For many industries, piping which carries hazardous materials throughout a facility are a necessary evil. To help employees identify the materials flowing through these pipes, the piping must be properly labeled. This will both make employees aware of the materials flowing around them and, in the event of a leak or other problem, help employees or emergency personnel quickly identify what potential hazard exists. To make this labeling process simpler, ANSI/ASME A13.1 was created. This program creates a universal practice for labeling piping, including a color coded system which allows employees to identify the materials in pipes, even if they can not read the labels.

The color coded system has 10 unique color schemes, identified by the background color and the color of the writing. The system was updated in 2007, however some companies are still using the pre-2007 system. For those companies which are, it might be time to update, as your facility can lead newer employees to misrepresent hazardous materials if they report the labels to a third party in the event of an emergency. The quickest way to do this would be to bring in a professional organization who focuses on workplace safety.

ANSI/ASME A13.1 also covers the requirements of what is on the labels and how big the lettering needs to be. The labels should be short and concise, and have an arrow pointing in the direction of the flow. The lettering should be at least 1/2 inch high, and needs to increase in size based upon the diameter of the pipe.

If you are unsure if your facility has updated its piping labels, or if you would like more information on the exact requirements for your facility, please contact us so that we can assist you in creating a safe work environment for your employees. If you have anything else to add about the identification of piping as determined by ANSI/ASME A13.1, please leave a comment.