Piping Color Codes

Color coding of pipelines and piping materials are standard industry practices.  Color marking will make identification easier for raw material and fluid that being transport by the pipe. There are various national and international Pipe Color Code Standards are available. (I have used both British and American version to spell color/colour)

1. ASME/ANSI A13.1 – Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems
2. BS 1710 – Specification for Identification of Pipelines and Services
3. IS 2379 – Pipelines Identification Colour Code
4. PFI ES-22 – Recommended Practice for Color Coding of Piping Materials

Color Coding of Piping Material – PFI ES-22

Why the color coding of piping material?

During construction and fabrication, various grades of carbon steel, alloy steel, and stainless steel are used. To avoid mixing of this material and easy storing and retrieving in the warehouse, piping components such as pipe, fittings, flanges, and valves are color coded.

All most all company has their own color coding system. Pipe Fabrication Institute (PFI) Standard ES-22 provides Piping Materials color coding requirements for most commonly used piping material grades. It also provides guidance on marking location on piping components.

Refer below images for the color band location on piping components.

Color Code for Pipe Material Identification – PFI Standard ES-22 -1999

Carbon Steel Material

High Yield Carbon Steel

Low Alloy Materials

Ferritic and Martensitic Stainless Steels

Austenitic Stainless Steels

Nickel Based Alloys

Color Coding of Pipeline and Piping Identification

Oil and Gas Industries, Process industries are complex installation. Piping systems are used in these plants to transport various fluids. These pipelines transport various industrial materials such as gases such as Air, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Hydrogen, etc., liquids such as water, acids, hydrocarbon, toxic materials, etc.

Without proper pipe color code, it is extremely difficult to identify the material pipeline transporting. To reduces the safety hazard, reduce the possibility of mistakes in identification and accidents associated with the wrong identification of pipelines during the emergency situation, systematic color coding of pipelines and piping systems is essential. Uniformity of color marking promotes greater safety, lessens the chances of error, and reduces hazards involved in the handling of material inside the pipelines.

There are national and international standards that provide the guidelines for uniform color coding in industries that are used to color code of pipe to identify.

• ASME A13.1 – Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems
• BS 1710 – Specification for Identification of Pipelines and Services
• IS 2379 – Pipelines Identification Colour Code

These standard uses different color code methodology to identify the pipe material. They use a base color, band color, letters, and direction arrow to identify fluid inside the pipeline.

ANSI/ASME A13.1 – Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems

The purpose of ASME/ANSI A13.1 Standard is to establish a common system that assists in the identification of hazardous materials conveyed in piping systems and their hazards when released into the environment.

ASME A13.1 – 2015 edition has six fixed colors and 4 users define colors that can be used to identify the hazardous material. In this standard, the following categories are used;

1. Flammable – Fluids or vapor or produce vapors that can be ignited and continue to burn in air.
2. Combustible – Fluids that can burn, but are not flammable.
3. Oxidizing – Oxidizing fluid is any gas or liquid that may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does.
4. Toxic and Corrosive – Fluids that are corrosive or toxic, or will produce corrosive or toxic substances when released.
5. Fire Quenching – Fluid Such as water, foam, and CO2 used in sprinkler systems and firefighting piping systems.

Size of Label and Letters as per ASME B13.1-2015