Hello,
Pipes within an industrial facility may contain hazardous materials. They may also contain substances that could be vital when responding to an emergency such as a fire. This is why identifying the contents of pipes is important for both employees who work near them, and for emergency response personnel who may need to deal with an on-site incident.
To assist with marking pipes, the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) has developed standard A13, 1-1996, Scheme for identification of Piping Systems. To simplify what could be a monumental task, the ANSI standard divides pipes into three divisions or hazard classes: high-hazard, low hazard and fire suppression materials. It also describes how pipe identification labels should appear and where they should be placed on the pipes.
ANSI's three hazard classes for pipe contents are fairly straightforward. High-hazard materials are those which are flammable, explosive, chemically alive, toxic or radioactive. Any material that could become hazardous due to extreme pressures or temperatures could also be classified as high-hazard. Low-hazard materials are those which are no inherently hazardous. Fire suppression materials are fire fighting agents such as foam, water, Halon®, or carbon dioxide.
In terms of labeling pipes, the standard has color codes for each division. All high-hazard materials require a yellow label with black letter identifying the specific substance. For low-hazard materials there are two color choices: green labels with white lettering if the low hazard material is liquid or liquid admixture, or blue with white lettering for gas or gaseous admixture. Fire suppression materials require red labels with white lettering.
Positioning the labels will depend upon the pipe's location in proximity to where it's viewed. Labels should be placed on the bottom of overhead pipes. Floor level pipes require that the labels be placed on top. For pipes that can be viewed straight on, labels go on the sides of the pipe. Locate labels near valves, branches, or where a change in direction occurs. If the pipe passes through a wall; mark the entry and re-entry points. The key to placement is to have enough pipemarkers for easy identification. To obtain a copy of the standard, call ANSI at 1·212·642·4900.
Regards, John.