit into multiple categories, like hydrogen sulfide, which is both flammable and toxic.{{cite web |last1=Brimar Industries |title=ANSI/ASME A13.1 2015 |url=https://www.pipemarker.com/static/PDF/ANSI-ASME-Summary.pdf |website=Pipemarker.com |accessdate=21 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321033946/https://www.pipemarker.com/static/PDF/ANSI-ASME-Summary.pdf |archivedate=21 March 2019 |language=English }}

File:IIAR 114 Pipe Marker - Ammonia LTRS Low (L).svg

In 2014, the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration introduced a specialized label design for use when marking pipes associated with refrigeration systems using ammonia, including information such as the physical state, pressure and purpose in the system.{{cite web |last1=International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration |title=Guidelines for: Identification of Ammonia Refrigeration Piping and System Components |url=http://web.iiar.org/membersonly/PDF/CO/Bulletin_114_REV032014.pdf |accessdate=21 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321035215/http://web.iiar.org/membersonly/PDF/CO/Bulletin_114_REV032014.pdf |archivedate=21 March 2019 |language=English }}

The National Fire Protection Association have a special labeling system in the standard for Health Care Facilities, such as hospitals and dentistry offices. This standard puts more emphasis on gases found in Medical gas supply systems, which consist of both oxidizing gases and gases that displace oxygen.{{cite web |last1=Craftmark Pipe Markers |title=NFPA 99C 2002 |url=http://www.craftmarkid.com/nfpaguide.pdf |website=craftmarkid.com |accessdate=21 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321065739/http://www.craftmarkid.com/nfpaguide.pdf |archivedate=21 March 2019 |language=English }}

In the United Kingdom there are three principal regulations that mandate the marking of equipment and piping:

• Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals (Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Regulations 2015,{{Cite web|title=The GB CLP Regulation|url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/legal/clp-regulation.htm|access-date=12 February 2022|website=www.hse.gov.uk}}
• Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996,{{Cite web|title=The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996|url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l64.pdf|access-date=12 February 2022|website=www.hse.gov.uk}}
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998,{{Cite web|title=Safe use of work equipment|url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l22.pdf|access-date=12 February 2022|website=www.hse.gov.uk}}

The regulations require that vessels containing hazardous substances together with the pipes containing or transporting such substances must be labelled or marked with the relevant hazard pictograms or pipe marking. The labels used on pipes must be positioned visibly in the vicinity of the most hazardous points, such as valves and joints; at both sides of bulkheads and floor penetrations; and at reasonable intervals.

The regulations do not specify a specific marking system, but BS EN ISO 1710 Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs is often used.

A widely used British Standard (BS) for marking equipment is:

• BS 1710:2019 Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Registered safety signs

The Standard stipulates the colours to be used. These are as follows:{{Cite web|title=Pipe marking solutions to meet British Standard 1710 (BS 1710)|url=https://silverfox.co.uk/pipe-marking-british-standard-1710-bs-1710/|access-date=12 February 2022|website=silverfox.co.uk|date=October 2018 }}

In addition to the basic colours, certain safety colours are used:

The arrangement of markings is for the safety colour to be between bands of the basic colour.

Firewater service would be:

File:Firewater_marking.jpg

The pipe contents must be identified adjacent to the banding. This can be done by giving either:

• The full name
• Abbreviation
• Chemical symbol
• Refrigerant number
• Coloured bands (user specified)

The direction of flow should also be identified near the banding.

Examples using this system are as shown.

File:BS 7010 pipe tags.svg

The Indian Standard IS 2379 provides for a ground colour and a coloured band on piping to identify material.{{Cite web |title=IS 2379 Pipelines Identification Colour Code |url=https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S08/is.2379.1990.pdf |access-date=11 March 2024}}

Colour bands of 25 mm to 100 mm width are placed at locations such as battery limits, intersections, near valves, at walls, starting and terminating points. There is a large range of bands which define the contents of the line. For example, for oils.

Pipes, ducts and conduits are identification by the Australian Standard AS 1345—1995 “Identification of the contents of pipes, conduits and ducts”{{Cite web |title=Use of colour for pipe identification |url=https://www.duluxprotectivecoatings.com.au/media/1508/542-use-of-colour-for-pipe-identification.pdf |access-date=12 March 2024}}

Ships and marine facilities must conform to an international standard for piping systems identification. This is ISO 14726:2008 Ships and marine technology — Identification colours for the content of piping systems.{{Cite web|title=ISO 14726|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/113650537/ISO-14726-Color-Marking-on-Pipeshttps://www.scribd.com/doc/113650537/ISO-14726-Color-Marking-on-Pipes|access-date=13 February 2022|website=www.scribd.com}}

This is a two-colour banded marking system. The main colour shows what the fluid is being used for. This is on either side of the secondary colour which indicates what the substance actually is. The main colours are as follows:

• {{color box|black}} Black - Waste media
• {{color box|blue}} Blue - Fresh water
• {{color box|brown}} Brown - Fuel
• {{color box|green}} Green – Sea water
• {{color box|grey}} Grey - Non-flammable gases
• {{color box|maroon}} Maroon - Air and sounding pipes
• {{color box|orange}} Orange - Oils other than fuels
• {{color box|silver}} Silver - Steam
• {{color box|red}} Red - Fire fighting
• {{color box|violet}} Violet - Acids, alkalis
• {{color box|white}} White - Air in ventilation systems
• {{color box|yellow}} Yellow - Flammable gases

International Standard ISO 20560-1:2020 Safety information for the content of piping systems and tanks — Part 1: Piping systems was intended to replace the variety of regulations and standards across countries and regions. Basic identification colours and warning symbols identify the pipe contents and any hazards.{{Cite web|title=ISO 20560:2020|url=https://www.iso.org/standard/71570.html|access-date=14 February 2022|website=www.iso.org}}

Pipe markers consists of 4 basic elements:

• Basic identification (background) colour, see table below, e.g. yellow for hazardous substance
• Name of the substance/content, e.g. NATURAL GAS
• Flow direction indicator arrows, ⇒
• Warning symbols, e.g. GHS symbol

File:Gefahrensymbol F.png

Colours and substances are typically as follows:

International Standard ISO 20560-2 Safety information for the content of piping systems and tanks — Part 2: Tanks, provides a similar colour scheme for tanks.

RAL colour standard charts are used by architects, construction industry and road safety.{{Cite web |title=Pipe Identification Colours |url=https://www.promain.co.uk/colour-charts-pipeline-identification |access-date=5 March 2024}}

The pipe identification colours are as shown in the table.

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• Piping
• American National Standards Institute
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers

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Category:Piping

Category:Civil engineering

Category:Hazardous materials

Category:Chemical safety

Category:Color codes