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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.

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

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]
Meaning	Background Color	Text Color	Example
Hazardous materials^[a]	Safety Yellow	Black	Acetylene
Non-hazardous liquids	Safety Green	White	Stormwater
Non-hazardous gases	Safety Blue	White	Nitrogen
Firefighting materials	Safety Red	White	Sprinkler Water

A13.1-2007/2015^[4]
Meaning	Background Color	Text Color	Example
Flammables^[b] & Oxidizers^[c]	Safety Yellow	Black	Acetylene
Combustible Fluids^[d]	Safety Brown	White	Lubricating Oil
Toxic and Corrosives	Safety Orange	White	Ammonia
Water	Safety Green	White	Stormwater
Compressed air/Non-hazardous gases	Safety Blue	White	Compressed Air
Firefighting materials	Safety Red	White	Sprinkler Water

Custom - Defined by user	Safety Purple	White	Fluid Name
Custom - Defined by user	Safety Grey	White	Fluid Name
Custom - Defined by user	White	Black	Fluid Name
Custom - Defined by user	Black	White	Fluid Name

2015 revisions

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^[6]

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]

Gas	Background Color	Text Color
Carbon Dioxide	Gray	Black or White
Helium	Brown	White
Medical Air	Yellow	Black
Oxygen	Green	White^[e]
Oxygen/Carbon Mixtures	Green	White
Nitrogen	Black	White
Nitrous Oxide	Blue	White
Waste Anesthetic Gas Disposal	Purple	White
Medical Surgical Vacuum	White	Black
Non-Medical Air	Yellow/White Diagonal Striped	Black
Non-medical and Level 3 Vacuum	Black/White Diagonal Striped	Black (In box)
Laboratory Air	Yellow/White Checkerboard	Black
Laboratory Vacuum	Black/White Checkerboard	Black (In box)
Instrument Air	Red	White

National standards: United Kingdom

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,^[8]
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996,^[9]
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998,^[1]

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:

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:^[2]

BS 1710 Basic identification colours for pipes
Contents	Colour	BS 4800 colour^[10]
Water	Green	12 D 45
Steam	Silver-grey	10 A 03
Oils	Brown	06 C 39
Gases	Yellow Ochre	08 C 35
Acids and Alkalis	Violet	22 C 37
Air	Light Blue	20 E 51
Other liquids	Black	00 E 53
Electrical & Ventilation	Orange	06 E 51

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

BS 1710 Safety colours for pipes
Safety service	Colour	BS 4800 colour^[10]
Fire fighting	Red	04 E 53
Warning	Yellow	08 E 51
Fresh water	Auxiliary Blue	18 E 53
User defined	User 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

The pipe contents must be identified adjacent to the banding.^[2] 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.^[2]

Examples using this system are as shown.

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]
Substance	Ground colour
Water	Sea green
Steam	Aluminium
Oils and combustible liquid	Light brown
Acids	Dark violet
Air	Sky blue
Gases	Canary yellow
Alkalise	Smoke grey
Other gases and liquids	Black
Hydrocarbons/organic compounds	Dark 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]
Substance	Ground colour	Band colour
Light diesel	Light brown	Brilliant green
High speed diesel	Light brown	None
Paraffin oil	Light brown	Signal red
Quenching oil	Light brown	Canary yellow
Furnace fuel	Light brown	French blue
Lubricating oil	Light brown	Light grey
Hydraulic power	Light brown	Dark violet
Transformer oil	Light brown	Light 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]
Service	AS 2700 Colour
Water	G21 Jade
Steam	N24 Silver Grey
Oils, flammable liquids	X53 Golden Tan
Gases	Y44 Sand
Acids & alkalis	P23 Lilac
Air	B25 Aqua
Other Liquids	N61 Black
Fire Services	R13 Signal Red
Electric Power	X15 Orange
Communication	N14 White
Dangerous Materials	Y14 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]

Black - Waste media
Blue - Fresh water
Brown - Fuel
Green – Sea water
Grey - Non-flammable gases
Maroon - Air and sounding pipes
Orange - Oils other than fuels
Silver - Steam
Red - Fire fighting
Violet - Acids, alkalis
White - Air in ventilation systems
Yellow - Flammable gases

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:

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

Flammable substance

Colours and substances are typically as follows:^[14]

ISO 20560-1:2020 Colours and substances
Substance
Hazardous substances	Yellow	Black
Gas (liquid or gaseous)	Grey	White
Liquids & solids (powder/granulate)	Black	White
Acids	Orange	Black
Alkalis	Violet	White
Fire fighting medium	Red	White
Water	Green	White
Air	Blue	White

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]
Type	Reference	RAL Colour Code	Colour
Steam	2114	9006	White aluminium
Air	2123	5012	Light blue
Water	2138	6010	Grass green
Gas	2149	1004	Golden yellow
Acid	2163	4001	Red lilac
Liquid Spirits	2173	8001	Ochre brown
Other Liquids	2179	9005	Jet black

Notes

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

References

^ ^a ^b "Safe use of work equipment" (PDF). www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Pipe marking solutions to meet British Standard 1710 (BS 1710)". silverfox.co.uk. October 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
^ Occupational Safety & Health Administration (November 2016). "1910.261 - Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills". osha.gov. Retrieved 21 March 2019. 1910.261(a)(3)(ii) Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems, A13.1—1956.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Brimar Industries. "ANSI/ASME A13.1 2015" (PDF). Pipemarker.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c NASA (17 November 2017). "GSFC-STD-8006 - Safety Standard for Ground piping Systems Color Coding and Identification". standards.nasa.gov/. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ Craftmark Pipe Markers. "NFPA 99C 2002" (PDF). craftmarkid.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
^ "The GB CLP Regulation". www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
^ "The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996" (PDF). www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
^ ^a ^b "BS 4800 Colour Chart". Retrieved 5 March 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c "IS 2379 Pipelines Identification Colour Code" (PDF). Retrieved 11 March 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Use of colour for pipe identification" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2024.
^ ^a ^b "ISO 14726". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
^ ^a ^b "ISO 20560:2020". www.iso.org. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Pipe Identification Colours". Retrieved 5 March 2024.

[5] Explosives, flammables, corrosives, toxic, radioactive, extreme pressures/temperatures.

[7] Flash point below 100 °F (38 °C; 311 K).^[5]

[8] Oxidizers were added in 2015 update.^[5]

[9] Fluids that can burn, but are not considered 'flammable', flash point at or above 100 °F (38 °C; 311 K).^[5]

[12] Background & Text color can be reversed.

[:2-1] "Safe use of work equipment" (PDF). www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2022.

[:0-2] "Pipe marking solutions to meet British Standard 1710 (BS 1710)". silverfox.co.uk. October 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2022.

[OSHA_1910.261-3] Occupational Safety & Health Administration (November 2016). "1910.261 - Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills". osha.gov. Retrieved 21 March 2019. 1910.261(a)(3)(ii) Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems, A13.1—1956.

[ANSI/ASME_A13.1_2015-4] Brimar Industries. "ANSI/ASME A13.1 2015" (PDF). Pipemarker.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.

[NASA_GSFC-STD-8006-6] NASA (17 November 2017). "GSFC-STD-8006 - Safety Standard for Ground piping Systems Color Coding and Identification". standards.nasa.gov/. Retrieved 21 March 2019.

[IIAR_-_114-10] 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.

[NFPA_99C_2002-11] Craftmark Pipe Markers. "NFPA 99C 2002" (PDF). craftmarkid.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.

[13] "The GB CLP Regulation". www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2022.

[:3-14] "The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996" (PDF). www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2022.

[:5-15] "BS 4800 Colour Chart". Retrieved 5 March 2024.

[:7-16] "IS 2379 Pipelines Identification Colour Code" (PDF). Retrieved 11 March 2024.

[:8-17] "Use of colour for pipe identification" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2024.

[:1-18] "ISO 14726". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 13 February 2022.

[:4-19] "ISO 20560:2020". www.iso.org. Retrieved 14 February 2022.

[:6-20] "Pipe Identification Colours". Retrieved 5 March 2024.

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v t e Hazardous materials
List of accidents	Accidents involving transport or storage of ammunition Accidents involving ammonium nitrate Accidents involving fireworks Accidents involving pipelines List of accidents involving natural gas and oil production
Dangerous cargo classes	HAZMAT Class 1 Explosives HAZMAT Class 2 Gases HAZMAT Class 3 Flammable liquids HAZMAT Class 4 Flammable solids HAZMAT Class 5 Oxidizing agents and organic peroxides HAZMAT Class 6 Toxic and infectious substances HAZMAT Class 7 Radioactive substances HAZMAT Class 8 Corrosive substances HAZMAT Class 9 Miscellaneous
Hazardous materials laws and regulations	AIR Shipper Australian Dangerous Goods Code European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) Hazardous Materials Transportation Act Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 HAZWOPER Hong Kong ship laws Midwest hazardous work training NA/UN exceptions Safe handling of carcinogens UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods US Committee on Hazardous Materials
Regulatory agencies and organizations	United Nations Economic Commission for Europe United Nations - International Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration USA National Transport Commission Australia
Hazardous material labelling systems	Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) International UN ADR International Hazchem United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand NFPA 704 'Fire diamond' USA Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) USA Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Canada European hazard symbols from Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) European Union
Hazardous goods	Consumption of Tide Pods Crotonaldehyde Dangerous goods Explosive High production volume chemicals Nickel hydrazine nitrate Nuclear flask Nuclear fuel cycle Sedaxane Substance of very high concern
Category

v t e Plumbing
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Technology	Brazing British Standard Pipe (BSP) Cast iron pipe Chemical drain cleaners Compression fitting Copper tubing Crimp (joining) Drain-waste-vent system Ductile iron pipe Flare fitting Garden Hose Thread (GHT) Gasket Hydronics Leak detection National Pipe Thread (NPT) Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) O-ring Oakum Pipe (fluid conveyance) Pipe dope Pipe support Plastic pipework Push-to-pull compression fittings Putty Sealant Sewage pumping Soldering Solvent welding Swaging Thread seal tape Threaded pipe Tube bending Water heat recycling
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Plumbing fixtures	Accessible bathtub Bathtub Bidet Dehumidifier Dishwasher Drinking fountain Electric water boiler Evaporative cooler Flush toilet Garbage disposal unit Hot water storage tank Humidifier Icemaker Instant hot water dispenser Laundry tub Shower water recycling shower Sink Storage water heater Sump pump Tankless water heater Urinal Washing machine Washlet Water dispenser Water filter Water heater Water softener
Specialized tools	Basin wrench Blowtorch Borescope Core drill Drain cleaner Driving cap Flare-nut wrench Pipecutter Pipe wrench Plumber's snake Plumber wrench Plunger Strap wrench Tap and die
Measurement and control	Control valve Flow sensor Pressure sensor Water detector Water metering
Professions, trades, and services	Hydronic balancing Hydrostatic testing Leak detection Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing Pipe marking Pipefitter Pipelayer Plumber
Industry organizations and standards	International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) NSF International Plumbing & Drainage Institute (PDI) Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) World Plumbing Council (WPC)
Health and safety	Plumbing code Scalding Waterborne disease
See also	Fire sprinkler system Piping Template:HVAC Template:Public health Template:Sewerage Template:Toilets Template:Wastewater