Pipe marking

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Example of pipe marking through colors and symbols (arrows) to indicated pipe contents (colors) and flow direction (arrows). Warm und kalt IMGP7847.jpg
Example of pipe marking through colors and symbols (arrows) to indicated pipe contents (colors) and flow direction (arrows).
Pipe marking on a natural gas pipe 14 06 29 Natural Gas Pipeline Sign Clearwater FL 02.jpg
Pipe marking on a natural gas pipe

In the process industry, chemical industry, manufacturing industry, and other commercial and industrial contexts, pipe marking is used to identify the contents, properties and flow direction of fluids in piping. It is typically carried out by marking piping through labels and color codes. Pipe marking helps personnel and fire response teams identify the correct pipes for operational, maintenance or emergency response purposes.

Contents

Background

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. [1] 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. [2]

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

National standards: United States

ANSI/ASME Standards

Acetylene - Pipe Marker (R).svg
Chlorine - Pipe Marker (L).svg
Sprinkler Water - Pipe Marker (L).svg
Three ASME A13.1 pipe markers.

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. [3]

The standard states that labels should be placed where easily viewed by a person standing near the pipe at any of the following points: [4]

  • Valves and flanges.
  • Approximately every 25 feet (7.6 m) to 50 feet (15 m) on straight sections.
  • A pipe passes through a wall or floor.
  • Any pipe direction changes, such bends or junctions.
A13.1-1996 [4]
MeaningBackground ColorText ColorExample
Hazardous materials [lower-alpha 1] Safety YellowBlackAcetylene
Non-hazardous liquidsSafety GreenWhiteStormwater
Non-hazardous gasesSafety BlueWhiteNitrogen
Firefighting materialsSafety RedWhiteSprinkler Water
A13.1-2007/2015 [4]
MeaningBackground ColorText ColorExample
Flammables [lower-alpha 2] & Oxidizers [lower-alpha 3] Safety YellowBlackAcetylene
Combustible Fluids [lower-alpha 4] Safety BrownWhiteLubricating Oil
Toxic and CorrosivesSafety OrangeWhiteAmmonia
WaterSafety GreenWhiteStormwater
Compressed air/Non-hazardous gasesSafety BlueWhiteCompressed Air
Firefighting materialsSafety RedWhiteSprinkler Water
Custom - Defined by userSafety PurpleWhiteFluid Name
Custom - Defined by userSafety GreyWhiteFluid Name
Custom - Defined by userWhiteBlackFluid Name
Custom - Defined by userBlackWhiteFluid Name

2015 revisions

A 2015 style pipe marker with GHS signal word and symbols. Acetone - Pipe Marker (GHS) (R).svg
A 2015 style pipe marker with GHS signal word and symbols.

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. [4]

IIAR Bulletin #114

IIAR Bulletin 114 pipe marker for a low-temperature recirculated suction (LTRS) line, where both liquid and vapor are present IIAR 114 Pipe Marker - Ammonia LTRS Low (L).svg
IIAR Bulletin 114 pipe marker for a low-temperature recirculated suction (LTRS) line, where both liquid and vapor are present

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. [6]

NFPA 99C 2002

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. [7]

GasBackground ColorText Color
Carbon DioxideGrayBlack or White
HeliumBrownWhite
Medical AirYellowBlack
OxygenGreenWhite [lower-alpha 5]
Oxygen/Carbon MixturesGreenWhite
NitrogenBlackWhite
Nitrous OxideBlueWhite
Waste Anesthetic Gas DisposalPurpleWhite
Medical Surgical VacuumWhiteBlack
Non-Medical AirYellow/White Diagonal StripedBlack
Non-medical and Level 3 VacuumBlack/White Diagonal StripedBlack (In box)
Laboratory AirYellow/White CheckerboardBlack
Laboratory VacuumBlack/White CheckerboardBlack (In box)
Instrument AirRedWhite

National standards: United Kingdom

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

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.

BS 1710 Safety colours and signs

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

The Standard stipulates the colours to be used. These are as follows: [2]

BS 1710 Basic identification colours for pipes
ContentsColourBS 4800 colour [10]
WaterGreen12 D 45
SteamSilver-grey10 A 03
OilsBrown06 C 39
GasesYellow Ochre08 C 35
Acids and AlkalisViolet22 C 37
AirLight Blue20 E 51
Other liquidsBlack00 E 53
Electrical & VentilationOrange06 E 51

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

BS 1710 Safety colours for pipes
Safety serviceColourBS 4800 colour [10]
Fire fightingRed04 E 53
WarningYellow08 E 51
Fresh waterAuxiliary Blue18 E 53
User definedUser defined

The arrangement of markings is for the safety colour to be between bands of the basic colour. [2]

Firewater service would be:

Basic marking of firewater piping in accordance with BS EN ISO 7010 Firewater marking.jpg
Basic marking of firewater piping in accordance with BS EN ISO 7010

The pipe contents must be identified adjacent to the banding. [2] This can be done by giving either:

The direction of flow should also be identified near the banding. [2]

Examples using this system are as shown.

Examples of pipe marking using BS 7010 BS 7010 pipe tags.svg
Examples of pipe marking using BS 7010

National standards: India

IS 2379 Pipelines Identification Colour Code

The Indian Standard IS 2379 provides for a ground colour and a coloured band on piping to identify material. [11]

IS 2379 ground colours [11]
SubstanceGround colour
WaterSea green
SteamAluminium
Oils and combustible liquidLight brown
AcidsDark violet
AirSky blue
GasesCanary yellow
AlkaliseSmoke grey
Other gases and liquidsBlack
Hydrocarbons/organic compoundsDark aluminium grey

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.

IS 2379 Oil colours [11]
SubstanceGround colourBand colour
Light dieselLight brownBrilliant green
High speed dieselLight brownNone
Paraffin oilLight brownSignal red
Quenching oilLight brownCanary yellow
Furnace fuelLight brownFrench blue
Lubricating oilLight brownLight grey
Hydraulic powerLight brownDark violet
Transformer oilLight brownLight orange

National standards: Australia

Pipes, ducts and conduits are identification by the Australian Standard AS 1345—1995 “Identification of the contents of pipes, conduits and ducts” [12]

Australian Standard AS 1345 [12]
ServiceAS 2700 Colour
WaterG21 Jade
SteamN24 Silver Grey
Oils, flammable liquidsX53 Golden Tan
GasesY44 Sand
Acids & alkalisP23 Lilac
AirB25 Aqua
Other LiquidsN61 Black
Fire ServicesR13 Signal Red
Electric PowerX15 Orange
CommunicationN14 White
Dangerous MaterialsY14 Golden Yellow + N61 Black

International standards

ISO 14726 Ships and marine facilities

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. [13]

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: [13]

ISO 20560-1 & -2 Safety information for piping systems

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. [14]

Pipe markers consists of 4 basic elements:

Flammable substance Gefahrensymbol F.png
Flammable substance




Colours and substances are typically as follows: [14]

ISO 20560-1:2020 Colours and substances
SubstanceBackground colourText colour
Hazardous substancesYellowBlack
Gas (liquid or gaseous)GreyWhite
Liquids & solids (powder/granulate)BlackWhite
AcidsOrangeBlack
AlkalisVioletWhite
Fire fighting mediumRedWhite
WaterGreenWhite
AirBlueWhite

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.

European standards: RAL Colours

RAL colour standard charts are used by architects, construction industry and road safety. [15]

The pipe identification colours are as shown in the table.

Pipe Identification Colours [15]
TypeReferenceRAL Colour CodeColour
Steam21149006White aluminium
Air21235012Light blue
Water21386010Grass green
Gas21491004Golden yellow
Acid21634001Red lilac
Liquid Spirits21738001Ochre brown
Other Liquids21799005Jet black

See also

Notes

  1. Explosives, flammables, corrosives, toxic, radioactive, extreme pressures/temperatures.
  2. Flash point below 100 °F (38 °C; 311 K). [5]
  3. Oxidizers were added in 2015 update. [5]
  4. Fluids that can burn, but are not considered 'flammable', flash point at or above 100 °F (38 °C; 311 K). [5]
  5. Background & Text color can be reversed.

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Pipe marking solutions to meet British Standard 1710 (BS 1710)". silverfox.co.uk. October 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
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  5. 1 2 3 NASA (17 November 2017). "GSFC-STD-8006 - Safety Standard for Ground piping Systems Color Coding and Identification". standards.nasa.gov/. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  6. 1 2 International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration. "Guidelines for: Identification of Ammonia Refrigeration Piping and System Components" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  7. Craftmark Pipe Markers. "NFPA 99C 2002" (PDF). craftmarkid.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
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  10. 1 2 "BS 4800 Colour Chart" . Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 "IS 2379 Pipelines Identification Colour Code" (PDF). Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Use of colour for pipe identification" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  13. 1 2 "ISO 14726". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  14. 1 2 "ISO 20560:2020". www.iso.org. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  15. 1 2 "Pipe Identification Colours" . Retrieved 5 March 2024.