A recommended identification color scheme of piping systems based on ANSI A13.

1 Standard for Pipe

Identification are indicated below:
Classification Color Field and Legend
Inherently Hazardous
Materials
Flammable or Explosive
Fluids
Black text on Yellow
background
Chemically Active !oxic or
Corrosive Fluids
Black text on Yellow
background
Extreme !emperatures or
"ressures
Black text on Yellow
background
#adioactive
Black text on Yellow
background
Inherently Lo$ Hazardous
Materials
Li%uid or Li%uid Admixture
"otable &ater Feed $ater '''
WhiteText on Green
background
(as or (aseous Admixture
Compressed air ''
White Text on Blue
background
Fire )uenching Materials &ater Foam C*+ ''
White Text on Red
background
Size of Letters
*utside "ipe
or Covering
,ize
-in.
&idth of
Color /and
-in.
,ize of Letters
-in.
0123 to 4 4123 5 41+3
4 41+3 to +3 5 0123
+ 41+3 to 63 4+ 4 4123
53 to 473 +2 + 41+
8 473 0+ 0 41+3
Why are the ANSI color codes important? What does the yellow background mean?
The yellow background signifies that the piping may handle hazardous material. Unfortunately, much
has changed in the typical plant over the last 7 years since this standard was originally conceived.
The basic standard can be traced to the !"#$s and use in the U% military. &bviously, our definitions
for what is 'hazardous' has changed. (ater, air or carbon dio)ide, under certain situations
*pressure, heat, mi)ture with other chemicals+ are not always benign. ,ow do we interpret, for
e)ample, materials that should be used for 'fire -uenching' that are also 'hazardous'. %hould we
use the red or the yellow A/%0 scheme. &r, how do we label a pipe that carries both the li-uid
*which should be green+ and gas form of a chemical *which should be blue+.
,azards, in other words, are not so easily defined. ',azardous' may mean that the material is
hazardous to a person nearby, or to the operation of the overall plant itself. 1ould 'hazardous' mean
that the materials flowing through the process piping, if not handled carefully, could contaminate the
product. &r, if leaked into the atmosphere, could the chemical infect the environment or cause
damage to employees after cumulative e)posure over a period of years. 1learly, the A/%0 standard
was written for far simpler times.
1olor %td 2eaning 3)ample
4ed A5(A
3lectric 5ower 6ines, 1ables, 1onduit
and 6ighting 1ables
7uried ,igh 8oltage 6ine
9ellow A5(A
:as, &il, %team, 5etroleum or
:aseous 2aterials
/atural :as ;istribution
6ine
&range A5(A
1ommunication, Alarm or %ignal
6ines, 1ables or 1onduit
7uried <iber &ptic 1able
7lue A5(A (ater, 0rrigation and %lurry 6ines 7uried (ater 6ine
:reen A5(A %ewers, ;rain 6ine 7uried %torm %ewer 6ine
4ed Traffic 5rohibition %T&5, 9ield
&range Traffic Temporary (ork =one 1onstruction =one Ahead
9ellow Traffic 1aution 2erge Ahead, %low
7lue Traffic 0nformation %igns ,ospital
7rown Traffic ,istorical or 5ark 5icnic Area Ahead
:reen Traffic ;irectional %igns 3)it ! 2ile, :o
4ed
A/%0
%ign
;anger %igns, ,ighest ,azard
,azardous 8oltage (ill
1ause ;eath
&range
A/%0
%ign
(arning %igns, 2edium ,azard
,azardous 8oltage 2ay
1ause ;eath
9ellow
A/%0
%ign
1aution %igns, 6owest ,azard
Turn 2achine &ff (hen
/ot 0n Use
7lue
A/%0
%ign
/otice %igns 3mployees &nly
:reen
A/%0
%ign
%afety <irst %igns (ear 3ar 5lugs
4ed
A/%0
5ipe
<ire >uenching 2aterials <ire 5rotection (ater
9ellow
A/%0
5ipe
2aterials 0nherently ,azardous 1hlorine
7lue
A/%0
5ipe
2aterials of 0nherently 6ow ,azard,
:as
1ompressed Air
:reen
A/%0
5ipe
2aterials of 0nherently 6ow ,azard,
6i-uid
%torm ;rain
7lue?4ed?9ellow
/<5A
7!
7lue is used for ,ealth ,azards, 4ed for <lammability and 9ellow
for reactivity
8ariations in color@coding standards are inevitable in our comple) plant and pluralistic society. (hile
laudable, harmonization of color@codes, then, will be very difficult to achieve. 2any plants use other
color@codingA for e)ample, color@code each system *i.e. 6ube &il is brown, 1ondensate is green,
etc.B+ or color code by Unit *i.e. Unit ! is yellow, Unit # is blue, etc.+. <or most plants, we recommend
either the A/%0 pipe marker color codes or simply black on yellow markers. <or more comple)
plants, we recommend a color@coding by system. <or all environments, we recommend the inclusion
of 4TC information on the valve or on the pipe.
ANSI Color Code for hermocouple and hermocouple !"tension Wire
ANSI
Symbol Wire Alloys #olarity
hermocouple Wire
Color $C !"tension Wire Color
Indi%idual &acket Indi%idual &acket
D
0ron
1onstantan*T2+
ED5
@D/
(hite
4ed
7rown
(hite
4ed
7lack
C
1,4&236FG
A6U236FG
EC5
@C/
9ellow
4ed
7rown
9ellow
4ed
9ellow
T
1opper
1onstantan*T2+
ET5
@T/
7lue
4ed
7rown
7lue
4ed
7lue
3
1,4&236FG
1onstantan*T2+
E35
@3/
5urple
4ed
7rown
5urple
4ed
5urple
/
/icrosil*T2+
/isil*T2+
E/5
@//
&range
4ed
7rown
&range
4ed
&range
4%H
1opper
1opper Alloy
E4%5
@4%/
9 9
7lack
4ed
:reen
7H
516(IJ?1opper
1opper
E75
@7/
9 9
:rey
4ed
:rey
(JH
(KH
Alloy #JA Alloy LK
Alloy ##KA Alloy L#I
E(5
@(/
9 9
(hite?4ed
4ed
(hite?4ed
ANSI #ipe 'arking Standards
;ocument /umber: #J
,azardous materials flow through miles of piping in many industrial, commercial and institutional facilities. Dust like
hazardous materials in other situations, piping systems should be appropriately labeled to make people aware of the
materials they carry. The older versions *!"M! N !""I+ of the A/%0 *American /ational %tandards 0nstitute+ A!J.!
standard have merged into the A/%0?A%23 *American %ociety of Testing and 2aterials+ A!J.! %cheme for
0dentification of 5iping %ystems. This merged standard A/%0?A%23 A!J.!, addresses pipe marking by offering a
common labeling method for use in all industrial, commercial, institutional facilities and in buildings used for public
assembly. This standard does not apply to buried pipelines or electrical conduit.
Label (e)uirements
5ipe marking labels must effectively communicate the contents of the pipes and give additional detail if special
hazards *such as e)treme temperatures or pressures+ e)ist. The legend should be short in length and easy to
understand. <or e)ample, the legend '%team ! 5%0:' specifies the contents as well as the additional pressure
hazard. An arrow should be used in conOunction with the legend to show which direction the material flows. 0f flow can
be in both directions, arrows in both directions shall be displayed.
The older versions *!"M! N !""I+ of A/%0 A!J.! separated materials transported in above@ground piping systems
into three categories:
,igh@,azard 2aterials: 3ncompasses several hazard areas including corrosive and caustic materialsA
substances that are to)ic or capable of creating to)ic gasesA e)plosive and flammable materialsA radioactive
substancesA and materials that, if released, would be hazardous due to e)treme pressures or temperatures.
6ow@,azard 2aterials: 2aterials that are not inherently hazardous and have a small chance of harming
employees through mild temperatures and low pressures.
<ire %uppression 2aterials: <ire protection materials such as foam, carbon dio)ide *1&#+, ,alon and water.
The three hazard classes have different color@coded labels associated with them. All high@hazard materials use black
characters on a yellow background. The low@hazard material class is divided into two different color schemes: li-uids
or li-uid mi)tures use white characters on a green backgroundA gases or gaseous mi)tures use white characters on a
blue background. The fire suppression class uses white letters on a red background. The letters on pipe labels should
be a minimum of !?#' high, and should increase in size as the pipe diameter increases@*Table J+.
The #7 edition of the A/%0?A%23 A!J.! changed the color scheme re-uirements for the labels. 0n this new edition
of the standard, there are I standard colors instead of L colors. The new label color re-uirements are based on the
characteristic hazards of the contents. %ee Table # below for the new color re-uirements.
Label #lacement
6abels should be positioned on the pipes so they can be easily read. 5roper label placement is on the lower side of
the pipe if the employee has to look up to the pipe, on the upper side of the pipe if the employee has to look down
towards the pipe, or directly facing the employee if on the same level as the pipe. 6abels should be located near
valves, branches, where a change in direction occurs, on entry?re@entry points through walls or floors, and on straight
segments with spacing between labels that allows for easy identification.
!"ceptions to this Standard
&ther pipe labeling systems are acceptable if they are put in writing and meet the basic A/%0 re-uirements.
Commonly Asked *uestions
Q. Can I still use my current pipe marking system based on the older version of the standard or do I have to
change my color scheme to meet ASME A13.1 !!"#
A.
Existing schemes for identification shall be considered as meeting the re%uirements of the
standard if the schemes are described in $riting and employees are trained in the operation
and hazards of the piping system'
Q. $hat if I have a pipe smaller than #
A.
For pipes of less than in diameter the use of a permanently legible tag is recommended'
Q. Are particular shades of yello%& green& red and blue re'uired for pipe labels#
A.
:es A;,I1A,ME A40'49 recommends the color code featured in the A;,I <=0'49 ,afety
Color Code for Mar>ing "hysical Hazards' !he color shades recommended are intended to
give highest level of recognition to employees $ith both normal and color9deficient vision'
Q. (as this A)SI Standard been adopted by *S(A#
A.
;o it is still considered an industry consensus standard $hich is only a recommendation'
Even though it has not been specifically adopted by *,HA industry consensus standards
may be evidence that a hazard is recognized and there is a feasible means of correcting such
a hazard' If you do not follo$ a consensus standard it is possible to be cited under the
(eneral ?uty Clause'
Stairs (esidential +uilding Code for the ,nited States
The %tairs@ 4esidential 7uilding 1ode for the U.%. is a municipal regulation.
Thus it varies by state and town.
%ome Ourisdictions base their legislation on the # and #J 0nternational
4esidential 1ode *041+. &ther communities seem to be still using the !""7
Uniform 7uilding 1ode *U71+. 0n all cases, each Ourisdiction has amended the
code to reflect local concerns.. ie. flooding or earth-uake prone areas.
0t is absolutely essential that you check with your local office as the following
information is only offered to suggest guidelines as to what issues and
answers you might e)pect related to the stairs@residential building code...
good luckP happy woodworking..
;osing Extension@ Code #e%uirements
2a)imum overhang for nosing is somewhere
between ! Q' N ! R'. %ome states legislate a
minimum of S', including floor and landings.
#isers A #uns@
4iser ,eight:
2a)imum of between 7 S' N M Q' *some
states regulate a minimum of I'+
4un:
2inimum between "@!' *not counting the part
underneath the 'nosing' of the tread above+.
(ith a note that runs of over ! !?#' will usually
re-uire three balusters per tread to comply with
the L' ma)imum opening between spindles.
8ariation in 4ise N 4un:
1an only have a J?M inch difference between
the largest and the smallest rise and the
largest and smallest run.
&inder and ,piral ,tairs@
(inder %tairs:
%tairways that turn a corner. These treads are
narrow on one end and wider at the other.
%piral?1ircular %tairs:
,ave their own regulations that often stipulate
the minimum width of around I' at the smallest
end of pie shaped treads, and often specify
that a tread must be somewhere between "@
!' wide, measured !# inches from the
narrowest end.
,tair$ays &idth@
%tair (idth:
2inimum JI' with a stipulation allowing a wall
mounted handrail to proOect from each side J
R'