Color Codes for Pipe lines

COLOUR CODING OF PIPING SYSTEM

Type of Pipe
Water Lines:

Use of pipe
Raw Water Settled or clarified water Finished or potable water

Colour of pipe
Olive Green Aqua Dark blue

Non-potable water
Water with heating digesters or buildings

Blue
Blue with a 6 in. (150 mm) red band space 30 in. (760 mm) apart

Type of Pipe
Chemical Lines:

Use of pipe
Alum or primary coagulant Ammonia Carbon Slurry Caustic Chlorine gas solution Fluoride Lime slurry

Colour of pipe
Orange White Black Yellow with green band Yellow Light blue with red band Light green

Ozone Polymers or coagulant aids

Potassium per-magnate Soda Ash Sulfuric Acid Sulfur dioxide

Yellow with orange band Orange with green band

Violet Light green with red band Yellow with red band Light green with yellow band

Type of Pipe
Waste Lines:

Use of pipe
Backwash Waste Sludge

Colour of pipe
Light Brown Dark Brown Brown wid black bands Brown wid yellow bands Brown wid Orange bands Brown Orange (or red) Orange (or red) with Black bands Green

Sewer (Sanitary or other) Dark grey Sludge Lines: Raw Sludge Sludge recirculation or suction Sludge draw off Sludge recirculation discharge Gas Lines: Sludge Lines Natural gas Other Lines: Compressed air

ANSI Colour Codes

The yellow background signifies that the piping may handle hazardous material. Unfortunately, much has changed in the typical plant over the last 70 years since this standard was originally conceived. The basic standard can be traced to the 1920's and use in the US military. Obviously, our definitions for what is "hazardous" has changed. Water, air or carbon dioxide, under certain situations (pressure, heat, mixture with other chemicals) are not always benign.

How do we interpret, for example, materials that should be used for "fire quenching" that are also "hazardous"? Should we use the red or the yellow ANSI scheme? Or, how do we label a pipe that carries both the liquid (which should be green) and gas form of a chemical (which should be blue)?

Hazards, in other words, are not so easily defined. "Hazardous" may mean that the material is hazardous to a person nearby, or to the operation of the overall plant itself. Could "hazardous" mean that the materials flowing through the process piping, if not handled carefully, could contaminate the product. Or, if leaked into the atmosphere, could the chemical infect the environment or cause damage to employees after cumulative exposure over a period of years? Clearly, the ANSI standard was written for far simpler times.

Color

Std

Red
Yellow Orange Blue Green

Meaning Electric Power Lines, Cables, APWA Conduit and Lighting Cables Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or APWA Gaseous Materials APWA Communication, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit

Example

Buried High Voltage Line

Natural Gas Distribution Line Buried Fiber Optic Cable

APWA Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines Buried Water Line APWA Sewers, Drain Line Buried Storm Sewer Line

Red
Orange

Traffic Prohibition
Traffic Temporary Work Zone

STOP, Yield
Construction Zone Ahead

Yellow
Blue

Traffic Caution
Traffic Information Signs

Merge Ahead, Slow

Hospital

Brown

Traffic Historical or Park

Picnic Area Ahead

Color Green

Std Traffic ANSI Red Sign ANSI Orange Sign ANSI Yellow Sign ANSI Blue Sign ANSI Green Sign ANSI Red Pipe ANSI Yellow Pipe ANSI Blue Pipe ANSI Green Pipe Blue/Red/Yello NFPA w 701

Meaning Directional Signs

Danger Signs, Highest Hazard

Warning Signs, Medium Hazard

Caution Signs, Lowest Hazard

Notice Signs

Example Exit 1 Mile, Go Hazardous Voltage Will Cause Death Hazardous Voltage May Cause Death Turn Machine Off When Not In Use Employees Only

Safety First Signs

Fire Quenching Materials

Wear Ear Plugs

Fire Protection Water

Materials Inherently Hazardous

Chlorine

Materials of Inherently Low Hazard, Compressed Air Gas Materials of Inherently Low Hazard, Storm Drain Liquid Blue is used for Health Hazards, Red for Flammability and Yellow for reactivity

Variations in colour-coding standards are inevitable in our complex plant and pluralistic society. While laudable, harmonization of colour-codes, then, will be very difficult to achieve. Many plants use other colour-coding; for example, colour-code each system (i.e. Lube Oil is brown, Condensate is green, etc.) or colour code by Unit (i.e. Unit 1 is yellow, Unit 2 is blue, etc.). For most plants, we recommend either the ANSI pipe marker colour codes or simply black on yellow markers. For more complex plants, we recommend a colour-coding by system. For all environments, we recommend the inclusion of RTK information on the valve or on the pipe.

ANSI Color Code for Thermocouple and Thermocouple Extension Wire

Thermocouple Wire Color

ANSI Symbol Wire Alloys Iron J Constantan(TM) K T E N RSX BX W3X W5X CHROMEL* ALUMEL* Copper Constantan(TM) CHROMEL* Constantan(TM) Nicrosil(TM) Nisil(TM) Copper Copper Alloy PCLW630/Copper Copper

T/C Extension Wire Color Individual White Red

Yellow Red Blue Red Purple Red Orange Red Black Red Grey Red White/Red Red

Polarity Individual +JP White -JN Red

+KP -KN +TP -TN +EP -EN +NP -NN +RSP -RSN +BP -BN Yellow Red Blue Red Purple Red Orange Red -

Jacket
Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown -

Jacket
Black Yellow Blue Purple Orange Green Grey White/R ed

Alloy 203; Alloy 405 +WP Alloy 225; Alloy 426 -WN

ANSI & Pipes

What are the ANSI pipe marking guidelines and do we have to follow them? No, many industries have not followed the ANSI guidelines. But they can still a useful guide to smaller firms, even as they becomes less popular with larger firms. The ANSI pipe marker guidelines define both colour codes and sizes.

Material Fire Quenching Materials Materials Inherently Hazardous

Marker Color Red Yellow

Materials of Inherently Blue Low Hazard, Gas Materials of Inherent Low Green Hazard, Liquid

Length of Colour Field Pipe OD Min Pipe OD Max for Pipe Marker
0.75" 1.5" 2.5" 8" 10" 1.25" 2" 6" 10" -8" 8" 12" 24" 32"

Size of Letter for Legend 0.5" 0.75" 1.25" 2.5" 3.5"

The problem, unfortunately, is that the modern process plant has become ever more complex and internationally "aware". To most nuclear and large international chemical firms, the traditional ANSI pipe marker designs are both superficial and outdated. Note that OSHA or an ISO 9000 audit team inspects your plant, not ANSI! The demand, then, to put more and more information on the pipe marker is driven by several new regulations and standards: the EPA Standards for Clean Air, the OSHA Process Chemical Specifications and ISO 9000 programs.

Just as OSHA is changing their focus from complianceoriented standards to performance-oriented standards, plants are changing too. Before, the only question was whether or not your pipes, valves and hazards were labeled at all. Simple, one-word legends were sufficient (enough to "CYA", to put it bluntly). Now, the questions are more complicated: (1) do your employees actually understand potential hazards, (2) do they know how to avoid the hazard, and most importantly (3) do they know what to do in an emergency. Passive, single word pipe markers have been supplanted by those giving more information and integrating into the plant's proactive hazardous communication training.

SAFETY & PIPING COLOR CODES

OSHA SAFETY COLORS GENERAL INFORMATION: The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires that all industries colourcode safety equipment locations, physical hazards and protective equipment. Safety colour codes were established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and adopted by OSHA for use in hazardous areas. Porter Coatings Safety Colours conform to OSHA and ANSI guidelines. OSHA does not specify the exact shade of colour, but the colour-coding should be consistent throughout a facility.

RED: THE BASIC COLOR FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF: Fire Protection Equipment and Apparatus: Used for: fire alarm boxes, fire blanket boxes, fire buckets or pails, fire exit signs, fire extinguishers, fire hose locations, fire hydrants, fire pumps, fire sirens, post indicator valves for sprinkler system and sprinkler piping. Danger. Used for: safety cans or other portable containers of flammable liquids having a flashpoint at or below 80F, table containers of flammable liquids (with additional clearly visible identification of the contents either in the form of a yellow band around the can or the name of the contents conspicuously stencilled or painted on the can in yellow and danger signs. Stop. Used for: Emergency stop bars on hazardous machines and stop buttons or electrical switches used for emergency stopping of machinery. PORTER COATINGS SAFETY RED: 2772 PORTER GUARD Fast Dry Gloss Enamel Safety Red 2912 PORTER GUARD DTM Acrylic Gloss Enamel Safety Red PC4072 PORTERGLAZE 4000 Gloss Epoxy Safety Red

ORANGE:
THE BASIC COLOR FOR DESIGNATING DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINES OR ENERGIZED EQUIPMENT WHICH MAY CUT, CRUSH, SHOCK, OR OTHERWISE INJURE. Used to emphasize such hazards when enclosure doors are open or when gear belt or other guards around moving equipment are open or removed, exposing unguarded hazards. PORTER COATINGS SAFETY ORANGE: 2754 PORTER GUARD Fast Dry Gloss Enamel Safety Yellow 2913 PORTER GUARD DTM Acrylic Gloss Enamel Safety Yellow PC4074 PORTERGLAZE 4000 Epoxy Gloss Yellow Base PC9074 PORTERTHANE 9000 Urethane Gloss Yellow Base

YELLOW:
THE BASIC COLOR FOR DESIGNATING CAUTION: Used for: marking physical hazards such as striking against, stumbling, falling, tripping and caught in between. Solid yellow, yellow and black stripes, yellow and black checkers (or yellow with suitable contrasting background) should be used interchangeably, using the combination which will attract the most attention in the particular environment. PORTER COATINGS SAFETY YELLOW: 2754 PORTER GUARD Fast Dry Enamel Safety Yellow 2913 PORTER GUARD DTM Acrylic Gloss Enamel Safety Yellow PC4074 PORTERGLAZE 4000 Epoxy Gloss Yellow Base PC9074 PORTERTHANE 9000 Urethane Gloss Yellow Base

GREEN: THE BASIC COLOR FOR DESIGNATING SAFETY AND THE LOCATION OF FIRST AID EQUIPMENT (OTHER THAN FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT)
PORTER COATINGS SAFETY GREEN: 2744 PORTER GUARD Fast Dry Enamel Ultra Deep Base 2904 PORTER GUARD DTM Acrylic Gloss Enamel Ultra Deep Base PC4044 PORTERGLAZE 4000 Epoxy Gloss Neutral Base PC9044 PORTERTHANE 9000 Urethane Gloss Neutral Base

BLUE: THE BASIC COLOR FOR DESIGNATING CAUTION, LIMITED TO WARNING AGAINST THE STARTING, THE USE OF, OR THE MOVEMENT OF EQUIPMENT UNDER REPAIR OR BEING WORKED ON.
PORTER COATINGS SAFETY BLUE: 2744 PORTER GUARD Fast Dry Enamel Ultra Deep Base 2904 PORTER GUARD DTM Acrylic Gloss Enamel Ultra Deep Base PC4044 PORTERGLAZE 4000 Epoxy Gloss Neutral Base PC9044 PORTERTHANE 9000 Urethane Gloss Neutral Base

PURPLE:
THE BASIC COLOR FOR DESIGNATING RADIATION HAZARDS (X-RAY, ALPHA, BETA, GAMMA, NEUTRON, PROTON, DEUTERON, AND MESON TYPES). Used in combination with purple for markers such as tags, labels, signs and floor markers.

PORTER COATINGS SAFETY PURPLE: Tint* from:

2744 PORTER GUARD Fast Dry Enamel Ultra Deep Base 2904 PORTER GUARD DTM Acrylic Gloss Enamel Ultra Deep Base PC4044 PORTERGLAZE 4000 Epoxy Gloss Neutral Base PC9074 PORTERTHANE 9000 Urethane Gloss Neutral Base

BLACK, WHITE, OR COMBINATIONS OF BLACK AND WHITE:

THE BASIC COLORS FOR DESIGNATING TRAFFIC AND HOUSEKEEPING MARKINGS. Solid white, solid black, single colour striping, alternate stripes of black and white, or black and white checkers should be used in accordance with local conditions. PORTER COATINGS SAFETY BLACK: 2728 PORTER GUARD Fast Dry Enamel Black 2928 PORTER GUARD DTM Acrylic Gloss Black NOTE: The Porter Coatings Industrial Colour Selection Guide (Order #5860/E) for safety colour tint formulas.