It is important to be able to quickly and effectively identify what types of materials are flowing through exposed pipes, and what direction these materials are flowing. It is essential that the system utilized to identify piping is uniform and can be understood by all employees who work in your facility, not just those who work in a part of your facility near the exposed piping on a routine basis. The identification system must also be easy for non-employees to understand; this can include both guests of the facility and first responders, who might be called upon in the event of an emergency.

For these reasons, the ANSI/ASME A13.1 pipe labeling system was created. This system sets uniform requirements for labeling pipes, including the size of labels as well as the size of label print, the colors for the writing and for the background of the labels, and how to properly denote the direction of flow of a pipe. By ensuring your facility is following the requirements established in this system, anyone who enters your facility will be able to quickly identify the severity of materials flowing through pipes, as well as the direction it is flowing. Therefore, if there is a leak or other issue, it will be easier to shut the pipe down correctly and evacuate any relevant areas. And, should there be an emergency situation, anyone near exposed piping will know how to proceed – if it is safe to continue or if they should find an alternate route away from the pipe.

If you have not recently updated your pipe labels and feel it might be time for a review, or if you have any general questions about ANSI/ASME A13.1, please contact us. And if you have anything to add about this topic, please leave a comment.